Going clipless on my MTB

[abo]

I quite fancy the idea of being attached to the bike. Not thinking about getting any *just* yet, but I was wondering about those pedals which allow you to use regular shoes as well as cleated ones, mainly because I'd still like to be able to hop onto my bike to nip to the shops in whatever fottwear I happen to be wearing at the time...

So I was looking at both caged pedals like the Shimano M424, or those double-sided ones like the M324.

Does anyone have experience with either type? The M424 looks like it might be 'interesting' trying to unclip in a hurry, with the extra grip of the pedal cage? And the M324, I'm guessing they're designed so that the cage naturally falls to the bottom so it always puts the SPD to the top for easy clipping? Is it a bit of a faff to turn the pedal around with your foot every time you take your foot off the pedal?

etc. etc.

 

[fossyant]

I only use double sided SPD's with MTB shoes. With the SPD one side and platform the other type, there will still be some flicking of the pedal needed to fall on the side you want.

 

[abo]

I only use double sided SPD's with MTB shoes. With the SPD one side and platform the other type, there will still be some flicking of the pedal needed to fall on the side you want.

Ah right, so the pedal will just fall whichever way it wants and might still need to flick the pedal even while wearing cleats...

Still a bit worried about rapid unclipping with a caged pedal mind; I'd just look at double-sided SPD's but I want to keep the versitility of being able to just ride the bike on short 5 minute journeys on a whim as I say.

Probably won't be doing this for a while, but I do like to window shop

 

[2Loose]

I had some M424's once and they unclip just as easily as M520's which don't have the outside cage, so don't worry about it. The cage does add some extra support for the outside edges of your foot compared to smaller pedals, which I liked as I tend to lean my right foot to the outside for some reason. I'll be looking at the M530 next for this reason.

 

[gaz]

I used SPD-SL's on my mountain bike a few years ago. Made doing tail whips really easy

 

[abo]

I had some M424's once and they unclip just as easily as M520's which don't have the outside cage, so don't worry about it. The cage does add some extra support for the outside edges of your foot compared to smaller pedals, which I liked as I tend to lean my right foot to the outside for some reason. I'll be looking at the M530 next for this reason.

Cool, thanks for that review. Something to buy after my lockout forks; so much for me not spending money on the bike

 

[abo]

I used SPD-SL's on my mountain bike a few years ago. Made doing tail whips really easy

Hah, I bet!

 

[Friz]

mainly because I'd still like to be able to hop onto my bike to nip to the shops in whatever fottwear I happen to be wearing at the time...

So I was looking at both caged pedals like the Shimano M424, or those double-sided ones like the M324.

I got the 424's for very much the same reason. In 9 months I've cycled once with regular shoes. The binding is just high enough to clear the platform and be annoying. Having said that, I'd rather put the SPD shoes on. Everything is just so much faster when you're clipped in.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Don't worry about unclipping, trust me if you need to unclip at speed, you'll do it without thinking.

What will get you is unclipping at low speeds. Everyone does it, you'll slow to a crawl, go to put your foot down, and forget your foot is clipped in. It'll happen once and you'll never do it again.

 

[abo]

I got the 424's for very much the same reason. In 9 months I've cycled once with regular shoes. The binding is just high enough to clear the platform and be annoying. Having said that, I'd rather put the SPD shoes on. Everything is just so much faster when you're clipped in.

Yeah, I noticed that thing with the binding in the pictures. I think I'd be willing to put up with that as rides in normal shoes would literally be 'nip to local shops', or '5 minute ride to school with the kids' stuff like that but to be fair there's no real reason why I couldn't just put bike shoes on for the latter; I like the look of these shoes so they wouldn't look too wierd and will all of 2 pence off in the sale they are a bargain!

EDIT: they don't do my size... These Vans look nice though

 

[2Loose]

Friz is spot on, the 424's clip makes wearing normal shoes a pain and can't be recommended - especially when it is wet as the foot slips off them. However most SPD shoes have the cleat recessed into the sole so wearing them for a quick trip to the shops or walking with the young'un to school in them is not a chore.

 

[abo]

I think the solution (as always) is going to be head to the LBS and give them a try. I'll put it on the back-burner for the minute anyway.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[Boris Bike]

So I was looking at both caged pedals like the Shimano M424

Did my first clipless commute this morning. Bought M424s for my cyclocross bike and went out for my first ride on Saturday. I was really conscious of needing to clip out when approaching lights or potential hazard where I might need to stop.

I don't find it difficult to clip out with the M424s. Obviously I don't have anything to compare them to, but I'd say they are good. Don't look too out of place on my bike either.

 

[Red Light]

Worth getting clipless for mountain biking - it gives you so much more control over the bike. I would put it ahead of lock out forks TBH. I have tried the caged clipless and it depends very much on the shoe and sole whether the cage grips the sole and makes unclipping more difficult or not.

Personally given what you say I'd be inclined to go for standard double sided clipless. They are fine for riding on the instep of normal shoes for shortish distances so will probably get you down the shops like that.

 

[HLaB]

I wouldn't describe M424's as a pain for that odd jaunt down the shops but they are far from perfect, as said the clip protrudes a bit and I usually find that when I'm wearing ordinary shoes I'm pedalling with the arch of my foot rather than the ball of the foot. On clipping out IME its no more complicated than other pedals.