Clipless or flat pedals on your gravel bike?
08-01-18, 09:47 AM
#51
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Thread Starter
@noglider: Are these the Shimano Click'R ones you mentioned?
Shimano PD-T400 CLICK'R Clipless MTB Pedals | Chain Reaction Cycles
The price is quite reasonable and the comments are generally very good.
Shimano PD-T400 CLICK'R Clipless MTB Pedals | Chain Reaction Cycles
The price is quite reasonable and the comments are generally very good.
08-01-18, 09:50 AM
#52
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@noglider: Are these the Shimano Click'R ones you mentioned?
Shimano PD-T400 CLICK'R Clipless MTB Pedals | Chain Reaction Cycles
The price is quite reasonable and the comments are generally very good.
Shimano PD-T400 CLICK'R Clipless MTB Pedals | Chain Reaction Cycles
The price is quite reasonable and the comments are generally very good.
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08-01-18, 10:24 AM
#53
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My dad wanted to try clipless a few years back. He borrowed my road bike which had SPDs at the time (we have similar builds so we can borrow each others bikes with minimal adjustment.) But he went on one short 10-mile ride and decided he didn't like them -- I think he didn't like the unclipping process but I can't remember -- and refused to try any adjustments to the cleat position or the tension in the pedals or anything, and insisted he preferred toe cages from then on.
Fast forward a few years after he'd been on several multi-week tours, and I noticed all his bikes had clipless pedals. He's never told me why he changed his mind, but at some point I guess he saw the benefit.
08-01-18, 11:35 AM
#54
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08-01-18, 12:08 PM
#55
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I guess you could wear wellingtons tho.
Last edited by Facanh; 08-01-18 at 12:12 PM.
08-03-18, 12:12 PM
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been thinking about the same thing myself. only hesitation would be those steep climbs out of the saddle where you almost make it to the crest of a climb but fall short & have to hop off & straddle the top tube
fwiw been playing with some old spd pedals I found in a drawer & on my 2nd cleated ride w the road bike, took a dirt trail. survived, so might be getting pedals for one or two more bikes
fwiw been playing with some old spd pedals I found in a drawer & on my 2nd cleated ride w the road bike, took a dirt trail. survived, so might be getting pedals for one or two more bikes
08-03-18, 12:27 PM
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Thanks for all the replies. I'll look into clipless in a couple of months time as I would need to get a pair of shoes with the pedals. I sold my old SLD-SL pedals and shoes a while back.
For the first few weeks I'm going to use the flat pedals from my MTB just to get used to the bike, and then think about switching to clipless.
For the first few weeks I'm going to use the flat pedals from my MTB just to get used to the bike, and then think about switching to clipless.
08-03-18, 12:30 PM
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08-03-18, 12:32 PM
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08-03-18, 12:42 PM
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someone mentioned the Shimano PD-M324 Clipless/Clip Pedals but I can't find the now. anyway fwiw I like the price point on these
08-03-18, 12:44 PM
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been driving Wifey's manual shift 5 speed car since she broke her wrist. combined with experimenting with cleated pedals, it's my opinion that if you drive a stick you're better equipped to switch to cleated pedals cuz you're used to planning ahead for stops & switching gears
08-03-18, 01:02 PM
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08-06-18, 12:18 PM
#64
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When I started back biking about a year ago I did it the opposite of most other posters here. A buddy was a serious road biker and he helped me get started. He started me in clips, then he had me do a number of exercises to get comfortable getting out of clipless pedals. I still had issues getting out. It seemed to me that figuring out how to set a pair of shoes and clips up to work together is an important part of learning how to use clipless pedals.
Another factor that seems relevant to me is the conditions one rides in. The gravel roads I ride on have major hills and major curves, although there is not a great deal of traffic, cars tend to show up unexpectantly. The roads are also very narrow with steep drop offs, right at the edge of the road. Age plays into reaction times and coordination at some point in time. At close to 69 I may have lost a step or two myself. I bruise easy and heal slower so I take less risks. Flat pedals and 5/10 Freeriders are what I am using, at my age, in my conditions. I am not worried about high speeds or a perfect cadence. I don’t want extra worries about gear that may need adjustment or maintenance. Flat pedals are just easier.
