Look, Shimano, or Speedplay?

[emily_in_nc]

eggbeaters.

+1

[warneral]

speedplay frogs (with MTB shoes - NOT road shoes ... ask me how I know) are super duper easy to get in and out. I fell over about 5 times trying to get into my keo look style with shimano type clips.

[Miranda]

Look Keo's

+1
Yea baby, that's wut I'm talkin bout lol

I actually have Look Keo Elles... they have a lighter release tension.

SPD mtbs were ok until I started riding further distances (over 20mi-ish). Then I found pain in the ball of my foot with the smaller contact surface. Look Keos (or any traditional road bike style pedal, vs mtb, has this) have a wider contact surface, vs mtb pedals. With mtb-ing, you generally also have some unclipping on the trail. Thus, how those shoes are designed with treads for walking when necesary. Steady road biking is more steady pedal contact. Peeps who are bike messengers with alot of on and off to walk are different type of riding on an actual road.

I did not like Speedplays because of how they engaged. I.e. stomp straight down, vs. catch a toe first like spds, and Looks are catch toe in first also... just felt more familiar.

[Bike Chick]

Time Iclic Racers

I'm in the minority here but I switched from SPD's to Speedplay and didn't like them. They are difficult to walk in and you have to be very careful where you walk. I could never get the right cleat adjusted well enough to clip in quickly. I was constantly searching to find it then it was difficult to get into when I did.

I have the Time Iclic's on my road and tri bikes and LOVE them. I still have spd's on my commuter.

[Crankin]

Nobody should try to walk in Speedplays without wearing cleat covers. I thought they came with the cleats, but apparently my DH "knew" to buy them when I got mine, several years ago. Without them, you really run the risk of getting even a teeny bit of dirt in the cleats and then the easy in and out of the cleats is totally gone. I also lube them with a very small amount of White Lightning every week. Sometimes my left cleat is a little finicky, as that's the one I always unclip from. But usually, when that happens, it's time to lube. I'm kind of hard on my cleats, too, for some reason.
I got these cool looking foldable slip ons to wear during a lunch stop or when touring, if I want to really walk around. They are made for camping and cycling, and easily fit into DH's Carradice bag. We used them when we went to Spain. But, on a regular ride, where I am just stopping for lunch or coffee, I don't have any problem walking in my Speedplays, as long as the covers are on. Sure, it's awkward, but it won't kill you. I have campus pedals on my hybrid and my knees hurt every time I use the spds, although I started with them on my first road bike. I am thinking of getting Frogs, since I never ride on the flat pedal side of the campus pedals.

[colby]

Nobody should try to walk in Speedplays without wearing cleat covers. I thought they came with the cleats, but apparently my DH "knew" to buy them when I got mine, several years ago. Without them, you really run the risk of getting even a teeny bit of dirt in the cleats and then the easy in and out of the cleats is totally gone. I also lube them with a very small amount of White Lightning every week. Sometimes my left cleat is a little finicky, as that's the one I always unclip from. But usually, when that happens, it's time to lube. I'm kind of hard on my cleats, too, for some reason.
I got these cool looking foldable slip ons to wear during a lunch stop or when touring, if I want to really walk around. They are made for camping and cycling, and easily fit into DH's Carradice bag. We used them when we went to Spain. But, on a regular ride, where I am just stopping for lunch or coffee, I don't have any problem walking in my Speedplays, as long as the covers are on. Sure, it's awkward, but it won't kill you. I have campus pedals on my hybrid and my knees hurt every time I use the spds, although I started with them on my first road bike. I am thinking of getting Frogs, since I never ride on the flat pedal side of the campus pedals.

I have heard this (about the lubricating and the getting stuff in them) but have yet to have this problem with mine - and I've ran through some pretty nasty stuff in them racing triathlons (grass, dirt, sand, mud). I think they are due for a pretty hefty cleaning, though, and if I did plan on walking in them in normal circumstances I think I'd get the covers anyway (I think that'd be true of most pedals, honestly). It might just be that I'm heavy enough to engage the cleat with more force so even though my pedals are dirty I'm able to jam them in there.

[Catrin]

I love my SPD pedals and mtn bike shoes on my LHT. The tension has been adjusted so that it is extremely easy to clip in/out, I don't even really notice my foot moving much for either. I was a little concerned at first that perhaps it was adjust too lightly and that I would unclip while hill climbing but that has not been a problem.

Have you had someone look at your cleat position and tension?

[jobob]

Wow, Crankin, more power to you, but having to have cleat covers to walk around involves way too much effort and advance planning for me.

I use eggbeater pedals on all my road bikes, which I gather are looked down upon by "real" roadies I find eggbeaters very easy to clip in and out of, and I don't have to worry about adjusting tension or whatnot. They were my first brand of clipless pedals about 5 years ago, and I've had no reason or desire to change from them since.

I wear Sidi mtn bike shoes which allow me to easily walk around. I suppose if I used "real" road shoes, I would generate more power, but I'd rather be able to walk around easily than be able to generate a few watts more power (heh, if that really mattered to me, I'd lose 10 pounds first ).

