Should I start rightoff with clipless or start with cages??

[woodlandsrider]

Hey gals...well I am going for my first ever fitting for my first road bike tonight and I have the clipless and shoes as well as cages and wondered if I should just start out with the clipless or what should I do? I will be doing a lot of trainer work as well as weekend rides. I am doing the 2008 MS 150 houston the austin...but have been nudged to just start right off with the clipless but not sure...whats your opinion:)

Angel

[alpinerabbit]

clipless. I will ride clipless on the trainer as well (just got one).
It's better for your legs than platforms and I can't imagine cages are as good in letting you pull up, and then there's the release problem.

[Jo-n-NY]

I also agree to go clipless right from the start. It is even better that you are on the trainer which is the perfect way to practice.

~ JoAnn

[indysteel]

I agree. Start with clipless. Practice in a doorway, then in a parking lot. Back the tension on the pedals off so that it's easy to get in and out. There is a learning curve, but it's not bad.

[mimitabby]

You know, since you've never been on the bike before and it is brand new; you might try the cages first.

i don't agree with the other two. Introduce 1 new variable at a time.

I just got a really expensive new bike. I had been riding clipless for 6 months and felt pretty confident. I bought a new pair of shoes and tried them and the new bike at the same time. you ought to see the nasty ding i put into the paint job floundering around there trying to get clipped in.
Try the bike with cages, get confident, then go for the clipless.
congrats on the new bike

[alpinerabbit]

I had a friend who let me try his expensive tri bike, clipless and all, all on my own. I've never fallen. (knock on wood). It's not that hard, you just have to keep it in mind.

[bike4ever]

My vote is clipless. I regularly suggest to customers to either use a plain platform pedal or go clipless. I believe the toe cages are more challenging to get in and out of - especially at an intersection.

[firenze11]

I had the same dilemma when I went to get my new bike. I'm a complete newbie and was questioning going straight to clipless. My LBS guy asked if I wanted to try the straps first, but suggested against it. He said the straps have to be pretty tight to help your stroke become more efficient/powerful and then you have the problem of getting out of them if they are too tight during an emergency. So he convinced me of going clipless, although I haven't gone in to get my pedals/shoes yet so I haven't had the joys of falling over or even really trying them out.

Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time on your new bike.

~E.

[HoosierGiant]

I vote for clipless. When I got my first road bike two years ago I figured I might as well start there rather than learning a different system and then having to change later -- I hate change! Sure, it takes concentration at first, but you'll be amazed at how quickly the whole process becomes second-nature.

[SadieKate]

My vote is clipless. I regularly suggest to customers to either use a plain platform pedal or go clipless. I believe the toe cages are more challenging to get in and out of - especially at an intersection.Plus one from me.

Since you already have the clipless, have you tried them yet?

Cages are very challenging and, I think, harder to get in and out of if they're tightened down to where they are any help at all. Plus, you have to learn a completely unnatural motion to get out of them. Swinging your foot to the side to release from a clipless pedal is instinctual (you just have to remember to do it before you stop).

Plain jane platforms for a few short rides to get used to the new bike and then go clipless.

[redrhodie]

I went with cages at first. Making the switch to clipless was really easy once my riding skills were honed. I never fell with either. For me, cages were a good step in the process.

[Zen]

The movement used in release is entirely different in both. Cages aren't like training wheels for clipless.

[redrhodie]

I want to add, if you go with cages, don't tighten them all the way. Once you're confident in your riding skills, and feel ready to tighten the cages, go clipless instead.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I use PowerGrip straps. I love them.
They go diagonally over the foot, so it's the same motion getting in and out as clipless (turn heel out to get in or out, then straighten foot and it snugs up and holds your foot). I don't feel much "trapped" a difficult situation like stopping on a steep hill or a sudden stop. I started with them rather loose and felt safer that way, but now I have them quite snug so I can pull up on the pedals if I choose.
DH uses cages and he loves those.

Just to cause trouble :cool: and present a totally different point of view:
http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

[onimity]

I'm with those that recommend platform pedals -> clipless.

