Road Cycling - newbie question about clip peddals

What is the benif to using them, compared to normal peddals?

Efficiency. You can apply force on the up stroke as well as the down. They do help. It's one of the things that you can do without until you try it.

ohhh I see.

Efficiency. You can apply force on the up stroke as well as the down. They do help. It's one of the things that you can do without until you try it.

What makes it more efficient/comfortable than the toe-straps, which I use since I'd rather spare the expense of clipping shoes.

What makes it more efficient/comfortable than the toe-straps, which I use since I'd rather spare the expense of clipping shoes.


You can pedal in a circle...which is hard with straps... I have straps on my mtn bike still...and I have to say, I hate how inefficient it feels when riding it compared to my road bike with clipless...

Its well worth the cost if you can afford it...

And you can't forget to loosen clipless pedals. So, you'll never fall over at a light again.

I like the idea of being more efficient, but i don't particularly like the idea of falling on the road when you can't unlcip in time.

You'll easily be able to unclip in time. It's a simple twist of the foot.

Oh, you will fall. But, like Laggard says once you engage your brain to twist those days will be behind you. The best you can hope for is for minimal spectatorship when you do fall. It's still worth it. But if you can't afford it straps will do just fine.

Clipless makes a big difference, even over toe clips. Sure you can pull up as well as push down, but much more so with the clipless. Especially noticable on hills and during acceleration.

using toe clips and straps is even more unsafe than using clipless, IMHO

We have lots of reports of peole falling over using clipless but very few using toe clips. If you go and cinch them tight, then of course you cant get your feet out, that why you should never do that.
Clipless riders tend to use stiffer shoes, so the pedalling platform is more efficient. You can use leisure style shoes in both types of pedal.
Clipless allows you to apply force over more of the pedalling circle than toe clips do.
Clipless allows you to pedal with more force and hold you in position more accurately than toe clips.
Clipless riders have to use special shoes, so cant just get on the bike and ride to the corner shop. Most of the shoes are designed for athletic riding in hot weather. A few winter styles are available. Many winter riders swap their clipless for trad pedals and winter boots.
If you are racing or riding athletically, then clipless is better. If you are Just Riding Along, it makes little difference.

You can pedal in a circle...which is hard with straps... I have straps on my mtn bike still...and I have to say, I hate how inefficient it feels when riding it compared to my road bike with clipless...

Its well worth the cost if you can afford it...

A set of clips/straps pedals costs around $20. You can get a set of decent clipless at Nashbar for about the same price.

Having just "graduated" from clips/straps to clipless, I can attest to a logarithmic increase in efficiencey. The only problem is I am using an entirely different set of muscles which, after several hours yesterday, are screaming bloody murder!

I have fallen on two occasions when using straps. I have used clipless for 3 years and have not fallen, except when someone fell on me. IMHO it is a natural movement to turn your foot sideways to unclip. When you are using straps, you have to pull your foot backwards. I have spd shoes and love them. Thinking about getting road shoes, but all I hear about are the negative problems of not being able to walk and that is why I ride... to get to the next food stop. Of course the main reason to wear clipless, is so if you fall, you can throw your body to the ground and elevate your bike (using your clipped in shoes and legs) to lessen any damage to the bike.

using toe clips and straps is even more unsafe than using clipless, IMHO

I use both interchangeably (3 different bikes) with no problems. Haven't fallen since 1998. I don't think they are unsafe at all. You just have to use common sense when you ride.

I like clip-in shoes for longer "duded up" rides where I get the Lycra on, etc. I like having the toe clips when I just jump on the bike without all the preparation. My "after work" road bike, which I keep in the car, has toe clips so that I don't have to lug along my biking shoes in the car for after work rides. My mtn bike "beater bike" which I use for going to the store, etc., has toe clips for the same reason. Can jump right on it in a pair of shorts (or long pants and a rubber band) and just head out. My Lemond "show bike" has clipless - and I use it for longer weekend rides, centuries and the like.

