clipless for scaredy cats?

[ReneeLynne]

Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! Thank you so much to all of you.

OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --

1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?

2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?

3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes . But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?

[indysteel]

Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! Thank you so much to all of you.

OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --

1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?

2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?

3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes . But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?

Renee, the non-recessed/recessed cleat issue is partly a function of the pedal and partly a function of the shoe. I think most "road" systems, i.e., the pedal plus the shoe, are non-recessed. That would include Look, Speedplay, and Time pedals to name a few of the more popular systems. SPD pedals are used (I think) primarily with touring and mountain shoes that have recessed cleats. There's certainly nothing wrong with using those on a road bike. I know plenty of roadies who just find a recessed cleat easier to use, especially for touring. The bikes used for my gym's spinning class also have SPD pedals.

It's not impossible to walk in a non-recessed cleat, although I wouldn't recommend going too far in them. They're a little treacherous on kitchen floors and the like, but it helps if you remember to put the weight in your heels as you walk in them. There's also a product on the market called Kool Kovers that are plastic covers that slip over the cleats. They make them for both Look (and Look-style) and Keo cleats. They're available from a variety of online retailers and cost about $10-15. I bring them with me when I know I'm going to walk in my road shoes. Otherwise, I leave them at home.

As for swelling: The guy who sold me my SIDIs put me in a women's size 40. That's about a half-size bigger than what I wear in regular shoes. Even with that, they sometimes get a wee bit snug by the end of a long ride. I like the shoe though. They're light and easily adjustable with three velcro straps. My other pair of shoes were by Vittoria and were a men's size 39. They were a little big/wide for me but otherwise light and comfortable. I also think it helps to wearing cycling/running specific socks. They're generally thinner and more absorbant than regular athletic socks.

I hope that helps!

Kate

[postiechic]

The first was a Trek FX hybrid. It came with Wellgo SPD clipless pedals, but the LBS switched them out for Shimano one-sided SPDs

so what's wrong with the Wellgo pedals? My Trek came with em too(one side clip, one side platform) but I only used em for the first time yesterday. Are they not a very good pedal? Just curious.

[KSH]

so what's wrong with the Wellgo pedals? My Trek came with em too(one side clip, one side platform) but I only used em for the first time yesterday. Are they not a very good pedal? Just curious.

Well, I am sure they good pedals... but when I have seen someone in action with them... it was just plain DANGEROUS. Why?

Because we (my friend and I who were riding) would start from a light, in traffic, and her head was down for a couple of BLOCKS and she was trying to find/flip around the pedal for the side that she needed to clip her cleat into. Worried me the whole time.

The idea of the pedals is great... but in reality, they seem to be a lot of work... from what I observed.

[postiechic]

Because we (my friend and I who were riding) would start from a light, in traffic, and her head was down for a couple of BLOCKS and she was trying to find/flip around the pedal for the side that she needed to clip her cleat into.

Well yeah..good point.....but it shouldnt take you that long to find the right side....and besides, with practice, finding the right side would/should get easier all the time.

[SouthernBelle]

SPD pedals are used (I think) primarily with touring and mountain shoes that have recessed cleats. There's certainly nothing wrong with using those on a road bike. I know plenty of roadies who just find a recessed cleat easier to use, especially for touring. The bikes used for my gym's spinning class also have SPD pedals.

nope.

[Duck on Wheels]

Well yeah..good point.....but it shouldnt take you that long to find the right side....and besides, with practice, finding the right side would/should get easier all the time.

Yes, finding the right side gets easier. Thanks to sister Trek420's coaching, I do NOT look down to find the connection. I flip the pedal with my toe if I need to, sometimes multiple times, line my foot up and slide it in. Click. No look. And I don't stress out about clipping in, because I also practice riding with one or both feet free for a few yards til I'm in the flow and out of the intersection I clipped out for. I think maybe this friend who has her head down focused on the pedals has not had the friendly-but-strict coach I had who got me over that (thanks, sis!). Now she needs to break the habit. I'm now fine with the reversible pedals. I still envision needing them (once my bike finally gets here), f'rinstance for days when I ride out to the woods wearing hiking boots.