First SPD's

[david1701]

Are spds easy to get on with going cold from pedals or should I try pedals with straps first?

Also bit of a dumb one can you pedal normally on sod pedals as often I take my bike to get to places to go shooting and sometimes I need to be wearing boots (which I normally ride in if I need them) and changing shoes is a PITA. Or does it depend on which pedal you get?

 

[HLaB]

Are spds easy to get on with going cold from pedals or should I try pedals with straps first?

Also bit of a dumb one can you pedal normally on sod pedals as often I take my bike to get to places to go shooting and sometimes I need to be wearing boots (which I normally ride in if I need them) and changing shoes is a PITA. Or does it depend on which pedal you get?

I'd go straight from flats to spds and miss out the strap stage if I was doing again.

You can still wear normal shoes with spds; but differences in pedal designs means different level of comfort.

You get the plain type like M520s which aren't very friendly on normal shoes and would become a pain eventually.
Yo also get spds with a cage lie 424s which are a bit more user friendly.
You also get combination pedals like 324s which have the clip one side flat the other; never had them myself but they seem very user friendly.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Are spds easy to get on with going cold from pedals or should I try pedals with straps first?

Also bit of a dumb one can you pedal normally on sod pedals as often I take my bike to get to places to go shooting and sometimes I need to be wearing boots (which I normally ride in if I need them) and changing shoes is a PITA. Or does it depend on which pedal you get?

These are what I got, SPD one side, flat the other, am getting on really well, still waiting for that 'clipless Moment' though

 

[david1701]

cheers guys, those flippy ones look perfect will invest in them as my next planned purchase (well them or decent lights)

 

[Banjo]

Just at a place where you least expect it, the clipless moment will get you. Everyone has one when first going clipless.

And again now and then after they thought they had mastered it... No injuries just a grimy stain on the elbow of my coat

Well worth it though, I wouldnt want to ride without them now.

 

[slowmotion]

I ordered some Shimano M520s recently, having never used anything apart from flat pedals on a hybrid. I figure that if I have two sided clips, I will have one less thing to worry about, namely flicking the pedal to find the clip. For about £7 you can buy a couple of plastic mouldings that convert the pedals to flats. Absolutely no idea how this will pan out, BTW.

Anybody got any suggestions for cheapo SPD MTB shoes to use on a road bike? I am no athlete and want to wander into work etc (and up Ditchling), on foot, without any difficulty. Any lightweight trainer with a stiff base and a couple of holes in a recess would do. The MTB ruggedness is not important.

 

[colinr]

How cheap is cheap? The DHB M1s off Wiggle are very decent for £50. I've walked a couple of miles in them post-puncture no problem, obviously any MTB shoe will be less comfortable than regular shoes but they're not crippling like road shoes.

 

[slowmotion]

How cheap is cheap? The DHB M1s off Wiggle are very decent for £50. I've walked a couple of miles in them post-puncture no problem, obviously any MTB shoe will be less comfortable than regular shoes but they're not crippling load road shoes.

Colin,

I'll have a gander. I spent some time looking at shoes on the web this evening , and came to the conclusion that it was almost impossible to find MTB SPD shoes for less than £50.

Thank-you for the help.

 

[Banjo]

I ordered some Shimano M520s recently, having never used anything apart from flat pedals on a hybrid. I figure that if I have two sided clips, I will have one less thing to worry about, namely flicking the pedal to find the clip. For about £7 you can buy a couple of plastic mouldings that convert the pedals to flats. Absolutely no idea how this will pan out, BTW.

Anybody got any suggestions for cheapo SPD MTB shoes to use on a road bike? I am no athlete and want to wander into work etc (and up Ditchling), on foot, without any difficulty. Any lightweight trainer with a stiff base and a couple of holes in a recess would do. The MTB ruggedness is not important.

Lidls occasionally have some good MTB spd shoes in for less than £20 I have had some for about a year and they work well and are comfortable plus ok to walk in . If you go on Lidls website you can opt for their updates everyweek and keep an eye out for them.

 

[the snail]

+1 for shimano m324s, then you can wear normal shoes or spd. I have the Lidl shoes too, so pedals + shoes cost £50.

 

[edwardd67]

Out today wife had a clipless moment.
Result.
2 broken bones in her left wrist.
Bit of a nightmare she's training for a triathlon.

 

[dellzeqq]

Just at a place where you least expect it, the clipless moment will get you. Everyone has one when first going clipless.

Susie has still not had one in three years of SPDery! I dread the day, but still cherish the memory of her first clipless ride.

 

[Browser]

I remember trying a pair in my back garden as a teenager. I fell over all the times. I still can't get my head around them...

The answer is, don't try them in the back garden! There's not enough room to manouvre and you WILL fall off. Try practicing leaning on a wall, first one side then the other, just clipping in and unclipping, before you try taking to the road.

 

[Fnaar]

Anybody got any suggestions for cheapo SPD MTB shoes to use on a road bike? I am no athlete and want to wander into work etc (and up Ditchling), on foot, without any difficulty. Any lightweight trainer with a stiff base and a couple of holes in a recess would do. The MTB ruggedness is not important.

Lidls occasionally have some good MTB spd shoes in for less than £20 I have had some for about a year and they work well and are comfortable plus ok to walk in . If you go on Lidls website you can opt for their updates everyweek and keep an eye out for them.

Ditto for Lidls shoes (though I have to admit I only use them on my MTB... got some Shimano suede ones for the roadie)... I got a Lidl pair about 4 years ago now, and have worn them A LOT, even walking up hills and that (having cycled to get to the hills). The next year, I bought a spare pair, and they are sat in a cupboard at home waiting for when they are eventually needed!

 

[vsmith1]

Had a "clipless moment" yet?

You know when you been "spudded".

When I first got mine I was carefully coming up to some traffic lights where I knew I had to stop, I carefully unclipped the right foot but lent over to the left and fell over on the left with the left foot still clipped in but the right was clear!

It just takes time and as long as the cleats are not worn then clipping in and out will be almost automatic.

I swapped to Time Atac pedals not long after getting Shimano SPD. The Time's are much better for mud clearance, the cleats last longer and there is more lateral movement (float).