Using my Shimano M324's?

[Mike!]

My bike came fitted with some Shimano M324 double sided pedals and i've only ever ridden in trainers on the flat side. I'm now commuting 5 days a week (10 ish miles round trip so not far) but am considering getting a proper shoe (MTB sytle i guess).

My issue is should i do it this week (as i have a 60 mile charity ride on Sunday!!) or wait until afterwards.

Part of me wants to do it right now but as i do get knee trouble anyway (my last 35 mile training ride was painful for the last 5 miles) i don't want to make things worse by setting them up wrong... On the other hand they may help my knee if the leg is more stable!!

What do you think, bit the bullet or wait until afterwards?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Try them. If on your charity ride you find them uncomfortable, you can always revert to using the flats. Just a few words about clipping in and out. Prop yourself up agains a wall whilst on your bike, and practice, practice practice clipping in and releasing until you can do it in your sleep.

 

[potsy]

SPD's have a bit of 'float' so you can still move your feet around a little bit whilst clipped in,but if you have knee trouble already you need to be careful with your set-up.
I'd be tempted to wait until after your ride just in case,then experiment with short distances like your commute.

 

[Mike!]

SPD's have a bit of 'float' so you can still move your feet around a little bit whilst clipped in,but if you have knee trouble already you need to be careful with your set-up.
I'd be tempted to wait until after your ride just in case,then experiment with short distances like your commute.

Probably wise advice Potsy, I'm already worried about the pain I'm fairly sure I'm going to get so may not be the best idea to add an unknown into the mix

 

[Mike!]

Right - second part to this question!!

If i were to purchase some shoes and get the cleats fitted are you still able to ride on the flat part of the peddle ok?

My thinking is that if my knee is causing problems i could clip in with the other leg to get a bit more power transfer using the dodgy one less

 

[Norm]

Yes, you can (depending on the shoe) ride on the flats. I do just that with one of my bikes which is fitted with A530s. I unclip one side early when approaching a red light or a junction, and flip the pedal to ride on the flat side.

I think you need MTB-type shoes, though, with the recessed cleats. Road-type shoes, with cleats which are proud of the sole, will be very slippery on flat pedals.

 

[Mike!]

Yes, you can (depending on the shoe) ride on the flats. I do just that with one of my bikes which is fitted with A530s. I unclip one side early when approaching a red light or a junction, and flip the pedal to ride on the flat side.

I think you need MTB-type shoes, though, with the recessed cleats. Road-type shoes, with cleats which are proud of the sole, will be very slippery on flat pedals.

OK thanks Norm, i'm intending to go for MTB style anyway as i'll mainly use them for commuting and will walk a bit in them too.