What clipless pedals and shoes are you using?
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What clipless pedals and shoes are you using?
I am getting a new bike (Fuji Track Comp arriving next monday). I have been flirting with the idea of clipless and know that some people use them.
I was looking at the egg beaters MXR and 661 Filter SPD shoes combo. The shoes should be comfortable and look ok for when not on the bike and the egg beaters look so minimalistic. I have heard they are fine for FG riding.
But I want to know what people are running and what your thoughts are about them.
I was looking at the egg beaters MXR and 661 Filter SPD shoes combo. The shoes should be comfortable and look ok for when not on the bike and the egg beaters look so minimalistic. I have heard they are fine for FG riding.
But I want to know what people are running and what your thoughts are about them.
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I bought some lace up Shimano shoes that were on sale at REI for $75. They look like regular tennis shoes. I went cheap, Im sure this isn't the best solution, but they are comfortable.
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I am getting a new bike (Fuji Track Comp arriving next monday). I have been flirting with the idea of clipless and know that some people use them.
I was looking at the egg beaters MXR and 661 Filter SPD shoes combo. The shoes should be comfortable and look ok for when not on the bike and the egg beaters look so minimalistic. I have heard they are fine for FG riding.
But I want to know what people are running and what your thoughts are about them.
I was looking at the egg beaters MXR and 661 Filter SPD shoes combo. The shoes should be comfortable and look ok for when not on the bike and the egg beaters look so minimalistic. I have heard they are fine for FG riding.
But I want to know what people are running and what your thoughts are about them.
just get time atac aliums & whatever shoe you find comfortable/stylish/affordable.
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i have sidi dominator 5's and time atacs. no complaints. unless your getting a ti spindle don't bother with egg beaters.
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Sidi Dominator 5's as well... I've been using the egg beater C's for about a year (4 bikes means 4 sets of pedals, Egg Beaters were in my price range)... I've never had a problem unclipping but a small creak has developed on the left pedal on two of my bikes. I like the 4 way entry, but it's sort of a novelty.
The ATACs are pretty indestructible, I think I may start transitioning to them over the next few months.
The ATACs are pretty indestructible, I think I may start transitioning to them over the next few months.
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SPD's > eggbeaters.
I run Shimano 545's, 324's, and 2 sets of generic dual sided SPD pedals (one pair is Shimano brand and the other is Ritchey branded) on my bikes.
Shoes are a personal preference thing.
I run Shimano 545's, 324's, and 2 sets of generic dual sided SPD pedals (one pair is Shimano brand and the other is Ritchey branded) on my bikes.
Shoes are a personal preference thing.
#7
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Shimano A520 pedals - I like the semi-sleek look and the one-sidedness is not hard to get used to. And some old Lake MTB shoes that are fine for walking around in for a few km without sounding like a tap dancer.
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I use ATACs (ROC?) with the Keen sandal. I like pedals, but am curious about other options since this is the only toe retention I've ever used. The sandal is OK, but would benefit from one or two more cinch straps to customize fit. Unfortunately, the keen looks like the only decent sandal option on the market now so I'm stuck.
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I have a pair of Nashbar SPD pedals which I think were around $25. My shoes are Forte (Performance house brand) CM200, 2-strap MTB shoes which cost me $30 on sale. I just did a century on that combo over the weekend, and it worked out fine.
On my geared bike, I've got a pair of Shimano M545 pedals I bought back in college... so around '91 or '92. Same shoes, and I've done tons of centuries, 200k, and a few doubles on that combo.
Disclaimer: I don't have spontaneous disconnect issues, but I run brakes and don't skid or use much backpressure. I've heard of people having SPD accidental release problems, especially with cheap pedals like my Nashbars.
On my geared bike, I've got a pair of Shimano M545 pedals I bought back in college... so around '91 or '92. Same shoes, and I've done tons of centuries, 200k, and a few doubles on that combo.
Disclaimer: I don't have spontaneous disconnect issues, but I run brakes and don't skid or use much backpressure. I've heard of people having SPD accidental release problems, especially with cheap pedals like my Nashbars.
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Using Candy SL pedals on the fg and mtbs and Quattro SL on the roadies. I've been fine with candy pedals on the FG, I use 2 brakes and don't skid or backpedal much. I like having the same interface on all my bikes so I can use any shoes with any bike.
As far as shoes go for everyday use/commuting I use Adidas El Moro shoes. I got them off BlueSky a while back for around $50. They look like regular sneakers and have a strap for the laces so I don't get them caught in the drivetrain. They're as walkable as clipless shoes are going to get, and look totally normal in jeans/shorts.
Also, take a look at the Pearl Izumi x-alp shoes, they look like they can pass as sneakers. I'm looking into these as my El Moro's are getting harder to find in my size and I want another pair of commutable clipless shoes to replace the El Moro's.
