[DanaColby85]

I have a 70-year-old relative who’s cycled all his life but has recently been bought a road bike. He’s wondering about switching to clipless pedals, having used toe clips for touring and town riding until now. He’s being told how easy it all is, but always by people half his age! He’s worried about spending a hundred quid for pedals and shoes only to find he’s too old for them. Is there a maximum age for taking up cleats? What experiences do others know of for ‘old’ people going clipless? He’s reasonably active and supple for his age, but is getting stiffer year by year. (He doesn’t live near me or I’d give him some tryout sessions!)

 

 

Topic

[HenHarrier]

Bit late to this one, but
Bit late to this one, but have to say that “will fall off” is a bit over dramatic. “Will probably slowly topple over and feel embarrassed once maybe twice” is surely more accurate. I’m mid fifties, went clipless two years ago, and all the talk of falling off had me a bit worried – unnecessarily imho. Felt like a lemon when it happened but nothing like falling off at speed – which really hurts.

[basstrom]

I’ve only just registered so

I’ve only just registered so my comment comes a little late!

I’ll be 70 this year; I’ve cycled with toe-clips since I was 14 riding to school. I time-trailled for years in UK and rode with my club on Sunday runs. Now I’m retired and living in France and I ride for pleasure on these fantastic roads. Two years ago I retired my trusty Dave Lloyd road bike and bought a fairly inexpensive replacement (Cube). I decided to try clipless, and I definitely won’t be switching back for my road bike. I use Shimano XC30 shoes ( I like to have something I can walk in if necessary) and Shimano M540 pedals. I set the pedals on the slackest setting and haven’t had any falls. My feet feel much better because there is a little more swivel movement compared with my old shoes/clips where the slot in the cleat only fits exactly on the pedals. I still have an old VTT (mountain bike) which I use for nipping into the village and that still has toeclips, but I only ride that with trainers; it still feels normal!)

Tell your friend to give it a try.

 

[youngoldbloke]

mikeymustard wrote:

Come on people, don’t be patronising. This is a guy who’s cycled all his life who’s fit and healthy – AND uses toe clips. The fact that he’s 70 is irrelevant. If he’s happy to ride a road bike (OP doesn’t mention what sort of bike he’s used to) then why not switch to  clipless? I wonder how you’d all feel if when you’re 70, someone treats you like an “old person”?

Bravo! I’m in my 70th year, with just one hip replaced. I use SPDs in the winter, and Looks on the summer bikes, and I hope to carry on doing so for a good few years yet.

[John_S]

Hi DanaColby85,

Hi DanaColby85,

 

Following your message I just thought I’d send a message becasue I’ve recently switched from using pedals with toe clips and toe straps to clipless pedals.

 

I’ve been cycling for about 20 years and for a lot of that time it’s been my primary mode of transport from commuting and as a form of recreation when I get the chance for long ride or audax.  For the majority of that time I’ve used toe clips and straps and I’ve been perfectly happy with them.  However having recently bought a bike I needed to get some pedals so I thought that I’d try some clipless ones.  The clipless pedals do take a bit of getting used to but following some practise and use over time I think that any cyclist can get used to them.

 

However for me having had the clipless pedals for about a year now I can’t really say that in the real world I notice any performance benefit over the toe clips and straps.  I’m sure that clipless pedals would over an advantage of flat pedals only but for everyday cycling I’m not sure there’s a great differnce between clipless versus toe slips & straps.  I’m sure that people would be able to point to lots of scientific studies to show the advantages of clipless but for those of us who are not racing I think that if you’re used to them toe clips & toe straps are absolutely fine and there’s not necessity to change to clipless.

 

In hindsight if I had the chance again I wouldn’t buy the clipless pedals & shoes and I would have just stuck with toe clips & straps but until I’d actually tried them I didn’t know the difference for myself.

 

Good luck sorting out the right pedlas for your relative.