If this is your first road bike, you will have lots of things to get used to, probably new shifters, a new position, etc., and it will be easy to forget that you have to unclip. Why add another variable into the mix?

While I learned some things about riding clipless with cages (I used them before clipless was common) I don't see them as a step along the path, exactly.

The cages have a learning curve too, and I at least have fallen more with them than with clipless.

Anne

[mimitabby]

Lisa, although i agree with a lot of what mr Riv. says; here's where I seriously disagree. If you regularly go on rides of over 50 miles, the unnatural pressure on the middle part of your foot is going to take its toll. if you have a stiff sole on the shoe, it is protecting your foot from that.
I wore regular running shoes for my first day of spinning class. I was able to move my feet around on the pedals; but when pedalling you really don;t move much and my feet were sore when i was done. Switched back to the bike shoes... tons better.

But to the original poster and the rest of you; i'm not saying she should start riding with cages for a few months; i just meant the first few rides on the bike. If she's courageous and coordinated like many of you are; starting clipless should be fine for her. But for some of us, that would really be impossible.
Good luck, you know who you are.

[SadieKate]

From the Riv article: If you want to train a dog to come, you don't keep him (or in my case her) on a leash.

Huh? What school of dog training did he go to? I can hear the lessons now.

Rover! Come! Come Rover! Rover ! ROVER!
ROVER, COME! COME! . . . etc., etc., etc., ad nausem.

If one doesn't need clipless why do my shins turn to bloody pulp every time I ride without?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If one doesn't need clipless why do my shins turn to bloody pulp everytime I ride without?

Holy cow, why on earth would they turn to bloody pulp?!? My shins are just fine without clipless. Please explain! :eek: People have been riding bikes for generations without clipless and without bloody pulp shins, if I'm not mistaken. :confused:
Hmm...I think dogs can be trained to come without a leash. I've done it since I was a kid with quite a few dogs, using treats and lots of praise.

Mimi- I totally agree that shoes with stiff soles are more comfortable than soft soled sneakers for long rides. In fact, I just bought some nice stiff-soled hiking shoes this week and can't wait to ride my bike in them (and go hiking too!). :p

[Blueberry]

I can't answer for SK - only myself:)

I ride spd's generally, but have one pair that are flat on one side for store runs, etc. I have apparently trained myself to pedal circles. When I pull up and I'm not clipped in, foot flies off of pedal - the other foot is still pushing down, so the crank is still rotating, and all of a sudden I have a large pedal gash in my shin:mad: :mad:

I don't know if I'd have the same problem with cages/power grips. I'm happy enough with clipless I haven't felt the need to try them out. To each her own...

[SadieKate]

Because I lift my feet off the pedals expecting the pedal to come with the foot. The crank then spins around and hits my shin. What, your BB brackets don't spin? I hate not being able to rotate a crank back ward when stopped at an intersection without sticking my foot under the pedal to lift it. Plus, I'll lift a bit overenthusiasticly and send the crank spinning into my shin -- expecting it to stop when my foot stops.

Yes, people have been riding for generations without clipless but 100 years ago they didn't switch back and forth. It's just easier to stick with one way.

As for dog training, a long leash or light rope teaches them faster. Treats and praise are great rewards, but you can't give a correction by waving a treat at them. You always want a dog to think a leash is attached no matter whether one is or not.

[SadieKate]

I can't answer for SK - only myself:)

I ride spd's generally, but have one pair that are flat on one side for store runs, etc. I have apparently trained myself to pedal circles. When I pull up and I'm not clipped in, foot flies off of pedal - the other foot is still pushing down, so the crank is still rotating, and all of a sudden I have a large pedal gash in my shin:mad: :mad:
Yep, exactly.

[Flybye]

I vote for clipless. Love them and I just started with them this spring.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Because I lift my feet off the pedals expecting the pedal to come with the foot. The crank then spins around and hits my shin. What, your BB brackets don't spin? I hate not being able to rotate a crank back ward when stopped at an intersection without sticking my foot under the pedal to lift it. Plus, I'll lift a bit overenthusiasticly and send the crank spinning into my shin -- expecting it to stop when my foot stops.

