The lonelyness of clipless
 

So I gave the whole clipless thing (candys with some izumi vagabonds - on the for sale board today and going back to the store tomorrow) a whirl. Definitely a lot more power transfer! Quick in and out! Nice to pull hard on upstroke! Comfortable too!

BUT, It felt very lonely. Like I was out of touch with my bike.

Hope they'll make someone else happier!

you felt out of touch with the bike?
that's usually my complaint about clips and straps...

It is hard to describe.

Of course I felt very connected to my bike, but only in a mechanical way. What I meant with out of touch was that I couldn't feel my bike.

Kind of like holding something with vicegrips (for example a book) - no doubt the book is securely connected, but you are not feeling the book. Stupid example I know. I'll think of something better.

Anyway, it is all my personal feeling. I am not saying they are good or bad. The power transmission is unbelieveable.

I tried clips and straps and i hated them, you get sooo much more out of clipless pedals. Plus the whole tighetning and loosening didnt seem very practical.

yeah, that's not the best analogy. what is it about the clips and straps that makes you feel "in touch" with your bike? i love clipless for a number of reasons, but i know that much of pedal/shoe choice is based on personal feeling.

maybe the perceived loss of feel comes from clipless shoes having such a stiff sole...?

I see the analogy between belted and radial tires. Belted tires have that nice old school appearance, but they drastically lack technological improvements of radial tires.

Or Hostess pies vs Home baked pie

Could be...

Nope. It is not about appearance. I like the way they look on my bike very much! I ride a tigged, threadless bike. The most old school thing on it is a brooks saddle.

Bah humbug! How long did you ride with them? Maybe some Adidas Minnrets would have been more suitable. I have Pearl Izumi Vagabonds too and they definitely feel different. The Adidas feel more like a regular shoe while giving you the same power transfer.

I don't think that I could ever go back to straps. The increase in torque and endurance is phenomenal. I ride SPDs and carbon soles and I couldn't imagine feeling more in touch with my bike. I think that the shoe is very important... in my case having the kind of strap that you can crank down tight makes a big difference... a crappy shoe that didn't crank down tight would feel wobbly.

i feel the same.. tried some speedplay frogs w/ sidi shoes... didnt have any problems with them (i dont see how people have problems clipping in/out and even falling w/ clipless?!??!?!?) ...

only complaint was sensation of disconnectedness from the bike... perhaps the shoes were too large, or too stiff.. either way it wasnt enjoyable

Those pedals have a lot of float, perhaps something like a Speedplay Zero (You can adjust the amount of float) or Look Pedal (Sprung float) would give you a better connection. I use old Shimano labeled Looks with no float but with the red cleats for a little play and they have a great hook into the bike.

Eggbeaters, I've said it once..I'll say it again.

I love my Eggbeaters, but only when I'm on tour. All other times I prefer BMX platforms and Converse All-Stars. It's heresy, I know, but it works for me...

Dont mean to hijack the thread, but old school llcoolj rocks. His song "radio" is my ringtone.

I love my clipless - I can find very few reasons that I'd ride anything else. But hell - whatever works for you.

I think I'm gonna get the stainless steel Eggbeaters for my new cyclocross bike, I get annoyed when I'm pedalling really hard with clips/straps and my feet start sliding out.

If I could afford it I'd get eggbeaters on both my bikes.

Alright I did the dance again. Rode around clipless in the rain and in the hallways at work. Felt not quite as bad as the first time. I think I saw a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. I guess I'll hold on to them for a little longer - see if we might become friends after all.

I use clips, but not straps.

Remember you have to mount and dismount. One of the LBS employees prefers candies on his cross bike - they give him a slightly larger target for which to aim.

(I ride chrome eggbeaters and love 'em).

Kinky.

Maybe it just seems un-natural. Is it a "classic" bike that you ride? I think eggbeaters on something like an old Carlton...man...that'd be a shame. It'd be like bastardizing the bike, turning a purebread in to a mutt. Am I close?

:) Eggy's on all my rides.

Just had to say such!

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