Fifty Plus (50+) - clipless pedals and shoes

Hey everyone,
I am finally going to take the plunge and lose my clips.
My situation is:
I am 54, started riding again this past April
I ride the W&OD paved trail in NoVA exclusively
I have no desire to race
I avg., over the past 600+ miles about 14.5 miles per hour on the trail.
My typical rides are 10 to 20 miles at a clip. I will expand that next year, however this has been the trend this year. I liked cages because I could strap one foot in and keep one lose in case of emergency. I am told that the release function allows for a quick release in case of emergency. This is important.

My question is, what is a recommended pedal and shoe? I will be visiting my LBS, however I would like to be educated before going in.
I have a budget of around $150.00.

Thanks

If you want to be able to walk like a person and not a duck when off the bike :rolleyes: then look at comfortable mtn bike shoe and Candy pedals.
http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/medium/20-5458-GRY-ANGLE.jpg
http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/medium/50-6861-RED-ANGLE.jpg
Depending on which shoe you get, the price should be $40-$100. The pedals are about $60.

Or Shimano mountain bike shoes and M520 pedals. Got my pedals on EBay for $39 which included shipping.

I will be visiting my LBS, however I would like to be educated before going in.

I'm all for getting your first clipless at the LBS. For your second set it's okay to shop online.

At my LBS they included a cleat fitting (and some coaching) with the purchase of shoes, cleats and pedals. Before leaving they even made me ride back and forth in the parking lot to practice clipping and unclipping. When I left the store I knew I'd have messed something up had I gone the online route that first time. I'm glad I went the LBS route.

Without knowing what they sell at your LBS, all I can say is that you can't really go wrong with either Crank Brothers (as RonH suggested) or Shimano SPD (as The Weak Link suggested) pedals in the $50 or $60 range, and shoes in the $70 or $80 range. Cleats should come with your pedals. Just make sure you get a cleat fitting with your purchase. If not, try a different store.

My situation, earlier this year, was similar to yours. I started biking again in April at age 60 after many years away from bikes.

My research led me to buy Sandals and combination platform / spd pedals.

Here is what I bought and am very happy with:

Shimano SPD Cycling Sandals - SH-SD65

Shimano PD-A530 Clipless pedals dual purpose SPD

I can pedal a bit "unclipped" on the platform side of the pedals and then turn them over and clip in.

The sandals are really really comfortable. In the summer I wear no socks, but now the weather is a bit cooler I am wearing socks with them. The straps of the sandals adjust easily to accomodate the socks. There are some cyclists who wear them year round. In the winter they wear wool socks with seal skins to keep their feet cozy.

Good luck.

My research led me to buy Sandals and combination platform / spd pedals.
+1 I ride through city streets to get to my favorite routes so I have a lot of stop and go. I like being able to unclip early or just ride the platforms for a few blocks. I also like being able to walk comfortably so the MTB shoes are great.

Agree that it is best to make this purchase at the LBS. I bought a pedal/shoe combo online...Shimano PD M324 and some Sette Shoes. I ordered the shoe size I thought I wore.
Of course the shoes were way too small, although the pedals were fine. Went to the LBS and bought some Lake MTB shoes... after trying on 4 different sizes found a perfect fit.
I love the shoes and the pedals.... suggest you consider Shimano SH-56 multi release cleats... makes it easier to bail out of the pedals. This is the cleat that came with the PD M324s.
My daughter was having trouble with her pedals and at my suggestion she got some SH-56 cleats and has had no probs since. Just a thought.

Have fun.
Pete

I will only be wearing the shoes when riding. I drive to the trail and will put the shoes on when I get there.
I prefer as light weight a shoe as is comfortable and reasonable from a price perspective. I wear my indoor soccer shoes, very lightweight and comfortable sneaker, now.
Of course I do not need carbon shoes......

Thanks
Now if the rain would stop, I could get out and ride.

