Road Cycling - Clipless Pedals?

Whats so great about clipless pedals? I just recently got my first pair of cycling shoes to go with my clipless pedals/cleats, and its really weird getting use to it. Is there supposed to be any advantage of using clipless pedals with cycling shoes? I will most likely get a pair of regular pedals which I can use with the really comfortable pair of shoes I wear, instead of using clipless pedals. I would feel much more safe and secure using a set of pedals which your shoes are not connected to.

So what is the deal with clipless pedals?:confused:

Originally posted by RoAdRaGeR

So what is the deal with clipless pedals?:confused:

1) They're safer. Having your foot leave the pedal accidentally due to slipping or inattention or jouncing is a good way to crash.

2) They keep your foot properly positioned.

3) They help you develop a more efficient, circular pedaling technique since you can apply power at every position of the crank.

4) Properly adjusted, they're generally very easy to get unclipped in an emergency (particularly SPD's).

Most of the above benefits are also true of toe clips with straps, although I find clipless easier to get out of in a hurry.

I've been riding, off and on, since the late 50's. I just adopted clipless pedals about 18 months ago and I would never go back.

RichC

I suppose they are safer and better.....but I took my first ride with them on a very crowded road (with cars), which was very stupid....and I was not use to them yet, which is why I crashed, and why I got frustrated with them. Next time I shall find a nice empty back road (with little traffic), to try them out and see if I will stick with them or go back to the traditional pedals.

I just wish someone would invent a shoe which could connect to the pedal without the use of a cleat, but would work better than a cleat...that would be great! Well thanks for the info!

P.S. bicycles were not made to ride with automobile traffic-and also, stay in one lane!:D

The advise I got was to sit in a door way at home and practice getting in and out of the pedals. Once you got comfortable there, try it on an empty road.

When I finally got out on the road, one of my very first attempts at clicking in resulting in me slipping off the pedal and hitting my tail bone hord on my bike seat. Needless to say, it hurt to sit for the next couple of weeks. <-- Just a little warning. :D

I ended up going up and down the road practicing on getting in and out of the pedals. Within a 1/2 mile stretch, I would do the entire clip in and out process 7-8 times, turn around and repeat!

That's good advice kobyj!

The first time I put toe clips on my bike (at about age 12), I fell over as I rode into the garage and stopped. I had mounted them on the pedals at the bikeshop and never had to stop until I got home. My little brother thought it was pretty funny.

The first time I got a pair of cleated shoes (to go with toe clips) at about age 15, I wore them out of the store. Ditto. I fell over in my driveway. My brother was again a bemused witness to my acrobatics.

When I got clipless pedals, I was smart enough to practice a bit first and set the tension really low at first. No falling over in the garage. (My brother would have been disappointed had he been there.)

I have fallen over in traffic several times in my life, as I misjudged the length of time before a green light and somehow couldn't disengage. (Although this only happened with toe clips and straps.)

All that said, aside from quick jaunts to the bike store, I would never ride my rode bike without cleated shoes and pedals. I feel much more secure on the bike with them. For the reasons mentioned by others, clipless are definitely safer than clips and straps.

If you give yourself a week or two to get used to them, I would be willing to bet a small sum of money that you'll never go back.

Cheers!