The Shoes Ruse?

[ChrisEyles]

I've not tried SPDs, but properly tightened toe straps + clips is a definite noticeable improvement over flats for me. Obviously there's no getting blood from a stone, but they do help you to develop your pedalling technique to be more efficient.

I can imagine SPDs would be more of the same (am very curious to try some out, but the cycling budget is well in the red already) - maybe not a massive step up from (properly tightened) toe straps/clips, but streets ahead of flats.

I've read elsewhere before that pulling "up" on the pedal stroke is of dubious value..... but then I see the whopping great calves of the guys shooting past me up the hill, and I think there must be something in it!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I've not tried SPDs, but properly tightened toe straps + clips is a definite noticeable improvement over flats for me. Obviously there's no getting blood from a stone, but they do help you to develop your pedalling technique to be more efficient.

I can imagine SPDs would be more of the same (am very curious to try some out, but the cycling budget is well in the red already) - maybe not a massive step up from (properly tightened) toe straps/clips, but streets ahead of flats.

I've read elsewhere before that pulling "up" on the pedal stroke is of dubious value..... but then I see the whopping great calves of the guys shooting past me up the hill, and I think there must be something in it!

SPD pedals and shoes can be surprisingly cheap, so the cost increase compared to toe straps may not be that much.

 

[HovR]

I'd agree that we are most likely not the intended audience of that article.

I went from flats, to clips and straps, to clipless, and I think it's been one of the best cycling/accessory related purchases I've made. It doesn't have to be expensive, either. My shoes and pedals came in under £40 (£20 Aldi/Lidl shoes, £20 Shimano SPD pedals).

Suddenly, no more feet slipping around in the wet, I'm able to pull up on the pedals on extra steep sections of climbing (which I do, despite what the article claims), no more flipping the pedal to the right side (being SPD's, I can more or less stomp in the general direction of the pedal and it'll clip in), or leaning down to tighten/untighten straps. And before switching over to clipless, my pedals were destroying the trainers I used for cycling at an alarming rate. Purpose made cycling shoes (even my cheap ones) are lasting much longer.

I also use my clipless off-road. It makes me feel a whole lot more confident in the air, and hitting rough/rooty sections fast on my hardtail is significantly less sketchy!

 

[ChrisEyles]

£20 Aldi/Lidl shoes, £20 Shimano SPD pedal

Hmmm, definitely food for thought!

How big do people who've tried both find the step up from toe clips to clipless vs the jump from flats to toe clips?

 

[HovR]

Hmmm, definitely food for thought!

How big do people who've tried both find the step up from toe clips to clipless vs the jump from flats to toe clips?

Unfortunately the Lidl/Aldi shoe deal is somewhat of a rare thing, but there are other cheap shoes around, such as these and these. Or you could look second hand, just make sure they're SPD compatible, not SPD-SL or one of the other systems.

As for pedals, I bought the M530's, as I liked the idea of the extra bit of "cage". How much difference this makes I don't know, but I like to think it helps prevent pedal roll over whilst clipping in. There are also the cheaper M520's, which will work just as well. Just ensure your pedals come with cleats - some of the really cheap eBay sellers don't include them.

I find clipless much easier to use than clips and straps. If you want firm attachment with straps, you have to lean down and tighten the straps, and if you want to get out (quickly!) you have to lean down and loosen those straps. SPD's will give you the same firm attachment of having your straps done up properly (if not better), except it's completely hands free to get in and out of.

I've gotten so used to it now that I sometimes try to flick my heel out to "unclip" from my secondary bike, which still has straps. That has nearly resulted in a few embarrassing moments!

 

[ColinJ]

I tried the SPD one side/Flat the other-type pedals and I soon decided that I did not like them. With double-sided SPDs, you don't need to mess about flipping the pedal one way or the other. I have just put Look Deltas back on my Cannondale and am having to get used to doing that all over again. (I think it is worth it because once clipped in, the Looks are slightly more comfortable and my Look-cleated Sidi shoes are also comfier than my battered old Aldi SPD shoes.) SPDs are great if you want to wander around off the bike or walk up steep hills. More conventional road pedal/shoe systems are fine if you will be spending most of your time on the bike, not off it.

 

[Longshot]

The DHB 1.0 SPD shoes have been great for me - £40 something, look good and are comfortable.

 

[potsy]

I went back to flat pedals a couple of years ago over winter, decided that riding on the slippy/icy roads it might be a good idea to be able to get a foot down instantly.
1 commute to work was enough for me to switch straight back, absolutely hated it, feet kept slipping off the pedals and every time I came to a stop I had to faff about getting the pedal back into position.

Spd's all the way now on all 3 bikes

 

[John the Monkey]

Actually, I've read the entire book, and Grant Petersen makes a lot of sense in it. Grant Petersen worked for Bridgestone in the 1980's, when they still were in the bicycle market in the US, and was involved with the XO series of bicycles. I don't follow everything he believes, but the fellow is more than just a fad or a uninformed newbie trying to write a book. He is a bit of a lightning rod over here as well. He fits in well with Cyclorama's philosophy, as @swansonj suggests. Look at his Cycle Website for his products, and you may be surprised at the workmanship and design.

http://www.rivbike.com

I read a lot of him in the Rivendell Reader - he's inspiring and infuriating, for me at least (far more the former). As for infuriating, see. his "proof" that carbon forks were inferior to steel involving clashing a carbon & a steel fork together. He undoubtedly makes (and specifies/stocks) some lovely things though - overall, I would consider myself a fan (and I've got to get around to reading his book at some point).

Or is it just a perceived preference?
If I spent £100 on special dedicated shoes then another £50 on pedals, I'd convince myself too.
There are quite a few interesting articles about all this online.

£150? Jog on mate. About £25 all in for my trial of clipless, from off of the well known auction site. Shimano too.

As for me, SPD-SL on the SCR2, SPDs on the Long Haul Trucker, flats on the Brompton for me. If different arrangements work for other people on those sorts of bikes, good for them.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

He has a valid point and there is no point disparaging it for the
sort of bike riding and riders he is talking about / addressing.

Slipping off pedals ? Good grief can't you ride a bike ?
Can't get the pedals back into position to set off ?
Again good grief can't you ride a bike ?

His standpoint is related to cyclists who aren't really that
serious, taking it far too seriously and missing the point.

Much the same as older men buying motorcycles they
will never take remotely to the limit, so what is the point ?

rgds, sreten.

 

[Gravity Aided]

He does sell these...
http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/pe1.htm

 

[Cycleops]

Personally I prefer cycling clothes and shoes to normal casual clothes for 2 reasons.
1 Cycling gear is better on a bike
2 I got fed up knackering jeans and nice suede trainers or desert boots by cycling in them.

"Desert boots"?! Are they still popular?

By the way, toe clips still have a lot going for them.

 

[raleighnut]

"Desert boots"?! Are they still popular?.

They are on my feet kiddo.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

If I'd had flats on when a driver swerved me into the kerb....I definitely wouldn't be suffering from a goosed elbow. Flats every time now on all bikes. Funnily enough I'm no faster, no slower and enjoy cycling just as much - weird innit. By the way that article's been on here more times than helmet debates - well nearly.

 

[John the Monkey]

Slipping off pedals ? Good grief can't you ride a bike ?
Can't get the pedals back into position to set off ?
Again good grief can't you ride a bike ?

This seems like a classy, dignified response to some mildly stated preferences.