Anyone using Magnetic Pedals?
03-27-19, 10:44 PM
#1
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Anyone using Magnetic Pedals?
Hi All,
I'm 73 years young and been seriously into road bike riding for about five months. My mileage is up to 50-70 miles per week.
Clipless pedals are a constant recommendation from other riders but, having been thrown from my bike by the rut of an old train track and cracking my left clavicle, I never want to hit the ground again! So, with the many scary stories I've read about getting used to clipless pedal systems, I'm not going to chance them. HOWEVER... I've recently read about "Magnetic Pedals" and am wondering if anyone can give me some insights as to whether or not they're worth it.
Many thanks in advance!
I'm 73 years young and been seriously into road bike riding for about five months. My mileage is up to 50-70 miles per week.
Clipless pedals are a constant recommendation from other riders but, having been thrown from my bike by the rut of an old train track and cracking my left clavicle, I never want to hit the ground again! So, with the many scary stories I've read about getting used to clipless pedal systems, I'm not going to chance them. HOWEVER... I've recently read about "Magnetic Pedals" and am wondering if anyone can give me some insights as to whether or not they're worth it.
Many thanks in advance!
03-28-19, 01:29 AM
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Never heard of them. I dislocated a clavicle, it was a terrible experience. I hope yours is healed up and not bothering you.
In the old days we used toe straps to basically do the same thing. And we thought they were safer. But bending down to cinch them wasn't ideal and then if they were tight enough to work it was hard to get out. Magnets probably don't have those drawbacks though.
In the old days we used toe straps to basically do the same thing. And we thought they were safer. But bending down to cinch them wasn't ideal and then if they were tight enough to work it was hard to get out. Magnets probably don't have those drawbacks though.
03-28-19, 02:00 AM
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I have nothing useful to contribute to this thread, but here's my 0.02: Magnets that are even remotely strong enough for this application will be heavy. Pedals and shoes are even worse than rotating weight - they're reciprocating weight. One magnetic pedal that I saw weighed over 1000g for the pair! A high end flat pedal will be around 300g. Less for clipless.
Also, magnets are rather weak and could lead to a false sense of security. The one pedal that I looked at also didn't provide any lateral security, which means your foot can slide off the side.
I'd say that at your age, safety is a far bigger priority than any gains you will make from foot retention. Your peers will certainly try their hardest to convince you that clipless pedals are way better (and they are for high torque applications) but in my opinion, good flat pedals along with a light shoe and a thin sole (as opposed to a very thick cushioned one) are pretty fast in most cases.
Also, magnets are rather weak and could lead to a false sense of security. The one pedal that I looked at also didn't provide any lateral security, which means your foot can slide off the side.
I'd say that at your age, safety is a far bigger priority than any gains you will make from foot retention. Your peers will certainly try their hardest to convince you that clipless pedals are way better (and they are for high torque applications) but in my opinion, good flat pedals along with a light shoe and a thin sole (as opposed to a very thick cushioned one) are pretty fast in most cases.
03-28-19, 02:52 AM
#4
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Shimano makes multi-release cleats for their SPD system: https://road.cc/content/feature/1825...sy-get-started
Or you could just stick with platforms - clipless is nice, but it is not the be-all-end-all.
Or you could just stick with platforms - clipless is nice, but it is not the be-all-end-all.
03-28-19, 04:14 AM
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Post link to your magnetic pedals
More of a chance to break an ankle or leg by putting your foot down.
More of a chance to break an ankle or leg by putting your foot down.
03-28-19, 04:18 AM
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03-28-19, 05:24 AM
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Don't give up. get back on the horse etc. Practice getting in and out of the clipless pedals by putting the bicycle in an indoor trainer or sitting on it were you can hold onto something like a door frame or a work bench. put your feet in and out of the pedals and do this without looking at your feet and look in the direction you would be pedaling or watch a tv. I have Speedplay frogs and managed to get torn meniscus. I was making a left turn and some moron intentionally went part way into oncoming traffic to make the turn and hit me on the left side. When I started down I twisted my body left and tucked my head so I wouldn't hit it. My left foot locked against the built in stop on the pedal. It is very important to be able to mount and dismount your feet in the pedals without looking down to see what happens. As my Judo/Jujitsu instructor always said, as he was choking me out, you don't know a move or technique until you have done it 10,000 times.
