CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
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After some consideration (about 15 years) I think I might give in and aquire Satan's Pedals for my road bike. I will be forced to walk funny but my risk of falling over at the traffic lights having forgotten to loosen my toeclips will be lowered and I will be able to wear overshoes.
I know nothing about them. Does anyone have any recommendations/avoidances?
You have two sorts, the kind that uses little cleats that sit in a recess in the soles of your shoes, and the kind that uses great big cleats that make you walk like a duck.
SPD: Shimano makes probably the most common system. Fair amount of free movement ("float") to keep knees happy. Easy to adjust the force needed to unclip. Super reliable - my first pair is 15 years old now and still ticking (mostly). Little cleats. Has spawned lots of imitators, some of which are compatible, some of which aren't (probably to get around patent law).
Crank Bros. Egg Beaters: Super minimal mechanism is good for mud and snow. Four-sided design means it's practically infallible for clipping in. Lots of free movement. Little cleats.
Time ATAC: A bit like two-sided Egg Beaters with a bigger platform for your shoe. Probably the second most popular system and has lots of free movement (side to side and twisting). Uses little cleats.
Speedplay Frogs and Zeroes: Tiny little pedals with the cleat housing the mechanism. I have no idea what they're like to ride. Uses big cleats, technically.
Look Keo: Big triangular cleats with pedals that work a bit like ski bindings. Big platform is great for putting power into the pedals but the cleat needs a roadie shoe. Better versions have adjustable clip tension, adjustable axle length, adjustable cleat tilt, adjustable float. Also comes in original Look Delta format with flatter cleats. Exustar makes some pedals that are compatible with Look.
Shimano SPD-SL: Basically the same as Look Keo, but not directly compatible.
Time: Metal hook-shaped cleat in a sort of Look-alike pedal. Generally recommended for anyone with dodgy knees, or for anyone keen to avoid dodgy knees. Also needs a specific shoe last time I looked (no pun intended).
I've used clipless for about ten years. I use mountain bike shoes with Shimano SPD cleats and double-sided pedals for commuting and I use road bike shoes with SPD-SL cleats and one-sided pedals for riding in the country. I once tried road shoes with SPDs but fell flat on my back in the kitchen before I even got out the door (SPD-SLs have little rubber grips).
What's the word on strapless clips? I used to ride with toe clips years ago, have never had them on bikes over here. I'm unlikely ever to invest in special shoes etc, but have been wondering if strapless clips might be worth a try?
I think it depends on your typical use case: if you're in town and stopping all the time then I think SPDs are the right choice as they're really easy to get in and out of. Just a quick flick of the ankle and you're free.
I fell off my bike the very first commute after I installed them when I forgot I was clipped in. Fell off just outside the Playhouse.
But what a difference they make even in town. Really glad I bought them (Shimano M520). Cheap as chips on ebay I'd imagine.
Wow, thanks everyone, and especially for all that info Arellcat. I will no doubt be able to add to the amusing anecdotes soon...
SRD- I use clips and straps but just never tighten the straps in town. This has only ever caused problems when I rode in sandals once and the sandal straps got caught up with the toe straps at traffic lights and you can probably guess the rest.
Personally I use SPD's (Shimano A530) which given me the option of using normal shoes as well. You can get SPD sandal as well...
I see the logic in SPDs - I even bought a pair of shoes and a half and half type pedal (that you can use with normal shoes) but I have gone back to toeclips with loose straps, which have now broken off so I am in fact using strapless clips. They appear to be close to pointless. I am now tempted by cranks as hard not to engage. I often have to stop behind some speed merchant engaging the cleat after lights change, I daren't overtake them as that will annoy them and they will bomb past til next set of lights. I need normal shoes at the other end [this end point varies] so I have to carry them in pannier, increasing weight. I am always stopping on my commute so I remain still unconvinced but also feart of falling off.
If you're using clipless pedals for the first time, I suggest that you leave the left cleat off until you're used to them, then fit the second cleat. It'll give you a chance to practice until you're confident enough. I've used SPDs snd Look types, and they're a big improvement on toe clips.
Cheers
Colin
Better still, you could fit the left cleat only, and learn to stop with the correct foot down (although it might be a sharp way to learn, if you're a long-term leftie reprobate!)
They say everyone falls off three times - once because you're not used to them, once because you are used to them (so you forget about them) and once down the line to teach you not to be clever.
I've managed a few more than that but still would never ride without SPDs if I could help it (I use the mountain sort, because it's agonising trying to use single-sided pedals around town).
Spotted a recumbent on canal towpath today, it was not Dave. There was just about enough room and the driver was most considerate. Not sure how she crossed the aqueduct at Slateford.
Gembo, was she wearing black tights, black/blue jacket and her hair tied back under a Buff?
Arellcat - I am afraid I did not get the details - she may have been wearing glasses and certainly was most civil in the way she negotiated the errant pedestrians and let two 'normal' bicycles through. Bent was heading in to town about 3.45 as I was heading to glorious Wester Hailes. I only brought it up as I have seen Dave on the roads before I knew it was Dave but never spotted a Bent on the towpath before. Apologies if this is unremarkable.
so how did you cross the aqueduct?
I was on the canal/in harrison park for a while this evening - 5ish to 6ish and could not believe the number of kids being carted home on parental bikes. Shandon clearly is the bike capital of Edinburgh.
Gembo, that was me heading into town after work, and thank you for your kind comments . :-) I joined the canal path just after the aqueduct, by the new flats.
I cycled across but if you meet someone coming the other way you can lean on to the railings and let them through, I imagine this might be harder on a Bent, I am bracing myself for the Correction. [Alas I cannot recall where we got CORRECTION from but we used to shout it at each other all the time]
I've always been very happy to ride over the aqueduct, mainly because it has a sign saying not to... I've never ridden the towpath on my Raptobike though, I find it too frustrating with all the foot traffic to bother using it much.
Well in the end I went for the Shimano SPDs with mountain bike shoes. I can pedal tolerably well with the pedal upside down so getting away from traffic lights is fine. And absolutely fine with only one cleat (long story). And can walk too. So am pretty happy with them.
Shimano SPDs with mountain bike shoes are what I use. Basically because I spend a lot of time on my feet when I do training or learn to ride LB bike thing.
Different systems have there followers...
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