Clipping Clip Clipped
#26
Me duelen las nalgas
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Maybe because I come from a MTB background, but I just can't see how people's feet are getting bounced off the pedals with flats. If you're on rough terrain, or heck, going over pretty much any kind of bump, you should be out of the saddle with your weight on your feet. That's why with flats with pins and shoes like 5.10s, your feet are gonna stay put (if you're riding..."properly").
And besides getting bounced around, you're gonna end up with lower back pain after a while too, sitting down through the rough stuff!
And besides getting bounced around, you're gonna end up with lower back pain after a while too, sitting down through the rough stuff!
If I ever do get a proper off-pavement bike I'll get proper pedals and shoes. I have my eye on a 1990s Kona Lava Dome just for that purpose. Nothing tricky or techy, just gravel and occasional entry level singletrack locally.
#27
Palmer
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Note: you will want to use foot retention on a recumbent trike because if your foot slips off the pedal you can run over yourself. (Sounds way funnier than it is in real life.) The salient point, however, is that unclip or fall is not an issue.
Last edited by tcs; 03-27-19 at 06:38 PM.
#28
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Yeah, I'm wearing casual shoes and using urban style platform pedals, not mountain biking footwear and pedals. Big difference in grip. The Stolen Bike Brand Thermalite pedals are reasonably grippy with built in plastic pins, but grip depends on my shoes. The only time I notice any problems is when group rides veer off the city pavement onto gravel or rough roads.
If I ever do get a proper off-pavement bike I'll get proper pedals and shoes. I have my eye on a 1990s Kona Lava Dome just for that purpose. Nothing tricky or techy, just gravel and occasional entry level singletrack locally.
If I ever do get a proper off-pavement bike I'll get proper pedals and shoes. I have my eye on a 1990s Kona Lava Dome just for that purpose. Nothing tricky or techy, just gravel and occasional entry level singletrack locally.
#29
meh
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On the trainer is a great place to start, that's how I got my wife get started with clipless pedals, she's never fallen. I advise her and other 'mature' riders starting with clipless pedals to release your 'down' foot long before a stop or possibly stop and don't clip in until you're well under way (not first pedal stroke).
For my part, I started using old-school clips in the '80s and got into clipless pedals about 15 years ago, I'm 50 and been riding daily for decades ... so I'm an experienced and fit rider. I still fall from time-to-time; however, the vast majority of the falls I take are at speed and involve me 'pushing it', basically, I'd fall with or without clipless pedals - I do not take the low-speed-tip-over falls and haven't in many years.
#30
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I've been using some SPD mountain pedals on my roadbike on my trainer. About 9 months now, and I just can't reach the point here I would feel comfortable n the street. Maybe I just haven't had my "Aha"moment. But with one replaced knee, and a back full of non-OEM hardware, I'm not ready to risk it...
#31
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Thread Starter
I've been using some SPD mountain pedals on my roadbike on my trainer. About 9 months now, and I just can't reach the point here I would feel comfortable n the street. Maybe I just haven't had my "Aha"moment. But with one replaced knee, and a back full of non-OEM hardware, I'm not ready to risk it...
#32
aka Tom Reingold
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I really love my SPD cleats. I don't like to ride without them.
I got my wife to try them. She forgot to clip out and fell and cracked her elbow. Never again, but she still likes the shoes.
I'm 58 years old, and I started wearing toe clips at age 14, so I've been using foot retention for a long time. The actual energy gains are somewhere between slight and nil. It's about feeling secure. It gives you some versatility for what muscles to use when, but it's possible to do very well without cleats.
I say don't bother.
I know some people who have used foot retention a long time and have switched to those big pedals with little spikes. They love them. So I say cleats are not necessary for most of us. I just happen to like them, and I'll stick with them.
I got my wife to try them. She forgot to clip out and fell and cracked her elbow. Never again, but she still likes the shoes.
I'm 58 years old, and I started wearing toe clips at age 14, so I've been using foot retention for a long time. The actual energy gains are somewhere between slight and nil. It's about feeling secure. It gives you some versatility for what muscles to use when, but it's possible to do very well without cleats.
I say don't bother.
I know some people who have used foot retention a long time and have switched to those big pedals with little spikes. They love them. So I say cleats are not necessary for most of us. I just happen to like them, and I'll stick with them.
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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
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#33
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Thread Starter
Here's an update. About a month ago, I purchased a Specialized Roubaix Comp with Di2 Ultegra. That is a quantum leap from the Giant Roam 1. Whoa!!!
When it came to pedals, I asked the salesman to recommend some good platforms, and he set me up with RaceFace "Affect" pedals. These have multiple metal pins. In combo with some good light hiking shoes, they worked very well.
Then I read a post by DrDyno (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...ss-pedals.html) wherein he cites his first experience with clipless pedals, and thought, "I'm going to give it a try, after all!"
Bought Shimano M540 SPD pedals and SH-ME400 shoes, along with SH-56 multi-directional cleats.
