kookaburra1701

I just went clipless, and a hill on one of my routes that, on my good days, I could pedal all the way up at about 4mph I was able to power up at 10 mph. I think most of the extra power came from not having to waste any effort/attention on keeping my feet on the pedals.

I got SPDs, because I have a habit of getting off my bike and wandering around. I also got pedals with a platform on one side so I can still ride in my sneakers when I'm just commuting or running errands. Some people have problems with getting the right side up, but it's never been a problem for me. You can immediately feel the difference, and a quick twitch of the toe flips the pedal.

Nightshade

I know you're not kidding but you're not thinking straight either. Please provide data to support your position that clipless is 100% safe after the rider trains on them to "know what they are doing".

I doubt that you can............

Ooompa Loompa

Can you provide data that straps are 100% safe if you know what you're doing? What about cycling?? Is that 100% safe if you know what you're doing?
For safety reasons I personally will never have anything but clipless pedals attaching my feet to the pedals. The idea of being "strapped" to a pedal bothers me too much. In a collision my clipless pedals will likely come unclipped from the impact.....I can't say the same for straps. I have no data to back this up, just my personal opinion. Show me solid data to prove to me that straps are safer than clipless and I will stand corrected (but I won't stop wearing clipless)

Mr. Beanz

Whast bike are you riding? Some low end bikes, dept store bikes, and low end one piece cranks "might" not match the thread pattern on clipless spd pedals.

Wife has a Specialized Crossroads hybrid that wil not accept the spd pedals.

bigfred 

What a load of bullocks! Spoke like a true lugite who is unwilling to learn a very basic skill, and subsquently labels it "unsafe". Clipless pedals were and are a far safer option to the clips and straps they replaced. I fail to understand how you can promote "powergrip" straps as a safer options, when they (powergrips) if properly sized "require" the very same lateral foot movement to release as clipless pedals. But, then powergrips add the complication of needing to withdraw your foot, where clipless more or less spit the cleat from the pedal.

Oh well, at least you've already stated that it's your opinion and it's not changing. Oh well.

I only reply so that others may see the other view.

contango 

I'm looking to put them on a 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport.

contango 

Yep, that was the one. The previous ride I did was in pretty nasty conditions and I didn't really see much of what other riders were using. On the 150 with the nicer weather it was easier to check out different setups (that also got me thinking I could use a handlebar bag).

I definitely want to be able to walk in any shoes, as I use the bike for transport as well as fun/exercise.

ythe1300

I have been using SPD-SLs for about a month now and I can tell you that I see very little difference in power to the pedals but, I feel much better on my bike with them than with platforms. They are great at high spin speeds and after the first week I no longer feel like I'm going to crash because I can't get them un-clipped quickly enough.

I will say that if I think that I'm going to need to stop I un-clip then instead of waiting until I know. Never used any other type of clip-less setup other than the SLs so I can't say anthing about the egg beaters of the spds.

ythe1300

If you got um I'm interested.

Myosmith

I went with Shimano double sided pedals (one side flat, one SPD) on both my road bike and my touring. I bought "walkable" mountain bike shoes that look pretty much like a general purpose athletic shoe and are comfortable both on and off the bikes. I still ride in regular shoes when I'm out for a casual ride, short commute, errands, etc. but use the SPDs almost exclusively when training or on group rides. Occassionally, in heavy stop and go traffic, I'll clip out and flip the pedals just so I can put a foot down if I need to. My only minor complaint is that occassionally it takes me an extra second to clip in after a stop because I have to flip a pedal over. No big deal, I just pedal a few revolutions on the flat side, then flip the pedal and clip when convenient.

One piece of advice, if you go the two-sided pedal route, train yourself to use the unclipping motion every time you step off the pedal, even in street shoes. It's embarassing to forget you are clipped in after coming to a full stop. I have my pedals set to the lightest retention setting and haven't had any accidental clip-outs.

contango 

Flipping the pedals over isn't a problem, I have to do that now as one side of my flat pedals is narrower than the other. Good point on the habit even when in street shoes. I'd really rather not be falling over into London traffic.

DTSCDS

I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said. In thread after thread of this exact question, with the exception of our friend "Nightshade", I don't know of ANYONE who has posted that they tried being clipped in and went back. I'm sure it must have happened, but I don't know of anyone.

"Nightshade" is fairly famous for holding the opinion that if you should foolishly decide to ride clipped in you will eventually wreck, your and/or your bike will EXPLODE and everyone in your riding party will be injured or killed by the shrapnel. I don't know where his disdain for all things clipless comes from but he is 1) adamant, and 2) consistent in his opposition to the idea. His argument is based on what MIGHT happen in certain circumstances should you have a wreck and not be able to unclip and SOMEHOW your leg is put into a compromising position you could POSSIBLY be severely injured. So, since this is even a REMOTE POSSIBILITY, you should NEVER try it. His argument is very theoretical in nature yet if you counter his position he asks for empirical data to PROVE that riding clipped in is ABSOLUTELY safe. Well, it isn't! There IS a risk. But, riding a bike at all is not ABSOLUTELY safe.

So the question becomes, is it worth the risk to ride clipped in? As in pretty much everything in life there is a balance of risk vs. reward. Whatever ACTUAL (not some theoretical/possible) risk there is must be balance with the benefit you will gain from taking that risk. You will find that most folks who have risked death and dismemberment to make the switch find the benefit(s) far outweigh the risk(s). (Anyone know if Nightshade actually ever tried riding with clipless pedals?)