 

John

 

[mikeymustard]

davel wrote:

davel wrote:

mikeymustard wrote:

Come on people, don’t be patronising. This is a guy who’s cycled all his life who’s fit and healthy – AND uses toe clips. The fact that he’s 70 is irrelevant. If he’s happy to ride a road bike (OP doesn’t mention what sort of bike he’s used to) then why not switch to  clipless? I wonder how you’d all feel if when you’re 70, someone treats you like an “old person”?

Every poster has made assumptions to fill the gaps in the information, including you. How do you know he’s fit and healthy? Is he a ‘young’ 70 or an ‘old’ 70? Is he an experienced cyclist – what does ‘cycled all his life’ look like for him?

That’s a fair comment, how does anyone know anything? We all have to make assumptions to fill gaps in the information. So I used what little info there was in the OP i.e. someone’s buying him a new road bike, he’s “cycled all his life” (and yes, that could mean he rides 10 miles per year), he’s “used toe clips for touring and town riding until now” and “he’s reasonably active and supple for his age”. I know the original poster was very remiss in not providing a full biography so I filled in the gaps and made the assumption that he is a reasonably fit man, who is used to clips which, it has been pointed out are much more of a faff than clipless

[WolfieSmith]

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Age is a bastard. After my fall on ice a couple of months ago I can still feel a slight soreness in my hip area. I’m only in my mid 40s. No need for ‘comedy’ accidents at 70.

Hmmmm. I’d give up now if I was you.  Maybe golf would be safer.  

 

 

[Anonymous]

Shimano M530 is a good shout

Shimano M530 is a good shout as you have a little bit of platform and still have double sided.

doesn’t need to have the clip tightened up and getting in/out of modern SPDs is easier than that of older designs anyway.

I just bought a pair of M089 shoes, small bit stiffer than the casual/touring shoe but still with a recessed cleat and able to walk easily. If he wants something more supple/better walking Northwave with a vibram sole is a good option I’ve found to work really well.

Don’t go road shoe and beware the single sided SPD with just a platform the other side, personally I’d rather be able to clip in no matter where my foot/pedal is.

As for the falling off trying to clip in, jesus h, the guy is 70 and still very active, not someone ready to shuffle off this mortal coil, if they have a fall sure it might hurt more than when you’re younger but it’s not any more dangerous than asking them to walk down the stair unaided right?

I still use my toe clips and straps in the summer months on my 60+ year old machine.

good luck with what you choose and hope he gets on alright.

[Nat Jas Moe]

Not being quite as old as the

Not being quite as old as the OP the issue that I have with the SPD SL’s I now have is clipping in with the second foot quickly and consistantly. Up clipping is second nature at junction etc, but I’m still struggling with the “in” part. I had for many years used SPD’s and only moved over too SL’s with the new bike. I will say that practice will make perfect and doing it oin the move but on quiet roads / cycle paths where there is less danger from those about will do the world of good to increase confidence. So to the OP I say go for it, it’s never too late.

[davel]

mikeymustard wrote:

mikeymustard wrote:

Come on people, don’t be patronising. This is a guy who’s cycled all his life who’s fit and healthy – AND uses toe clips. The fact that he’s 70 is irrelevant. If he’s happy to ride a road bike (OP doesn’t mention what sort of bike he’s used to) then why not switch to  clipless? I wonder how you’d all feel if when you’re 70, someone treats you like an “old person”?

Every poster has made assumptions to fill the gaps in the information, including you. How do you know he’s fit and healthy? Is he a ‘young’ 70 or an ‘old’ 70? Is he an experienced cyclist – what does ‘cycled all his life’ look like for him?*

The posts pointing out the pitfalls and querying the motivation are aiming to provide some advice with not much information – not patronise an old geezer. Falling over in the street can be a very different experience for a 70 year-old compared to say a 30 year-old relative athlete.

