Commuting - Just got clipless

I bought myself a pair of Specialized Rockhopper shoes today. I love the look of them (http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2004/equip/04ShoeRockhopper_l.jpg) - I got the ones with the yellow trims. I read good reviews (http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Shoes/product_72313.shtml), and they seem to be pretty good for commuting.

On the other hand, I got the the least expensive pedals in the shop, Wellgo 813s (http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22445.shtml). I intend to upgrade these in the next 2 or 3 months, but for the moment these should work fine.

I'll be falling over a lot this weekend :)

Cool. I just got my SPDs today. Fell over twice while trying it. Once left, and then right :D

But after that, I just stood up in between the frame, and tried to clip in and out on one foot, then tried on the other.

Then I decided to go on the road, and it was pretty fun.

Just remember to clip OUT when unsure of the traffic situation ahead -- like when you come to a traffic light, or when you see a car suddenly cutting into your lane and stopping, and so on.

It seems scary at first, but well, it's a start :D

Try practicing (include emergency stops) on a grassy field. Wear old clothes that you don't mind messing up. Also, try holding onto a stable post or bench or something and spend an hour or so simply clicking in and out about a hundred times while stationary to break in the pedals and cleats so they'll work more smoothly. Remember to work both pedals and both sides if they're double sided. This will also get your feet conditioned to the action.

heyy i have the same sh0es, but 1 year older. i messed them up buy riding in the rain, then trying to dry them up on a base heater, not a thing to do, my soul shriveled up and i had to cut it.

my soul shriveled up and i had to cut it. No reason to get that upset over a pair of shoes....

lol@madpogue...

--

Well I'm in work at 8pm on Friday evening - cos I just did my normal commute after installing the SPDs when I got home. I love em! Had my first embarrassing slowly tipping over, but got out before I hit the ground. Happened when I was in a safe place behind a traffic island in stopped traffic (I fell onto the island). Getting used to them a little, but will definitely take me a while before I can do it unconsiously.

Right there with you : http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=53867

i like your choice of pedals. i think i will go with the sonoma shoe. why doesn't specialized make pedals?

I have been practicing with mine for 4 days now about 2 hours a night, just getting into them and out. I'll be taking my first ride with them tomorrow.

I'm sure you are all aware of this, but you can set the tension on most SPD pedals. You need to adjust both sides of each pedal to keep them the same tension--unless you just like suprises. Loosening them up from the factory settings greatly affected my ability to unclip. I've never had unintensional unclipping even though I keep mine set at nearly the weakest setting. That way I can clip out in a flash.

I've been using Shimano mountain biking shoes and Wellgo SPD's for about a month now, they're great! I acquired 2 pairs of pedals through some road bike purchases (ended up selling one because it was too small), so I picked up the shoes on sale at the LBS. I was going to wait until I had some cash for Eggbeaters, but free pedals is free pedals.
I've been really surprised by 3 things - They make a huge difference in mountain biking, the shoes are really comfortable and I've only really fallen off twice, both times when mountain biking. There's been a few close calls roading and commuting, but managed to recover before going horizontal.
I think I'm over the initiation period, so will probably fall off them soon!

I started using clipless yesterday (got the ritchey V3 and shimano M082 for 20 bucks each). It was an uneventful commute to and from the office. Could be my imagination but I do seem to have gone noticably faster (compared to the powergrips I was using prior).

Anyway I had the pedals set to the loosest setting, my question being, outside unintended clip outs, are there any otehr reason to tighten the pedals?

[QUOTE=Alrocket]I bought myself a pair of Specialized Rockhopper shoes todayQUOTE]

I a pair of Spcialised MTB clippless for 9.99$CAN last weekend. (just ghought I'd flaunt my deal..)
If anyone in toronto is thinking about going clipless Dukes at Queen and Bathurst is selling a variety of Specialized for 9.99 due to overstock or something, in all differnt sizes. I was eyeing them at 99.99 then saw a littel sgin saying 9.99 andhgouht to myself, I may not beready to think about it right now, but DUDE 9.99$ made me want to learn.

[QUOTE=Alrocket]I bought myself a pair of Specialized Rockhopper shoes todayQUOTE]

I a pair of Spcialised MTB clippless for 9.99$CAN last weekend. (just ghought I'd flaunt my deal..)
If anyone in toronto is thinking about going clipless Dukes at Queen and Bathurst is selling a variety of Specialized for 9.99 due to overstock or something, in all differnt sizes. I was eyeing them at 99.99 then saw a littel sgin saying 9.99 andhgouht to myself, I may not beready to think about it right now, but DUDE 9.99$ made me want to learn.

