CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport

The Perils of SPDs

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  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I was intrigued / amused / bewildered by this survey that I saw ROPSA tweeting;

    https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=147308442904

    "The road safety team at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) are currently conducting research on the experiences of cyclists and their opinions on using cycle cleats/ shimano pedalling dynamics (SPD’s). Your responses will be used to help develop a factsheet about cycle cleats/SPD’s, which will be uploaded to the RoSPA website.

    We would also like to take this chance to reassure respondents that their survey responses will not be used to suggest that cycling cleats are dangerous. Instead, the responses will be used to gather information about cycling cleats for an informative factsheet. This will offer advice to cyclists to help them make a decision about whether to use cycle cleats, and if they choose to do so, which cleats are likely to best suit their purposes"

    I have completed the survey and politely asked ROSPA what hypothesis they are testing.

    My answer to the "what could be done to make cleat use safer" was that proper, safe cycling infrastructure should be provided to allow their users to go about their business in safety.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. 531
    Member

    I put that I thought SPDs (actually use SPD-SLs) were great but I have occasional difficulty clipping in going uphill and if it is wet it can be tricky to clear an intersection to get past/through traffic. The nightmare for me is the intersection of Liberton Road and Mayfield Road in the rain. I wish there was a friction connection between pedal and shoe that could give more confidence in that situation. Of course a bike-only phase in the traffic light sequence would be even better.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I seriously can't be bothered engaging with ROSPA. I always get the impression they want everyone to stay in bed being fed through a naso-gastric tube just in case.

    Anyway, took my SPDs off the bike for this summer's off-road activities. SPDs and their shoes make pushing a bit harder and I'd also found that long days clipped in made my knees hurt.

    Using flats allowed me to wear waterproof shoes with Vibram soles. Comfy and dry. I could move my feet around the pedals any way I wanted and never slipped. I've subsequently found myself cycling a bit more as I don't have to wear clackety-clack shoes in 'non-cycling' locations.

    In short I'm not sure I'd now put SPDs on anything other than a 'sports' bike.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. Klaxon
    Member

    I've found studded MTB pedals to have grip equal to SPDs on the downstroke. Never ever slipped standing up for a wee push up a hill. I do miss being able to back crank my pedals easily to a good position for moving off lights but thats about it

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. nobrakes
    Member

    SPDs kill my knees. Used BMX style pedals for past 10 years and have recently started using power grips. I like to be able to wear trainers, hirpling about with cleats on your feet when off the bike was never much fun.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. wingpig
    Member

    "Using flats allowed me to wear waterproof shoes with Vibram soles."

    The MT71?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @wingpig

    I've had enough of 'experts' and 'facts'.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. wingpig
    Member

    My first pair of MT71s lasted for three years' cycling/walking, whereas Merrell Moabs GTX generally gave up after eight months' heavy pedestrination.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. PS
    Member

    I've caused myself more significant injuries with studded pedals than SPDs - did a particularly good job of raking the skin off my shin when I pushed down on the pedals moving off from the lights at Leith Street. I was wearing some robust trousers, so only noticed when I got home and felt some liquid running down my lower leg...

    Posted 8 years ago #

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