I'd say go for egg beaters and not candys. I have both and find the egg beaters easier to clip into and out of, and I would ride neither without my clipless shoes. As for shoes I have Shimano MT41 shoes and they are pretty good, not waterproof but I can walk in them!

Definately buy at your LBS for the first time at least. Try the shoes and cleats riding in the parking lot or on a trainer to be sure you are comfortable with the fit.

I'm going to differ from most of the advice given so far and I personally like the wider Look or Shimano SPD-SL pedal. They have a much bigger platform which adds to pedalling efficiency and comfort. I have mountain bike shoes and SPDs for my mountain bike and they aren't nearly as comfortable as the raod pedal.

I'm going to differ from most of the advice given so far and I personally like the wider Look or Shimano SPD-SL pedal. They have a much bigger platform which adds to pedalling efficiency and comfort. I have mountain bike shoes and SPDs for my mountain bike and they aren't nearly as comfortable as the raod pedal.

I will second this. I had Candys on my road bike with mtb shoes but changed to Look Keo Sprints and will never go back, imo much more comfortable on a long ride. And once you get use to them just as easy to get into and out of. I understand the newer Looks are even easier too as they stay even and do not rotate down?

It is important to be happy with the system you get, others have covered that very well. I just want to stress the importance of shoe fit. All else can be perfect, but if the shoes do not fit comfortably all the benefits can be lost. Of course the shoes will not be as comfortable as your well broken soccer shoes, but they still should be comfortable and yuo should leave the store confident that once broken in they will be just as comfortable as what you have now. (Do be aware however that they should have a stiffer sole than yuo are used to and that on the bike this will improve comfort).

You can buy good pedals at low price, but pay whatever it takes to get good fitting shoes. I had good Cannondale MTB shoes, but they werent really wide enough, so I now have Sidi Megas. The reduction in weight of the Sidis is a secondary benefit. I still use the Cannondales if I plan to do mixed biking and walking as the Sidis are walkable but not easy walking. I believe Lake also make wide shoes.

Get em at a local REI if you have one- free fitting/mounting/alignment, return at any time, no questions asked.

Ask about float. Float is a great thing for old knees. My knees love float. I ride speedplays on my road bike and bebops on my MTB which is just a mup cruiser. The bebops are very easy to get out of. They release in both directions so you can kick your heel in if that feels better. They are also very affordable off of ebay when they are around. Good luck and practice.

Greg

I like a little float, and have all old-school Look pedals. I'd probably go SPD if I had to do it again, with the walkability factor a big reason.

The main question I ask people when they go to clipless pedals? Where did you fall over? It seems like a rite of passage for that situation.

What are eveyone thoughts on Ultegra pedals? The bike has Ultegra components, there are some deals on Ebay for the pedals.
Based on my situation, are the shoes more important then the hardware?

Still learning.
George

Ultegra pedals use road shoes with a protruding cleat. Not walkable at all. You can waddle around like a pengiun for a few feet at a time.

Your original post didn't say you needed walkability though, so it might work for you. But for me, being able to walk like a human is important, so I use MTB shoes and pedals with recessed cleats.

There are many exaggerated claims that road shoes and cleats are unwalkable. While I would not want to walk a mile in them, I have no problem walking around at a rest stop, into a store or to a restroom while wearing my Sidi road shoes with Look delta cleats. Shimano SPD-SL cleats such as Ultegra would be similar. I recommend using Kool Kovers cleat covers (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&langId=-1&catalogId=10551&productId=1033291&cm_mmc=$%28referrer%29$-_-Shoes/Pedals-_-KOOL%20KOVERS-_-50-6873-NON-NON&mr:trackingCode=FA2ABC46-A681-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA) to keep dirt out of the cleats while walking and to prevent slipping on smooth floors.

How are the Ultegra's for being able to get out of them quickly? Remember, I have used cages for so long, straping one foot in and keeping the other loose in case of an emergency.

