troie

I know I said I never would but I think it might benefit me considering the amount of climbing I do. I keep hearing how much more control and torque you get from clipless, making it so much more reasonable. Has anyone recently made a platform to clipless conversion?

PaulBravey

I recently put clipless on my mountain bike after having them on my road bike for 6 months. They have greatly helped with climbing especially now I've learnt to pull up as well as push down while pedalling. I still get nervous going over technical sections while clipped in but i've yet to fall over due to forgetting - I did that once or twice on the road bike and that soon teaches you to remember

markhr

nope - but if you do make the change it wouldn't hurt to look at time pedals and sidi shoes.

https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/pedal/index_T.shtml
https://www.epinions.com/bike-Components-All-Pedals
https://stuff.silverorange.com/archiv.../timeatacalium
https://www.bicycling.com/gear/review...&family_id=128

https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Shoes/index_S.shtml
https://stuff.silverorange.com/archiv...pril/sidirampa
https://www.bikemag.com/features/gear/sidi_action_srs/

fatboyslimfast

I'm pretty lucky in the fact that I've used clipless since day one (about 15 years) and feel pretty comfortable in them. I think the trick is not to dwell on the fact that you're stuck to your pedals, instead consentrate on your pedalling and the lines you're taking - believe me, when the time comes you WILL get your feet out! Start out with a low tension so you can get your feet out pretty quickly, get the hang of it and gradually increase the tension.

SpiderMike

I have only two words for ya....PATIENCE, Grasshopper. I went from platforms, to toeclips, and then to clipless. I went through three different clipless peddles before finding the peddles I liked.

troie

Tension?

phantomcow2

well on some pedals they have whats called "release tension". Basically, higher release tension means its harder to clip out. If you get pedals that have release tensions which are adjusted by screws by the way, its good to start as low as possible. BUt the disadvantage is that its easier to accidently clip out.
I was hesistant to try clipless, and im so glad i did. Im telling you its just an awsome thing to have, so much more power. I was nervous at first about going over technical sections but I found that once I was in there i completely forgot about them and didnt fall. I They actually help because its easier to lift the rear end over things.
I am sold on crankbrothers, they were the first clipless pedal I owned and will be the last, just look at the reviews. THese dont have release tension but rather "release angles". They are light, very strong, simple mechanism which means less can break and sheds mud like nothing else. You can get 3 versions; egg beaters, Candy and Mallet. I personally think that the egg beater has too small of a platform and you cant ride unclipped. I am using the Candy SL right now and it gives a nice platform for your foot. I cant say enough about these and for the price its fantastic. They are lighter than most spd pedals out there.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...149305268&rd=1

jo5iah

I dig the regular eggbeaters for mud and ice. Getting dirt, rocks, and ice out of SPDs can be a major drag on the ride. I don't ride in street shoes, only with biking shoes, so I'm not too concerned about the platform I have. The eggbeaters rock - they're light, simple, and have great engagement/disengagement.

I had SPDs for years, but recently made the switch, and wouldn't go back. SPD's typically have tension adjustment. I don't believe that Time pedals do. SPD's are good for beginners (with tension adj, and many inexpensive options). I've got friends who love their Time pedals - I've tried them and though they weren't much different than a tighter SPD.

Ride on the road or on non-technical trails to get used to clipping in and out. Eventually though, you'll become much more efficient at pedalling.

phantomcow2

I think the biggest + with egg beaters is the design. If you look at SPD pedals, theres a lot of places for mud to accumilate there which makes clipping in more difficult. With CB stuff its just so simple, nothing can go wrong. If you ever have to take one apart you will see

juniorcaveman

time pedals don't have adjustable tension, but they have variable release angles.
i've got early time atac pedals on my bike and have been thinking about switching. i like the pedals but even on the narrower release angle, i sometimes have trouble getting out. the owner of the LBS said that time pedals are among the harder pedals to get out of. if i had had to pay for these pedals i wouldn't have bought them, but since a friend gave them to me new for free, i'll use them until i decide to spend money on a new pair.

on some falls when i think the pedals should release, they don't and it creates a slightly more difficult situation.

i don't think i would recommend time pedals for your first clipless.