Another factor that seems relevant to me is the conditions one rides in. The gravel roads I ride on have major hills and major curves, although there is not a great deal of traffic, cars tend to show up unexpectantly. The roads are also very narrow with steep drop offs, right at the edge of the road. Age plays into reaction times and coordination at some point in time. At close to 69 I may have lost a step or two myself. I bruise easy and heal slower so I take less risks. Flat pedals and 5/10 Freeriders are what I am using, at my age, in my conditions. I am not worried about high speeds or a perfect cadence. I don’t want extra worries about gear that may need adjustment or maintenance. Flat pedals are just easier.
Last edited by McMitchell; 08-06-18 at 12:36 PM.
08-06-18, 03:07 PM
#65
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someone mentioned the Shimano PD-M324 Clipless/Clip Pedals but I can't find the now. anyway fwiw I like the price point on these
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-06-18, 03:27 PM
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1- I think it is important to try QUALITY pinned flat pedals and QUALITY shoes (like Five Tens) before dismissing flat pedals. No way you are slipping off the pedals even in the rain.
2- I think it is very important to try pretty much anything other than SPDs before dismissing clipless as too hard to get in or out of.
2- I think it is very important to try pretty much anything other than SPDs before dismissing clipless as too hard to get in or out of.
08-06-18, 04:26 PM
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Much too old for any sort of pedal restraints. I use Chester Race Face on a gravel bike and a Trek DS.
08-06-18, 06:49 PM
#68
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+1 for Shimano PD a530
Loving them on gravel bike. Was worried about the half measures of single sided clipping or getting the wrong side when starting off-road but it's been remarkably simple.
Best of both worlds.
Loving them on gravel bike. Was worried about the half measures of single sided clipping or getting the wrong side when starting off-road but it's been remarkably simple.
Best of both worlds.
Last edited by jeremybart; 08-06-18 at 07:00 PM. Reason: Typos
08-06-18, 07:52 PM
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Rode SPD's for years, got on well with them. Recently switched to Catalyst pinned platforms and am loving them. While riding I can't tell any difference except that I no longer get hot spots on my feet.
08-06-18, 08:30 PM
#70
Senior Member
+1. Great combo pedal. They come with SH56 clips. I use mine with Nashbar MTB sandals and they work great on both sides with no problem. They tend to lean toward resting in a position that the clip side is up so you may have to manipulate for the platform side. Even though the platform side is a true high quality pinned wide platform and better than any other combo pedal, I personally would not use combo pedals with straight up flat shoes on purpose long term but they are great when you are mid ride and come across an area that you want to go unclipped. In the heat of the moment you would end up on the clipped side too often. I have a set of good low cost platforms and it takes 3 minutes to swap if I want a pure platform day.
Last edited by u235; 08-07-18 at 11:17 AM.
08-07-18, 09:07 AM
#71
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The plot thickens a little. I've started researching SPD pedals and now find that there are variants of similar pedals, classed as 'race', 'trail', 'trekking', etc.
Race seem to be frameless and lighter compared to trail pedals. Do these variations make any difference in the real world?
Race seem to be frameless and lighter compared to trail pedals. Do these variations make any difference in the real world?
08-07-18, 09:13 AM
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08-07-18, 09:15 AM
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The plot thickens a little. I've started researching SPD pedals and now find that there are variants of similar pedals, classed as 'race', 'trail', 'trekking', etc.Race seem to be frameless and lighter compared to trail pedals. Do these variations make any difference in the real world?
08-07-18, 05:45 PM
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Ditto on the recent switch to Pedaling Innovations Catalyst platform pinned pedals after using Time Atac and SPD pedals for years. Change was forced by chronic metatarsalgia and small fiber neuropathy. It has not been a cure, but so far, I don't believe I am getting worse. Using a Xero shoe but would like to try some Five Tens. I do mostly road riding and have no problem spinning. For the moment, I do not expect to revert to SPD, which concentrated all the pedaling force on the ball of my foot. Pedaling Innovations has some interesting arguments as to why their platform pedal is better for the foot and even performance, as well.