I have not used the Ultegras specifically, but in general, clipless pedals are easier to get out of quickly than clips and straps. It is just a matter of twisting your heel out. The tension setting is adjustable so you can make it easier or harder to release.

Pulling one foot out may seem like a good idea, but may actually be putting yourself in more danger of crashing. I have found that there are very few situations where it isn't safer to keep both feet attached to the bike. The bike is more controllable that way. I only disengage when coming to a stop.

I think that the biggest advantage of using clipless pedals is that you can now wear more comfortable shoes. Back in the clip/strap stone age when I first started cycling, we all wore the tightest Italian leather shoes we could get. To get a really good fit, we'd get a pair of perforated Detto Pietros just a shade small, put them on and soak them in the tub, then wear them around the house until they shrank to fit your feet as they dried. Once the cleats were nailed/bolted in, you bought clips that would just clear the toe by a quarter-inch. This meant that if you wore normal shoes, they'd be pushed up against the clips and your foot would not be as far into the pedal as they should have been for efficient pedaling.

With clipless pedals, you can get a shoe the right size, one that leaves a bit of room at the toe, since you don't have to worry about toe clip position. Back in the old days, I wore size 43 Adidas shoes. Today I wear size 44 Adidas.

As for clipless pedal system, I would definitely go with a walkable shoe. I started using SPD back when they were still making the original SPD road pedals. They were compatible with the Shimano mtb pedals (despite what Shimano might tell you), so I could use the same shoes for road or mountain, or use the double-sided mtb pedals on my road bike in the winter.
SPD for mtb's is pretty universal, parts are easy to get. It's pretty much the standard, so you'll never have problems getting parts or finding cleats or pedals if you run into problems travelling. Not sure how available Crank Bros, stuff is.

L.

I use the Ultegra with Sidi shoes. I went through a number of shoes and different types of systems. Then I paid the price for the Sidi shoes and Ultegra. Footwear is no longer even a subject to think about.

I agree with others about buying your footwear at a lbs.

Walking is not good, but not that bad. I do use the Crank Bros. eggbeaters on my touring bike. I really like that set up, but not for my road bike.

After 28 years of using toe clips and the same pair of Avocet touring shoes, I finally went clipless when I bought a new bike a month ago. I got the Shimano m540 pedals and Specialized Taho MTB shoes at the LBS that sold me the bike. The shoes are comfortable but not nearly so as the old Avocets. The pedals are double sided and are easy to clip/unclip for the most part. I did manage to fall today at a stop light because I didn't unclip. I'm not sure if I didn't rotate my foot hard enough or I tried yanking it backwards the way I used to get out of the toe clips. There is a difference in the way your feet feel in the shoes with clipless as all of the upwards force is transmitted by the bottom of the shoe, rather than the top of the shoe against a toe clip. So, if your foot is loose in the shoe it will move up and down inside of it as there is no toe cage to contain the movement. Proper fit is critical to comfort.

Ask about float. Float is a great thing for old knees. My knees love float. I ride speedplays on my road bike and bebops on my MTB which is just a mup cruiser. The bebops are very easy to get out of. They release in both directions so you can kick your heel in if that feels better. They are also very affordable off of ebay when they are around. Good luck and practice.

Greg

Greg,
I have seen float mentioned, what is it? Why do I want it?
George

My situation, earlier this year, was similar to yours. I started biking again in April at age 60 after many years away from bikes.

My research led me to buy Sandals and combination platform / spd pedals.

Here is what I bought and am very happy with:

Shimano SPD Cycling Sandals - SH-SD65

Shimano PD-A530 Clipless pedals dual purpose SPD

I can pedal a bit "unclipped" on the platform side of the pedals and then turn them over and clip in.

The sandals are really really comfortable. In the summer I wear no socks, but now the weather is a bit cooler I am wearing socks with them. The straps of the sandals adjust easily to accomodate the socks. There are some cyclists who wear them year round. In the winter they wear wool socks with seal skins to keep their feet cozy.

