I've been building up a bike to make into a fixie (loctite cheapo method), and I got a great deal on the bike I'm converting - the guy threw in clipless pedals and a bunch of other stuff. I was going to wait for a while to put them on (I've never ridden clipless, NOR fixed!), but it turns out that our exchange student left a pair of Shimano clipless shoes here when he moved home - and they fit me perfectly! Should I try the clipless pedals out on my regular road bike or just throw myself into it with the fixie? I know riding fixed with clipless pedals makes things easier... but I should probably just get some pedal clips first, huh?

Also, any pro tips for learning to ride clipless, whatever way I go?

Practice clipping out and set the tension to easy?

Keep it simple & try one new thing at a time. Definetly first try clipping in and out while the bike is stationary, afterwards it will only take you one ride to get used to the clipless pedals.

I flipped and rolled onto my head on my first fixed ride, I'm glad there was NO confusion on how to bail from the bike or it could have been worse.

+1

If you mean toe clips & straps, then no. Clipless is easier to use than toe clips, so if you're willing to use the funny shoes and have them anyway, then it'd be pointless to bother with toe clips. Clipless is just better.

I agree with the "one new thing at a time" advice.

Both fixed riding and clipless riding have a learning curve. If you've never ridden fixed before, it's gonna be a real shock to your system when your whole technique suddenly has to shift AND your feet are locked into the pedals while you're doing so.

I'd recommend picking up a super cheap set of platform pedals (your LBS should have some for 5 or 10 bucks) for the first week or so of fixie riding, just so you can get used to the constant pedaling you're going to have to do. I'd say 50 miles of getting used to fixed is probably enough. Then feel free to go clipless.

But for your own sake, don't try any tricks in the beginning. If you think you can trackstand, and you're also just getting used to clipless, you will be ****ed big time. Tipping over at 0mph with your feet locked into the pedals is no fun.

Good luck.

Don't put the horse before the cart...

Put the clipless on your road bike to see how you get along with them. Then, when you are comfortable, put them on your fixie as well.

Have fun,
Kevin

I disagree. I found that the clips forced me to keep pedaling and got me used to the feeling much faster. I do think that toe clips are easier to get out of than clipless. It might be just me, but i find pulling my foot straight back is more instinctual than twisting it out of clipless.

Things seem rather debatable - but whatever the case, it sounds like in the end I should definitely use the clipless pedals. I think I'll put them on my road bike and try them out first - the fixie ain't quite done yet anyway.

+1
and on a side note, make sure that the cleats are in good shape before you try to do any sudden stops on the fixie. One thing that can happen with clipless is cliping out unintentionally because the cleat is worn down, and it can ruin your whole day quickly, cause when it happens, you're usually not prepared. It happened to me while going down Lombard in San Francisco... lucky for me I had enough time to steer into a wall for a "controlled" crash. other than that, I personally think clipless are much easier to use than toeclips. the cliping in/out action never changes, no straps to adjust...


on the other hand toe clips are great if you don't feel like wearing special shoes.

What kind of clipless pedals are they? Some have a bit more of a learning curve than others. If they are Shimano SPD style double sided pedals, you will pick it up very fast. Single sided road pedals (Look style) are a little trickier as occasionally you have to kick the pedal over to engage the cleat. Trying them out on a bike than can coast seems good advice. If you have a trainer, I would consider even putting the bike on it for a test run.

Either way, I find clipless much easier and safer than my old clips and straps. I know there are many fans of straps here, though, so YMMV.


Good luck.

another thing i just learned about spd's, if that's what you have....they can disengage from pulling straight up with too much pressure. you don't necessarily have to twist your foot. i've clipped out on accident a couple of times while throwing down a skid very suddenly or sprinting from a trackstand. i thought it was just a matter of adjusting float, but no.

so if they're spd's, just be wary of them. they're certainly not foolproof.

They are indeed SPDs. I will keep in mind that they are easier to clip out of (probably as a result of them being easier to clip into in the first place!).

Thanks guys.

for ease of use, cliping in and out, I think egg beaters are the best. 4 sides to engage on and if someone tries to ride off on your bike, they're going to have a tough time with hardly anything to stand on.

on the minus side, the cleats wear out fast, and the pedals don't provide much of a platform for road riding.

Ride fixed 1st, add clipless after a few weeks. Who said Falling over @ 0 mph isn't fun, teaches you ass real quick how to trackstand.

[QUOTE=Old Breadbutt] I think egg beaters are the best. 4 sides to engage on and if someone tries to ride off on your bike, they're going to have a tough time with hardly anything to stand on.QUOTE]
I agree, esp w/ the tough to ride w/out proper shoes. I have tried and almost hurt myself too many times.

I had some bad experiences mtb'ing w/ SPDs. foot would just pull out of the pedal. Switched to EggBeaters a couple years ago, and haven't looked back. They are on the mtb, and both fixies.

As for practice...if you (or someone you know)has a trainer, you can set up on the trainer and get used to clipping in and out. Then ride around in an open park (ie. soccer field) for a while, clip in and out a lot. if you fall over, won't hurt near as much as pavement does.

Good luck!

What do you think:

Experienced-enough clipless rider starting with his first fixed gear. Start with clipped or clipless?

yup. i've also accidentally clipped out while climbing. i use a moderate tension setting, though. but, its great to be able to push and pull for hills. just watch out.

say what?

aaaah, that's better.

clipless.

I know that this has been said at least a thousand
times before in as many threads, but I finally made
the switch to clipless and I don't think that I could
ever go back. I'm running Egg Beaters, which are the
first and only clipless pedals I've ever really tried, but
I can't see using anything else. The simplicity of
clipping in and out along with the clean asthetic of the
Egg Beaters makes them perfect for fixed gear riding,
in my view.

What's better for learning to trackstand: clips or clipless?

Also, it seems like I have the loudest freakin clipless shoes in the world when I walk on hard surfaces. I see other people wearing mountain shoes with SPD cleats and they're not nearly as noisy as I am. Everywhere I go it's scratch scratch clink clink. I use Specialized Comp Mountain shoes with the cleat in the forward position... is there any way to avoid this sound/feeling?

is the cleat hitting the ground or is it just the shoes

I have the same problem with Specialized comp mtb shoes, I think it's just the way the shoe is designed: the clip sticks out a little more than other shoes(?).