Road Cycling - Thoughts on my new pedals & shoes

I just received yesterday my pair of Look A3.1's and Diadora Athlete ALU's in the mail yesterday.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/50_1899.jpg

http://www.diadora.com/webapp.diadora.com/webapp.prodotti/_img_depot/foto_variante_157_en.jpg



I've never used clipless before, but luckily I have a trainer whiched helped me try them on yesterday.

The Diadora's have strips of aluminum in the outersoles to stiffen it up. Stupid me, for not thinking, within 5 minutes, the aluminum strips already have nicks in them just from me clipping in and out while riding on the trainer.

http://www.diadora.com/webapp.diadora.com/webapp.prodotti/_img_depot/foto_dettaglio_120_en.jpg

On my shgoes, the aluminum is unpainted "silver", not red as shown.

The engagement/disengagement of the Look pedals is fairly intelligent, however I can see having problems since there is only a one sided engagement process.

My wife thinks I should have stuck with toe clips, since I only ride for exercise and walking off the bike while on the bike path will be impossible.

I'm starting to wonder, if I made a mistake in purchasing this expensive equipment.

So what would you guys advise? Keep em or sell em? The shoes are size 45. If anyone is interested in buying this stuff, which was only mounted last night, email or pm me.

Nice! Many people would be very happy with a setup like that, including me.

I think you should keep em. At least give them a try for a couple of weeks before making a decision. If after a couple of weeks you still don't like them then sell them on. The price won't go down that far in that time. However, I think you will end up keeping them. Clipless pedals are great. When I switched over (many years ago) I also struggled but got used to them quite quickly. They're easier to get out of in a hurry and could save you a nasty injury in an accident. The lateral motion you can dial in on the pedals is also beneficial for the knees.

And why would you want to walk when you can ride! :-)

The one sided engagement is NOT a problem. The pedals are weighted so that the front engagement "hook" is pointing up. All you need to do is slide your foot forward and down to step right in and lock. You should probably find a pair of Kool Kovers to put over the cleats when you need to walk around. They protect the nylon cleats from excessive wear, and have some grip, since they are a soft rubber.

i have the same pedals. they provide a nice platform and i love 'em. are you using the black or the red cleat with this system? the red system gives you more flexibility during engagement and disengagement. those shoes will last you many years.

don't let the nicks trouble you. equipment was meant to be beaten up. it used to bother me to have nicks and imperfections in my equipment, but after thousands of miles, this is an improbablility. rocks kick up, having to change a flat, rain, crash... i wear my equipment wear as a badge of honor.

i'd say keep them. once you see how efficient they are, you'll love them more. SPD systems are recessed so you can walk on them. those shoes are SPD compatible >> or they make kool covers that cover the look cleat. i need to change my cleats every 3-4 thousand miles due to wear...

i have the same pedals. they provide a nice platform and i love 'em. are you using the black or the red cleat with this system? the red system gives you more flexibility during engagement and disengagement. those shoes will last you many years.

Red cleat


don't let the nicks trouble you. equipment was meant to be beaten up. it used to bother me to have nicks and imperfections in my equipment, but after thousands of miles, this is an improbablility. rocks kick up, having to change a flat, rain, crash... i wear my equipment wear as a badge of honor.

Just worried how quckly they got marred after less than 10 minutes of wearing them.


i'd say keep them. once you see how efficient they are, you'll love them more. SPD systems are recessed so you can walk on them. those shoes are SPD compatible >> or they make kool covers that cover the look cleat. i need to change my cleats every 3-4 thousand miles due to wear...

Heh! I don't think I would want to try to walk on these shoes w/o the cleats! The aluminum inserts make the shoes somewhat slippery.

The one sided engagement is NOT a problem. The pedals are weighted so that the front engagement "hook" is pointing up. All you need to do is slide your foot forward and down to step right in and lock. You should probably find a pair of Kool Kovers to put over the cleats when you need to walk around. They protect the nylon cleats from excessive wear, and have some grip, since they are a soft rubber.


Thanks, I'll look into the Kool Kovers.

Nice! Many people would be very happy with a setup like that, including me.

I think you should keep em. At least give them a try for a couple of weeks before making a decision. If after a couple of weeks you still don't like them then sell them on. The price won't go down that far in that time. However, I think you will end up keeping them. Clipless pedals are great. When I switched over (many years ago) I also struggled but got used to them quite quickly. They're easier to get out of in a hurry and could save you a nasty injury in an accident. The lateral motion you can dial in on the pedals is also beneficial for the knees.

And why would you want to walk when you can ride! :-)


Just scary to think that this setup cost 1/3 the price of my Lemond Tourmalet.

hee hee

Yeah but remember the shoes and pedals are your connection to the machine. They need to be good. You get crap shoes and pedals it'll make your ride feel crap too.

[QUOTE=
My wife thinks I should have stuck with toe clips, since I only ride for exercise and walking off the bike while on the bike path will be impossible.QUOTE]

I agree with her. But you could still go clipless and be able to walk too.

I just got the Look A5.1 pedals and the Sidi Lazer Mesh shoes. Since this is my first "real" road bike, I didn't want to spend a huge amount of money in case I don't like this type of pedal and shoe, but I still wanted something quality that would last.

My wife thinks I should have stuck with toe clips, since I only ride for exercise and walking off the bike while on the bike path will be impossible.


First question is: Why do you cycle for exercise when you could just jog and it would cost you a lot less money?

Because it's a hell of a lot of fun, right?

And the faster you go the funner it is.

Don't feel guilty about spending money if you're "just exercising". Clipless pedals will make cycling more fun which will make you do it more.