pedals/clips/clipless 101?

[Zen]

I use half-clips on my city bike. I LOVE them!

[hipmama]

oooh, I like those half clips! How do you think it compares to clipless as far as how much extra power you get from them?

[wackyjacky1]

oooh, I like those half clips! How do you think it compares to clipless as far as how much extra power you get from them?

I haven't done clipless, so I can't say for sure. I like the half-clips 'cause I can wear any old shoe and still jump on my bike. But I recently acquired a pair of Exustar mtb shoes from a fellow TE-er, and I've found that it's the stiff sole from a cycling shoe that makes all the difference as far as extra power in my pedal stroke. (There are no cleats installed on the shoes, so I just use 'em with my regular pedals & half-clips.)

[hipmama]

alrighty, I got my new bike today! Pedals are SPD- so from what I gather, I can get pretty much any cycling shoe, and just have to have the SPD cleats put in, yes?

[pinkbikes]

Wahoo! Very exciting. Bet you can't wait to get out on that puppy!

If they are SPD pedals you can just get pretty much any shoe as long as they are drilled for a two bolt cleat. It may be best to take the SPD cleat with you when you go to buy them so you can check for sure that the holes line up, because sometimes you get a knucklehead of a shop assistant who just assumes they'll be ok and gives you that "yeah it'll be fine" thing with the airy wave. And then you get home it it isn't really fine!

An MTB shoe will probably be better just from the point of view that the SPD cleat recesses into the sole and does not usually protrude beyond the tread of the shoe. This makes it a bit more stable for walking in and it doesn't scratch your floor! Also if you end up getting SPD pedals for your tandem you will be able to wear them for touring on it too and still be able to walk around like a normal human at the end of the day (not like a duck)! I only take one pair of shoes when we tour - the MTB ones.

The only down side of an MTB shoe is that if you decided later that you wanted to go all hardcore roadie and buy a more roadie-style pedal and cleat system it is quite likely that the roadie cleat will be too large to fit on the MTB shoe. It' a one way thing.... plenty of roadie shoes will take SPD cleats but most SPD style shoes won't take roadie cleats (well the three bolt ones anyway)!

[tctrek]

Great! Let us know how you make out getting your shoes and getting the cleats on the shoes... that can be fun! +1 on recommending MTB shoes. You can walk in them.

[hipmama]

Yup, I'm all over the MTB shoes- must be able to walk around- double time for the tandem, all those times I have to walk the kiddo out to the right place to squat behind a tree and stand guard for her
I can't wait, it's killing me! Going to go browsing tomorrow but am really hoping to pick up a used pair as money is going in many directions right now- oy!

[pinkbikes]

Yup, I'm all over the MTB shoes- must be able to walk around- double time for the tandem, all those times I have to walk the kiddo out to the right place to squat behind a tree and stand guard for her

ROTFL!!

I can NOT get mine to squat behind a tree. I cannot the count the number of times since she was a wee thing that she has been "DESPERATE to GO MUM!!!" but it didn't really matter where or when, I have NEVER been able to convince her to go behind a tree. I'm sure she thinks something is going to crawl up and bite her behind! Maybe a bit of grass tickled her butt once or something?