Giving up on SPDs

[laura*]

I'm giving up on clipless (SPD) pedals and going back to toe clips. Trying to go clipless has totally zapped my riding confidence. I'm having a horrible time clipping in and can't unclip for an emergency. I've had two notable incidents related to clipless pedals:

Last summer I stopped to rest part way up a steep grade. It is so steep that getting started requires turning crosswise across the trail. I clipped in my lead foot, pushed off to continue riding, but was unable to instantly clip in my second foot. That meant I couldn't move my weight forward which meant my CG was behind the rear wheel. Thus my front wheel lifted and I almost did a backwards endo down a 30% grade (or over a cliff). Luckily, mid-endo I tipped over toward the uphill side. With toe clips this incident would not have happened.

Two weeks ago I was riding a path on a roadway that washed out decades ago. The "line" through one spot is only 3 or 4 inches wide. To the right, broken asphalt forms a curb, and to the left there's a pit. My front wheel bounced off the curb and dropped out from under me into the pit. Forward motion stopped and I started tipping to my right. Unfortunately, the right pedal and my heal were on the ground. Because I was already tipping over, I was unable to turn my heal out to unclip. I could do nothing but yell expletives as I fell over. With toe clips, I'd have been able to get a foot on the ground, and probably muscled the front wheel back on route without even stopping.

Clipping in has been a continuing problem. Often in urban riding, half a city block after a stop sign or light, I'll still be stomping, wiggling, and sliding a foot around trying to find just the right spot to clip in. This is not safe because it means I'm not watching out for traffic. Unclipping in normal conditions works just fine. I can ride up to a stop sign, come to a complete stop, and then unclip. However, it seems I'm unable to unclip for an emergency.

Looking back, my riding confidence is seriously hurt. I used to sometimes enjoy popping a wheelie going uphill leaving my driveway. Now I walk the bike up to the road. I figure there's a 95% chance of not clipping in the second foot, and thus a 100% chance of stopping, and then a 50% chance of falling towards the clipped in side. I've also started walking my bike around various trail obstacles.

After the second incident above, my emotions bounced between anger and crying. This was the last straw and hence I'm giving up on SPDs. I feel ripped off and conned by the bicycle industry. They portray clipless pedals as a superior replacement for toe clips. Shimano doesn't even make a two sided pedal compatible with toe clips. Four pairs of shoes, three sets of pedals, and an expensive tool to fix the pedals - and I find they don't work for my style of riding. (OK, two pairs were clearance sale shoes and one shoe/pedal combo is for an indoor trainer so the lost investment isn't all that big.)


So - are there any good premium platform (rat cage style) pedals compatible with toe clips? Cheap department store bike type pedals probably won't survive my riding. I notice that WTB's "Momentum" pedals are listed as being toe clip compatible. Is anyone here familiar with them?

[MtnBikerChk]

DId you practice?

I always tell people to put your bike in the house - preferably in front of the tv in a doorway so you can hold yourself up and just clip in....clip out....clip in....clip out. It's about muscle memory!

And SPDs can be adjusted so the tension is really loose. I wouldn't give up - in the long run, they're much safer than toe clips.

Of course you could always try a frog or a time which have no tension.......

[laura*]

DId you practice?

I've had the SPD pedals (Shimano M324) on the bike for more than a year. The situation has not been improving. As I wrote, in normal conditions I can unclip just fine. But if I'm already falling, I don't have time for two motions (unclip and then sticking a leg out). In the second incident there was no way of unclipping - my foot was trapped.

As for clipping in, sometimes my shoe will click right in. At other times, I just can't find the right spot.

And SPDs can be adjusted so the tension is really loose.

Oddly enough, I found it easier to clip in with the tension turned up quite a ways. And this higher tension doesn't seem detrimental to clipping out.

For the riding I do, I'd almost say I need "downhill" (platform) pedals, except I'm more often than not going uphill.

[Aggie_Ama]

I had a terrible time unclipping with Crank Brothers Candys, I wrecked at least 3 times that I remember. Was ready to throw in the towel on clipless too. My husband told me to give Times a shot and they are wonderful. They clip in surely, even when I have mud on the cleats and feel secure clipped but not stuck like the Candys. They also release without question but don't release when I am not expecting them to. I am riding the Time Atac XL.

[KnottedYet]

For the riding I do, I'd almost say I need "downhill" (platform) pedals, except I'm more often than not going uphill.

I have Crank Bros 5050X pedals that I love for all riding.

They go downhill AND uphill.

It's great being able to adjust the placement and height of the traction pins, and I bought an extra pack of tall and regular pins which allows me to customize the surface of the pedal even more.

http://crankbrothers.com/pedals_5050x.php The 5050XX are lighter and have sealed bearings (and cost more). You can buy plate kits to change the pedal colors, too. Lots of fun!

Honestly, I like them better than my Speedplay Frogs and MUCH better than the toeclips I used for decades.

[Chicken Little]

I second the Crank Bros.

However, riding should be fun. If you want to go back to platforms, do it. No harm, no foul, no shame. You could always get those double sided ones with the clips on one side and the platforms on the other. Do whatever make you feel comfortable.

[Cataboo]

I use speedplay frogs on my road or mountain bikes... They're easy to get into and out of - lots of float for my knee. I had my share of clipless pedal falls in the beginning, but they're pretty 2nd nature by now.

On my commuter or bikes that I use platform pedals on, I use VP bear trap/cage pedals - you can get 'em on ebay in various fun colors, and you can hook toe clips to them (least they definitely have the holes to do it):

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...ar+trap+pedals

[MtnBikerChk]

I've had the SPD pedals (Shimano M324) on the bike for more than a year. The situation has not been improving. As I wrote, in normal conditions I can unclip just fine. But if I'm already falling, I don't have time for two motions (unclip and then sticking a leg out). In the second incident there was no way of unclipping - my foot was trapped.

As for clipping in, sometimes my shoe will click right in. At other times, I just can't find the right spot.



Oddly enough, I found it easier to clip in with the tension turned up quite a ways. And this higher tension doesn't seem detrimental to clipping out.

For the riding I do, I'd almost say I need "downhill" (platform) pedals, except I'm more often than not going uphill.

You completely missed my point. Practice and take all the other elements out of the picture. There's no pressure in your living room. You won't fall. You will find the right spot with practice.

I was hit by a car - on the road - and I "had time" to unclip. It becomes second nature. Unclipping and putting your foot down is 1 motion.

You've already made up your mind so go to flats - but it really just takes practice - just like riding a bike......

[katherine]

I think SPDs are about my favorite part on my mtn bike. They are the only component that I can use as a bottle opener.