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Beginner’s advice on pedals & shoes?

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  • January 29, 2014 at 2:20 pm #20597
    parksey

    Ok, so in a blatant show of my complete lack of road cycling knowledge, I’m after advice please on the subject of road bike pedals and shoes.

    Having had my road bike for a couple of months now, I feel sufficiently confident on it to be thinking about upgrading from the toe clips that came with it.

    However, I literally have no idea where to start…

    I’m broadly aware that there are different types of pedal system out there, but quite how they differ (or put another way, which one is better), I don’t know.

    What are people’s thoughts on this?

    I don’t spend hours on the bike or ride competitively, so I’m not looking for the lightest, stiffest, high-end stuff, just some serviceable kit to help me do some reasonable weekend mileage.

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  • July 26, 2014 at 12:52 am #771191
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    chokofingrz

    In my first week with
    In my first week with clipless pedals, feeling confident and empowered, I decided to find out if I could ride up a very steep gradient with a hairpin bend and some gravel chippings on it. Needless to say, there was slowness, then wheelspin, an abrupt and total loss of forward momentum, and I ended up lying on my back like a beetle with both feet still clipped in and the bike upside down between my legs.

    Swapped those damn carbon shoes for trainers and toeclips, and never looked back.

    July 25, 2014 at 7:37 pm #771189
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    userfriendly

    Out of interest, you people
    Out of interest, you people who do not always unclip the same foot: what’s your reasoning?

    July 25, 2014 at 6:43 pm #771187
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    movingtarget

    I started out unclipping one
    I started out unclipping one or the other side but quickly changed to only unclipping the left foot. Sometimes my brain would say, “Unclip right foot” and my body would say, “Yup, unclipping left” but my weight would be leaned toward the still clipped in right side causing some near misses or actual falls. Would recommend unclipping on the left mainly because it’s the non-drive train side so you don’t have to worry about getting chain grease on your right leg clipping in and out at stops. I also practiced in a very low traffic area (residential street although empty parking lots are great too) for hundreds of times before I took off on the roads so that it was pretty body memory for me when I wanted to unclip.

    July 25, 2014 at 1:20 pm #771185
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    truffy

    I was cycling with friends a
    I was cycling with friends a few years ago when one came to a halt at lights while clipped in. The ‘oh shit!’ look on his face was priceless. =))

    That said, I still have to venture into clipless pedals.

    July 25, 2014 at 10:30 am #771183
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    parksey

    I’m in the same camp of
    I’m in the same camp of always unclipping the same foot first, the left one too. I always prefer to set off with the right foot, so generally leave that one clipped in, plus I can rest my left foot on the kerb if I want to. The key is anticipating the need to stop so you *think* to unclip in advance.

    As has been said, stationary falls are just part of learning to ride clipless, both my left knee and my saddle bear the scars of my efforts! It doesn’t take long to get used to it though, as is apparent from this topic, I’ve only been riding clipless for 6 months and am now perfectly confident doing it.

    July 25, 2014 at 9:59 am #771181
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    sergius

    You may find that it helps to
    You may find that it helps to add some consistency. I always clip out with my left, always put my left foot down at traffic lights. It’s not uncommon for me to do a four hour ride with the right foot staying clipped in the whole way.

    If you always put the same foot down, it becomes much easier to know what you are doing when you have to react on instinct rather than with some mental forethought.

    July 25, 2014 at 9:32 am #771179
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    Anonymous

    I once pulled a big
    I once pulled a big skid-to-stop in front of my wife.

    While clipped in.

    Timmmmbeeerrrrrr. 😀

    Everyone does it. I’m the worst person in the world at clipping in – just the other day I thought I was in and put “the power” down, only for my foot to slip out and gash my ankle against the pedal…

    July 25, 2014 at 8:57 am #771177
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    ajmarshal1

    Suffolk Cycling wrote:I’ve

    Suffolk Cycling wrote:
    I’ve not had a clip-in fall yet, so it can be done. Been one or two near misses, though, including when crossing the finishing line at a sportive in front of dozens of people :)

    Only time I’ve ever gone down stationary is when I got dominoed by a clip out failure to my left. He took three of us down at a feed station on a sportive. Poor bloke was mortified!

    July 25, 2014 at 8:44 am #771175
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    Suffolk Cycling

    I’ve not had a clip-in fall
    I’ve not had a clip-in fall yet, so it can be done. Been one or two near misses, though, including when crossing the finishing line at a sportive in front of dozens of people 🙂

    July 25, 2014 at 8:34 am #771173
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    Him Up North

    I first practiced with the
    I first practiced with the bike stationary, one hand against my garage wall, clipping and unclipping without going anywhere. If you have an exercise bike or a turbo trainer that would work too. Only after I felt comfortable with my technique did I (with much trepidation, I have to say) do a few lengths of the road where I live.