Good luck.
@oldmachinist I presume these are what are called "egg beaters"? Why this design instead of something like the R 540's?

I use the Ultegra with Sidi shoes. I went through a number of shoes and different types of systems. Then I paid the price for the Sidi shoes and Ultegra. Footwear is no longer even a subject to think about.

I agree with others about buying your footwear at a lbs.

Walking is not good, but not that bad. I do use the Crank Bros. eggbeaters on my touring bike. I really like that set up, but not for my road bike.
I expect the Sidi Shoes will put me over my limit. What shoes and systems did you go through? Why did you settle on the Siti's and Ultegras?

FLoat is the ability for the shoe to rotate to the left and right on the pedal while staying attached. It lets your foot find a comfortable position for whatever you are doing while taking all the strain off of your knees. Once I tryed it I was sold and will never go back.

On my speedplay x2's there is 20 degrees of float. About 5 degrees of heel towards the bike and about 15 degrees of heel away from the bike. As you rotate your heel past that 15 degree point the shoe unclips. I just installed a pair of Speedplay Zeros with adjustable float and it really is a step up from the x2's. I have the adjustment set at just under 10 degrees so I don't have to kick out so far. Wonderful!

The Bebops are similar but they release both in and out. They are a 15 degree pedal and depending on how you mount the cleat on your shoe the release is about 7-1/2 degrees in or out. I have them on my MTB shoes and because of the low stack height I needed to remove some of the nubs off the shoe on the bike side to allow for the spindle. The Bebop cleats are so small that on MTB shoes you don't even know it is there.

Hope that helps. Go to the Speedplay and Bebop websites and check them out. Good deals can be found on eBay for both iof them.

Good luck, Greg

FLoat is the ability for the shoe to rotate to the left and right on the pedal while staying attached. It lets your foot find a comfortable position for whatever you are doing while taking all the strain off of your knees. Once I tryed it I was sold and will never go back.

On my speedplay x2's there is 20 degrees of float. About 5 degrees of heal towards the bike and about 15 degrees of heal away from the bike. As you rotate your heal past that 15 degree point the shoe unclips. I just installed a pair of Speedplay Zeros with adjustable float and it really is a step up from the x2's. I have the adjustment set at just under 10 degrees so I don't have to kick out so far. Wonderful!

The Bebops are similar but they release both in and out. They are a 15 degree pedal and depending on how you mount the cleat on your shoe the release is about 7-1/2 degrees in or out. I have them on my MTB shoes and because of the low stack height I needed to remove some of the nubs off the shoe on the bike side to allow for the spindle. The Bebop cleats are so small that on MTB shoes you don't even know it is there.

Hope that helps. Go to the Speedplay and Bebop websites and check them out. Good deals can be found on eBay for both iof them.

Good luck, Greg
Thanks Greg.

Thanks Greg.

I settled on the Sidi shoes for my road bike because of the fit and quality of the shoe. These are hand made Italian shoes.
I bought mine at the Richardson Bike Mart where the salesman worked with me for quite a while to come up with the Mega
for the best fit. My shoes are well over a year old and around 7 thousand miles. They felt good on the first ride, which was
a century, and still look and feel great.

I went to the Shimano Ultegra clipless system because of the wide base they offer. I truly believe I get a good power transfer.
I have some float, which I needed. Also, the tension is adjustable for release.

I used the Crank Bros. on the road bike and did not find them efficient. I tried the Speed Play and felt like I was skating on ice.
I tried an old set of Look pedals, which took me to the Ultegra system.

Yes, Sidi puts you out of your budget, as it did mine. I had to swallow hard before placing that much money on the counter.
One of the best buys I have made in the bicycle world.

