clipless for scaredy cats?

[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.