jamse

anyone know if there is a specific clipless pedal to use for track cycling? should i just get pedals with clips instead? if so what kind? im not looking for vintage stuff, when i google about this i get mostly vintage suggestions... i work at a bicycle shop and the only thing that was suggested were the speedplay zero track. we dont have a velodrome in the city so we do not have many track heads, and the fixie kids buy from this shop downtown, we sell scott and gary fisher, and custom serottas/lynskys, not much track stuff...

TejanoTrackie 

The vast majority of track riders/racers including myself simply use the same clipless pedals and shoes that we use on the road. A few sprinters prefer traditional track pedals with toe clips and straps or a combination of the two systems. I would suggest avoiding pedals with float unless it can be locked out. I adjust my pedals to maximum tightness where I can barely clip in or out.

Baby Puke

Shimano spd-sl

zzzwillzzz

+1
why make things difficult? use the same setup as your road setup and you won't need to buy another set of shoes. if you're not pulling out on the road, you're not gonna pull out on the track especially if you're new to the track.

carleton

I agree with using the same pedals as the road. That being said, I use Speedplay Track Special Zeros on my road bike and my track bike.

The only difference between the Zeros and Track Zeros is in the pedal NOT the cleat. The pedal has a ramp that pops the cleat off to disengage. The Track version just has a steeper ramp which requires more force to get out. But, don't think it's super hard, because it's not. It's about as hard as the SPD-SL to disengage. The funny thing is, my girlfriend (120lbs) has a set of Zeros and tried my Track Zeros and literally didn't notice much of a difference. She said, "It's harder, but not really. I didn't notice it till you said something about it."

Also, you can buy an adapter that allows the use of double straps along with the Zeros. Sprinters go for this option. You will not disengage from Zeros by pulling up on them. But bad pedal form will disengage you from ANY clipless pedal. However, sprinters like the double straps because they eliminate slop in the shoe. If you notice that when you are clipped into a clipless pedal, the foot *still* has a tiny bit of play due to the leather upper of the shoe expanding/contracting a bit on the upstroke. Only track sprinters use this option.

Baby Puke

The strap makes things feel a LOT more connected. Those of you who haven't tried it should give it a go. You might like it.

Ray R

I have seen some nasty wrecks on the track caused by pulling out of a clipless pedal system. My advice is to use slotted cleats with Campagnolo Pista pedals and double straps. That said, there is a masters racer in San Diego who uses Speedplay Zero with straps. That's probably just as secure.

The Heckler

I use Keywin CRMs. They look very 80's, but they are amazing pedals. Here are the pros and cons that I see to them.
Pros:
1. The float is not in the cleat, but within the pedal itself. The whole pedal body (with your shoe on it) will rotate on top of the axle.
2. The float tension can be adjusted or locked.
3. The release tension does not affect the entry tension. In other words, clipping in takes no effort at all, but clipping out can be made hard so you don't pull out.
4. You can buy the Track Adapters so that the cleat will not come out of the pedal. The adapter is basically a little rod that goes through the pedal body and into the cleat, preventing the cleat from rotating and coming out.
5. Price. I got mine for $100 on eBay. I highly reccomend the Cromoly axle version.
6. The cleats have a very long life. They can last about a year.

Cons
1. It's not easy to put a strap on them, but it can be done.
2. They are plastic (very hard plastic). This means you have a to be a little careful. I crashed with them once and nothing happened, though, just a few scratches.
3. Not the best looking pedals out there.
4. Most shops don't carry the cleats, so you need to order online.

Don't use speedplays if you plan on doing any sprinting. I would never do a standing start on them.

andre nickatina

SPD-SLs are the de facto standard.

I honestly don't see how pull out is such a problem for some people by the way. Up until getting some SPD-SLs halfway through last season, I raced and trained on Time ATACs. I match sprinted on them fine and did kilo practice and standing starts with them, and never had a single pull out with non-worn cleats (and the only pull outs with worn cleats came from riding fixed on the street, not the track, and they were overdue for replacement anyway). Do other people just have their feet gyrating in all kinds of funny directions when they sprint or what?