As I said before, I use the Crank Bros. eggbeagters for the touring bike. I wear a pair of Pearl Izuma touring shoes. Great
set up. You can clip in with eggbeaters in the mud, on a hill or any other situation that a tour ride might bring. They also have a
great amount of float along with being reasonably priced.

I only disengage when coming to a stop.

This is what I am talking about as well. Typically in a situation when I get cut off. It happens occasionally on the trail. I do not want to jam on the brakes for fear of locking up the front wheel and going over the top however I need to swerve and stop. Having both feet locked in would cause a spill.

I know the clip less work otherwise they would not be so popular.

I settled on the Sidi shoes for my road bike because of the fit and quality of the shoe. These are hand made Italian shoes.
I bought mine at the Richardson Bike Mart where the salesman worked with me for quite a while to come up with the Mega
for the best fit. My shoes are well over a year old and around 7 thousand miles. They felt good on the first ride, which was
a century, and still look and feel great.

I went to the Shimano Ultegra clipless system because of the wide base they offer. I truly believe I get a good power transfer.
I have some float, which I needed. Also, the tension is adjustable for release.

I used the Crank Bros. on the road bike and did not find them efficient. I tried the Speed Play and felt like I was skating on ice.
I tried an old set of Look pedals, which took me to the Ultegra system.

Yes, Sidi puts you out of your budget, as it did mine. I had to swallow hard before placing that much money on the counter.
One of the best buys I have made in the bicycle world.

As I said before, I use the Crank Bros. eggbeagters for the touring bike. I wear a pair of Pearl Izuma touring shoes. Great
set up. You can clip in with eggbeaters in the mud, on a hill or any other situation that a tour ride might bring. They also have a
great amount of float along with being reasonably priced.

Thank You. I saw the same type of system in the Shimano R 540's yet they are prox. half the price. Any thoughts on those pedals? The lower cost would make the shoes easier to swallow.

Thank You. I saw the same type of system in the Shimano R 540's yet they are prox. half the price. Any thoughts on those pedals? The lower cost would make the shoes easier to swallow.

Yep. Same system. Same cleats. Cheaper materials. Maybe a little heavier. Be sure to get the yellow cleats for float.

In the same vein, you can save by going with a lower model of Sidi shoe. You'll get most of the same advantages of the more expensive lines but with all velcro straps rather than ratcheting buckles and maybe an earlier version of the soles. Still very high quality and fit. I've been riding a lower line Sidi road shoe (similar to the current Zephyr) for several years and they are still comfortable and functional.

Yep. Same system. Same cleats. Cheaper materials. Maybe a little heavier. Be sure to get the yellow cleats for float.

In the same vein, you can save by going with a lower model of Sidi shoe. You'll get most of the same advantages of the more expensive lines but with all velcro straps rather than ratcheting buckles and maybe an earlier version of the soles. Still very high quality and fit. I've been riding a lower line Sidi road shoe (similar to the current Zephyr) for several years and they are still comfortable and functional.
I see Sidi Raiden shoes listing at 129.00. They seem to be plastic with synthetic leather uppers. I presume they do not breath. What would be the line with leather uppers? Why the replaceable heal?

I see Sidi Raiden shoes listing at 129.00. They seem to be plastic with synthetic leather uppers. I presume they do not breath. What would be the line with leather uppers? Why the replaceable heal?

All Sidi shoes have synthetic uppers. Most have vent holes and/or mash panels for breathability. The heel pad is a softer material than the sole to avoid slipping on floors. They can wear out.

Ok,
I took the plunge yesterday.
I ended up with Ultegra PD-6620G Pedals and Shimano RO76L shoes. I tried on a pair of Sidi's and Scattante's as well. While both of these were more expensive, they didn't fit my feet as well. The Shimano's are really comfortable.

Got both at Performance, out the door, for $157.00 which was in the price range I set for myself.
Thanks for all of the input. :thumb:
George

I was in a similar boat. I was 58 and had never tried clipless, though I'd tried and rejected toeclips a few times after not being able to get my foot out in panic situations.