I must have eaten a lot of lead paint chips as a kid!

using toe clips and straps is even more unsafe than using clipless, IMHO

I've never understood this. I've been riding clips and straps for about half my life now, and still haven't had a problem. Where does the danger come in, exactly?

I think it comes from the fact that you have to pull your foot BACK and then put it out to the side, when naturally your foot wants to come off sideways so you just turn your heel out to the side and POP! it comes out of the pedal and off the bike :D

I've never understood this. I've been riding clips and straps for about half my life now, and still haven't had a problem. Where does the danger come in, exactly?

When you crash and are dragged along with the bike and your ankles are destroyed because you can't get out of the straps... when you crash, 99% of the time clipless will release. My boss, and many of his long time riding buddies have suffered pretty horrific crashes and injuries due partly to straps, and they all refuse to relive the days of straps after going clipless 15+ years ago.

Efficiency. You can apply force on the up stroke as well as the down. They do help. It's one of the things that you can do without until you try it.

Actually, most cyclists do not impart any significant power on the up stroke. That is according to biomechanical studies.

But the pedals do help because they keep your feet in contact with the pedals so none of your power, down and rarely up is wasted.

Also, you are almost never going to have a problem unclipping in a fall or crash. You will almost certainly twist enough for your feet to release without you even trying.

Lennox,

For most riding, the benefits far out-weigh the disadvantages. I don't know of any cyclists that have gone over to clip-less and then went back. I'm going to make some assumptions about your interests and riding style... 'scuse me if I'm wrong.

If you're considering going clip-less, I recommend starting with spd-type pedals and touring or "light-duty" mtn bike shoes (heavy duty being the ones with heavily lugged soles... there's probably better terminology, but I'm a roadie ;)). Higher prices get you a pedal that weighs less, but an inexpensive set will do fine. In any case, you want a model that allows some "float", i.e. one that allows your foot to rotate several degrees without dis-engaging (I think this is typical with spd-type pedals). Likewise with shoes, you can probably find some fairly inexpensive models on sale. When the cleat is mounted it should be recessed into the sole, rather than protruding, so you can walk easily. Because the clipless pedals have a small contact area, you want something with a fairly stiff soles, that will spread out the pressure over a larger area.

There is a small learning curve, going to clip-less. You may fall over a time or two in the process of learning, and should spend some time practicing clipping in and getting out in a vacant parking lot... not at stop signs or traffic lights. :eek:



[...]they all refuse to relive the days of straps after going clipless 15+ years ago.

A historical note here. In the days before clipless pedals, high performance cycling footwear consisted strap, cage, and a little cleat that attached to the bottom of the shoe. The cleat had a cross-ways slot that fit over the back edge of the pedal, which was similar to a light-weight platform pedal. In order to keep from pulling your foot out on hard efforts, you had to cinch the straps down pretty tight, often resulting in toes going to sleep, or at least getting cold. And they had no float. Bottom line... I don't think you'll even find a retrogrouch who extols the virtues of clips/cleats.

Well, well, well...this retrogrouch/ex-track/fat-hack is gunna extol the virtues of toe clips and straps. Firstly, the cleats wear a little bit, quite quickly, allowing some float on the pedals. Secondly: theoretically there is an infinate amount of tension levels you can't apply to the straps, meaning you can ride super-tight, a little tight, way loose, etc....allowing you to ride down a busy street with the straps undone, with the ability to whip your foot out in an instant. Clipless pedals are either all-in or all-out.
Thirdly, and most importantly, when my double Errebi straps are done up tight i can sprint like a total maniac with my arms and legs goin' all over the place, and I know there is no way in the world my foot is gunna pull out.

It's also makes it cheaper when you have multiple bikes. I have five bikes, all equiped with old Suntour pedals which cost me about $10 a pair. The day I see no track sprinters wearing any kind of strap is the day I'll think about trying clipless pedals.

What is the benif to using them, compared to normal peddals?

The only benefits are comfort (A HUGE benefit) and the fact that you'll most likely become un-clipped if you crash.