Another Newbie Q: pedals and shoes
 

I just ordered a new road/touring bike (Gunnar Sport) and I've never ridden anything but platforms with clips. My LBS guy is suggesting Look P206 because they have a large surface area and allow for a fair amount of float (I've just learned what "float" means!).

So here are my thoughts and concerns:
- I'd still like to ride with my kids for 20 minutes without running to put on a damn pair of biking shoes. By the same token, I certainly understand the idea of clipless if you're in a century or club ride.
- What shoes to get if you have clipless?
- Anybody with experience with the p206?
- What about those pedals with both: one side platform, the other clipless. I can see how purists would scorn at that.

So, any thoughts and/or suggestions?

Here's a recent discussion on toe clips vs clipless..
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=41096

[QUOTE=mistercindy]I just ordered a new road/touring bike (Gunnar Sport) and I've never ridden anything but platforms with clips. My LBS guy is suggesting Look P206 because they have a large surface area and allow for a fair amount of float (I've just learned what "float" means!).


The link someone posted was to a thread I started with pretty much the same question. I was in that spot where I'm buying a performance bike but still wanted the ease of just hopping on without messing with the shoes, etc.
Would I be looked down upon? Would I give up a lot? Now I would have to spend time and money figuring out more stuff?

Well, I opted for the cages. When I purchased the bike, I told the LBS what I wanted and it was no problem; they told me lots of people do the same thing. Two days after I got the bike, I went riding with my wife and 9 year old daughter. Sure enough, 1 mile from the house, the little one wanted to stop at the park and "come on, everyone, let's play in the sand!" Ha! My tennis shoes didn't care a bit, but if I had bought expensive bike shoes that would have been a pain.

I'm just a recreational, go out and have fun rider. Twenty to forty miles on a ride. If I give up a bit of performance, well, so what?

Just my two cents. In the end, do what works for you.

Sheldon

I have the shimano pedals with spd on one side and a regular platform on the other. It totally works except you have to flip your pedal around to find the side with the spd. Performance is compromised on the platforms but if anyone rags on you beat 'em up. Ever pick a fight with a roadie in Looks?

Speedplay is a pretty nice pedal, alot of float and you can get
the X series pretty inexpensive.
As for your need to sometimes ride without cleats (normal shoes)
they offer a good alternative to your cleat, its a platform
See picture below shamelessly copied from speedplay website

Marty

Hi,
I have a pair of those split personality Shimano pedals. They would be a good idea for you. You will be doing a little walking until you get used to the hills.
And that means you want Mtn bike shoes.
Road shoes (which is what you need with Look pedals) are miserable for walking.
As with the bike, fit is the most important thing.

mistercindy, you can get away with riding in normal shoes on Look pedals, you just put your feet on the sides you normally clip into. Not the greatest but I don't know how much riding you'll spend not wearing bike shoes (I use it for hoping round town)

I hate to be a newbie but what excatly does "float" mean?

Performance sells toe clips that clip into clipeless pedals (SPD and Look).
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=346
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=347
As for float, it's the lateral movement your foot is able to pivot while in the pedal.

I saw something on a Cannondale in my LBS that might suit your needs (and mine :) ): It's just a little plastic platform (like a pedal sliced in half, with no spindle), that clips into the pedal in the same way a shoe would. Just leave them by your bike, and if you fell a need to ride in regular shoes, just clip 'em in and away you go.

Clipless pedals pretty much lock your foot into one position. "Float" is how much you can turn your foot while staying clicked in. It is considered advantagous because not everyone want to have their foot pointed exactly the same direction all the time while cycling.

You need another bike, just for cruising around. I just bought one for exactly that reason on EBay for $290.00.

http://64.191.20.129/showthread.php?t=41185

I will keep the platforms on the new bike, the clipless on the Lemond BA.

Hey, any excuse for a new bike, right?

He just bought an expensive bike. He still needs to buy shoes,pedals, clothes, and a few knick knacks like a pump, tailight, maybe a rack and panniers. It is way too early to be thinking about a second bike.
You do that when you bike enough to really need that 2nd bike. This coincidentally happens about the time you recover from buying your first bike :)

It is NEVER way too early to be thinking about buying a second bike. Besides, this was my third bike, which places this discussion in an entirely new context! :D

as long as we are on the subject-the number of bikes needed is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. The formula is actually a universal maxim-applicable to bikes, presents, tanks and anything else that is handy and cool.