I kept hearing the hype about clipless, noticed that virtually everyone riding centuries used them, and decided to give them a try to see what all the fuss was about.

I went for something that looked cool and "racy" (I know, that sounds foolish, but I'm honest with myself.) I got Look Keo Classics - the red ones - because they looked sporty. I also wanted some float.

I have huge feet (size 14) so I couldn't just go into my LBS and buy a medium-priced shoe off the rack. I found some Sidi's on Ebay in size 49. They said they were only ridden by an old guy - definitely used but still had life in them. They were only $30 so I bought them, thinking it was a small investment in case I didn't like clipless. They turned out to be just like the guy said - used but still worth wearing. The 49's seem a little small (even though lots of fitting guides say 49's are equivalent to 14.5) I've also read that Sidis run small. I'd like to try some 50's but I don't want to put out the money unless I know they'll fit better than 49. (The 49's fit fine with very thin polyester socks, but with my warmer, softer cotton socks my big toe feels jammed into the front - not good.)

After riding with the Keos and the Sidis for about 6 months, my review is still uncertain. I can't say that I ride 20% faster. I may ride somewhat faster, but not so I notice, and I haven't done any scientific study to find out one way or the other. The float on the standard Keo cleats seems perfect. I find myself pivoting my feet slightly from time to time as I ride and it's a welcome sensation. On the positive side, I don't have to think about my foot position, once I'm clipped in, and my heels never hit the chainstays or derailleur, which they did with my running shoes. Clipping in isn't too much of a problem, although I'm still very inconsistent. When starting from stoplights, sometimes I clip in smoothly, and sometimes it seems like it takes me forever. The worst is trying to start from a stop on a steep uphill. I have to pedal while I position my feet, and pedaling hard when not clipped in is problematic. My feet want to slip off the slippery pedals.

Walking in the Sidis with the Keo cleats is not good. You have to walk slowly, your cleats and shoes make a clicking noise, they're slippery (although I walk so slowly I've never come close to falling), and I have to walk carefully to avoid damaging my cleats. But I feel like a real biker, so that's okay. People who think I look foolish in my Spandex shorts, jersey, and walking like a duck, just don't understand, do they?

Greg,
I have seen float mentioned, what is it? Why do I want it?
George

Float lets your heel swing a specific amount before the shoe releases from the pedal. 0 degree float means no side motion, 5 degree allows some movement, 9 degrees is a standard point and 15 degrees is the max amount of float in the Look brand. On some pedals you can also tighten or loosen the spring tension making it easier or harder to clip/unclip.

I agree with those who say purchase your shoes at the LBS for fit and advice. Later, once you know what's up regarding clipless, shop the internet for deals.

BTW if someone is looking for Look pedals, English stores is the place to shop. PBK, Chain Reaction and XX Cycle (my wife couldn't wait for my explanation when that package came to our house) almost always have Look pedals at around 60% of what you pay in the US. I recently bought Look Keo Sprint pedals for $ 81 delivered.

Walking in the Sidis with the Keo cleats is not good. You have to walk slowly, your cleats and shoes make a clicking noise, they're slippery (although I walk so slowly I've never come close to falling), and I have to walk carefully to avoid damaging my cleats. But I feel like a real biker, so that's okay.

You need these. (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10052&storeId=10053&productId=161534&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=200316&top_category=200276)

So far I have only ridden my workout bike on the trainer (The Dawes). It was a little weird at first trying to clip in. After clipping and un-clipping several times it became more comfortable.
The shoes feel great and I can pull up a little on the up-stroke while pushing on the power stroke. Of course the test will be when the weather gets good enough to go out on the Fuji and ride the trail.

I used to speed skate years ago. Speed skates have the extended blade in both the front and back. Walking in the shoes is not as bad as walking in the skates, however it is similar.

So far, So Good.