Side story: a guy I match sprinted against somehow pulled out of his DA 7400's with double straps right as he was making his move in a sprint. No idea how that happened - he didn't have the straps tight enough beforehand?

zzzwillzzz

i must be doing it wrong as i've never had a problem doing either with speedplays, or i'm just weaker and/or have a smoother pedal stroke than you.

JaeOne3345

Never had a problem with spd-sl.

I use them on the road and the track. On the track I have also rigged up basic MKS straps as well but they weren't really needed.

An spd-sl on full tension will be enough for many people, though some monsters will still need a strap, etc.

carleton

Agreed. If they were good enough for the last great American track sprint champion, then they are good enough for most folks.

carpediemracing 

I use old SPD-Rs, the pre-SL version of the road SPDs. They're very difficult to unclip - often I have to hit my shoe with my fist in order to unclip. They have metal to metal cleat engagement.

And you can buy the pedals for $20-50/pair online. I paid much more because I got them when they were current, but I had a couple friends give me their pedals after they realized how hard it was to unclip, so now I have a few pairs. I was contemplating buying a pair two as extras, hence the eBay price knowledge (look for completed listings).

Disclaimer: I'm still a new rider on the track but I've been racing a long time on the road. I've also never been on a track steeper than T-Town, and that was in 92 or so.

I'd use the excuse that "I need clips and straps" to use my old Gipiemme pedals (half axle) with double straps, but I'm still storing them in my "cool parts box". I don't think I'm good enough to need more than the SPD-R in retention strength.

cdr

key

although you may not produce enough power during jumps/standing starts to pull out of your pedal, there may be enough leeway in your shoe upper that a strap may help with feeling more secure.

personally for me, im using shimano spd-sr's, the old 105 ones, there is a mod for them to attatch a strap to them which looks quite nice : https://www.badbean.com/cyclingstuff/spd_straps.htm

bitingduck

I've been using the SPD-Rs for a while, too, since I broke a plastic cleat in a flying 200 and did a flip...

I actually used clips and double straps for a year before getting some SPD-Rs, which were also nice and pretty comfortable. The SPD-Rs are easy to modify for a strap if you want one, but you can make them clamp so tight you have to take your shoe off to get off the bike. I know at least a few world cup level sprinters who were using them with straps, and then eventually didn't bother with the strap. They feel quite secure without a strap, and can be a pain to get in and out of (which is good on the track).

The downside is that compatible shoes are getting harder to find.

bleedingapple

egg beaters? its what I use on my fixed on the street... i have lots of float but im always locked in...

carleton

No. Eggbeaters would not be a good idea for the track.

Here is an old thread on the topic: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ls-with-straps

bleedingapple

man at the recent bike swap there were zeros really cheap... i knew I should have gotten them. my girlfriend found a pair of 105s (the triangle shaped ones) in a free box recently should I maybe put those to use or i recently got a pair of clipless shimano SPDs (white and purple one sided with little indicators on the back for tension) for $6. Or are Zeros the way to go? Are the ATACs and good for track or are they to be avoided like the eggbeaters? what are some other good options?

monsterkidz

I really like my Look Keo Sprints.

carleton

I would not use any MTB pedal on the track.

If you guys think that foot retention is important riding fixed on the street...imagine how important it is riding at more than double the speeds with riders on your immediate left and right on a 35 degree banking.

In my humble opinion, the ONLY 4 pedal systems that I would use or advise anyone using is:
- Shimano SPD-R
- Shimano SPD-SL (adjust the tension to max)
- Speedplay Zero (regular or track specials)
- Any clip and strap system provide that you use proper shoes with the proper cleat

Others may disagree. Others will say, "I ride _________ pedals and I didn't unclip." That's awesome. But, I wouldn't ride them.

You can get Shimano PD-R540s (SPD-SL style) for $50 at Performance Bike right now.