http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: SPDs on a fixed en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:37:22 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151617 Fri, 02 May 2014 17:19:20 +0000 Uberuce 151617@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah yes, I'd forgotten; asking that question is the Other Rite of Clipless Passage. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151593 Fri, 02 May 2014 14:48:58 +0000 jamesire 151593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Whoah these things are great! So easy to get in and out of and pedalling feels much more effortless. Why didn't I do this sooner? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151554 Fri, 02 May 2014 11:45:56 +0000 Uberuce 151554@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Silly, silly Roibeard. It's a beautiful, harmonic dance; a single soul in two bodies.</p> <p>Urm....only one of the bodies is a bike without a freewheel. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151483 Fri, 02 May 2014 09:06:31 +0000 Roibeard 151483@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I also tried Uberuce's fixie, but I think it propelled me - I can't remember if I was clipped in, but I was definitely a passenger!</p> <p>I'm not entirely certain that one ever <em>rides</em> a fixie, more that it tolerates your presence...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151450 Thu, 01 May 2014 23:13:11 +0000 SimonS 151450@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've tried the -51 and the -56 and I would heartily agree with the suggestion to start with the -56.</p> <p>The first time that you come to a stop and get that falling feeling you will move your heel in any direction except outwards and embarrass yourself with the -51. The -56 will release even upwards if set light enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151443 Thu, 01 May 2014 21:34:27 +0000 wingpig 151443@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I rode Uberuce's SPD-equipped fixie for over fifty metres last autumn without falling off, despite never having ridden a fixie prior thereto. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151440 Thu, 01 May 2014 21:02:46 +0000 sardar08 151440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used toeclips/straps with fixed about 20 years ago. I don't remember falling off but I didn't use cleats! I do remember being frustrated at trying to tighten the straps with the cranks going round!<br /> I've returned to fixed only recently with double-sided SPD's and it's brilliant-much easier than the old strappy things. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151420 Thu, 01 May 2014 18:19:06 +0000 Uberuce 151420@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's certainly easier to clip into a freewheeling bike than a fixed, but by using straps you've already crossed the rubicon of impressing on yourself the need to think about un-retaining your feet before stopping. While you're still almost certain to go through the rite of passage that is Failure to Unclip, you'll probably do it less often than most, unless you trackstand a lot and like me found it harder to unclip than unstrap during said activity. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151415 Thu, 01 May 2014 17:20:53 +0000 skinnypins 151415@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>To echo, you'll get used to it very quickly. On the odd occasion I miss clipping into my SPDs on my fixed, I happily pootle along pushing on the pedal with the shoe sole until I have a chance to clip in again. However, it's a bit of a faff if I miss on a steep hill, so I tend to trackstand to avoid any mishaps in that situation! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151412 Thu, 01 May 2014 16:55:05 +0000 Cyclops 151412@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Shimano make two different kinds of SPD cleats - SH51 release only by twisting out but SH56 are multi-release and release in any direction so are a lot easier for new SPD users to learn with. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151410 Thu, 01 May 2014 16:54:24 +0000 jamesire 151410@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>'It's a lot easier than it is to get your feet into toe straps'</p> <p>This is good to hear! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151409 Thu, 01 May 2014 16:48:28 +0000 Coxy 151409@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Clipping <em>IN</em> is never the problem..... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151404 Thu, 01 May 2014 16:24:22 +0000 rust 151404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"My only concern is that with the pedals constantly turning it might be tricky to clip in at first"</em></p> <p>It's a lot easier than it is to get your feet into toe straps. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151399 Thu, 01 May 2014 16:04:27 +0000 jamesire 151399@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Great, thanks! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151398 Thu, 01 May 2014 15:54:53 +0000 wingpig 151398@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"...and then trying to unclip can see you panicking and wrenching up when you should be twisting out..."</em></blockquote></p> <p>Mine are loose enough to let me out if I wrench upwards panickily enough.</p> <p><blockquote><em>"My only concern is that with the pedals constantly turning it might be tricky to clip in at first."</em></blockquote></p> <p>I rarely get in enough of a mess that I need to stop pedalling to clip in - if I miss on the movement in which I've lifted my foot off the ground during the first downstroke by the still-clipped-in foot I just wait until the unclipped foot is on its first backswing to shuffle it slightly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151388 Thu, 01 May 2014 15:28:12 +0000 jamesire 151388@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well I usually keep my left foot in the strap at all times, my right foot is the one I put down when stopping. Thanks for the tip about starting with one side looser, I'll try that. My only concern is that with the pedals constantly turning it might be tricky to clip in at first. However I'm able to get in and out of a strap okay while fixed so I hope it'll be easy enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151384 Thu, 01 May 2014 15:23:53 +0000 I were right about that saddle 151384@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Don't do the pedals up too tight to begin with. Accept that you'll fall off at a standstill once. Try not to stage your inevitable fall in front of a packed police car like I did. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151383 Thu, 01 May 2014 15:21:07 +0000 Instography 151383@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Do you have a foot that you tend to disengage when you stop? I favour my left so that one is set loose so that I can unclip easily. And I've developed the habit over the years of unclipping a lot when there's only a chance that I'll need to put my foot down. I learned the sore way that slowing to a near stop and then trying to unclip can see you panicking and wrenching up when you should be twisting out. And then you fall over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12721#post-151379 Thu, 01 May 2014 15:12:12 +0000 jamesire 151379@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I just bought my first SPD pedals/shoes! I got the cheapest SPD mountain bike pedals I could find on Wiggle along with a pair of Shimano touring shoes (look reasonably light, easy to walk around in). </p> <p>Any tips before I hit the road (hopefully not literally)? Should I change from fixed to freewheel while I get used to these? I've only used straps or toe clips until now, but felt like upgrading. </p> <p>Cheers </p>