As far as shoes go for everyday use/commuting I use Adidas El Moro shoes. I got them off BlueSky a while back for around $50. They look like regular sneakers and have a strap for the laces so I don't get them caught in the drivetrain. They're as walkable as clipless shoes are going to get, and look totally normal in jeans/shorts.
Also, take a look at the Pearl Izumi x-alp shoes, they look like they can pass as sneakers. I'm looking into these as my El Moro's are getting harder to find in my size and I want another pair of commutable clipless shoes to replace the El Moro's.
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I did a review on another forum. Just reposting it here.
Previous pedals used: stock cages + nylon single straps
Clipless pedals: Shimano Dura Ace PD-7800 ($70 used ebay), Look-style w/ 3bolt cleat
Shoes: Shimano RO86L SPD-SL ($85 new REI), 2 velcro straps + 1 ratcheting strap, plastic sole
Bottom Line:
Love it and I'm never going back. However if I ran brakeless I wouldn't trust my life with it (I'm running front br BTW).
Installation:
Removed original pedals w/15mm wrench. New pedals installed with an allen wrench that you screw in the pedal from inside the crank. So the pedal is solid and closer to the crank. Pretty neat. Screwed in until tight.
Adjusted the spring tension on the pedals to lightest setting.
Installed new cleats onto shoes centered on hole cutouts. Screwed in until tight.
Practiced in the garage clicking and unclicking out of pedals.
Advantages:
Shoes literally bolted to the pedal. My stock pedals really sucked so this was really noticeable. Able to skid almost seated now, whereas the straps on my old pedals always stretched out and my foot wasn't always 100% secure.
The two velcro straps and ratcheting mechanism for the 3rd strap really help contain your foot. The upper strap is up near the top of your foot where a shoe tongue would be (Imagine a Toshi 3-strap on steroids). My foot never budges. Better for me b/c when I skid I tend to pull up more on the right than push down on the left foot. Would recommend you spend the extra cash on the ratcheting, it's nice to have.
Whip skids = no problem. To disengage you have to swivel your shoes so that your toe points pigeon-toed towards the BB, so disengaging "accidentally" will almost never happen.
Positive 'click' sound for sure engagement.
Shoes are a lot lighter than Vans or any vulcanized shoe. Also has air holes in the mesh and you can feel the air while riding.
Can adjust the cleat location so no more toe overlap now.
Pedals are indestructable, DA makes a damn good product.
Disadvantages:
Tough to clip in at first because the pedal sits vertical (black portion points down, hole points up) and you have to aim the pointed front part of the cleat into the pedal hole. . . need practice!!
Not being able to wear regular sneakers.
Have to replace cleats when worn. Have not experienced this yet but manual says
cleats can disengage with worn cleats. There is a pedal spring adjustment though to compensate.
Can't walk very well with the shoes. If someone stole my bike I couldn't chase them.
Previous pedals used: stock cages + nylon single straps
Clipless pedals: Shimano Dura Ace PD-7800 ($70 used ebay), Look-style w/ 3bolt cleat
Shoes: Shimano RO86L SPD-SL ($85 new REI), 2 velcro straps + 1 ratcheting strap, plastic sole
Bottom Line:
Love it and I'm never going back. However if I ran brakeless I wouldn't trust my life with it (I'm running front br BTW).
Installation:
Removed original pedals w/15mm wrench. New pedals installed with an allen wrench that you screw in the pedal from inside the crank. So the pedal is solid and closer to the crank. Pretty neat. Screwed in until tight.
Adjusted the spring tension on the pedals to lightest setting.
Installed new cleats onto shoes centered on hole cutouts. Screwed in until tight.
Practiced in the garage clicking and unclicking out of pedals.
Advantages:
Shoes literally bolted to the pedal. My stock pedals really sucked so this was really noticeable. Able to skid almost seated now, whereas the straps on my old pedals always stretched out and my foot wasn't always 100% secure.
The two velcro straps and ratcheting mechanism for the 3rd strap really help contain your foot. The upper strap is up near the top of your foot where a shoe tongue would be (Imagine a Toshi 3-strap on steroids). My foot never budges. Better for me b/c when I skid I tend to pull up more on the right than push down on the left foot. Would recommend you spend the extra cash on the ratcheting, it's nice to have.
Whip skids = no problem. To disengage you have to swivel your shoes so that your toe points pigeon-toed towards the BB, so disengaging "accidentally" will almost never happen.
Positive 'click' sound for sure engagement.
Shoes are a lot lighter than Vans or any vulcanized shoe. Also has air holes in the mesh and you can feel the air while riding.
Can adjust the cleat location so no more toe overlap now.
Pedals are indestructable, DA makes a damn good product.