That's a sweet deal, I don't suppose they have a website or ship to the US? Also, I'm new to the biking scene so I was just wondering if deals like that (on shoes) are common in US LBS.

That's a sweet deal, I don't suppose they have a website or ship to the US? Also, I'm new to the biking scene so I was just wondering if deals like that (on shoes) are common in US LBS.

their website is dukesonqueen.com.
Doubt if they would ship them, esp. at such a small amt. Keep an eye at your local store and go to bike shows, often shops will try to clear merch at tradeshows, expos etc and biking events if they have a booth, if they've overstocked.

[QUOTE=Alrocket]I bought myself a pair of Specialized Rockhopper shoes todayQUOTE]

I a pair of Spcialised MTB clippless for 9.99$CAN last weekend. (just ghought I'd flaunt my deal..)
If anyone in toronto is thinking about going clipless Dukes at Queen and Bathurst is selling a variety of Specialized for 9.99 due to overstock or something, in all differnt sizes. I was eyeing them at 99.99 then saw a littel sgin saying 9.99 andhgouht to myself, I may not beready to think about it right now, but DUDE 9.99$ made me want to learn.

Do you need a pair of Specialized Road shoes size 43 in real nice shape? :D I'll sell ya a pair for a decent price.

I started using clipless yesterday (got the ritchey V3 and shimano M082 for 20 bucks each). It was an uneventful commute to and from the office. Could be my imagination but I do seem to have gone noticably faster (compared to the powergrips I was using prior).

Anyway I had the pedals set to the loosest setting, my question being, outside unintended clip outs, are there any otehr reason to tighten the pedals?

No.
However when was the last time you checked to see it the screws that attach your cleats to your shoes were tight?
Found out the hard way when one of them comes loose....

Can you guess what happens when you try to unclip.


Loctite on the threads will go along way to alliveate this condition.

No.
However when was the last time you checked to see it the screws that attach your cleats to your shoes were tight?
Found out the hard way when one of them comes loose....

Can you guess what happens when you try to unclip.


Loctite on the threads will go along way to alliveate this condition.

Loctite? Forgive the ignorance but isn't that some sort of adhesive spray?

Good tip on checking the cleat screws, is it common for them to become lose over time? If so, how long before does that usually happen?

Loctite? Forgive the ignorance but isn't that some sort of adhesive spray?

It may come in a spray bottle but all the ones I've seen were in tubes and the substance has the consistancy of toothpaste.

wow how timely was your advice....

this morning on my commute to work I noticed that my connection to the pedal seemd to be a bit off. I was so stoked cause I had changed my pedaling style and noticed a marked improvement in my speed and didn't really mind that it became increasing harder to clip out.

Finally nearing a stoplight. I could not for the life of me clip out. My left foot was almost at a 90 degree angle but it just wouldn't clip out. My right foot had the same problem to a lesser degree but I magaed to clip out with it on the last second.

The culprit? Lose cleats on both shoes. I'm looking for/buying loctite later.

It may come in a spray bottle but all the ones I've seen were in tubes and the substance has the consistancy of toothpaste.
It comes in a little bottle like crazy glue does or in a very small tube, for a one time use. You can find it at auto part stores. Get a grade that is "removable" some of the higher grades are so strong that you can not break the screws loose witout a heat source ( a torch).
If you do not loctite em checkem every day.

I pride myself in never yet falling while wearing my clipless. Then again I got them while I was living in Maine during the winter. I used them while riding my trainer so I got lots of practice before taking them out on the rode. Good luck with them.

Ray

I'm a total noobie at this whole biking thing. Can someone explain what clipping is?

I'm a total noobie at this whole biking thing. Can someone explain what clipping is?

The below definition from Sheldon Brown's website will explain it better than I ever could:

Clipless Pedals
Up until the late '80s, the choice was between plain pedals or pedals with toe clips and straps. Since "clipless" pedals provided a way to have a secure attachment to the pedal without the use of toe clips, the name stuck, even though it is sometimes confusing to newcomers.
"Clipless" or "Step-in" pedals use a mechanism similar to a ski binding. In fact the first successful system was made by a ski binding manufacturer, Look. Clipless pedals use a cleat which is bolted to the bottom of the shoe. When the rider steps on the pedal with the cleat, the cleat locks into the pedals mechanism, and is held firmly in place. Some systems hold the foot at a fixed angle, others allow various amounts of "float", or angular rotation of the foot on the pedal.

