Clip Shoes - Help
jasoncull
Posts: 36
in General Chat
I am a newbie but want to ride with clip pedals and shoes. My birthday is coming up, so will ask for some shoes and pedals. I have seen some nice flatish Shimano SPD Pedals and have found shoes. Do i need to by the cleats on their own, do i need fixed our floats.....please help.
0
Comments
All good questions!
Try searching for Cycle shoes and Pedals..Pedals...pedals on this forum. Loads of info in there.
To engage, you just push the cleat down into the mechanism. The catch then holds it in place so the pedal is firmly fastened to the shoe. At first it can take a bit of practice since you can't see the top of the pedal or the underside of your foot whilst you're doing it; but it very soon becomes second nature - just put your shoe down on the pedal, and it'll lock in place.
To disengage, you rotate your foot sideways in a particular way. Again, it'll take a bit of practice, but it'll soon become second nature.
When I first moved to SPDs, donkeys years ago, I went to a park to practice clipping & unclipping. The park was great; lots of open smooth paths to practice on, no risk of being mown down by a car whilst wobbling or failing to stop, and of course there's soft grass to fall on. However, when at first I couldn't unclip, I made the mistake of trying to prop myself against a spiky old iron railing...
After a couple of rides it'll be really easy for you to put your foot down.
There is a certain amount of adjustment that can be done - they key one being how firmly they grip/how it it is to release.
When you are starting out, it is important to be able to release them as easily as possible.
You've probably seen a 3 metre area ruled off from cars at every set of traffic lights? This is usually painted with a bicycle on its side. This is the special zone for SPD users to fall over in when they stop at the lights.
Seriously, _everyone_ who has used SPD pedals has fallen over, at least once, when they come to a stop, having forgotten to release. This is particularly true when trying really hard so not concentrating - say, after a steep hill. You will need to practice, so that it becomes second nature - it is a bit like a little dance move - flicking your heels out. Of course, if you have red shoes, you'll probably end up in Kansas. Or something.
Although a bit tricky to start with, SPD shoes are one of the great innovations of the last 20 years (that and the various "indexed" type gear change mechanisms). They have the additional advantage of making your bike less attractive to the local recidivists. They think it doesn't have pedals. In use, you become securely linked to the machine, greating a much more efficient "single" unit - it feels more responsive and you get a better transfer of power.
I'd definitely go and practice clipping in and out mate also work on your balancing so you can track stand at traffic lights etc to avoid having to unclip.
Mat
I'd always recommend that if you can get a cyclist to show you how they do it, it's invaluable.
Being a lorry driver myself I hate them bloody stroppy cyclists when i'm working and when riding i hate the ignorant self important truckers!!!
Mat
Seriously, practice and make sure you are comfortable and easily able to get your feet out before venturing into busy roads. I was lucky that i fell pavement side when i first fell as there was a lorry going past just a few feet from me on the other side.
you MUST practice before you go out on a busy raod in them as they take some getting used to un clipping them in a rush, i found it easier to un clip well before i get to a junction/traffic light when i first got going.
take the bike when you go to get the shoes and ask them to set you up, it may need some tools you dont have to do the job ( it's not as easy as it looks ) a good shop will put your bike on the turbo trainer with you on top and do all the adjustments you need for effective pedalling, may change the seat position (most cyclists have this too low i see loads all the time)
welcome to a faster way of cycleing.........
The best fun is when you are clipped in, after a big hill, and you bonk and your legs cramp and you can't twist your heel enough to get loose. That's the most fun... even more fun that getting laughed at by teenagers when you start off using clips when you fall over after stopping but forgetting to twist your heel.
But it is worth it. The clips will allow you to get power in your cycling stroke both at the push and the pull sides - you add a lot more power to your stroke with both feet. if you don't use clips you're only getting half the stroke powered for each foot.