Mountain Biking - SPD clipless

Hi everyone!

I bought my first mountain bike not too long ago, and would now like to exchange the regular pedals with pedals that are regular on one side and clipless on the other side. I found the Nashbar Rodeo Pedal (SPD) for $20 online. While searching for reviews, I came across the owner's manual, which says: "Use only Nashbar Rodeo Cleats (NS-ROPC) with your Rodeo Pedals. Other cleats will be incompatible, and unsafe". (http://www.nashbar.com/tech/pdf_files/RODEOPED.PDF)
I have Shimano cleats. Will they really not work with these pedals, or is this for legal reasons, or do they just want me to buy their products?

Thanks :)
~Valerie

Well, the easiest way to find out is to try your shoes/cleats with the pedals. I've never heard of that type myself, but I know of about 5 other types. Time - Look - SPD - Crank Bro.s - Speedplay, with Shimano's SPD by far the most popular. I have used both Look & SPD. One works about the same as the other, but you have a far greater pedal selection available for the SPD's..... Hope this helped you out.

PS, don't let price determine what you buy. I have owned a $120 set of Look Moab SR2's, and a $29 set of Richey Logic SPD's (along with several in between) and one wasn't really any better than the other IMO.

Most companies producing SPD knockoff pedals tend to get their pedals all from the Wellgo factory. Generally speaking, these pedals all use the same binding design copied from the original Shimano PD-M737 of old and thus they will work with your Shimano cleats. Besides, they'll probably come with cleats and you can use them if you so desire. I would add however that you want to be careful if they're Ritchey pedals. Some Ritchey pedals use cleats which are similar in appearance to Shimano's but are slightly incompatible. You'll be able to clip in but you won't be able to clip out. :(

I would add however that you want to be careful if they're Ritchey pedals. Some Ritchey pedals use cleats which are similar in appearance to Shimano's but are slightly incompatible. You'll be able to clip in but you won't be able to clip out. :(

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That may be true, however I am using a set of $29 ($19 on sale actually) Ritchey Logics right now, and never changed my SPD's in my shoes, and haven't had any trouble. 4 months+, so I'm not sure I agree, at least with the Logic's anyway.... But the bottom line is that "most" cleats are included with the pedals. If your LBS don't sell them that way, then buy them online.....

That may be true, however I am using a set of $29 ($19 on sale actually) Ritchey Logics right now, and never changed my SPD's in my shoes, and haven't had any trouble. 4 months+, so I'm not sure I agree, at least with the Logic's anyway....

Yeah, I think the Logics were PD-M737 based designs. I think it was one of the other Ritchey pedals that was incompatible. I remember this because I was at my FBS when someone came in with shoes fitted with Shimano cleats and tried out a bike with some Ritchey pedals. The FBS owner was about to change out the pedals but the customer assured him it would be fine. They had to remove the shoes from the pedals in a vice with a screwdriver.

Thanks everyone for the answers! I haven't been able to find them in a store to try them on so I decided to go ahead and order them online. Either they come with cleats - that's great - or they don't, and then I can see if my Shimano cleats fit or not. I don't think it will be a problem to find someone who can use them if I can't... Will keep you updated!

Hi there,

I got the pedals Friday - they came with the cleats. Since I was just leaving for a weekend trip to go mountain biking I didn't want to take any chances and installed the included cleats, although they looked exactly the same as the Shimano cleats I already had. I just didn't want to be stuck with my shoe in the pedals on top of a mountain far away from vices and screwdrivers :eek:

Thanks all for your input!
Valerie

Hi there,

I got the pedals Friday - they came with the cleats. Since I was just leaving for a weekend trip to go mountain biking I didn't want to take any chances and installed the included cleats, although they looked exactly the same as the Shimano cleats I already had. I just didn't want to be stuck with my shoe in the pedals on top of a mountain far away from vices and screwdrivers :eek:

Thanks all for your input!
Valerie

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That's the sure way of having a good ride! More than likely both cleat sets will work, but until you get more accustomed to SPD's, just use the ones that came with the pedals. Welcome to the wonderful world of "Cleatless"!!!! You'll never go back, I promise!

Hi there... just a quick update on my first clipless-related injury :crash: I went on a ride this past Saturday, stopped my bike abruptly, and meant to place my right foot on the ground, but somehow my bike was leaning to the left - couldn't get the foot out quick enough, the bike fell with my foot still clipped in, and my chest smashed full force into the end of the handlebar. Nothing broken, but I have a giant bruise on my left boob, can't lay down because my rib cage hurts, and I got a brace for my twisted ankle. I can't imagine ever riding with my feet clipped in, but since I probably won't ride for another couple weeks anyway I have time to overcome my fears... At least I got to ride this weekend I guess...

Valerie

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your crash/injuries. I have to say after riding clipless for a couple of years, I am very uncomfortable not being clipped to my peddles. When I'm clipped my feet feel securely attached to the bike, when I ride on a platform peddle I feel like my feet could slip off with bad results.

That said, I run my clipless peddles on a very light setting. In other words, I can clip out in a flash with very little effort. I have two sets of Shimano SPDs and one set of Wellgos on a tandem and all are set very loosely. I have never experience inadvertent unclipping--and I bunny hop my mountain bike a lot--however I am crash prone and can pop out very quickly.

When I got my moutain bike, the peddles were set on a medium tension and I had several foot in crashes--it is a very powerless feeling when you are going down and can't get you feet out. I just wanted you to know that you should be able to adjust the tension required to clip out and I keep mine very loose--made all the difference in the world for me!

Hang in there!