I would like try clipless pedals - can you help please ?

Hey all,

Im venturing out into the world of clipless pedals, but would like to try a few different ones before I buy a set.... Do any of you fellow cyclists have any not being used that I could possibly borrow to give me an idea of how easy or tricky (not sure which yet !!) they are to use...??

I would be very greatful if you do.

Thanks
Gilly

Jilly
I have some M521 (Shimano) pedals you could use but, unless you have already bought shoes that are SPD compatible, they'll be no good to you
Paul

Paul you can allway give it a little go on my bike if that helps or to save money i buy stuff from http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Clothing/Shoes/MTB-Men:::1_47_119.html if that helps

by the way it 2 Euro to 0ne Pound i think

why do that gilly,
honestly if i were you (granted i havent seen you for a while) but sat being a bit nervous the last thing id want is to be attached to the bike, you would be far better off doing what rob and aaron done and maybe have a skills class...
not saying you aint got skill, but if seasoned mtb riders raved about it imagine...
hope to see you soon big squishxxx

You have to be sure that you are ready, and know that there will be a lot of anxiety and maybe a few falls in the beginning.

I personally feel that being connected to the bike allows you to see your tyre contact patches as substitute feet and you can ignore your real ones apart from needing to avoid ground strikes.

How to tell when you are ready? I have no idea, but I definitely think you should still have clipless pedalling somewhere on your todo list.

gavin4 wrote:You have to be sure that you are ready, and know that there will be a lot of anxiety and maybe a few falls in the beginning.

Wow, how to give people confidence. (Not).

If you have to stick your leg out - you have already fallen. Being clipped in isn't going to cause a fall.


Gilly, some people like clipless, some don't. The only way you will know is to have a go and stick it with for a few rides...

When I was a kid, (still am really), my mates and I all rode around with toestrap pedals. You had to flick the pedal round, put the front half of yer foot in a cradle and then reach down to tighten up the strap. Each Side.
So to get your foot out , you had to reach down to the pedal and loosen the strap. So we soon learnt how to plan stops so that there was a wall, or a lampost to lean on at traffic lights etc, so u didn't have to unclip. even leaning on cars/vans etc.

When I got my first mountain bike , in about 1984, ( a Ridgeback 603 SIS - Phwoaar ), I naturally put toestraps onto it.

SPD pedals are FANTASTIC compared to toestraps.
none of that reaching down etc. When You want your foot out, you just twist it out..
If you really want to get your foot out, You WILL !!

Set the spring tension really loose to start with, so that you get used to feel of finding the pedal with the cleat on your shoe. Then go for a few flat rides. Practise clipping and unclipping where you have plenty of time and space. It won't take long. Leave it a day, and then just jump on again. I'll bet you find them a doddle.
I'd be really surprised if you don't want to increase the spring tension before you hit the trails to stop your foot bouncing out of the pedal.

Do some Thursday night redway stuff with 'em to start. And give me a prod - It's time i got some more riding in.

Filthy.

filthyhabit wrote:a Ridgeback 603 SIS - Phwoaar

My first was a Ridgeback 602 SIS. Envious of the 603!

Filthy speaks wise words. Give em a go on a nice loose setting and you'll be fine. Start off somewhere easy like round MK, not up the woods.

Yep, you've got to give them a go. I don't feel "connected" with the bike without them now.

You'll have a couple of silly off's, where you forget to unclip, but you'll be fine. Well worth it in the end

Thanks for all your advice Guys. Im looking forward to giving them a go (albeit with a fair bit of screaming to accompany them I'm sure )

Gilly

Its worth giving it a go - but you will fall over the first few times. I moved back to flats for a bit and found myself still 'clipping out'! - its amazing how quickly you learn how to get out of SPDs and start doing it automatically!

edit: I think i have a spare set of pedals about if you want to give it a try - i dont think my size 11's will fit!