03-28-19, 05:26 AM
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Gimmick, any flat pedal with nubs are going to keep your foot from slipping just as good and you won’t have the added weight of that magnet and whatever you need to put on your shoe. If the claim is that the magnet is going to allow you to pull on the upstroke then you might as well go clipless because the concept is the same just a different (heavier method). Any magnet strong enough to allow pulling on the upstroke is going to hold your foot and give you the same issues you are trying to avoid when slowing to a stop (taking your foot off), you will have to be deliberate taking your foot off by whatever method is required in other words. Now if you don’t need to be deliberate taking your foot off, then we are back to it being a gimmick and no more effective than a pedal with “nubs”.
03-28-19, 05:42 AM
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Platforms are fine. Stick with what works for you.
Or drink the Kool-Aid and be that guy that a month after he goes clipless progresses to posting ‘what clipless shoes are best for walking around in’
Then a month later he posts about his 2 humorous ‘didn’t unclip in time and fell over at a stoplight’ episodes so he can fully feel like he joined the club.
Or drink the Kool-Aid and be that guy that a month after he goes clipless progresses to posting ‘what clipless shoes are best for walking around in’
Then a month later he posts about his 2 humorous ‘didn’t unclip in time and fell over at a stoplight’ episodes so he can fully feel like he joined the club.
Last edited by downhillmaster; 03-28-19 at 05:49 AM.
03-28-19, 11:09 AM
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03-28-19, 11:26 AM
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It is about your foot being secure in a sprint or while getting out of the saddle on a climb. Both of those things are outright dangerous on platform pedals if not wearing super grippy shoes.
GCN did a test a while back, and found that pedaling performance / efficiency was NOT significantly improved with clipless over platforms.
03-28-19, 12:21 PM
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Doubt it. I don't think it improves your performance. They feel safer after you get used to them because you know your foot won't come off the pedal. If you have knee issues they can hold your leg in the proper alignment of you angle them right and don't use float.
03-28-19, 02:01 PM
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It is not about increasing performance (or at least not only).
It is about your foot being secure in a sprint or while getting out of the saddle on a climb. Both of those things are outright dangerous on platform pedals if not wearing super grippy shoes.
GCN did a test a while back, and found that pedaling performance / efficiency was NOT significantly improved with clipless over platforms.
It is about your foot being secure in a sprint or while getting out of the saddle on a climb. Both of those things are outright dangerous on platform pedals if not wearing super grippy shoes.
GCN did a test a while back, and found that pedaling performance / efficiency was NOT significantly improved with clipless over platforms.
Doubt it. I don't think it improves your performance. They feel safer after you get used to them because you know your foot won't come off the pedal. If you have knee issues they can hold your leg in the proper alignment of you angle them right and don't use float.
03-28-19, 02:40 PM
#16
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I've fractured my clavicle while also dislocating my shoulder while moving and falling once, so I understand that pain... The two times I fell (which is typical for this...) while getting used to clipless pedals weren't much of a problem though because I wasn't really moving.
Personally, I can't imagine road cycling at this point without clipless pedals, I'd recommend just practicing unclipping while letting your foot down (to the correct side) in a doorway/hallway for awhile.
I also recommend speedplay, I don't use it personally (I started and basically stuck to SPD-SL) but the ability to clip in on both sides would make things MUCH easier IMO.
Personally, I can't imagine road cycling at this point without clipless pedals, I'd recommend just practicing unclipping while letting your foot down (to the correct side) in a doorway/hallway for awhile.
I also recommend speedplay, I don't use it personally (I started and basically stuck to SPD-SL) but the ability to clip in on both sides would make things MUCH easier IMO.
03-28-19, 02:45 PM
#17
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Doubt it. I don't think it improves your performance. They feel safer after you get used to them because you know your foot won't come off the pedal. If you have knee issues they can hold your leg in the proper alignment of you angle them right and don't use float.