I see- it's from habit then, expecting the pedal to come up when you pull hard on it.
I suppose that would be an issue if you are mostly riding clipless and then take a plain platform ride on rare occasion.
With both cages and Powergrip straps, you have straps running over the top of your feet, your foot is "in" the strap and thus when you pull your foot up the pedal comes up along with it- you CAN pull up on the upstroke. Also, you CAN easily pull your pedal backwards and around into a good position while keeping your foot "in" at a stop light or intersection. It's really not that terribly different from the clipless concept, just a bit more play to work with if you have the cages or straps loosely adjusted. They can be adjusted pretty tight if you want. I keep my straps fairly snug. They also keep my foot from slipping off the pedal if it's wet out- pedals get quite slippery when wet. I love my straps.


Yes, people have been riding for generations without clipless but 100 years ago they didn't switch back and forth. It's just easier to stick with one way.

Some people switch bikes all the time with no problem- they keep a clipless bike for road riding and a plain platform pedal bikes for errands, and they use both bikes several times a week. Just saying.


As for dog training, a long leash or light rope teaches them faster. Treats and praise are great rewards, but you can't give a correction by waving a treat at them. You always want a dog to think a leash is attached no matter whether one is or not.

Indeed, one wouldn't give a correction by waving a treat! (-unless one was playing with less than a full deck) I think there are lots of various successful dog training methods out there. Probably using a long lead can help a great deal, but some things can be taught off leash too. I'm sure you are good at training dogs. :)

[SadieKate]

Some people switch bikes all the time with no problem- they keep a clipless bike for road riding and a plain platform pedal bikes for errands, and they use both bikes several times a week. Just saying.Just saying that some people mountainbike when ingrained habits can save their tookas. Sometimes they purposely actually pedal backwards or ratchet the pedals.

Yeah, yeah, some people ride clipless when mountainbiking but, once again, they tend to do it consistently.

[DirtDiva]

Cages? :eek: Don't do it! Personally, I'd go straight for the clipless pedals, but I'm the sort that prefers to just jump right in - I think it's a (lack of) patience thing. :p If that thought really is too scary, then try nasty, shin-eating, power-gobbling flats (gee, I guess I have an opinion about those... ;)) for a little while first. :)

[VeloVT]

Ok, I clearly have an unpopular view here :o . When I got my road bike about 18 months ago, it was the first time I'd ridden a bike since I was about 10. I was timid and nervous. I left the cheap test cages on for about a month, then decided to get clipless pedals. While I definitely learned to use them :o ! I really got them too soon, I still lacked confidence in my riding skills in general, and the pedals added a huge amount of anxiety for another month or so. It's all sort of a wash in the end, because you eventually learn to swim if you're tossed into a lake, and I certainly did. However, I think I would have had a few months that were less anxious in the beginning had I waited a bit longer to transition to clipless.

That's just me, and I think I was an extreme case in terms of how unnatural biking felt when I first got my bike. I should add that 18 months later, I'm very confident and clipless pedals are completely natural. I've test-ridden bikes recently, and I find when they put cages on them, I miss my clipless pedals but I'm fine, and when they put flats on them, it drives me absolutely crazy.

I have to say, I've read several threads here where people discuss how dangerous and frightening and unnatural cages are, and each time I just can't understand. I'm not the world's most coordinated person and as I've said, when I first got my bike I was scared to death of it, but from the beginning I never had a bit of trouble with cages. My only complaint is it's a little bit of a pain to have to turn them over when starting at intersections -- but even that is just a nuisance, not something that is difficult. (That said, I'm sure happy to have clipless pedals and not have to tolerate that nuisance).

So, I would say, don't feel like you HAVE to get clipless pedals instantly; ride your bike for a week and gauge your comfort level, then decide. And try not to feel pressured, even then, if you're not totally comfortable.

