Reply With Quote
Do they even sell toe-clip style cleats any more??? (I'd let you have my old ones but I have no idea where they might be... probably in my ex-husband's basement if he hasn't thrown them out by now)
Either way there's a learning curve. Why go through it twice?
Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Click the "Create Account" button now to join.
Results 31 to 37 of 37
-
10-25-2007, 05:10 AM #31
Queen of All I Survey
- Join Date
- Jun 2006
- Posts
- 2,506
To disable ads, please log-in.
When I got my first road bike it came with SPDs with the clip-on platforms. The following week I rode the 25 miles to the shop, had them take off the platforms, bought shoes and off I went (after a lesson in the back of the shop). Never regretted it.
Cages with straps require the skill of reaching down, tightening and loosening which you don't need to do with the clipless. Plus there is the extra expense of 2 sets of pedals.
-
10-25-2007, 07:15 AM #32
In-app purchases
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Location
- Uncanny Valley
- Posts
- 14,498
-
11-20-2007, 06:52 PM #33
Registered User
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Posts
- 2,716
I test rode in cages... and fell over since my shoe got stuck. Right then and there I said get my clipless shoes and pedals... never rode my bike without them.
Originally Posted by woodlandsrider
Hey gals...well I am going for my first ever fitting for my first road bike tonight and I have the clipless and shoes as well as cages and wondered if I should just start out with the clipless or what should I do? I will be doing a lot of trainer work as well as weekend rides. I am doing the 2008 MS 150 houston the austin...but have been nudged to just start right off with the clipless but not sure...whats your opinion
Angel
Here's a good tip... unclip the same foot everytime and do it BEFORE you apply your brakes. If you see that you might even be stopping unclip.
I only fell once in 3 years with my clipless pedals and shoes.
Good luck!"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside thoroughly used-up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"
-
11-21-2007, 05:22 AM #34
LCI # 1853-M
- Join Date
- Sep 2006
- Location
- Toltec, Arkansaw
- Posts
- 512
Another vote here for going straight to clipless.
Check with your bike shop... there are several types of SPD pedals that have a rubber or plastic deal on them so that you have platform pedals on one side, and SPD clips on the other. This is a great way to transition from platform to clipless on your own schedule, plus it gives you an option fo the occasions when you want (or need) to ride in your street shoes.
I run Shimano SPD-SL pedals on both my road bikes... these too are one-sided pedals and the cleats are kind of big and clunky, but it gives you an option to ride easily with street shoes, or for the times when it takes you a little longer to get the pedal flipped right-side-up so that you can clip in.
Tom
-
11-21-2007, 07:44 AM #35
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
- Location
- MD
- Posts
- 1,626
i agree with those that say why learn twice, just go right to the clipless. i'm one of those that finds the cages even more difficult to get out of and would never ride with them. right now i have pedals that have the platform on the other side and it has been helpful for the reasons others have said. i can ride with street shoes, i can unclip and ride on the other side if i think i'm about to need to stop quickly. and anyway, i've got a cool little war wound from my livestrong ride that i'm kinda proud of, lame though that is.
this is what happens when you are busy worrying about the strange noise your sister's bike is making and you forget to notice that you've come to a complete stop. shin, meet curb, curb, this is my shin. it was funny hearing all the folks riding by yelling "been there done that". no one stopped but that could have been because my sister and i were laughing hysterically. i didn't notice the bleeding until i got back on my bike and was riding away. i'm a newbie, so take my advice for what it is worth, just had to share my picture. 
-
11-21-2007, 08:27 AM #36
TimeTrial Wannabe
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Location
- Middle Earth
- Posts
- 3,997
Well... I would never use anything else but clip-in pedals now (I refuse to call them clipless
)...
But I did begin with cages - but the straps freaked me out. I felt trapped.
So we took the straps off. I had only the plastic cage on the pedals that I could slip into from behind or the side and no straps or ties to "fix" me to the bike.
This was a good stepping stone for me to using the clipin pedals/cleats on my shoes...
Just my experience...
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,
"I will try again tomorrow".
-
11-30-2007, 06:50 AM #37
NadiaMac
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- SF bay area
- Posts
- 151
Something to consider: your bike fit will likely be different depending on cages/platform verses clipless (due to different size/shape of clipless shoes and the cleat, which can be bulky depending on the pedal system).
I went right to clipless pedals and recommend this approach if you are comfortable already on bikes/riding. If you are returning to riding after a gap, you might want to start with platforms until you are comfortable on the bike again (or ride on a trainer/spin bike clipped in until you are comfortable clipping in and out).
I personally think that cages are more challenging to beginners than clipless pedals because it is more difficult to get out of cages in a pinch (even if the straps are loose)--the "pull-back" motion required to remove your foot from the cage is awkward and much less intuitive than the "twist-foot" motion used for clipless systems. Plus, the cages can get tangled in your shoelaces.