    Easiest mistake to make is to leave unclipping til it’s too late. Panic ensues and it’s not uncommon to unclip one foot then lean the wrong way. That split second between realisation and hitting the deck… ~X( It’s not a crime to unclip in advance; you can pedal one-footed with the foot that is still clipped in if you feel you’re coming up short. Anticipation is the key and comes with practice.

    Now I’ve had some experience I unclip the left foot and that is my standing foot. I keep the right foot clipped in for taking off again.

    I bear the scars of getting used to clipless pedals too. I’ve also found myself questioning whether they are for me, but I persevered. Keep going and good luck!

    July 25, 2014 at 8:27 am #771171
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    ajmarshal1

    omikin wrote:I have an

    omikin wrote:
    I have an update:

    Last night I fitted the pedals to the bike, and the cleats to the shoes. Then I practiced.

    I managed to fall over just getting the bike out of the garden as I had already clipped in one leg. Then I mounted properly and rode about a bit clipping both feet in and out – no problem. I was feeling pretty confident. I then decided to stop and practice going from a standstill. I clipped my right foot out then fell over to the left. Big graze on my left knee, and bruised hand and shoulder. Ouch.

    Was more concerned about any damage to the bike / shoes, but they seem fine. Felt really stupid as I clearly hadn’t thought it through.

    What advice do you guys have about technique to help me develop a good unclipping routine? Do you usually unclip the same side all the time?

    Fortunately I work for a wound dressing manufacturer so I have a very expensive and high quality dressing on my knee and it is healing nicely, but obviously if I can limit the amount of falls I would really like that. :)

    Firstly relax and remember you can keep going forward with only one foot clipped in. Start in a very low gear and if you miss the clip in first time, keep turning with your engaged foot. Concentrate on just one side at first so you develop the memory of leaning and disengaging from the same side. Once you’ve got that down, learn to do the other side. Always clip out before you get to a stop. As you’re a starter, clip out well ahead so you don’t come to a halt and panic still attached to your bike. Clip out whilst still carrying momentum.

    It will vwery quickly become second nature. Don’t fear it!

    July 25, 2014 at 8:18 am #771169
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    omikin

    I have an update:
    Last night
    I have an update:

    Last night I fitted the pedals to the bike, and the cleats to the shoes. Then I practiced.

    I managed to fall over just getting the bike out of the garden as I had already clipped in one leg. Then I mounted properly and rode about a bit clipping both feet in and out – no problem. I was feeling pretty confident. I then decided to stop and practice going from a standstill. I clipped my right foot out then fell over to the left. Big graze on my left knee, and bruised hand and shoulder. Ouch.

    Was more concerned about any damage to the bike / shoes, but they seem fine. Felt really stupid as I clearly hadn’t thought it through.

    What advice do you guys have about technique to help me develop a good unclipping routine? Do you usually unclip the same side all the time?

    Fortunately I work for a wound dressing manufacturer so I have a very expensive and high quality dressing on my knee and it is healing nicely, but obviously if I can limit the amount of falls I would really like that. 🙂

    July 22, 2014 at 9:59 am #771167
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    omikin

    Just remembered I bought
    Just remembered I bought Cycling Plus magazine this month so I have that pedal spanner!

    July 21, 2014 at 3:01 pm #771165
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    sergius

    You learn something new every
    You learn something new every day 🙂

    All the pedals I’ve ever had (a few pairs of shimanos + various flats on the MTB/BMX) have used a spanner, I’ve not had Look pedals before.

    I’ve never had a problem finding a spanner that fits when changing pedals, but I do happen to have about 40 of the things in my toolkit.

    July 21, 2014 at 1:34 pm #771163
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    glynr36

    sergius wrote:Fitting pedals

    sergius wrote:
    Fitting pedals requires nothing more than a spanner (note that the thread is in the opposite direction to the pedaling rotation), be sure to apply some grease to the threads before adding your new pedals.

    Thats not strictly true;
    1. A lot of systems use a allen key in the axle as opposed to flats (the 3 pairs of Looks I own follow this) for a spanner.
    2. You can’t just get any spanner, an adjustable is usually too wide, and some spanners themselves are too wide. A dedicated pedal spanner is best if your pedals have the flats on, slightly longer for leverage when removing.

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