[KnottedYet]

I rode in cages for about 20 years, then switched to clipless. Now I have one clipless bike and one platform bike.

Here's what I'd suggest: If you are familiar and comfortable with cages, use cages for a while. If you are familiar and comfortable with platforms, use platforms for a while.

Use that time to observe how you pedal on the new bike. Research pedal options during that time. What kinds of pedal systems appeal to you? Do you have any knee or hip or foot issues that should be considered in the decision? How do you feel on the bike, and what do you feel is lacking/not quite perfect in the pedals? Maybe nothing is lacking. Maybe a lot is lacking and that will direct you to your next step. (unless you love what is on the bike... could happen)

Look at it as a research opportunity.

And if it turns out that the clipless pedals you already bought don't meet your needs, sell them and buy what works for you. Make your bike perfect for *you*.

[aka_kim]

Ok, I clearly have an unpopular view here :o . When I got my road bike about 18 months ago, it was the first time I'd ridden a bike since I was about 10. I was timid and nervous. I left the cheap test cages on for about a month, then decided to get clipless pedals. While I definitely learned to use them :o ! I really got them too soon, I still lacked confidence in my riding skills in general, and the pedals added a huge amount of anxiety for another month or so. It's all sort of a wash in the end, because you eventually learn to swim if you're tossed into a lake, and I certainly did. However, I think I would have had a few months that were less anxious in the beginning had I waited a bit longer to transition to clipless.

That's just me, and I think I was an extreme case in terms of how unnatural biking felt when I first got my bike. I should add that 18 months later, I'm very confident and clipless pedals are completely natural. I've test-ridden bikes recently, and I find when they put cages on them, I miss my clipless pedals but I'm fine, and when they put flats on them, it drives me absolutely crazy.

I have to say, I've read several threads here where people discuss how dangerous and frightening and unnatural cages are, and each time I just can't understand. I'm not the world's most coordinated person and as I've said, when I first got my bike I was scared to death of it, but from the beginning I never had a bit of trouble with cages. My only complaint is it's a little bit of a pain to have to turn them over when starting at intersections -- but even that is just a nuisance, not something that is difficult. (That said, I'm sure happy to have clipless pedals and not have to tolerate that nuisance).

So, I would say, don't feel like you HAVE to get clipless pedals instantly; ride your bike for a week and gauge your comfort level, then decide. And try not to feel pressured, even then, if you're not totally comfortable.

+1. When I first started cycling, EVERYTHING was new and required concentration; if my feet had been locked to the pedals it would have been too much. After a couple hundred miles I switched to cages, which I used for several years without any problem. For some reason, I found it natural to pull my foot back off the pedal (and still do not find kicking out my heel quite as natural). I now happily use clipless only on all my bikes and can't imagine going back to either platform or cages. So, I agree, do what you're comfortable with.

[jobob]

I'm with Kim & Liza. I took my dear sweet time transitioning to clipless - started out with platforms, then cages, then PowerGrips, then clipless. I think it took me about 6 months or so.

[ninerfan]

I just switched to my first set of clipless pedals last week after 2 mos of cage riding on my very first road bike and I LOVE them! However, this really seems to come down to each individual person. I know that when I bought my bike a couple of months ago, I didn't even consider taking off the cages for clipless pedals because I was inexperienced and under the impression that an amateur like me didn't really need them. Let me just say though, that after the first week of riding, I HATED the cages with a passion.

I hated the constant reaching down to tighten and loosen, and never felt that I was being especially efficient on my rides. I haven't found it so far to be difficult at all to adjust to the pedals and remember to unclip before coming to a stop. For some reason, my brain is hyper sensative to the pedals and so far I have remembered to unclip everytime. Perhaps it's all of the painful cautionary tales that I have read here that help me remember!

Anyway, just go with your gut. I don't think I have been affected by not starting with clipless right away, so if you give the cages a shot and then move on, you really haven't lost anything in my opinion. At least then you will be sure about the move from the cages to clipless. Good luck!