There is a slight learning curve when you begin the clipless journey. I would say that almost every fall CAUSED by being clipped in is the all too common "forgetting-to-unclip-before-coming-to-a-complete-stop" maneuver. I have done this. While this can easily be prevented by anticipating and unclipping early, for some reason most people will fail to do this at least once. (Yet, somehow each of us survived to ride another day!!!)

So, to sum up what you will find:
1) Give them a try. I think you will find that you will appreciate the efficiency. There is also some non-quantifiable, Zen-like attachment you feel when you are physically connected with your bike that is of some value.
2) It can be a pain to clip/unclip every block or two. I don't mind it but some might. The SPD/Platform combination is a good choice in this situation--especially if you are doing lots of city, stop and go type riding.
3) Loosen the tension on the spring that keeps you clipped in as you get used to the pedals. That will lessen the effort needed to unclip.
4) Lean against a wall or tree and practice clipping/unclipping a few times before you try it in real life. It's not brain surgery but it is a different feel.
5) If you feel any discomfort in your foot position get your cleats adjusted. Pain should not be part of the equation.

Nightshade

Straps are not in question here.

Clipless is.......

Nightshade

A good and fair view point on my dislike for clipless on the street.

Thank you.

mprelaw

There's another common cause---it's the "I unclipped for the light/stop sign on one side, and while I was waiting, I leaned towards my clipped-in side".

In the first case, forgetting to unclip as you come to a stop, you fall going about .5 mph. In the other case, you fall at 0 mph. Hard to see how death/dismemberment/mayhem/chaos and the end of civilization in general is a real possibility there.

chasm54

Of course I can't. No such data exists. However, something can be true even if there is no "data" available.

There are various risks associated with every pedal choice. Riding with platforms, especially in the wet, has risks. It is possible for the foot to slip off the pedal. It doesn't often happen, but it is not unknown. One is largely protected from that risk by being clipped in.

The supposed risks associated with being clipped in are tiny. Occasionally, those who are new to it will topple over at virtually zero speed because they don't unclip when coming to a halt. This passes very quickly. After a week or so unclipping becomes second nature. And in the unfortunate event of a crash, one always unclips because of the impact.

It's no problem. One is probably safer clipped in than on platforms. There's certainly nothing to suggest otherwise.

DTSCDS

But, as you are in that moment where everything goes into slow motion and you realize there is NOTHING you can do to right the ship as you ever so slowly go over sideways--you think it might be the end of civilization. In my case, a carbon-fiber riding, full-kit wearing uber skinny roadie was riding by in the parking lot just as I went over. He was decent enough to circle back to ask the poor fat guy lying on his side like a disoriented turtle trying to right himself if he was okay. In my head I just wanted him to ride away and leave my with my shame. But I did manage a half-hearted, "yeah, I'm fine."

volosong

This thread has become too "political" and "religious". It started out as a good discussion for awhile, and has gone downhill since.

contango 

It has, although enough people have said clipless are worth trying that I'm more inclined to give them a go. It would be good to know if there's some way of giving them a go without committing to the shoes and pedals, just in case I find I hate them.

IBOHUNT

I'd say that unless you are a McMerc fan you'll appreciate them but that takes the thread in yet another direction.
Ebay or perhaps someone round you that does use clipless that you could 'borrow' from could be your friend here.

contango 

Maybe the LBS owner would let me try something out. The staff there talked of going for a ride around the block. Their prices are a little on the high side at times, but when they are willing to let me try stuff out and decide what I like it rapidly becomes worth paying it.

ChrisM2097

Just go for it. You'll love it.

You can always just get clipless / platform pedals like these or these to make the transition a little easier.

ZmanKC

I've been riding clipless on my road bike for a month and wouldn't think of going back.

MRT2

Can't help you there. Worst case scenario, you sell your lightly used pair of shoes.

volosong

There are lower cost options. For my trip to Italy last year when I planned on renting a bike, and knowing that they wouldn't supply clips, I needed to do a bit of pre-planning. I knew that I would be going to places and would want to do a little bit of walking, so my normal cycling shoes were out. I went into my LBS and picked up a pair of last-years-model dirt shoes pretty inexpensively. (You can probably find something on-line.) Then, he sold me a set of Crank Bros. Candy pedals and a set of SPD cleats. They were "pulls" off bikes that they sold to people who wanted a different type of pedal. He just had a box under the counter filled with loose pedals, (zipped tied together so that a left and right pair wouldn't get separated). My cost of the Candy pedals were less than half of what they would have been brand new. I was set. A pair of cycling shoes that I could walk in and clipless pedals for the rental bike. Worked out very well and I had a wonderful time zipping around Rome like I was a bike messenger on a mission.

Stop into your local shop and ask them that you are interested in trying out clipless and ask if they have some pulls you can try and also a demo pair of shoes.

One word of caution ... cheap cycling shoes are worse than riding barefoot. You really need a stiff sole to distribute the force across your whole foot. Otherwise, you'll get "hot spots" and your riding experience will not be enjoyable. If you eventually decide to go clipless, don't skimp on shoes. Figure $100 minimum for an on-line pair of shoes on sale. Twice that if you purchase locally and a current model. That's minimum. Good shoes can easily go for much more. For me, I wouldn't spend more than $150 for a good pair. To help them last longer, I get those rubber cleat covers that allow limited walking without wearing out the cleats.