With most clipless pedal systems, the foot is disengaged by twisting the heel outward. Some of the earlier systems, such as the pioneering Cinelli model, required the rider to reach down and operate a release mechanism by hand. This style is sometimes jocularly referred to as "death cleats."

Just had my 1st crash last night. I took a wide bend pretty fast (maybe doing 25mph). It was fairly dark, I was leaning into the turn and didn't see the loose gravel on the surface. That took the wheels right out from under me and I went straight over on my side. My feet clipped out immediately, I'm not even sure how!

I'm fine, a little grazed and right bruised elbow and knee. There's a few scratches on my helmet, scratched pedals, has roughened up the look of the bike a little (not a bad thing at all - I care about how it rides, not looks). All in all, I came out quite well and it was a good education to have such a minor tumble, will teach me to take unknown roads at speed in the dusk (my cateye LEDs didn't help much).

Seeing the scratches on my helmet, I'm pretty glad I was wearing it - the impact wasn't hard but the momentum carried me a little along the ground and I don't like the though of what that would have done to me :) Gloves helped a lot too.

That was fun :)

Just had my 1st crash last night. I took a wide bend pretty fast (maybe doing 25mph). It was fairly dark, I was leaning into the turn and didn't see the loose gravel on the surface. That took the wheels right out from under me and I went straight over on my side. My feet clipped out immediately, I'm not even sure how!

Yep... same happens to me too. I have long ago lost my fear of being clipped in during a really nasty high speed crash because every time it's happened so far, my feet have unclipped automagically. It's actually some of the slow-speed "Laugh-In" type crashes where I worry about still being clipped in. Also, if I'm consciously trying to wrestle my feet out during the middle of a fall (often at slow speeds), I'll end up fumbling and still remain attached.



I'm fine, a little grazed and right bruised elbow and knee. There's a few scratches on my helmet, scratched pedals, has roughened up the look of the bike a little (not a bad thing at all - I care about how it rides, not looks). All in all, I came out quite well and it was a good education to have such a minor tumble, will teach me to take unknown roads at speed in the dusk (my cateye LEDs didn't help much).

Lesson learned. Sorry to hear about the scratched up bike. I rarely break 14MPH at night without full-on lights. At 25MPH, I'd be running my 32W dual-beam setup for sure.



Seeing the scratches on my helmet, I'm pretty glad I was wearing it - the impact wasn't hard but the momentum carried me a little along the ground and I don't like the though of what that would have done to me :) Gloves helped a lot too.

Good on you for wearing protection. It's the same with me for road riding... usually not the initial impact that causes the damage but the skidding along for a hundred feet or so...



That was fun :)

You sound like you need to also take up some free ride/urban mountain biking. :)

I am very jealous that your first crash left you okay. mine a week and a half ago, iwas anxiously awaiting, and then it came and it bites not being able to ride my bike esp. on such nice dusky evenings home from work.

The below definition from Sheldon Brown's website will explain it better than I ever could:

Clipless Pedals
Up until the late '80s, the choice was between plain pedals or pedals with toe clips and straps. Since "clipless" pedals provided a way to have a secure attachment to the pedal without the use of toe clips, the name stuck, even though it is sometimes confusing to newcomers.
"Clipless" or "Step-in" pedals use a mechanism similar to a ski binding. In fact the first successful system was made by a ski binding manufacturer, Look. Clipless pedals use a cleat which is bolted to the bottom of the shoe. When the rider steps on the pedal with the cleat, the cleat locks into the pedals mechanism, and is held firmly in place. Some systems hold the foot at a fixed angle, others allow various amounts of "float", or angular rotation of the foot on the pedal.

With most clipless pedal systems, the foot is disengaged by twisting the heel outward. Some of the earlier systems, such as the pioneering Cinelli model, required the rider to reach down and operate a release mechanism by hand. This style is sometimes jocularly referred to as "death cleats."

Thanks for the great response. *learns something new*

Hey NCNC, I was pretty lucky not to be hurt worse. Guess it was just the classic "wheels losing traction through a turn" type of crash - I came down on one side, and took a lot of the impact on my right glove and forearm. It's useful that my body is fairly conditioned to hard impacts from playing rugby, I think that has some positive effect. I read your thread before - hope you can get back out riding soon!

Khuon, yeah they came out automagically (I'm guessing you're in Redmond). I'm really not at all bothered about my scratched bike - I commute and leave it locked up in the day outside the office, and occasionally in the city too. I've had a lot of non-cyclists commenting on how good it looks, so I'm quite worried about theft.

I used to ride a beater that looked so bad no one in their right mind would consider stealing it - I used to leave that one chained up with a single $8 lock in the city centre and find it there 8 hours later :)