Road Cycling - A few questions about clipless....again.

I bit the bullet and went clipless today. :) I got my backpack, rode to the bike shop this evening, got the Shimano pedals, which I HATED to put on a Campy equipped bike, but what the hey, a guy has to do what he has to do sometimes. I don't remember what specific model they are, but they are two sided mtb pedals, which is what I wanted. I got some Pearl Izumi I Beams. Mtb shoes, so that I could walk on them while off the bike.

Anyway, they seemed very natural to ride in. I clipped and un-clipped a few times, and rode away from the bike shop. I was surprised to find out that I could turn my foot either way to get in and out of the pedals. I may fall and break my leg tomorrow, but today, I don't see how anybody could easily fall in them, which was my biggest fear of all. I spend at total of $128.00 , including tax and a drink.

My question is this, I do have a very slight pain-like sensation on the outside edge of my right foot, at the front. Could this just be me getting used to the shoes, or could it be an adjustment problem? The main reason that I went to clipless is that my toes, the three in the middle, were aching a lot at night when I went to bed, after a long ride. I thought that it might be a combination of the pedal clips, which were stiff and went over the three toes on each foot, and the shoes that I was wearing, they were over a year old, $9.99 sneakers. Best -

I just went clipless 2 days ago myself. I have spent stupid money on my bike, but pedals were last on my list. I got a great deal on e-bay for the shoes, and I have 3 or 4 clipless pedals and cleats that I've had for a while. I went with the Look pedals and after 8-9 miles I knew something was up. I had to raise the seat .5in and I re-arranged the cleats to suit my riding style (I moved the cleats in towards the BB - This put my foot in a straighter plain with the chainstays). Now I'm in one of those "Dummy - Should have done this 2 years ago" stages. The float is "wierd" after having ridden regular pedals but it clears up pretty fast. I only have 50-60 miles on the Looks and I might do a little adjust here and there, but it is the way to go.

Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo

shoes probalby still need more breaking in, but don't tie the laces too tight. in fact, you hardly need to tie them at all. keep the shoe loose; as your feet heat up they expand and need room.

sd

shoes probalby still need more breaking in, but don't tie the laces too tight. in fact, you hardly need to tie them at all. keep the shoe loose; as your feet heat up they expand and need room.

sd

YUP!!!!

Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo

also, the shoe doesn't have to be done tight.. You foot swells up a bit during a ride.. when you feel pain are numbness just loosen the straps a bit..
And give it some time to break the shoes and your feet in..:)

Cycling shoes are notorious for being too narrow. Make sure yours are not. As others have said, don't tighten them too much. Do you wear "wide" shoes sizes?




I bit the bullet and went clipless today. :) I got my backpack, rode to the bike shop this evening, got the Shimano pedals, which I HATED to put on a Campy equipped bike, but what the hey, a guy has to do what he has to do sometimes. I don't remember what specific model they are, but they are two sided mtb pedals, which is what I wanted. I got some Pearl Izumi I Beams. Mtb shoes, so that I could walk on them while off the bike.

Anyway, they seemed very natural to ride in. I clipped and un-clipped a few times, and rode away from the bike shop. I was surprised to find out that I could turn my foot either way to get in and out of the pedals. I may fall and break my leg tomorrow, but today, I don't see how anybody could easily fall in them, which was my biggest fear of all. I spend at total of $128.00 , including tax and a drink.

My question is this, I do have a very slight pain-like sensation on the outside edge of my right foot, at the front. Could this just be me getting used to the shoes, or could it be an adjustment problem? The main reason that I went to clipless is that my toes, the three in the middle, were aching a lot at night when I went to bed, after a long ride. I thought that it might be a combination of the pedal clips, which were stiff and went over the three toes on each foot, and the shoes that I was wearing, they were over a year old, $9.99 sneakers. Best -

Yes, I have a wide foot.

Lake makes wide shoes. I have a pair of MX100 (MX101 is the latest model of the shoe). I can tie the laces as tight or loose as needed. I have M535 pedals (SPD) and can walk anywhere in the shoes since the cleats are recessed.
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/20_1484.jpg

I think your pain problems are because your shoes aren't broken in too much yet, or the sizing is too small? Another thing you could check is cleat position. Your cleats may be positioned on your shoes in such a way that you are putting undue pressure on parts of your foot that probably won't feel pressure if you're unclipped. See if your foot is on the pedal in a "natural" angle or if you're forced to take a pedaling position that seems abnormal for you. Although most likely this problem won't cause pinching on your toes but would cause other kinds of pains instead.

I have a question too. Sorry to hijack your thread, but I didn't want to start another thread on clipless.

Newbie roadbiker here. Just getting into it from mountain.

I've been riding clipless mountain pedals with mountain shoes on my mountain bike (heh). Whenever there are any obstacles, I can unclip easily and pedal unclipped and still have loads of traction on the pedal.

My new road bike came with Look pedals so I decided that instead of buying some Crank Bros. Eggbeaters pedals for my bike so that I could use my existing shoes, I would buy new road shoes instead. I figure I'd be spending about the same amount (and got a very good deal on a pair of carbon-soled Shimanos).

My question is, is it normal for my shoes to be extremely slippery on the pedal before I clip in? I was surprised and dismayed and almost slipped off the pedal when I tried to clip in. I guess I'll get used to it. But is this normal? Or is this because the shoes I bought have carbon soles?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

...My question is this, I do have a very slight pain-like sensation on the outside edge of my right foot, at the front. Could this just be me getting used to the shoes, or could it be an adjustment problem? The main reason that I went to clipless is that my toes, the three in the middle, were aching a lot at night when I went to bed, after a long ride. I thought that it might be a combination of the pedal clips, which were stiff and went over the three toes on each foot, and the shoes that I was wearing, they were over a year old, $9.99 sneakers. Best -



There are a few possibilities.

1. Whether you were using toe clips or plain pedals, you were able to wiggle your foot around. With clips, you only have 5-10 degrees of freedom, so if the angle isn't right or if the cleats are too close to the cranks or too far from them, then you may feel knee or foot pain.
I would suggest that if you feel the slightest amount of knee pain, you should tweak the angle of the clips. As for foot pain, you might want to move the clips sideways, especially if if you feel like you would perfer to move your foot closer or away from the crank arm.

2. The first few times I have used clipless pedals (I converted last Fall), I noticed I had a tendency to push too much. Not as much for regular riding than for short hills, departures from stop lights, etc. Once I noticed it, I was especially careful not to push ever too hard and to spin all the time. It became second nature quickly.

3. If you feel any numbness, try to move your feet around.
In the city, alternate between putting your right and left foot down.
On long rides, it might be worthed to unclip once or twice and wiggle one foot to move the blood around.

Thanks for the info guys. I just got back from a short 30 miler, and my feet are fine. I noticed that my thought train didn't stay on my foot comfort. Also, despite what I said in my first post, the Lord must have been listening, I pulled up to a traffic light on the way to the trail today, and politely, and ungracefully made a left turn straight to the asphalt. My foot did come out when I was too far gone to recovery. I got some good laughs, and a few "I wonder what he is on" looks. It was a priceless moment for some. It was a lesson in reality for me. :) I just wish that I could see someone else do it like I did, and not get hurt like I did. Best -