Disadvantages:
Tough to clip in at first because the pedal sits vertical (black portion points down, hole points up) and you have to aim the pointed front part of the cleat into the pedal hole. . . need practice!!
Not being able to wear regular sneakers.
Have to replace cleats when worn. Have not experienced this yet but manual says
cleats can disengage with worn cleats. There is a pedal spring adjustment though to compensate.
Can't walk very well with the shoes. If someone stole my bike I couldn't chase them.
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If you're not comfortable riding brakeless in those Dura-ace road pedals, you're not going to be comfortable riding brakeless in pretty much any pedal.
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For the street:
Eggbeaters (and crank bros pedals in general) are the least favorite of all clipless pedals that I've used. There is no exit "wall". So you never know you are about to clip out until you do. Most other pedals have a tension wall that you have to "break" to get out. I'm a big guy, they get mushy under my weight. I see them less and less on the street or anywhere these days.
Spd are cool. The standard to which all are compared.
Time are very best. I use ROC ATACS.
For the track:
It's a tossup between Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL and Speedplay Zero. I'm leaning towards Speedplay. The only thing the Ultegras have over the Zeros is the adjustable spring tension. I think the Speedplay Track Zeros would win hands-down, but I've never tried them.
Save $$ and get Ultegra over Dura Ace which are double the price of Ultegras. Weight savings is the only advantage that I can see. Ultegras are VERY good. I loved mine...till I tried speedplays. hahaha.
Speedplays have a similar minimal look, but the cleat is a monster. Speedplays are strictly business. Nothing easy about walking on that cleat in the coffee shop...even with the "Coffee Shop Caps". But, nothing can beat the performance and adjustability. Nothing.
As shoes go, I use Sidi Dominator 5 for the track and Nike Kato 3 for the street.
Eggbeaters (and crank bros pedals in general) are the least favorite of all clipless pedals that I've used. There is no exit "wall". So you never know you are about to clip out until you do. Most other pedals have a tension wall that you have to "break" to get out. I'm a big guy, they get mushy under my weight. I see them less and less on the street or anywhere these days.
Spd are cool. The standard to which all are compared.
Time are very best. I use ROC ATACS.
For the track:
It's a tossup between Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL and Speedplay Zero. I'm leaning towards Speedplay. The only thing the Ultegras have over the Zeros is the adjustable spring tension. I think the Speedplay Track Zeros would win hands-down, but I've never tried them.
Save $$ and get Ultegra over Dura Ace which are double the price of Ultegras. Weight savings is the only advantage that I can see. Ultegras are VERY good. I loved mine...till I tried speedplays. hahaha.
Speedplays have a similar minimal look, but the cleat is a monster. Speedplays are strictly business. Nothing easy about walking on that cleat in the coffee shop...even with the "Coffee Shop Caps". But, nothing can beat the performance and adjustability. Nothing.
As shoes go, I use Sidi Dominator 5 for the track and Nike Kato 3 for the street.
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Speedplays have a similar minimal look, but the cleat is a monster. Speedplays are strictly business. Nothing easy about walking on that cleat in the coffee shop...even with the "Coffee Shop Caps". But, nothing can beat the performance and adjustability. Nothing.
As shoes go, I use Sidi Dominator 5 for the track and Nike Kato 3 for the street.
As shoes go, I use Sidi Dominator 5 for the track and Nike Kato 3 for the street.
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Jesus that is a huge cleat. They don't look like they'd work. I know you can insert an additional cleat to work with the 3 bolt pattern, not on the MTB Dom's though... Its strictly SPD only I guess.
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I haven't had great luck with bearing/bushing life with eggbeaters and I've had a spindle fail after about a year on them...
Shimano M520 pedals are pretty reliable for the money...I've been using them for about a year and a half since the eggbeaters failed without any major issues...
I like Sidi Dominator shoes if you can afford them...They're quite well made but they are legendary for their narrow fit so you'll want to try them on before you buy them...Also, the buckle WILL break...
Shimano M520 pedals are pretty reliable for the money...I've been using them for about a year and a half since the eggbeaters failed without any major issues...
I like Sidi Dominator shoes if you can afford them...They're quite well made but they are legendary for their narrow fit so you'll want to try them on before you buy them...Also, the buckle WILL break...
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The system is really cool. It has the most shallow pedal to avoid pedal strike.
The float is a "free" float. Most (if not all) other floats have tension associated with them. Think spring loaded float. Speedplay float is free, meaning that the shoe moves laterally with no resistance till you reach the end of the float.
Next is the 0-15 degrees float. Not Zero OR 6 degrees float (depends on the cleat you choose). You can set the speedplays to 0, 1, 2...15 degrees. Very cool.
Ever have your heel hit the chainstay or the crank arm? You can adjust how far it lets your heel twists in or out! Amazing.