Bike Forums - View Single Post - Debating going clipless on Hybrid

04-25-15 | 02:40 PM

#22

steve_cay

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 263

Likes: 2

From: Canada

Bikes: 2013 Trek 8.4 DS

Thanks for the advice everybody!

Initial impressions (so people venturing into SPD's know what to expect):

Installation: Trivial enough to install pedals and cleats into shoes and all ... but I am also mechanically inclined.

Then onto the garage practice: Balanced against the wall and tried to clip shoes in … WTF, not obvious at all where to place foot to snap in at first. After some practice went from 1 min down to a few seconds of fumbling to get in. Also having to turn the pedal to the correct side up each time seamed like a PITA. Unclipping however was surprisingly easy at the minimum tension, I just had to think about twisting my feet out and I was unclipped. Then I went on to try riding across the garage, and get out before I hit the wall and topple over. Had that mental panic the first time realizing my feet where bound in, but no problems getting out. Repeated a few times ... and went to bed excited about going on my first ride with them, but worried about this flipping the pedal to the correct side every time.

My first "full out ride": Got up early this morning and headed out excited. A bit of fiddling clicking in, no issues clicking out whenever I wanted to however. And then started peddling hard, WOW, I am going to be liking this!!! The guy at the store told me "When you use these, condition your mind to think of doing circular motions with your feet ... so far you were peddling like a piston - only able to push down, now you will be able to push/pull each foot around an entire 360: up,down,and laterally." When I was thinking about these circles as I peddled, the heralded advantage became so clear: I was "at one" with the pedal and able to turn them around a circle! I felt all kinds of muscles working that I never felt before!!! I am sure this will be very well worth the US$75 I paid for everything!!!

Second ride out plodding around the park with the family: If you are just casually riding, I did not see any advantage. These do nothing while coasting, and if you are not peddling hard it still feels like just pumping down on the pedal.

Third ride of the day: Did my afternoon ride, and all felt second nature! Can flip pedals and click-in in a second or two (still needed to look). Clicking out well before a stop never failed, and the shoes felt like a had worn them all my life! Very happy I spent <$100 for such a good experience, and never fell over even once

Equipment:
Shoes: Louis Garneau Multi-Lite. These are an Urban/training-machine type shoe. Very light and comfortable with a sole like a regular walking shoe (albeit stiff) with the cleat indent. I figured I did not need the exaggerated sole knobs and ratchet straps of an MTB shoe. So comfortable while biking, I hardly felt them at all! Very walkable, but when I installed the cleat and walk on cement I hear/feel the metal crunching on the grit (since it it flush with the rubber and makes contact), a bit distressing since it sounds like you are damaging the cleat but will have to get used to it. I guess that is normal.

Pedals: "VP Components" VPX-92 (copy of the M324). Yes the two sided thing seems like a slight annoyance. It turns up platform side up 75% of the time (since the mechanism is heavier than nothing on the other side). but after three rides was getting more used it, I hope it should eventually become automatic . For now I can take off with 0 delay by just putting my foot on and pedal (regardless of what side comes up), and then when underway look down and clip it in. I assume it will be worth the fact that I can wear any shoes, and if I am paranoid in traffic or on a narrow bridge, can pedal on the platform side until things feel safe to clip in again. Also on this type of pedal the platform side is a proper spiky cage pedal, unlike the a530 style which many complain is too smooth and slippery for proper platform use. As for clicking out, surprisingly effortless at minimum tension yet still held firmly in place while riding. I cannot possibly think how the click'R system can be simpler to snap out of than this (at minimum tension)! And I guess I can dial these much stiffer than the click'R if I want to do extreme stuff like rear wheel bunny hops (which I probably won't!).

Question:
- There are some very technical articles on how to perfectly adjust the cleat position for your foot, bike geometry, and riding style, and then further fine tuning per taste (and if you get it wrong, long term injuries can result). I just put it roughly in the centre of the indent, and what appear straight - ended up under the ball of my foot. Do most people obsess much further over this?

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