First, after a period of dithering that made Hamlet look like Rudy Giuliani, DG gets a road bike -- a Roubaix, no less.

Then he starts talking about going clipless.

He's worried about falling over? Hell, given the above I'm worried about an impending disruption of the space/time continuum!

DG, most everything people are saying is true but makes it sound a lot more complicated than it is (you know, like how difficult it can be to explain a simple procedure in words). You get the kind you like. If you have a hard time clipping in, loosen the tension setting. If your feet slip out too easily, tighten them. You may well fall a time or two when you forget to unclip. You will only hurt your pride. The upside of clipless -- the efficiency, the decreased fatigue, the decrease of apparent effort -- are all worth it in spades. When I got my first clipless pedals they were for my hybrid. It was as if I'd gotten a new bike. I would not be without them. Both my bikes have them. To clip, or not to clip? Go for it, Prince of Denmark.

(I prefer Looks to SPD, as do most of the roadies I know -- but SPD MTB shoes can be more "walkable". I just found it easier to position my foot for clipping in with the Looks. I think you'll like the SPDs.)

DG

Don't worry about it. You're certain to fall 2 or 3 times. At the least you'll get some bruises and nasty scraps, but you'll probably break an arm or a leg. Big deal, so you'll be laid up for several weeks, off the bike, and put on 10-15 pounds. Then you can begin getting in shape all over again. No big deal, you've done it once, you can do it again.

Just sayin'

A cyclist who pretends he or she won't fall is living in an angelic realm of self denial. No one wants to fall. No one plans to fall on any given ride. But it probably will happen eventually. To avoid being hit by a cement truck, just do circles in your driveway...but then, what fun is that. Ski on the bunny hill and you probably won't crash, unless a bunny jinks in front of you.

DG......falls brought on by clipless pedals are most frequently "fall-overs". I've fallen down the steps of my house more than I've fallen over from clipless pedals. Personally, I don't think hurting yourself seriously due to clipless pedals is sufficiently likely to avoid using them. You have more chance of getting seriously smushed by a cement truck. In which case, don't ride. But I bet you'll keep riding, right?

I'm not THAT worried about the inevitable fall. What's given me the headache about all this is feeling overwhelmed by what should (to my uneducated brain) be pretty simple. Without any experience in clipless, I need to decide which pedal, how tight to adjust it, whether I'll be walking during a ride, and so on. I guess I was hoping that would be a pretty easy path to start down.

Frankly, spending $80 on a pair of pedals that I may not like, that may not be the best choice but only in hindsight, and so on just bugs me. There should be Beginner Clipless pedals -- not the best, but the best for newbies who can then, as they gain experience, know from that experience what is the best solution for their style of riding.

I'm probably making no sense to people who already ride clipless and think "What's the big deal?" but when I approach a counter (or look in a catalogue) at the endless array of pedals, I feel like the Russian managers who were brought to the USA for a training seminar some years back, and were taken to their first western grocery store, and were simply overwhelmed and stunned at all the choices.

Frankly the model I'm leaning toward is simply the one the guy in the store recommended. He probably recommended it because it costs more than the cheapest one in there, how would I know any better?

I keep thinking that a simple metal platform would be so much easier.

And I haven't had coffee yet this morning, so I'm probably a little grouchy!

I read some of the posts last night and, went to bed depressed. Well meaning I'm sure, but somewhat alarmist.

All I can share with you is what I did. I use SPD's set to one notch above minimum tension. I've NEVER had a problem unclipping. I've NEVER had a problem slipping out of the pedals and that includes hitting logs with my cranks on MTB single track. The ONLY time I fell when road biking (not mountain biking) was when I tried to use a SPD cleat in a Wellgo pedal. Yeah, that was dumb. But I do have way more confidence when I stand on the road or trail and I firmly believe clipless are much safer than flats or cages.

DG, please move forward with your quest to go clipless and buy the pedals that YOU like that YOU think will work for you.

I've posted too much on this thread....my last shot. DG, you really can't go overly wrong too much with whatever clipless you choose. Given that you're not hardcore, beat your buddies, take no prisoners, etc....go with SPD for the road. Given the versatility of being able to walk around more easily at restaurants, etc., and that you already have spd shoes, and that we're talking oranges and grapefruit here, not oranges and oysters...........go spd.

And if you don't like 'em...well, those are just the dues you eventually pay in an equipment intensive past-time. Most of us have garages littered with disappointing purchases. Ask me about Brooks saddles, Ritchey anatomics, etc.

I feel safer attached to the pedal in many ways. Riding simple platforms a few years ago on my neighborhood bike, I hit a bump, my foot bounced off the pedal, my nards it the top tube and the pedal came 'round and chewed on my ankle. Nothing's simple or guaranteed....except people who switch to clipless 95 percent seem happy.

DG: I have a pair of SPD pedals and some SPD cleats that I will never use. You can get some SPD shoes for as cheap as $30 on Sierra or Nashbar on sale. Why don't you just play around for a while. I've even seen SPD shoes on Craig's list for $10. Let me know if you want me to send them to you.

Now that I've had some coffee, I came back to apologize for being grumpy. I do appreciate all the tips, suggestions, advice, and stories. Please accept my apology!

Why should we. Basically we have all been telling you to go Clipless. You have the shoes. I think most of us will suggest going fot the M520's as they are cheaper and as far as I can see- they are as good as any other. That is what most of us use.