PhattTyre

After you get used to clipless pedals you'll be afraid to ride without them. Getting out isn't an issue after the brief learning curve. The heal swinging motion is a pretty natural way to put your foot down. Once you get used to them you can put your foot down just as fast and easy as you could with platforms. The only time I haven't been able to get a foot down when I probably could have with platforms (this includes all kinds of endos and falling to the side) is wheelies gone bad.

flyerI

My buddy at the bike shop told me to try his Frogs, so I did. Ordered a pair 15 min later and have never looked back. I put platforms on an old bike about a year ago and rode it around the block. When I started up a hill I knew right away that my leg muscles had been trained to pull. Pushing only was pretty different after 6 years or so on the Frogs.

Wellsack

I've been riding clipless for two weeks now and I don't think that I would ever go back to platform pedals. I feel that clipless pedals make you a better rider as you can't put a foot down as easily so you are much less likely to dab. Climbing is a lot easier as you have already heard. I can clean hills with clipless that I would have been pushing the bike up with platforms. But the learning curve is a little steep. The first week you will forget to unclip, trust me on this. Fortunately it will hurt your pride more than anything else (unless you go rolling down a hill sideways clipped in like I did... ouch) I have been using Crank Bros. Candy SL and they seem to work pretty well. As others have said it has enough of a platform that you can unclip when going over really technical sections. The release seems to get easier the more I ride them. The other pedals that seem real popular around here are Time Alium. Some of the people I ride with swear by them. Go for it, you won't regret it.

phantomcow2

yea thats one thing you need to be aware of. you WILL fall. I have not heard of anybody not falling when they first got them. YOu will try to clip out and start and fall over and swear. You will be upside down with your feet still attached. You will swear, curse and wnat to throw this bike away, and when your done you will be a better rider and say "wow, how such a simple thing causing so much trouble":

cruzer59

I too am planning to make the change to clipless pedals this season. I am just getting back into biking and it seems like the strap cages are too cumbersome and akward. My friend swears by clipless and has recommended that I pick up some Ritcheys from Nashbar. Any comments or suggestions about this brand/style?

Also, can someone explain the difference between the Comp V3 and the Logic Pro pedal? According to the Ritchey website, the pros are a step up from comp but when I read about each on Nashbar they seem exactly the same other than the price. And the pros cost LESS than the comps!

John K.

I had clipless pedals installed Sunday. I've only ridden with them once, but I think I'm going to like them real well.

santiago

I've been interested in getting clipless pedals, too. My recently acquired MTB (Kona Blast) came with strap cages and I don't find them comfortable. I would like to try clipless.

What are your thoughts on the Shimano M-520? They seem reasonably priced and a buddy from my MTB club recommended them to me. What are your recommendations/reservations regarding the Shimano M-520 pedals?

Akak

I've been riding clipless on all my bikes (mountain, road, triathlon) for about 12 years and can't imagine riding anything tougher than a sidewalk without them.

My singlespeed, that I use for riding around the block with my kids, has platforms and even that makes me uncomfortable. Like many things, they take a bit to get used to, but, once you do, you can't live without them. I don't even think about getting "trapped" in them on technical stuff. Getting out quickly is second nature and on the rare occasion that I don't get out in time, it's some place I was going to hit the ground anyway.

I'm currently using Eggbeaters and Sidi Bullets. Love the combination. I wasn't sold on Sidi's as the hype seemed to be the reason for the high price but after finding a pair for $89, I bought 'em and absolutely love them.

cruzer59

No thoughts on the Ritcheys? I'm planning on making a purchase this weekend so just thought I would give this thread one more chance...

gregseto

Well, those Ritcheys are SPDs. Not that theres anything wrong with that, but there are better pedal designs. SPDs, as someone mentioned, are prone to getting crap stuck in them, and their design (lots of small moving parts) makes for a real pain in the you know where trying to get it out. I have spent many an hour trying to clean those things with a mouthful of camelbak water...I would recommend Speedplay Frogs, Crank Bros. Eggbeaters, or Time ATAC's. The price is not too different...the eggbeaters are I think around $70 new...the ATACs are probably less than $100 and the Frogs are probably around there too.

willtsmith_nwi

The Mallet rocks. You can actually pedal on these without clipping in. You can still ride your bike without your SPD shoes.