Track Cycling - Pedals and shoes recommend.

Hello, I've been training for about a year on a nice classic steel track bike using MKS Sylvan track pedals with clips and straps and leather racing shoes. I'm going to start racing on the track this year and I'm interested in trying out clipless pedals. Can someone recommend a good pedal and shoe combination that isn't too expensive? Thanks!

There are many answers to this question but I've been using Shimano Ultegra pedals on the track, for general track work, for about 4 years and I can't fault them at all. I've seen them on sale at many mailorder places recently.

Shoes - too many to mention and almost anything will do fine. Get some in your price range that fit well.

If you're planning to do sprint type racing (sprints, keirin, kilo) most people would tell you to stay where you are- with the old school. I've been using Ultegra spd-sl's for a bit with no issues, but I'm now making the jump to clips and straps via the old DA track pedal and some DMT's. The Sylvan is kind of low-end, but a fine pedal. If you wanted to get classy maybe move up to the RX-1 for the improved bearing quality.

If you're gonna be doing pursuit/points/madison, etc., most of your competitors will likely be on clipless. But the people who know will tell you that for security and power transfer nothing beats old style slotted cleats with clips and straps.

shimano ultegra or durace are very popular pedals, so too speedplay track pedals I find.

I don't think you can really pull out from the durace pedals, standing starts or sprinting, you can also attach a toe strap as well beneath the pedal, it will sit in an ok spot over your shoe. In a rare and unlucky event the strap will hold your foot with the pedal and keep the whole thing together and you might clip back in and not even notice it has come out. You'd more or less have to twist your foot sideways to exit the pedal though.

having shimano pedals on your track bike is good as you can have the same pedal on your road bike. just keep the cleats in good order.

Shoes are based on what fits your foot and your budget.

When I started track racing I was using Time ATAC pedals, which are ATB pedals. They were my all-purpose pedal, so I stuck with what I had. If you think you want an all-purpose racing and commuting and everything else clipless pedal go for the Time.

Shortly after the season started I got some road pedals - older Look pedals - which have been working out just fine since then. You can find them for really cheap so if money is an issue just go for those, since they are around in buckets and "outdated" which means cheap.

If I were buying new pedals I'd get Shimano Ultegra-level SPD-SL pedals. The clipping mech is very firm and the pedals have little extra nubs on them so that you don't directly wear down the clip interface when you walk around on your pedals. And for track racing, since there is plenty of hanging out, I wind up walking in my road shoes a little bit.

I wouldn't recommend staying "old scchool" unless you have shoes with slotted cleats to wear with those clips and straps that you have. A small handful of people at Kissena use those, but mostly just for training rather than for racing.

I guess it depends on your local scene. Here I'm the only one on clipless usually! Best advice is probably go to the track, see what the experienced guys are using, then use that. It's bound to work.

But oh yeah- old school set-up requires proper cycling shoes with slotted cleats. Tennis shoes with the strap real tight won't cut it.

Slotted cleats are becoming harder and harder to find these days, but they don't wear out that quickly either. As supposedly low-tech as clips and straps on old quill pedals may be, they are a very secure way to lash your feet to pedals without allowing any float at all.

That said, pretty much any road pedal of decent quality (I use Look KeO Sprints) will serve you just fine. Unless you're titanically strong, or have a seriously sloppy pedalstroke, you can't pull out or accidentally unclip.

The middle ground is to get a set of Ultegra or Dura Ace pedals and a set of clips and modify the clips to allow the clipless pedal to use a strap. That is the ultimate in security and what you see most of the world-class sprinters using.

Well I snatched up the last pair of Diadora shoes in my size today at Paragon in New York, 40% off! Only paid 50 bucks for them and they're super comfortable and very un-flashy looking so I won't feel self-conscious wearing them into a store or anything. I made up for my savings though by dropping 150 bucks on a set of the latest Ultegra pedals at Sid's on 19th street. I'm planning on doing my first race, which is a roller race, on Tuesday, so I didn't want to have to wait for pedals to arrive in the mail if I could have gotten them cheaper online so I just bit the bullet. I got home and set everything up, got a good feel for the new system, hit my rollers and then proceeded to roll like I have never rolled before! I've been training on the rollers for a few weeks and that certainly has something to do with how fast and stable I was today but I swear the shoes and pedals made a huge difference in my balance and stability and I was able to maintain a much higher speed than before and for longer. Wish me luck on Tuesday, anyone coming to Galapagos? Any pointers for a guy who's doing his first race at age 31? Thanks again for the recommends!!!!

Good. You'll like the Ultegra pedals. Just make sure the cleat screws are tight and stay tight. I usually check mine after every ride for the first half-dozen rides.

Galapagos? Who do ya think we are? Darwin?

Any pointers for a guy who's doing his first race at age 31? Thanks again for the recommends!!!!

For a roller race, lower your saddle a little bit (will help you spin faster), and, of course, put on a big gear when you get there.

I might swing by. Riding those BikeWorks rollers is a lot of fun.