[SouthernBelle]

When I got my first road bike it came with SPDs with the clip-on platforms. The following week I rode the 25 miles to the shop, had them take off the platforms, bought shoes and off I went (after a lesson in the back of the shop). Never regretted it.

Cages with straps require the skill of reaching down, tightening and loosening which you don't need to do with the clipless. Plus there is the extra expense of 2 sets of pedals.

[OakLeaf]

Do they even sell toe-clip style cleats any more??? (I'd let you have my old ones but I have no idea where they might be... probably in my ex-husband's basement if he hasn't thrown them out by now :rolleyes: )

Either way there's a learning curve. Why go through it twice?

[KSH]

Hey gals...well I am going for my first ever fitting for my first road bike tonight and I have the clipless and shoes as well as cages and wondered if I should just start out with the clipless or what should I do? I will be doing a lot of trainer work as well as weekend rides. I am doing the 2008 MS 150 houston the austin...but have been nudged to just start right off with the clipless but not sure...whats your opinion:)

Angel

I test rode in cages... and fell over since my shoe got stuck. Right then and there I said get my clipless shoes and pedals... never rode my bike without them.

Here's a good tip... unclip the same foot everytime and do it BEFORE you apply your brakes. If you see that you might even be stopping unclip.

I only fell once in 3 years with my clipless pedals and shoes.

Good luck!

[PscyclePath]

Another vote here for going straight to clipless.

Check with your bike shop... there are several types of SPD pedals that have a rubber or plastic deal on them so that you have platform pedals on one side, and SPD clips on the other. This is a great way to transition from platform to clipless on your own schedule, plus it gives you an option fo the occasions when you want (or need) to ride in your street shoes.

I run Shimano SPD-SL pedals on both my road bikes... these too are one-sided pedals and the cleats are kind of big and clunky, but it gives you an option to ride easily with street shoes, or for the times when it takes you a little longer to get the pedal flipped right-side-up so that you can clip in.

Tom

[Possegal]

i agree with those that say why learn twice, just go right to the clipless. i'm one of those that finds the cages even more difficult to get out of and would never ride with them. right now i have pedals that have the platform on the other side and it has been helpful for the reasons others have said. i can ride with street shoes, i can unclip and ride on the other side if i think i'm about to need to stop quickly. and anyway, i've got a cool little war wound from my livestrong ride that i'm kinda proud of, lame though that is. :) this is what happens when you are busy worrying about the strange noise your sister's bike is making and you forget to notice that you've come to a complete stop. shin, meet curb, curb, this is my shin. it was funny hearing all the folks riding by yelling "been there done that". no one stopped but that could have been because my sister and i were laughing hysterically. i didn't notice the bleeding until i got back on my bike and was riding away. i'm a newbie, so take my advice for what it is worth, just had to share my picture. :cool:

[RoadRaven]

Well... I would never use anything else but clip-in pedals now (I refuse to call them clipless :p )...

But I did begin with cages - but the straps freaked me out. I felt trapped.
So we took the straps off. I had only the plastic cage on the pedals that I could slip into from behind or the side and no straps or ties to "fix" me to the bike.

This was a good stepping stone for me to using the clipin pedals/cleats on my shoes...

Just my experience...

[NadiaMac]

Something to consider: your bike fit will likely be different depending on cages/platform verses clipless (due to different size/shape of clipless shoes and the cleat, which can be bulky depending on the pedal system).

I went right to clipless pedals and recommend this approach if you are comfortable already on bikes/riding. If you are returning to riding after a gap, you might want to start with platforms until you are comfortable on the bike again (or ride on a trainer/spin bike clipped in until you are comfortable clipping in and out).

I personally think that cages are more challenging to beginners than clipless pedals because it is more difficult to get out of cages in a pinch (even if the straps are loose)--the "pull-back" motion required to remove your foot from the cage is awkward and much less intuitive than the "twist-foot" motion used for clipless systems. Plus, the cages can get tangled in your shoelaces.