Folding Bikes - Review of my new MKS MM Cube Ezy - Clipless Pedals.

Just thought I would share my experience of using MKS MM Cube Ezy - Clipless Pedals.

I had been using MKS MTE quick release platform pedals on several bikes and I fitted a spare set to my new Bridgestone Moulton. But I wanted to try out clipless pedals after reading about the benefits. I looked at various Shimano pedals but I liked the idea of being able to quickly switch pedal types between various bikes.

First stop was my local branch of CycleSurgery to check out some shoes. I had planned on going for some Shimano shoes but these Sidi Dominator’s caught my eye http://www.cyclesurgery.com/1027455/Sidi-Dominator-5.html They have an MTB competition sole but not as chunky as many MTB shoes. One thing I will say is that it is important to try cycling shoes on before buying. I normally take a size 9 UK or 43, but I tried 43, 44, and finally settled on a pair of 45 so if I had bought online I would have ended up with the wrong fit. The shoes have proved to be extremely comfortable and the micro adjustable levers are a useful feature.

I bought the clipless pedals from this company http://www.equipyourtrip.com/brands/mks/mks-mm-cube-ezy-clipless-pedals.html they had the best price and where located a short walk from work so I picked them up on Friday lunch time. Once I arrived home Friday evening I fitted the cleats to the shoes and adjusted the pedals 2 clicks with the supplied Allen key so they where easier to clip out of than the factory settings (I have now put them back to the factory setting, today, Sunday).

I had never used clipless pedals before so I went for a ride through the woods at the end of our avenue and around the new housing estate that is being built. I practiced clipping in and out until I felt happy using them. I did 12 miles on Saturday and I could really feel the difference with being able to pull on the upstroke. I had one incident where a taxi driver shot out of a side street and I had to do an emergency stop.... thankfully I was able to get both feet out of the clips without any problem.

I clip my left foot it first before starting off. I think this comes from years of riding motorcycles where you generally use your left foot to engage first gear while holding up the bike with your right leg.

I had to call into work this morning just to check on the snakes so I opted to take the Bridgestone Moulton and do the 23 mile round trip rather than take the car, truck or train.... I actually knocked 5 mins off my normal door to door week-day commute using the Bromton & train. On the return journey I went into the City and stopped for a short while to listen to some of the Bands playing at the (Liverpool) Mathew Street Music Festival. The streets where very busy with people which gave a good test of using the pedals, I felt comfortable riding clipped in.

I had read various posts and watched various U-tube videos of people coming to grief while learning to ride clipless...... thankfully I’ve not had any problem (so far;))

The MKS quick release pedals come with a small plastic “C” clip to stop acidental detachment of the pedal. I have not had a pedal come off in over a year of using the MKS MTE pedals so I opted not to use the “C” clip with the new cube pedals.

Thanks for the review PDR. I also consider to go clipless and found your review very usefull.

1. How much play do they have? I am considering the SpeedPlay pedals because they have larger play (about 15 degrees IIRC) but then I will not have the easy pedal removal of MKS.

2. Can you walk with the shoes? How well the cleats are protected? What about walking on gravel and sand? (some cleat are more sensitive than others, I heard that the SPD shoes/cleats are good in this respect).

3. Did you say snakes?

Kam

Thanks for the review PDR. I also consider to go clipless and found your review very usefull.

1. How much play do they have? I am considering the SpeedPlay pedals because they have larger play (about 15 degrees IIRC) but then I will not have the easy pedal removal of MKS.

2. Can you walk with the shoes? How well the cleats are protected? What about walking on gravel and sand? (some cleat are more sensitive than others, I heard that the SPD shoes/cleats are good in this respect).

3. Did you say snakes?

Kam

1. There is some sideways play but I have not measured it.

2. Yes, the cleats are recessed so I am able to walk in the shoes without damaging the cleats. I did look at pure road shoes but they are not compatible with the MKS cleats and road shoes are not designed to walk more than very short distances.

3. Snakes, I work as a professional Herpetologist (venom reeasearch) and manage Britain’s largest collection of venomous snakes. I work Monday to Friday but the snakes still need someone to check on them at weekends.... only takes 45 min or so. If the weather is good, It gives me an excuse to try out the bike rather than drive in.

Glad to hear they worked out well for you. :thumb:


I clip my left foot it first before starting off. I think this comes from years of riding motorcycles where you generally use your left foot to engage first gear while holding up the bike with your right leg.

It's funny, I do the opposite because of motorcycling. I generally put my left foot down on the ground, as I want my right foot on the rear brake for uphill starts (I'm too short to hold the bike in place on a slope with just my legs, and my hands are too small to operate the front brake and throttle together).

I .. manage Britain’s largest collection of venomous snakes.

Your name is not John Bercow, right? ;-)

How about a "Snakes on a Folder" picture? This will top everything else the was ever posted here.

Kam

I switched recently from Power Grips to MKS clipless and am very happy with the change. Binding and unbinding is easier, I can bind blindly without looking down, and in case of emergency I unbind faster (with the PG you need to pull all the way back).

Down side, the SPD shoes are less walkable than my normal shoes. Its impractical to ride to work and stay all days with the shoes .

Kam