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I am very genuinely curious... where are you riding that has 30% grade? Straight up Filbert street in San Francisco? That one is a 31% grade, and is known for being the steepest street in the city.
found this little gem:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...egrees.svg.png
I think those were the M505 pedals - both those numbers sound familiar, but I do think it was 505. Total death traps! I had one ride where I probably toppled over 10 times, all because I couldn't unclip. Even if I knew I was going to have to stop well in advance. The last crash of that ride was on flat pavement with a stop sign ahead. I'd been riding clipless on my road bike for about 10 years at that point, so it wasn't a matter of total newbiness. Those things would NOT release.Quote:
Originally Posted by laura*
I really don't have ANY problems with the 520s (and they are always right there and clip right in - I never have to hunt for them), but if stiff bike shoes, even with recessed cleats, won't work for you, then it does sound like no clipless pedals will work. And some sort of containment is necessary to meet the pulling-up requirement. I think I'd try Bleeker's suggestion and get some Powergrips. Okay - I'd get some sort of awesome climbing bike, but that doesn't solve the pedal/shoe issue.
Hmm, that's interesting comment on M505s.... that's what I have. And I use the spd SH56 cleat which is the multidirectional release cleats... like em way better than the single release SH51.
Something that I think releases multidirection similiarly, buts bit easier to find entry cuz it's 4 sided, vs 2 sided, is Crank Bros regular eggbeaters.
Those you can set release tension degrees-angle to make em come out easier... sorta like concept of the SH56 cleat.
Toe cages... no maam, not for me. Puke.
I am still learning on my mb and have spd pedals. My mb club leader kept telling me to stay clipped in on technical bits and fall with the bike if I fell - that to clip out and ride clipped out on the pedal can be cause for an accident - and that sticking a leg out at the wrong time during a fall could break something. Did I listen? Nope. Tried to clip out during a rocky upgrade, and in the twisting out action fell with the bike on to the left ankle and busted it. In the middle of nowhere. So, lesson learned.
When I get back on the bike this fall, I am going to look in to some of these other pedal options, as the left twist thing is no longer going to work for me. But I know now what I didn't then. I plan on staying clipped in through as much as I can from now on. I also like the idea of the flat pedals with pins. I may have to try those out.
Thanks for the great advice and to the OP for posting the question!
Um, wow that is some interesting advice, not what I would give a beginner. IQuote:
tay clipped in on technical bits and fall with the bike if I fell - that to clip out and ride clipped out on the pedal can be cause for an accident - and that sticking a leg out at the wrong time during a fall could break something.
Yours was the first suggestion I've ever heard that a Crank Brothers clipless pedal w/ platform surround could actually be useful with non-cleat shoes. Previously I thought that the platform on those pedals simply was for extra stability while clipped in.Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
The bike in question is a mid 90's steel frame rigid fork MTB. In today's market it might be grouped with flat bar road bikes. So, in a sense, I've already followed your suggestion except that the frame's MTB heritage means it is longer. I think that is useful for me when climbing hills.Quote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
Filbert street is less than 100 miles from here. The steep grade is in a state park. The trail is climbing out of a river valley. From a creek crossing to a leveling of the trail, a USGS topo shows a 100 foot rise in a run of 500 feet. That's 20%, except the climbing is compressed into less than 500 feet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irulan
Hmmm. So not all Shimano SPDs are the same. So maybe that's my problem. (The M324's have been sort of OK for my urban riding...)Quote:
Originally Posted by Skierchickie
In my teens, I learned to "fall off" my bike when I crashed. I could usually "make like a cat" and land on my feet. And my bike, because it no longer had my weight on it, wouldn't be hurt either. But being attached to the pedals definitively gives more control for the technical bits.Quote:
Originally Posted by indigoiis
I just want to echo the calls on here for Speedplay frogs. There is no spring in the system, you simply move your heel over a little bit to get out, and lift up your foot, and your'e out. I'm not sure how many degrees you have to move your heels, but I can tell you that they are the easiest pedal in the world to get out of. I dont' even think about getting out of them, I just put my foot down, they are that easy. Oh, and I should add that I worked at a bike shop for 5 years and recommended these to everyone who couldn't get used to spd's, and no one ever returned them. You can find them used on Ebay pretty regularly. Good luck!