Fifty Plus (50+) - I can see where these clipless thingies might be OK, even for me.

I took the plunge and bought some SPD pedals and a pair of Nike MTB shoes last week. Installed them the day I got them, and adjusted the tension as low as I dared according to the instructions. Last night was the first time I was able to get out and actually use them. I was pretty worried about unclipping, especially with my left foot. I have had chronic back problems for years mostly affecting my left leg. Foot drop and some noticable muscle atrophy (which thankfully cycling has reversed) but still not the same strength or range of motion in the left foot. I had a hell of a time twisting my foot out from the pedal with enough strength and motion to get unclipped. I finally figured out that I could also twist my foot inward to unclip, which for me works best. Right foot is a lot easier to get out, I can twist it out from the pedals and get it done in what I assume is the usual way. Clipping in takes a little more oomph than I had imagined, but I suspect that is a result of the pedals and shoes I purchased. The pedals are those combination ones that have a platform along with the clip, and the shoes have cleats that I assume are an intereference fit with the platforms so that I have to put some force on them to deform enough to get the clip to close. Still, it gets done and I assume a little breaking in will make that easier.

I can see where they will add a good bit of efficiency, especially as one gets used to using them and the up stroke muscles get trained to do their part. I could definitely tell a difference on the hills, especially when I concentrated on lifting the legs. The shoes are comfortable enough too. Glad I got them. Still waiting to fall over the first time. Only one halfway close call last night and that was after I had unclipped but the cleat still caught on the clip when I was taking my foot off the pedal. I'm sure it will come. Hope it's near a soft spot!

Way to go, T-Man! You, too, took the plunge and -I suspect- will not be looking back.
Yes, what clipless offers in terms of uphill pedalling is pretty immediately noticable and amazing.
I'm not clear on your pedals, though. Mine have the platform on one side and the clip? clamp? lock? on the other side.

They look like regular smallish platform pedals (both sides) with clips on both sides. They are Shimano. You can then ride with either bike shoes or regular shoes without fretting about which side of the pedal is up.

Got it

If you wish you can invest in the alternate "multi-release angle" cleats that Shimano sells. They will allow you to get unclipped with a rapid upward jerk of the heel in an emergency. For beginers this can be a good starting point.
They will however perform an unwanted unclip more often.

Once it warms up, I will be trying out my PowerGrips, which multiple reviewers have said give about 90% of the effect of clipless.

Now, if it will only warm up.

I had the PowerGrips and loved them, Tom. Now, I've got clipless, and they are better, unless you simply must ride with a streetable shoe. Anyway, that aplies to me. Your experience may vary. Anyway, both are better than platforms, and anything is better than toeclips - again, that's my experience.

Powergrips work great. I use clipless in my bike, but we have Powergrips on our spinner at home, so wifey and I can both use it without changing pedals.

Have had clipless since 94. Best pedals I have found, but I have not tried many, Are the cheap shimano double sided spd's. I started with the 515's which everyone said were rubbish and still have them 6 years after buying them. On the road bike- I got the SPD's with a cage around them to accomodated a non SPD shoe- why I don't know so perhaps I ought to put these on the Tandem for occasional riders.

I have never skimped on pedals but since getting the shimano SPD's- I have not had a failure and not even had to service them. The other pedals I used needed a strip and rebuild and regrease every year or so so Maintenance for me is minimal.

I had a problem with one pair of shoes that had an aggressive hard tread and I found it Awkward to clip in. The tread was fouling the Pedals so a bit of trimming with a Stanley knife on the tread and I cured that problem. Only other problem I have found is mud and stones in the shoe cleat. That has made it difficult to clip in but Quick stamp on the ground normally cures that. Only problem I have now is setting the tension high enough to stop pulling out of the pedals, and still engage at first touch.

Only problem I have now is setting the tension high enough to stop pulling out of the pedals, and still engage at first touch.

Somehow, that's a problem I'm not anticipating.

Somehow, that's a problem I'm not anticipating.

Neither am I. :o

Have had clipless since 94. Best pedals I have found, but I have not tried many, Are the cheap shimano double sided spd's. I started with the 515's which everyone said were rubbish and still have them 6 years after buying them.

Only problem I have now is setting the tension high enough to stop pulling out of the pedals, and still engage at first touch.
I have the same SPD's and use them on single track. They are set to absolute minimum tension. I can clip out during a panic stop with very little effort and that's how I like it. I've only had them unclip accidently once when the crank rammed into a 8" stump. Otherwise, I don't know why I would want to increase the tension. Clipping in is sooooo smooth, sometimes I have to lift up to be sure I'm clipped in. I like these so much, both my son and I use them on our mountain bikes and road road bikes. I guess I like what some others don't, but I have no complaints with the SPD clipless.

I started using clipless pedals back in the 80's, when they first came out. Had the white Look pedals. I switched to the Shimano original SPD road pedals because the cleat was smaller than the clodhopper Look cleat, and because you can actually use the road SPD cleat on Shimano's double-sided mtb pedals. I use Shimano mtb pedals on my commuter bike because you need a double-sided pedal when you're riding on snow - ya gotta get clipped in *right now* and you don't have time to be searching for the top of the pedal because you will bog down too quickly.

It's too bad they stopped making the SPD road pedals and cleats (not to be confused with SPD-R, a dumb variant, and with SPD Lance, or whatever their current pedal is called, which is a return to the Look design but non-compatible (so what else is new at Shimano?) I hope my stash of cleats and pontoons lasts until another good pedal design comes along (I've been tempted by SpeedPlay, but I've heard it doesn't respond well to dirty conditions).

One great thang about the SPD system is that the more worn the cleats get, the harder it is to unclip. This is just the opposite of most pedal designs, where as the cleat wears, your foot is more likely to disengage unexpectedly, something you never want to have happen on the track. Ever see some poor trackie disengage at sprint speed and do a 60 kmh somersault onto hard banked concrete? Not pretty.

- L.

For the 1st 6 months pull both feet from the pedals when coming to a stop or look for a soft place to land. With cliped pedals you are used to pulling up and straight back on your shoe to remove it in an emergency and that is exactly the wrong thing to do with clipless. I provided a lot of entertainment to the autodriving set when I first changed over. After a while the sideways motion to unclip becomes natural. Until it does don't take any chances.

For the 1st 6 months pull both feet from the pedals when coming to a stop or look for a soft place to land. With cliped pedals you are used to pulling up and straight back on your shoe to remove it in an emergency and that is exactly the wrong thing to do with clipless. I provided a lot of entertainment to the autodriving set when I first changed over. After a while the sideways motion to unclip becomes natural. Until it does don't take any chances.

I believe that go be good advice and I intend to follow it, with the Grace of God. But it won't be His fault when I do tip over.

Since when I ride I am almost 100% on the bike, no walking around I use SPD-SL pedals/cleats. These combined with the Sidi's I bought keep my feet comfortable and provide a much nicer pedaling experience. I fell once, right after I got them, now I don't even know they I am clipping/unclipping it is second nature. The only downside to the SPD-SL is using the bathroom, they are very slippery on tile floors.