Clippity clop - what to do

[Scotmitchy]

I have a trek hybrid, and cycle with plastic toe clips and have only forgotten my feet were in them once, and nearly fell over lol. Of course, there was an audience too!

I am almost ready to buy a road bike, and am pretty much decided on the specialized dolce 24 equipped.

Should I stick with the pedals it has, go for toe clips again, or bite the bullet and go clipless, which quite frankly scares me?

 

[Peteaud]

What ever you feel the best on.

I have "normal" pedals on my bikes, including the roadie, its what i feel most happy on.

You dont have to go clipless

 

[defy-one]

Normal flat pedals for the Triban commuter.
Spd-sl look keo classic pedals and mavic pro shoes on the Defy 1

 

[Mo1959]

I don't like being clipped in and like to just wear trainers so use these

http://road.cc/content/review/60138-dmr-v8-pedals

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Going clipless is about as scary as jelly to an 8 year old.

Assuming you're an eight year that hasn't got horrific PTSD from a jelly related trauma of some kind, of course.

If you want to try clipless, I would recommend it very much, but I know how odd it is to adjust to new pedal types. I have a "moment" with my most recent bike which came with toe clips (after a couple of years of clipless riding), which caused havoc on my ride home (I used to ride fine with clips years ago, before going back to flats, then clipless). Each to their own, and all that, but you'll get used to whatever you choose, and that's fine.

 

[HLaB]

Its your choice scotmitchy but clipless were a lot more consistent for me and no dragging of the cage; I'd make the change now, its not all that much different just more convenient IMO (as long as you don't mind changing shoes )

 

[Diggs]

I've mentioned this already today on another thread but have been really impressed with my Shimano A530 pedals. SPD on one side with the other side flat, they are fantastic in traffic and give you that confidence that you have a flat side that you can set off on, even if you don't engage the cleats

 

[smokeysmoo]

I agree you need to feel confident on your bike, but I can't stress the benefits of clipless pedals enough.

If you do decide to bite the bullet you might want to go with SPD pedals. Some say they are MTB pedals, which is true to a large extent, but a lot of roadies use them as they are the easiest clip in pedals to use. This is due to their double sided entry as opposed to most others that are single sided. Speedplay are double sided but you need to remortgage your house to buy those!

So, yes there is a learning curve to going clipless, but no it's not as scary as you're probably expecting it to be

 

[guitarpete247]

I got a pair of these from EBC about 3 years ago. I put them on the MTB that I use when I take the Granddaughters out in the trailer. They have a flat and a cleated side. And they look like a traditional pedal too. The GF's son wanted to see how easy it was to pull the trailer, fully laden, and he had no problem, either side, with normal trainers.
and they're cheaper than Shimano .

 

[Scotmitchy]

Mmmm those half and half pedals may well be the thing.

What shoes are best to go with them? These perhaps?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r064-road-cycling-shoes/

 

[guitarpete247]

Mmmm those half and half pedals may well be the thing.

What shoes are best to go with them? These perhaps?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r064-road-cycling-shoes/

Those shoes can be used with any pedal system, 2 or 3 bolt cleats. Not a bad price either.

 

[HLaB]

Mmmm those half and half pedals may well be the thing.

What shoes are best to go with them? These perhaps?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r064-road-cycling-shoes/

They shoes are universal and can take road or mtb cleats, just remember if you get mtb cleats get outriggers (or whatever they are called, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28891) so you can walk or waddle

 

[Diggs]

Or go for touring type, you can walk in them too as the cleat is pretty much set into the shoe http://www.decathlon.co.uk/road-cycling-shoes-3-black-id_8199403.html

 

[fossyant]

Clip clock. Clipless