And, when I'm doing more leisurely rides, or when it's gawdawful hot out, or, when I just feel like it, I'll wear Keen cycling sandals. They are very very comfy, and off the bike they don't look or feel like cycling shoes (OK, I wouldn't walk any vast distance in them, but they were great for schlepping a around a bit at the wineries and the Culinary Institute of America when DH and I were on a cycling tour a few weeks ago).

The "real" roadies must really turn up their noses at the Keen sandals. Like I care.

[Crankin]

The covers slip right into my jersey pocket, so it's not a big deal. They just snap on or off. They are always on the shoes when I start, so when I am actually ready to ride, off they come and go in the pocket.
I think I have the problem with my left cleat getting a bit sticky because I am constantly clipping in and out on the same side, and it wears it down. I am also a lightweight, so that also may come into play.
I never had issues with the spds, but when I switched over to the Speedplays my body appreciated the free float and now the limited motion of the spds bother me. I only used them on the road bike for year, so who knows? I might have developed an issue if I had continued.

[colorisnt]

I have looks, but I wouldn't recommend them. They are very difficult to learn (at least they were for me and many others in my cycling club in IN) and they are hard to get/in out of.


If there is nothing wrong with the SPD's don't bother switching. I dont' mind my pedals now at all, but learning sucked.

[pll]

Minor hijack of this thread, which I've been reading with great interest: about the issue of contact surface... would hot spots or pain in the ball of the foot go away with a more rigid shoe? In other words, does the large contact surface matter if you have a very rigid shoe sole?

I'm in the same situation as bonnypriest, considering a change in pedals. I tried Shimano 105 pedals with a pair of Sidi Genius 5 Pro shoes. The shoes are a definite upgrade over my current ones.

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, Crankin, more power to you, but having to have cleat covers to walk around involves way too much effort and advance planning for me.

I use eggbeater pedals on all my road bikes, which I gather are looked down upon by "real" roadies I find eggbeaters very easy to clip in and out of, and I don't have to worry about adjusting tension or whatnot. They were my first brand of clipless pedals about 5 years ago, and I've had no reason or desire to change from them since.

I wear Sidi mtn bike shoes which allow me to easily walk around. I suppose if I used "real" road shoes, I would generate more power, but I'd rather be able to walk around easily than be able to generate a few watts more power (heh, if that really mattered to me, I'd lose 10 pounds first ).

And, when I'm doing more leisurely rides, or when it's gawdawful hot out, or, when I just feel like it, I'll wear Keen cycling sandals. They are very very comfy, and off the bike they don't look or feel like cycling shoes (OK, I wouldn't walk any vast distance in them, but they were great for schlepping a around a bit at the wineries and the Culinary Institute of America when DH and I were on a cycling tour a few weeks ago).

The "real" roadies must really turn up their noses at the Keen sandals. Like I care.

I used to wear Speedplay X-2's (and had cleat covers in my bag for stops), because, like Crankin says, they DO get clogged up in sandy/muddy conditions. I had to walk quite a ways on a muddy C&O towpath during Bike Virginia once b/c I literally could not clip back in. Not good.

I've since changed to Eggbeaters AND Keen Commuter sandals, and I am having more fun than ever. My "serious roadie" days are behind me since I broke my pelvis in 2005. I just can't ride nearly as far or as intensely without aching these days, so now I'm just doing utility and fun rides, shorter and slower than in years past, but really having more fun than ever. And if anyone doesn't like my Bike Friday, Eggbeaters, or Keen sandals, I couldn't care less!

[Bike Chick]

Wow, Crankin, more power to you, but having to have cleat covers to walk around involves way too much effort and advance planning for me.

That's how I felt and one of the reasons I switched. Right after I got my Speedplays I made the mistake of stepping in a corn field to use the restroom on a ride. There was so much dirt in my cleat, I couldn't clip in. I cleaned it out with a stick. I cleaned it well enough to clip in but not well enough to clip back out They are also very slick on pavement and floors. I wasn't one to always remember to take my cleat covers along. The Iclics have eliminated that problem and I'm really pleased with them.

[Bike Chick]

Minor hijack of this thread, which I've been reading with great interest: about the issue of contact surface... would hot spots or pain in the ball of the foot go away with a more rigid shoe? In other words, does the large contact surface matter if you have a very rigid shoe sole?

I'm in the same situation as bonnypriest, considering a change in pedals. I tried Shimano 105 pedals with a pair of Sidi Genius 5 Pro shoes. The shoes are a definite upgrade over my current ones.

Sorry if I add to the hijack. Hot spots and foot pain was the reason I changed from spd pedals and my shoes in the first place. I went to Specialized carbon road shoes and Speedplay pedals and now am riding Time Iclic pedals. I don't have any more hot spot issues and it's a relief.

[alpinerabbit]

Minor hijack of this thread, which I've been reading with great interest: about the issue of contact surface... would hot spots or pain in the ball of the foot go away with a more rigid shoe? In other words, does the large contact surface matter if you have a very rigid shoe sole?

I'm in the same situation as bonnypriest, considering a change in pedals. I tried Shimano 105 pedals with a pair of Sidi Genius 5 Pro shoes. The shoes are a definite upgrade over my current ones.

If you have previously ridden shoes with non-rigid soles, absolutely cycing shoes help. But if you still get it, you might have dropped arches and orthotics with a metatarsal lift would do more than a different pedal.