I ditched my toe-cages today...

I spent the morning at Team Survivor's bike skills class, and learned in a big hurry how big a pain toe-clips can be. I've used them for years, but never for something like this. Hauled my bike off to the side, whipped out my Leatherman, and tore those critters off. Naked pedals! :eek:

I watched several clicked-in rider falls (on grass and on cement and one on the road) and am still not convinced that clipless is the way to go for me. The woman teaching the class had nothing but good stuff to tell us newbies about Speedplay Frogs. Planning to spend a couple hours tomorrow at Recycled Cycles looking into Frogs. Shoes and pedals will probably cost as much as my bike did.

Bike skills classes are great and will give you lots of confidence for future riding, especially in groups.

As an addendum to another message I wrote earlier, I did fall once with my clipless pedals, but it was not on the road, it was at one of those bike skills sessions with our coach. We were training at doing figure-8s and picking up our water bottle from the ground (while sitting on our saddle, yes, it is possible, although I have succeeded only once). Doing a figure-8 at the fabulous speed of about 2 km/h I made an uncontrolled move with my handlebars and boom on the pavement I went. Plain parking lot asphalt, not concrete, though. A little scratch on my knee (under my tights, which were unharmed... strange), but no bruised pride since I was nor the first nor the last person to fall that day. (That pick-up-the-bottle exercise is a killer.)

There was another time I fell a lot, but that was... a crashing workshop. (How to make an emergency exit from your bike.)

This being said, do take your time and do what feels best, but be aware that toe-clips are much worst than clip-in pedals, in my humble opinion. As for frogs, they're great for those with knee problems, but significantly less convenient than SPDs because of the protruding cleat. I am not sure if I would call them beginner pedals.

Tell me: I might have missed the discussion where you talked about this, but what are your goals regarding cycling? Do you want to do touring? Just ride around? Long distance?

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Originally Posted by Grog

This being said, do take your time and do what feels best, but be aware that toe-clips are much worst than clip-in pedals, in my humble opinion. As for frogs, they're great for those with knee problems, but significantly less convenient than SPDs because of the protruding cleat. I am not sure if I would call them beginner pedals.

Tell me: I might have missed the discussion where you talked about this, but what are your goals regarding cycling? Do you want to do touring? Just ride around? Long distance?

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Frogs are mountain bike pedals and are recessed cleats. I ride road and touring bikes, and I have been using Frogs exclusively for many years. They are very easy to get used to, easy to click in and out, no protruding cleat, easy on my knees.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I spent the morning at Team Survivor's bike skills class, and learned in a big hurry how big a pain toe-clips can be. I've used them for years, but never for something like this. Hauled my bike off to the side, whipped out my Leatherman, and tore those critters off. Naked pedals! :eek:

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I think that you are doing yourself a big disservice by riding with "naked pedals". You've removed the possibility of (more) efficient pedaling by leaving yourself with only the ability to push down on your pedals, not to pull up or back. In other words, you have no ability to spin if you are using a "naked" pedal.

I also wonder (as Grog does) what your goals are for cycling.

--- Denise

I am very eager to hear about your experience trying out the Frogs. Whether they bother your knees, IT bands, etc....

one of the guys in my cycling club said that they were going to have a workshop on falling because of me. Well, it'd been suggested.

I'm intrigued by the idea... and am still annoyed that I put my arm out when I fell.

DONT put YOUR arm out to catch yourself. Easier said than done... I was chewing myself out on the way down to concrete.

I don't know... I'm still a rookie with clipless... had them for a week, thought they were pretty good... then I made a silly move that threw me at a stop.

Oh, I have the standard Shimano M505 (i think) that came with my bike.

There's a platform on one side... and I have mountain shoes. So for awhile I may not clip in until I get out of town. We'll see.

It does feel weird not having toes attached to the bike. But the trouble I was having in the skills class just pushed me in a direction I was probably going anyway. Eventually. (I can always put the toe cages back on)

I'm a pretty low-key rider. I commute and do errands, go for weekend rides, a little camping, supported multi-day rides, and plan a low-key foray into triathlons with the Danskin this summer.

I have fun with my cheap bike.

What is not fun is discovering that "skills" requires shoe treads that DON'T catch on cage straps, laces that DON'T catch on buckles and cages, and the ability to get your foot in or out in a hurry.

Got a bee in my bonnet about clipless now. We'll see what develops.

Performance's website has frogs for $105 and shoes for $35. That's less than my bike cost. Could be a possibility.....:rolleyes:

Hey Knotted

I see that you live in Seattle too. I have the Shimano (SPD) petals and compatible shoes and love them. The pedals are fairly cheap--only about $40 (on sale) and shoes of course vary.

I just wanted to offer up my pedals for a try. I could throw them on your bike and you could get an idea. I wear an 8 shoe and use mtn. shoes for ease of walking. Just give me a holler.

Carole

Thanks! Very kind of you to offer. I've got the sasquatch feet, so couldn't wear your shoes. Sigh. Had a good talk with my favorite guy at Recycled Cycles today. His name is Andy, he's great. Anyway, RC has frogs and could let me try them for 30 days. They don't sell shoes, but I'm thinking of going to Performance for those. Probably mtn shoes.

Gregg's is nothing like it was 20 years ago. I avoid them now. What's your favorite shop?