Just put us out of our misery and post the pics of the first fall- Probably in about 6 months time when the fox jumps out in front of you on your second century of the year (08) and you are at the turn round point and the Nice nurse helps you get better with a massage.

I say go for it, I would never ride without my look pedals. Spds are nice too, just find a comfortable shoe and you will be alright. I might suggest a pair of northwaves, they have a little wider toe box, which is great for my wide feet. As far as pedals I love my pp 206 pedals, but if you have spds might as well use those to start.

Please go clipless soon DG. This is all a great plot to reel you in so we can read your first fall over story. Just remember what we posted about helmets.

PS....you will be fine..................its a lot like walking.

Or............you get a yellow raincoat and a tricycle and train for the inevetable. (does that belong in the post to end all posts)

There are. They are also known as "whatever clipless pedals you happen to start with". It really doesn't matter which ones you choose. You'll learn more on your first ride than by reading 100 of our posts.

+1000

Yep, I agree with this last post too. You will learn more on your first ride than by reading 100+1000 posts from The Grampster.

I rode em for 4 weeks, on and off road, NOT for me, but I am going to use them on this road bike only because the dang roads around here are so rough my feet get bounced off the pedals, especially in an intersection, not a good place to "Pop outa gear" so to speak. I think they are safer than not on road bike.

I have heard most will fall, my dealer says I won't, well I haven't yet, my buddy Roger did, chain went off and he couldn't get his feet out, and he a real vet.


What are these Shimano SM-SH56 Cleats? Any body know?

Shimano SM-SH56 multi release cleats, which means you can clip out either to the outside or the inside of the pedal..

Great beginner cleats. For SPD MTB pedals like Shimano PD-520, PD-540 etc.
About $20 at REI, Performance and other places.

They will also release if you give the heel a rotation up toward the toes, or up and out. Much easier to get out of in an emergency. Shimano only provides the black cleats with SPD shoes so you will have to spring for the $20 bucks.

Note: the 56 cleats are compatable with the new pedals A520, M520 and up. Older pedals like M515 use a cleat #'d 55 for this purpose.

As one poster above noted, Shimano cleats are not really compatable with Welgo pedals even though they look similar to the Shimano. I'm not sure, but this may apply to many "branded" pedals with Shop names on them as I believe that Welgo is the major supplier of these.

Although I much prefer to use clipless on road, I can ride without them. But I would not think of riding off road without clipless pedals. SPD or Eggbeaters both work very well. My feet would bounce off my pedals all the time without them.

So what's the "fall" situation with toe clips? No one talks about them much any more, yet a lot of bikes still come with them standard. And the two controlled studies I've seen comparing clipless vs toe clips, showed no appreciable performance difference between them.

First, clipping out is really not the big deal, generally you only fall because you forget not because it is hard. Clipping in is where the talent is. You are usually clipped out at a light wanting to get across an intersection watching traffic, maybe the rider in front of you all which makes getting clipped in worse in my opinion. The good news is that almost every rider I have every ridden with has problems getting clipped in occasionaly and some days it seems like every stop is a challenge.

As for why most people clip in/out on the left it is because your chainrings are on the right. If you've every missed a clip in and slid off the pedal you will know why sliding into your large chainring can leave a scar. Also it prevents those unsightly grease tattoos on your right calf if you stay clipped in.

Give a few days and you will wonder how you did without.

I was curious so I did some searching and found a couple articles that indicate people often use their strongest leg to clip in as they'll have better control and power. This applies to me as I use my left leg for kicking footballs, soccer balls, etc. I've tried switching to my right foot and it's really awkward for me.

I doubt that it matters too much. Whatever is easiest and most natural for you will probably work the best.

I'm afraid that I would feel exactly like DG if (when???) I ever face this dilemma. The array of different pedals would leave me wondering why one is better than the other, and then there's the first time out, learning everything there is to learn, and being over 50 and things (seem to) take longer to learn (and remember), losing money on the wrong choices.... looking like an idiot when I fall... fear of being completely scatterbrained and forgetting to unclip at a light when I'm surrounded by cars... yadayadayada.

So, all that to say... you go first and me know how it turns out for you.

Well, I'm not going to go where no DG dares to go.

If I buy a new bike and it has clipless pedals as standard equipment, I'm taking them off.

I'm quite satisfied with my Power Grips.

Although I did my best to try to fall yesterday. Came up to a stop sign, saw a car and slowed way down, to almost a stop, I can usually hold my balance with even the slightest forward velocity. But I wasn't paying close enough attention and rolled off the side of the sidewalk. Started to go down with both feet in the power grips. You've got to pull your feet out of them, can't just slide them off the pedals. So there was a very slight delay as I pulled them out, but I got them out in time as I awkwardly caught myself. Slightly pulled/strained muscles in both hips as I did it.

Regarding olde fashioned clips and straps....I've used them for many years and still have them on one bike just like my dad had his valued Tommy Dorsey collection on 78's. To answer TomBomb, if they're tightened down seriously, you've got to reach down and flip the buckle to get out unless you're a powerful foot twister; I've fallen over at stops when I was too preoccupied by a beautiful motorist to remember. Fall-over just like with clipless. I've also gone over when I've thrown my chain on climbs.

It's easier to get out of clipless than securely tightened toeclips&straps.

#2. I'm left handed and a right foot toe dabber. I usually come out of clipless with my right foot. Have yet to gash my leg on the chainring, though I often get interesting grease marks on my calf. A total rube.