Clip in pedals vs reg cheapies
06-11-11, 05:37 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 75
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Clip in pedals vs reg cheapies
New to cycling, bought a bike last year and made some posts, had to postpone riding due to work scheduling 3rd shift. Anyway I bought reg pedals for the bike till I got used to how the bike handles and all, and want to put the clip ins on now.
What type of differance do y'all see in the change? I've been riding 16-20 mile clips lately at a Pace of 15 mph. Will the shoes help my avg speed? Thanks.
What type of differance do y'all see in the change? I've been riding 16-20 mile clips lately at a Pace of 15 mph. Will the shoes help my avg speed? Thanks.
06-11-11, 06:24 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sonora, Texas
Posts: 1,646
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Elite Disc, Specialized Roubaix Expert
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The pedals on your bike really serve only one purpose - as a means to transfer power from you to your bicycle. For riding around the block, they don't need to be very fancy... just plastic blocks with grooves or teeth to plant your feet onto. But if you want to go on longer rides (anything over 10 miles), you'll benefit greatly from something better, because:
Without something holding your foot securely to the pedal, it would be easy to slip off the pedal and send your foot into the wheel. Not so likely to happen on a trip around the block, but on a longer ride, when you're tired.
There is a correct placement for the position of your foot over the pedal axle
A good pedal/shoe system has to be able to transfer all of the power from your leg to the pedals without trying to bend your foot over the top of the pedal, which causes both fatigue and pain
You shouldn't have to think about how your feet connect to the bicycle while you're riding. You should be concentrating on having fun!
Without something holding your foot securely to the pedal, it would be easy to slip off the pedal and send your foot into the wheel. Not so likely to happen on a trip around the block, but on a longer ride, when you're tired.
There is a correct placement for the position of your foot over the pedal axle
A good pedal/shoe system has to be able to transfer all of the power from your leg to the pedals without trying to bend your foot over the top of the pedal, which causes both fatigue and pain
You shouldn't have to think about how your feet connect to the bicycle while you're riding. You should be concentrating on having fun!
For me I had a dual pedal when I got my mountain bike, I had never used clipless pedals before but my bike had that as an option. I rode if for a day or two with regular shoes and could feel I had been off the bike to long. I bought some riding shoes with clips to see what the buzz was about. What a world of difference it makes to have your legs power the stroke coming and going. I noticed my quads burning when I was climbing and I knew I was getting the benefit of the upstroke too. I will not ride my bike without being clipped in, in fact I upgraded my pedals to be clipless only, no more dual pedal thing. Just remember to adjust your tension on the pedal so you can unclip when stopping or you might just fall over while being trapped to the pedal, I do it about once a month.
06-11-11, 08:25 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 2,470
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Dahon Mu P 24 , Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Rodriguez Tandem, Wheeler MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
IMO clipless pedals will not alter your average speed very much. In my case, I just like the simplicity of platform pedals. Give them a try, it's the only way learn how they work for you.
06-11-11, 09:22 AM
#4
SuperGimp
They'll probably help a little bit but like all things cycling related, there's no magic bullet to add 2 mph to your average. For me, I find them much easier to use than say, toe clips. I never have to look at them to know where my foot is going and when it's in - it's in the right spot. Clipless pedals are also excellent when you're standing and climbing out of the saddle. You can really fling your bike around and not worry about the pedals.
06-11-11, 09:42 AM
#5
Senior Member
No change to average speed. You might notice that clipless pedals make it easier to maintain a higher cadence, which some people find to make pedaling easier. I find that it's occasionally nice to be able to pull up on the pedals to give my quads some rest. Once you're used to them, clipless pedals are also much easier to engage; no more pedaling across an intersection (or down the street) with your toe clips dragging along the ground.
06-11-11, 01:51 PM
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 6
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock Sport 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Be careful if you're bigger with some pedals. some pedals have a weight limit (egg-beaters, for example).
06-11-11, 10:41 PM
#7
Cyclist, Runner & TRX'er
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Eagan, MN
Posts: 193
Bikes: Steel Bianchi, 29 inch Redline Monocog, a Carbon something someday
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I disagree... The ease that you can maintain a higher, smoother cadence typically will increase your average speed. Helped my average speed, my cadence, my overall ride. The stepping stone to becoming a better rider.
06-12-11, 06:05 AM
#8
Am I evil? I am Man!!!
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Mass.
Posts: 441
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I disagree... The ease that you can maintain a higher, smoother cadence typically will increase your average speed. Helped my average speed, my cadence, my overall ride. The stepping stone to becoming a better rider.
06-12-11, 06:16 AM
#9
Starting over
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1500; 2006 Gary Fisher Marlin; 2011 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 105; 2012 Catrike Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Toeclips and straps, IMO, provide only marginal benefits in terms of adding pedaling efficiency. They'll help you keep your feet in the right spot, but not much more than that. Their greatest effectiveness was back in the days when riders used them in conjunction with cleats, and a firm, firm tightening down of the straps.
06-12-11, 06:39 AM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 75
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the input, I'll especially keep an eye on the weight limit, would never have thought of it. I think I may go with one of those combo pedals that clip in or you can just hop on n ride with sneakers, just incase I'm just running to the store or something. I'm intrested in seeing the cadance gain. Hopefully it will help work out the hamstrings a bit more.
06-12-11, 08:36 AM
#11
Senior Member
