Commuting - Finally switched to clipless

Got a pair of Sidi Zeta shoes and look A3.1 pedals for about $200 altogether. Rode to work with them for the first time today. I loved it! I had cages before, but this is so much better.

I have Look pedals on my road bike because I don't walk much when I'm riding it. They're great pedals but how do you walk once you get to work?

I put my other shoes on.

you's all crazy with your fancy shoes.
i wear clogs a lot because my feet are too wide at the top and too narrow at the bottom for most shoes. clogs are great! big top and little heal/no heal. still once ina while i drop a shoe on my commute. in the summer it is funny, but in the winter on ice it is not so groovey. and i have had cars run over my shoes. oh, well, i keep spares at work! you fancy clipless people. so coordinated. i am impressed by it. cannot do it though.

Quite a few people use the Shimano clipless sandals. They are esp good for people with weird feet. You can use them in summer, sockless, and in winter with gortex over-socks for a warm, dry ride.

I use the shimano clipless sandals year round. It's so liberating.

Koffee

Keep your shoes at work. They are heavy anyway.

I've ridden clipless for so long it feels funky to ride platforms. I don't think I could ever ride anything but clipless.

I've never ridden in anything but normal everyday shoes, or boots in the winter or rain. (And I also have "dropped a shoe" in an intersection -- so at least I don't wear loafers anymore!) I have a bunch of questions about clipless, so since we're here:
Do you have to buy special shoes, or can you get attachments that go on normal shoes?
Are all of them that expensive? ($200 shoes/pedals combined)
What is the difference between the cheap ones and the expensive ones, if there is a difference? Is it in function, durability, or something else?
Does it really give you that much more power?
Can you walk on the special shoes? (At least into and out of the office.)

I've never been a special clothes/hardware type of cyclist. To me, it's transportation and, to some extent, community and philosophy, but not gadgets. I don't feel a big need to change, but sometimes I wonder if I'm missing something... :)

John,

1- yes
2- I'd say 200$ is top-end average.
3- Weight, durability, etc.
4- Compared to toe-clips, not much.
5- You can with SPD mountain bike and touring shoes. Maybe some others that I don't know of.

You're not missing that much. They are much nicer to pedal with, but I don't think they're worth it for commuting. The only place I really like them is on longer rides but other than that, I don't see any advantage. Actually, they're a pain for a short ride at the store because they aren't very comfortable with normal shoes (mine are Shimano 545 with a cage around so you can pedal with normal shoes but you can feel the clip under the sole. Some pedal have a real platform on one side).

I just got the Shimano clipless sandals. I have always just used tennis shoes with toe clips and straps, but thought I would get them a try with my new bike. I really like the stiff sole of the sandal. I have wide feet and most platform pedals aren't quite wide enough, so the outside edge of the pedal cuts/presses into my shoe. And I am really looking forward to wearing sandals in the cool dry summers we have here in Atlanta. :rolleyes:

Do you have to buy special shoes, or can you get attachments that go on normal shoes?
Are all of them that expensive? ($200 shoes/pedals combined)
What is the difference between the cheap ones and the expensive ones, if there is a difference? Is it in function, durability, or something else?
Does it really give you that much more power?
Can you walk on the special shoes? (At least into and out of the office.)



You don't have to spend $200. I started with clipless with Ritchey mtb pedals from Nashbar that were about $35 and Pearl Izumi shoes I got at REI for about $60. Generally mtb stuff is cheaper than road stuff. The pedals lasted about two years and 5,000 miles of being used and parked outside in all weather. The shoes have no meaningful wear after 6,000 miles. Spend what you have to in order to get shoes that fit and are comfortable and spend what's left on pedals (Nashbar brand pedals are like $15 on sale).

You'll save money in the long run using cycling-specific shoes, with or without clipless pedals. Most non-cycling shoes don't last very long for cycling because they flex and weren't meant to flex that much. If you find you don't like clipless, you can always take the cleats off the shoes and use them with clips.

I walk up two flights of stairs in my shoes every morning, and down every evening. I wouldn't care to walk much further. It's not so much that the shoes are uncomfortable but that the metal cleats protrude slightly and catch and slide.

The big advantage I find with clipless is not so much power as control -- you don't have to worry about your foot slipping off the pedal when pedaling hard or in rough terrain.

I've never ridden in anything but normal everyday shoes, or boots in the winter or rain. (And I also have "dropped a shoe" in an intersection -- so at least I don't wear loafers anymore!) I have a bunch of questions about clipless, so since we're here:
Do you have to buy special shoes, or can you get attachments that go on normal shoes?
Are all of them that expensive? ($200 shoes/pedals combined)
What is the difference between the cheap ones and the expensive ones, if there is a difference? Is it in function, durability, or something else?
Does it really give you that much more power?
Can you walk on the special shoes? (At least into and out of the office.)

I've never been a special clothes/hardware type of cyclist. To me, it's transportation and, to some extent, community and philosophy, but not gadgets. I don't feel a big need to change, but sometimes I wonder if I'm missing something... :)


Get the clipless sandals from Pricepoint. It's about 30 bucks.

Koffee