* I’ve got a mate who’s adamant that he’s ‘cycled all his life’ because he’s always had a bike and hasn’t forgotten how to ride it. He’s right. But he averages about 10 miles per year and wouldn’t ride to work/in traffic.

[Griff500]

shay cycles wrote:

shay cycles wrote:

Griff500 wrote:

As others have said, make it clear to him that he WILL fall off during learning. If he is uncomfortable with that, there is your answer. (I took up cleats 2  years ago in my mid 50’s and fell off the obligatory twice, both at slow speed due to forgetting to unclip at junctions, resulting in a gentle roll over onto knee then elbow, no harm done.)

This is just one of a good number of posts saying he “will” fall off. Come on! Really!

 

This is a man who has cycled for many years, is used to clips and straps and clearly knows how to ride a bike.

Switching to clipless pedals for such a person is not a challenge.

Neither I, nor the majority of my friends, had any falls brought about by switching to clipless pedals. Simple to learn sat on the bike leaning on a wall and clip in and out a few times before actually riding – it really isn’t that difficult.

PS my dad swithed at around 60 – he didn’t fall off either.

It’s not, it is one of a good many posts from people who have fallen off converting, including one poster who fell off while converting from one type of clipless to another. Maybe you and your friends, and your dad are just smarter than the rest of us. Then again, maybe those you are criticising just think it a sensible precaution to assume the worst, rather than being a smartass.

[mikeymustard]

Come on people, don’t be

Come on people, don’t be patronising. This is a guy who’s cycled all his life who’s fit and healthy – AND uses toe clips. The fact that he’s 70 is irrelevant. If he’s happy to ride a road bike (OP doesn’t mention what sort of bike he’s used to) then why not switch to  clipless? I wonder how you’d all feel if when you’re 70, someone treats you like an “old person”?

[Simon E]

I would suggest he has a try

I would suggest that he borrows a pair, ideally with a soft surface to land on. I did this and had a slo-mo topple at Cannock Chase after a short tryout on my mate’s MTB, much to my his amusement.

If cost is an issue then Shimano M520s or M530 (£20 at Halfords) with the tension wound out to minimum and the SH56 multi-release cleats.

But unless you’re riding fairly hard the whole ‘clipless is better’ thing is a bit of a myth.

[davel]

Another fair point – some of
Another fair point – some of those clips look more hassle than clipless. I’m thinking people of a certain generation and younger (myself included) just went straight from flats to clipless… And all fell off.

[shay cycles]

Griff500 wrote:

As others have said, make it clear to him that he WILL fall off during learning. If he is uncomfortable with that, there is your answer. (I took up cleats 2  years ago in my mid 50’s and fell off the obligatory twice, both at slow speed due to forgetting to unclip at junctions, resulting in a gentle roll over onto knee then elbow, no harm done.)

This is just one of a good number of posts saying he “will” fall off. Come on! Really!

 

This is a man who has cycled for many years, is used to clips and straps and clearly knows how to ride a bike.

Switching to clipless pedals for such a person is not a challenge.

Neither I, nor the majority of my friends, had any falls brought about by switching to clipless pedals. Simple to learn sat on the bike leaning on a wall and clip in and out a few times before actually riding – it really isn’t that difficult.

PS my dad swithed at around 60 – he didn’t fall off either.

[davel]

Griff500 wrote:

Griff500 wrote:

Having said that, I think for young whippersnappers to say to somebody who is clealy wanting to make the most of his latter years: “You’ve managed for 70 years without doing cleats/hang gliding/skydiving/kite surfing (delete as appropriate)  so why start now” is a little patronising.

Fair point, but I don’t think it’s meant that way.

It’s really general advice in response to a post without too much information. We don’t know whether the subject could pass for 35, is an acrobat, or has brittle bones and 2 hip replacements. Nor do we know whether his motivation is to do the C2C easier or to go straight out and buy some carbon sidis and speedplay nanogram zeros because that’s what his golf partner’s got.

I think the breadth of advice is spot on.

[Author]

Replies