rivas7200

I decided to see what improvement I might find with riding clipless pedals. So I bought the cheaper Shimano PD-R540 and some beginner road shoes from Nashbar. I wondered how fast I would adapt to the cleat and clicking in and out. Well, I adapted pretty fast and the most noticeable improvement I feel is when I am climbing.
The only problem I have is that there is a little play in the cleat-to-pedal connection.
I need to get some pics of my Circuit and post them.

RobbieTunes

I think you'll like them, and definitely want to see the Circuit.

buldogge

What tension do you have the pedal adjusted to? Std. cleats are increased float??

tmh657

+2. Once you clip in you might not go back to whatever you had before.

PDXaero

Its a wonderful sickness.
My GF was weary of using clipless but once I forced her to convert (her race bike only) she admitted the power transfer is way better and while riding you actually think less about your pedals than you would with clips.

JReade

I thought it wound be much harder, but after the clips and straps, it wasn't that much different.

rothenfield1

I think your right about climbing being the most noticeable difference. I first started using them on MTB, and in that style riding, keeping your foot centered on the pedal over varied terrain is quit helpful. But, being able to use your full range of leg muscles on a steep climb is the best improvement over standard pedals. For road riding, I'm not so exacting to feel the efficiency loss of using caged pedals over clipless in the straights, but on the hills, there is a real difference IMO.

Chombi

Another good thing with clipless pedals is, if you choose your cycling shoes carefully, you will not have the hot pressure spots you might sometimes experience with clips and straps around your cycling shoes.

Chombi

wrk101

I've been avoiding it up to now. I have a very wide foot, picked up some clipless sandals to give them a try. I have a bin full of clipless pedals (takeoffs). I also have a box full of shoes. I need to give it a try.

dedhed

I'm just finishing a build and am don't particularily like the pedals that came with the bike. I was inclined to go with strapless MTB clips like I always do on my urban commuters, but was in REI last night and they had some clearance shoes. I actually sat down and tried on a pair and priced dual side pedals. Didn't buy any but may have to rethink my choices on this.

Any body have any reservations about daily urban stop & go riding with clipless?

buldogge

I do it everyday...NP.

FWIW, I use Specialized BG shoes. They are a casual road shoe, can't remember the exact model. A MTB shoe or Keen would be a little better as the cleat would be more recessed because of the lugged soles.

THEJAPINO

Lake makes a bunch of shoes that look like regular tennis shoes and have recessed cleats. I use Shimano MTB shoes on my road bike. Clipless is super efficient, I don't think I'll ever go back

shorthanded

i don't think there's the remotest difference in efficiency between clipless and old style cleats save for not bending over to pull your straps tight. i've found i really like the shimano a520s a lot because of the enormo foot support over an old cage pedal though. and i like that i can find shoes that work. but i can't see any difference in efficiency being real.

buldogge

Very few people run old style cleats and/or properly tensioned straps. Normal run around town toe cages/straps or flat pedals cannot match the ease and efficiency offered by SPD and recessed/walkable cleats/shoes.

My 2c.

sced

I'll ditto this. I think clippless pedals are the single biggest equipment improvement since I started biking in the 60's. When I restored my old racing Holdsworth I put the superleggera pedals on and rode with cleated shoes for a while. The lack of float was a killer on my knees. All of my family's bikes run either SPD or eggbeaters.