Something like this: https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ.../SH-MT301.html
03-28-19, 05:18 PM
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That might be true, but that goes both ways: if your cleats are NOT set up correctly, you might develop knee issues. Whereas if not clipped in, your leg / foot tends to "find" the position on the pedal that works best.
If you want normal shoes, there are plenty of SPD shoes that allow you to walk regularly, because the SDP cleat (mountain bike pedal cleat) is recessed beyond the rubber for walking. (usually touring or mountain shoes). If you have SPD-SL (the road bike version) pedals, I don't think such shoes exist. But you can easily use SPD on a road bike, even though it is designed for mountain bike.
Something like this: https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ.../SH-MT301.html
If you want normal shoes, there are plenty of SPD shoes that allow you to walk regularly, because the SDP cleat (mountain bike pedal cleat) is recessed beyond the rubber for walking. (usually touring or mountain shoes). If you have SPD-SL (the road bike version) pedals, I don't think such shoes exist. But you can easily use SPD on a road bike, even though it is designed for mountain bike.
Something like this: https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ.../SH-MT301.html
03-28-19, 08:04 PM
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I'm 73 years young and been seriously into road bike riding for about five months. My mileage is up to 50-70 miles per week...Clipless pedals are a constant recommendation from other riders but, having been thrown from my bike by the rut of an old train track and cracking my left clavicle, I never want to hit the ground again! So, with the many scary stories I've read about getting used to clipless pedal systems, I'm not going to chance them.
The absolute most comfortable (and expensive) pedals I found were DMR Vaults:
https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/P...lt-2/Vault-NEW
I've also read that the much less expensive Raceface Chesters are good, but haven't used them myself:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018J1J7QE/
Five Ten has a patent on a special rubber compound that is extra grippy on pedals pins (and rocks they were originally used for rock climbing shoes), here's one of many models of flat bike shoes they sell:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...men-bike-shoes
The grip you'll get with these is pretty much the same as clipless for pushing forward, down, or backwards. Of course you can pull up to pull your foot off the pedals, unlike with clipless.
03-28-19, 08:11 PM
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03-28-19, 08:14 PM
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Yeah fair enough. I guess my point was that at least wheels have a sort of flywheel effect that helps maintain momentum, but because pedaling is relatively less “circular”, weight there probably hurts more. I withdraw what I said.
03-28-19, 11:09 PM
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Hi All!
Thank you for your responses and recommendations. I currently use a pair of New Balance sneakers which I only wear for riding. They have an aggressive sole which accepts the pins from my titanium MeetLock pedals (below). My interest in magnetic pedals (as a clipless alternative) was for the power of the up-stroke. I've never experienced that and wondered how much it would add to my cycling experience. Of course, it might just add to my exhaustion!
Thank you for your responses and recommendations. I currently use a pair of New Balance sneakers which I only wear for riding. They have an aggressive sole which accepts the pins from my titanium MeetLock pedals (below). My interest in magnetic pedals (as a clipless alternative) was for the power of the up-stroke. I've never experienced that and wondered how much it would add to my cycling experience. Of course, it might just add to my exhaustion!
03-29-19, 12:04 AM
#25
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Hi All!
Thank you for your responses and recommendations. I currently use a pair of New Balance sneakers which I only wear for riding. They have an aggressive sole which accepts the pins from my titanium MeetLock pedals (below). My interest in magnetic pedals (as a clipless alternative) was for the power of the up-stroke. I've never experienced that and wondered how much it would add to my cycling experience. Of course, it might just add to my exhaustion!
Thank you for your responses and recommendations. I currently use a pair of New Balance sneakers which I only wear for riding. They have an aggressive sole which accepts the pins from my titanium MeetLock pedals (below). My interest in magnetic pedals (as a clipless alternative) was for the power of the up-stroke. I've never experienced that and wondered how much it would add to my cycling experience. Of course, it might just add to my exhaustion!
Instead, I say try those magnetic pedals. Worst case? You don't like them and take them off. Best case? They work wonders. Go for it, And come back here and tell us what you think. We could all learn something.
Ben - A rider of no-float LOOK black Delta cleats and traditional toeclips and slotted aluminum cleats (what we all raced before clipless).