So today, after a bit of snapping-in (and out), I very easily rode away and practiced dismounts for a few minutes.
Then I rode 20 miles on my usual neighborhood route, stopping here and there for more practice, water, and butt breaks. All in all, a completely satisfying experience.
Here's what I noticed: first, easier to clip-in than to adjust/readjust my feet on the platforms when starting and riding; second, found myself spinning more, mashing less, which translated into about 3/4 mile per hour faster, even though it was windy; and finally, felt some additional muscles being put to work (which I can feel a bit more now - minor soreness).
Waited a month and logged a few hundred miles on the new bike before this transition, so I was totally comfortable and familiar with the Roubaix. And, as a motorcyclist, I have a habit of mentally preparing for stops; that seemed to help.
Followed all of the sage advice about starting with very little tension in the pedal adjustments, too.
When it came to pedals, I asked the salesman to recommend some good platforms, and he set me up with RaceFace "Affect" pedals. These have multiple metal pins. In combo with some good light hiking shoes, they worked very well.
Then I read a post by DrDyno (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...ss-pedals.html) wherein he cites his first experience with clipless pedals, and thought, "I'm going to give it a try, after all!"
Bought Shimano M540 SPD pedals and SH-ME400 shoes, along with SH-56 multi-directional cleats.
So today, after a bit of snapping-in (and out), I very easily rode away and practiced dismounts for a few minutes.
Then I rode 20 miles on my usual neighborhood route, stopping here and there for more practice, water, and butt breaks. All in all, a completely satisfying experience.
Here's what I noticed: first, easier to clip-in than to adjust/readjust my feet on the platforms when starting and riding; second, found myself spinning more, mashing less, which translated into about 3/4 mile per hour faster, even though it was windy; and finally, felt some additional muscles being put to work (which I can feel a bit more now - minor soreness).
Waited a month and logged a few hundred miles on the new bike before this transition, so I was totally comfortable and familiar with the Roubaix. And, as a motorcyclist, I have a habit of mentally preparing for stops; that seemed to help.
Followed all of the sage advice about starting with very little tension in the pedal adjustments, too.
Last edited by rnothog; 05-27-19 at 03:49 PM.
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#34
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#35
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I wouldn't do it with your hip replacement history. Get yourself some Five Ten Freeriders and some mountain bike pedals with pins and your feet will stick to the pedals way more than you might think. I use that combo on road and off--I ride a gravel bike primarily and tackle some pretty gnarly stuff fit for a mtb, and my feet never leave the pedals or shift unintentionally. I'm 58, and while I don't have a hip replacement, a falling over injury could really suck! I'm a musician and a broken hand/wrist would put me outta work. Granted, I've hit the dirt a few times trying something silly on the trail, but that's...different, somehow
Speaking of cool flat bar road/gravel bikes, I was just looking at this Niner--looks pretty darn nice: https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-apex
I'm hooked on drops these days but I'd look at that rig if I was considering flat bar.
Speaking of cool flat bar road/gravel bikes, I was just looking at this Niner--looks pretty darn nice: https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-apex
I'm hooked on drops these days but I'd look at that rig if I was considering flat bar.
+ 1 on this. I like clipless a lot but there is a lot to be said for the mtb pedals with pins. I like them on my mountain bike, commuter, and touring bikes.
#36
aka Tom Reingold
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I'm glad they're working out for you. I love my SPDs.
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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.
#37
Senior Member
There are two kinds of clipless users.
1. Those who have fallen.
2. Those who will fall.
Everyone is in group #2 , even if they're already in group #1 . OTOH, the same could be said for bicycle riders in general. If you're on 2 wheels, you're only temporarily stable. If falling is not an option, then get a trike.
If you're on 2 wheels, there are varying degrees of risk. If you seat is 8 inches off the ground, falling is pretty much a non-event as far as impact goes (although you can still lose skin if you're traveling very fast.)
1. Those who have fallen.
2. Those who will fall.
Everyone is in group #2 , even if they're already in group #1 . OTOH, the same could be said for bicycle riders in general. If you're on 2 wheels, you're only temporarily stable. If falling is not an option, then get a trike.
If you're on 2 wheels, there are varying degrees of risk. If you seat is 8 inches off the ground, falling is pretty much a non-event as far as impact goes (although you can still lose skin if you're traveling very fast.)
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 05-28-19 at 12:15 PM.
#38
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Are you ready to join BF’s Club Tombay?
https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...ub-tombay.html
If not you may want to skip clipless pedals. Or go for easier to use Shimano SPD cleats.
With two hips surgeries, I would not risk it.
I am 63 and I’ve had a few falls when I couldn’t unclip fast enough. So far I have been lucky not to break anything during one of these falls.
https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...ub-tombay.html
If not you may want to skip clipless pedals. Or go for easier to use Shimano SPD cleats.
With two hips surgeries, I would not risk it.
I am 63 and I’ve had a few falls when I couldn’t unclip fast enough. So far I have been lucky not to break anything during one of these falls.
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#39
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Sovende