Do I Need To Go Clipless?

[Prairiedog]

I've been using clips on my bike for 4 years. I've never really given much thought to going to clipless pedals until I started reading this site. I always thought those were for the road biker's who were always riding on paved surface and never had the occassion to need to put a foot down here and there. Now I'm realizing that off road rider's use them too so I'm wondering...do I need to go clipless? I ride predominately country roads and occassionaly haul my bike to a nearby town to do a cycle path around a lake that is paved.

The thought of clipless has always scared me a tad. You know, not being able to get your foot out of there instantly if need be. Plus, I often ride my bike to a destination and then stay there for awhile so need to walk in my biking shoes which is another reason I have never considered clipless...I don't want to have to mess with removing cleats so I can walk. I wear just regular cycling shoes with a good amount of traction on the bottom.

Am I hanging on to an old fashioned ideal and I need to move into the 21st century or will I really benefit that much from going clipless, spending money on new pedals and new shoes and learning a new technique?

[KSH]

First off... do whatever works for you. Don't feel like you HAVE to go clipless... because you don't.

You will get more power out of your pedaling... if you go clipless... but maybe you don't care?

As far as the cleats... if you get mountain biking shoes, you can get cleats that will be in the sole of the shoes. So, you can get off and walk around comfortably. There are many options in shoes and pedals.

In the end though, do what works for you. Best of luck!

[RoadRaven]

Hi Prairedog... like KSH says it is personal preference, and you must decide what is best for you... though you will get more power and stability if you can be comfortable with cleats on your shoes.

Like you, I was rather nervous, but I wouldn't dream of going without being clipped in to my pedals now.

The only exception is when i am on my mountain bike (not a very common thing anyways) or when I am riding with my youngest son - I just flip the pedals over and wear running shoes otherwise I worry that I won't be able to get my feet on the ground quickly enough when he decides to wobble or stop suddenly

[KnottedYet]

I've been clipless now for a couple weeks. Before that I used toe-cages for about 10 years.

I use my bike mostly for commuting. Lots of stops and starts and putting the foot down.

My Speedplay Frogs www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog seem to be a whole lot easier to get in and out of than my toe-cages. Even if I have to take off (like at a traffic light) and don't get clipped in right away, the platform of the Frogs is big enough that I can pedal through the intersection safely.

I have mtn bike shoes (Specialized Taho) and have no trouble walking around in them. The cleats make a cool crunching noise when the 3 little metal bits hit sand or dirt on the cement. No problem with traction.

Did a lot of research on clipless, both here and talking to riders I work with and biking friends. Frogs seemed like the best fit for the way I ride, and the kind of simple clip system I wanted. I've been surprised by how much I like them!

Like a lot of folks who've gone clipless have said, "I wonder why I held off for so long!"

[Bad JuJu]

I tried clipless and had to go back to toeclips because I couldn't get my persnickety left knee into a comfortable position with the clipless pedal, even though I used the ones with the most float--Speedplay Frogs. My LBS worked with me, and adjusted the cleat several times, but to no avail--I just couldn't make my knee happy.

Having said that, though, I would LOVE to be able to use clipless. Just the short time I did use them was enough to prove to me that, if you can get the right ones for you, they are actually safer than toeclips. I mean, if you really tighten down the strap on a toeclip, it's harder to get out of than a clipless pedal, at least the Frogs. If you decide to try clipless, get them from an LBS you trust, where they'll put your bike on a trainer and let you check positioning of the cleats and practice clipping in and out a few times. Sure you might be able to get a better price online (or you might not), but the online store won't be there when you need help with installment and adjustment.

I've recently been reading that the new Frogs have even MORE float than the old ones, so I might give them a try again.

[RoadRaven]

Just the short time I did use them was enough to prove to me that, if you can get the right ones for you, they are actually safer than toeclips. I mean, if you really tighten down the strap on a toeclip, it's harder to get out of than a clipless pedal, at least the Frogs.

Heck yes, I NEVER used the straps on a toe-cage thing... too dayam scarey!

[Prairiedog]

Thank you everyone for all your advice and sharing experiences. I did ask my bike shop if I could try clipless on their trainer so will probably do that sometime to see if I'm missing out on something here.

[Bike Goddess]

Bad JuJu & PrairieDog

I have BAD knees so when I first tried clipless at the bike shop it was pretty funny. Didn't matter how they adjusted the cleats, I could not get my foot out. Just not strong enough.

So, one of the guys who was helping out with this whole process suggested we try Look type pedals. You can get a floating cleat for these which is what they put on my shoes. Voila! I could easily clip in and out! I've been riding clipless for almost 3 years now and wouldn't be without them!

So, that said, try Look or "Look alikes"!!!!!! (Be sure to do it on a trainer inside the shop with someone standing by to adjust the tension)

[Prairiedog]

Thanks for the tip, Nancy. I will try clipless...but geez, I just got new bike shoes.

[KnottedYet]

PrairieDog:
Look at the sole of your new bike shoes. At the ball of your foot, is there a long hexagonal kind of pattern, maybe an outline? (about the size of half a dollar bill) Your bike shop guys can use a knife to cut along that hexagon/rectangle/whatever, and peel off that piece of sole. Under that piece are recievers for cleat-screws. You don't need to buy another pair of shoes for cleats.

[KnottedYet]

Ok, I just looked at mine again, and actually that removable bit is the size of 1/4 a dollar bill. My Specialized Taho's also have two ridges of sole material to the left and right of that bit, so my cleats don't touch the ground much when I walk.