Mountain Biking - Ok all, I need help on these death shoes!

Ok,after 6 years, I got back into mtn biking.
I love it. Now, here is the hard part, I cannot,
just cannot get used to these shoe clips.

I do great until I'm on a skinny single
track and I'm hitting lots of rocks.

So, here is the question: should I persue
different kinda of clips? Are different brands
easier to get out of?

Also, how will I ever know if I have them
adjusted right? Is there some trick or guidlines?


Thanks mucho.
natter - :D

I'm strictly a city rider, so you'd think my advice wouldn't be good for off-track purposes. But it is, because I have to be able to instantly get unclipped, just as you do: because of motorists with rocks in their heads, instead of rocks on the trail! ;)

So that puts us in the same boat as regards clips: and here's my two cents' worth.

You didn't say if it was clips-and-straps or clipless pedals involved, but it sounded like clips-and-straps to me. So I'll list them first.

There are clips available that don't have straps. They will help keep your foot straight and provide some lift from the front part of your foot. The bike cops in Kansas City, Kansas use them, and I've seen this kind of clip in bike stores. They're rugged but I have never tried them.

You could use most toe clips without straps, but they are not as solid as the ones I spoke of above.

Secrets? I don't know of any, maybe somebody else does. A lot of riders say it's necessary to tighten the straps very, very tight to get maximum benefit (lifting the pedal) out of clips and straps. I disagree--I don't think it makes that much difference, except to make your foot uncomfortable. But even if the straps are tight, it should still be easy to get out if they're buckled right. I keep mine medium tight.

Now for clipless pedals. I can only speak about one kind, Shimano SPD mountain-bike pedals. That's all I've used, except for a brief trial of a road-bike clipless pedal I turned out not to like.

With SPD's, you can adjust the tension so that it's so easy to clip out, you'll find yourself doing it by accident sometimes. I don't think this is so good! Even when they're adjusted pretty tight, they're very easy to get out of--and into.

I consider SPD's safer than clips and straps because they are actually easier to get in and out of than the clips and straps. However, one thing is necessary for safety: periodically make sure the screws that hold the cleat in the shoe are tight. If they loosen enough, you can find yourself trapped in the pedal.

I hope some of this helps. And remember, there's no disgrace in riding without any kind of clip system. The greatest stunt riders do just that. It's just not as efficient for normal riding.

I`ve rode about 1.5 year with toeclips and then purchased SPD, at that time i wished i bought them earlier.
Riding with SPD is comfortable, energy saving and more control, if you going to purchase them, take the time to make riding with SPD natural, sett the pedals to "light" and go out riding on the road.
If you think it feels good, you can hit a track in the hills or something.

Hi Natter, and welcome to the forums! :)

Why not just ride flat pedals? My mate rides them, and loves them to bits.

I've been riding my SPD'S for 9 odd years, and love them to bits...when I 1st used them though, I was always falling off and cracking my knee on rocks and stuff, so I quickly learnt how to get out of them pronto *otherwise the hospital would've put a name plate on one of the beds for me!?*

As Jon said above, you can get toeclips without straps, and they're pretty good for all sorts of riding, and gaining your confidence.

Anyhow, whatever you decide to use, it's gonna take time and practise to get used to them :), just my 2 p's worth! :D

Rich

Flat pedals? Just plain old school pedals? That's what I've been thinking myself. Do they sell any good ones?

Originally posted by Trekn
Flat pedals? Just plain old school pedals? That's what I've been thinking myself. Do they sell any good ones?

There are loads out there!!! I ride Odyessy Triple Cage babies for street trials etc, but there are loads!

Out of the two, I do perfer my Time Clip in pedals, they shed the British mud quicker than...urm, something that sheds mud quickly....yes :rolleyes:

Rich

I remember as a young lad smashing my shins off my pedals all the time. Those ones used to hurt with the grip spikes on them.. Ouch!

Natter, it JonR has some good points, you might try using clips without straps. But the for the most part it just takes practice like anything else. I used just plain old plain old pedals for the longest time, no straps, no clips, no nothing, just a piece of plastic. Then I started using Power Grips. I still haven't gotten used to them, but it is a lot better than having my foot fly off the pedals all the time.!!!

Originally posted by Rich

quicker than...urm, something that sheds mud quickly....yes :rolleyes:


Quicker than a Teflon-coated ferret on a live wire?

Originally posted by Trekn
I remember as a young lad smashing my shins off my pedals all the time. Those ones used to hurt with the grip spikes on them.. Ouch!

I remember that to, my shins are marked all over :D

Natter,

Are you talking about clipless pedals or actual pedals with straps?

The flat pedal vs clipless debate...

Here is my take on it...not that my take means anything...

Unless you are doing North Shore type riding or sick descents you are better off with clipless. For XC, clipless are definitely the best choice since they allow you to pull up, not just push down on the pedal. This helps immensely on the climbs. After riding clipless for a week or so, getting out of them will become second nature...

agree w/ Joe. And I'm a retro grouch!

Originally posted by Joe Pozer
After riding clipless for a week or so, getting out of them will become second nature...
I would like to encourage anybody that's avoiding clipless pedals just because of feeling a little intimidated or scared, to give them a try. It only took me one ride to be thoroughly comfortable with SPD's. I installed them at the office where they were delivered by Airborne Express, rode home on them that evening, and was completely sold on them.

And I'm far from an extraordinarily skillful or graceful cyclist! :)

The only reason I don't use them now, as I've said before, is that I don't want to be limited to one pair or kind of shoes. Who knows, I might go back to them anyway. They're so much easier in heavy traffic, than clips and straps.

Originally posted by JonR
And I'm far from an extraordinarily skillful or graceful cyclist! :)


And modest too, I should no wonder :D

Rich

Originally posted by Rich


And modest too, I should no wonder :D

Rich
Well, yes, Rich, I am extremely modest, but I...don't really like to mention it...too often...

Jon, you do crack me up! :)

Rich

Originally posted by JonR
The only reason I don't use them now, as I've said before, is that I don't want to be limited to one pair or kind of shoes. Who knows, I might go back to them anyway. They're so much easier in heavy traffic, than clips and straps.

Jon- you can get a "sneaker adaptor" from Nashbar for 6.95 that clips into an SPD pedal and effectively turns it into a platform pedal for those rides where you don't want to ride SPD shoes. I've never used one since I ride Time pedals and they aren't compatible, but it sounds like a good idea.

Originally posted by riderx


Jon- you can get a "sneaker adaptor" ...
Thanks, I've thought about that, too--keep going, you guys will have me back in my SPD's before long...:D