Clipless pedals: Frogs vs. SPDs

[tpb]

The Wellgo look like strictly "regular shoes" pedals. Is this right?

I'd like to be able to either clip or not with the same pedal. I'm trying to outfit my commuter bike. When I'm commuting to work (16 miles), I want to clip. When I'm running out to do errands (1-2 miles), I want to be able to wear whatever shoes I happen to have on.

Thanks!
tpb

[sundial]

The Wellgo look like strictly "regular shoes" pedals. Is this right?

I have used my mtb shoes with it. I primarily wear these so I can hike.

[dachshund]

With Speedplay X pedals you basically line your foot to the pedal and step down. I do it so intuitively that I don't even think about it or feel for the pedal.

If it's to hard to clip in check to see if you have dirt between the spring and the plastic edge. Screws that are too tight can also cause clipping in problems. Finally, be sure to lube with white lightning or other lubes recommended by Speedplay, especially when new.

Thanks, I have checked my cleats. The "debris" is in my head, not in the cleat. I can't accurately place my foot in the right spot every time. When I put my foot in the right spot, it clicks in fine. I love the speedplays because they're so simple. I guess I'll put them back on and practice practice.

[beccaB]

I am also new to clipping-in. I currently have some low-end Shimano pedals where both sides can be used for clipping in or riding with regular shoes. I'm having issues with knee pain, so I'm interested in alternatives. What would you recommend if I want to have the choice of using my bike shoes with cleats or regular shoes? The Frogs that I've looked at seem to be strictly for clipping in.

Thanks.
tb

I'm having some knee "tenderness" Don't want to call it pain exactly, that would admit that I'm "old" and or falling apart because I'm already in physical therapy for torn rotator cuff.
That's why I'm kinda thinkin' about new pedals. I don't think it's the twisting out of the pedal that's bothering me though. I think it's the old runners knee acting up with the increased distance and all those revolutions=torque.
I'm also using low end shimano pedals that I can use with cleats on one side and regular shoes on the other.
Would it help to try a different Pedal? The folks at Terry said it might help to raise the seat a little, and the PT says to do stretching exercises for the gastroc and hamstrings.

[makbike]

I currently am using SPD pedals and I love them but evidently the new set does not like my ankle. The set I have on my old bike has a lot of float and my foot/ankle is able to move as it wished. When I ride my new bike with a better set of SPD pedals I develop tendinitis in my right ankle - no enough float. My bike fitter recommended I locate an "old style" Look pedal or Shimano SPD-SL Pd-540's. I have some reservation about these pedals (I"ll admit I love my SPD's but he can't put the shims in that I require hence the Look/shimano suggestions). After reading what has been posted here I'm curious, can shims be used with the cleats required for Frogs?

[KatyLady]

I'm ready to go clipless.

My shoes are SPD compatible with a recessed cleat, my preference because we like to get off and walk or enter a place to eat.

I've read a lot of raves here for Frogs, but when I mentioned that at the LBS all the guys pushed SPDs. No doubt they carry them there and not the frogs.

I want easy in, easy out, easy to maintain, and they must look good on my little black bike. We ride in traffic so I need to be able to easily disengage without much thought and with a lot of ease.

So why do so many of you like Frogs so much?

Glad to hear you are ready to try clipless. I fought DH for a long time before breaking down and making the move myself. At this point I wouldn't want to give up my clipless.

I started with Speedplay Zeros and was happy with them - but have converted to Frogs. As some others mentioned above, my primary reason for switching to Frogs was to make it easier to walk in the mtn shoes. Not just easier to walk, but easier to put my foot down when I stop. With the Zeros, I was sometimes afraid that the cleat would slide on the pavement rather than providing stable support for my foot. The Frogs also seem to release a little faster which can be important in traffic.

Bottomline - Frogs are both comfortable and easy in/out. They get my vote.

[Chicken Little]

Man, I love my eggbeaters...

[Kathi]

I currently am using SPD pedals and I love them but evidently the new set does not like my ankle. The set I have on my old bike has a lot of float and my foot/ankle is able to move as it wished. When I ride my new bike with a better set of SPD pedals I develop tendinitis in my right ankle - no enough float. My bike fitter recommended I locate an "old style" Look pedal or Shimano SPD-SL Pd-540's. I have some reservation about these pedals (I"ll admit I love my SPD's but he can't put the shims in that I require hence the Look/shimano suggestions). After reading what has been posted here I'm curious, can shims be used with the cleats required for Frogs?

If you're talking about these http://www.bikefit.com/ according to their website the answer is yes. I have these between my Sidi shoes and Speedplay X cleats. I was in my LBS today and the bike fitter said he would do it for me on my Frogs.

If you need shims for leg length discrepency the answer is yes.
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?f...me.merchandise

[Kathi]

I am also new to clipping-in. I currently have some low-end Shimano pedals where both sides can be used for clipping in or riding with regular shoes. I'm having issues with knee pain, so I'm interested in alternatives. What would you recommend if I want to have the choice of using my bike shoes with cleats or regular shoes? The Frogs that I've looked at seem to be strictly for clipping in.

Thanks.
tb

Speedplay has a platform pedal that clips over the road pedal. It's really nice because they allow the foot to "float" unlike many platform pedals that still lock your foot into a specific position.

http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?f...me.merchandise

[jackster]

I am new to clipless petals so the bike shop recommended the speedplay frog peddles because they are the easist to learn. I really like them and they were easy to learn to get in and out of.

[sundial]

...my primary reason for switching to Frogs was to make it easier to walk in the mtn shoes. Not just easier to walk, but easier to put my foot down when I stop. With the Zeros, I was sometimes afraid that the cleat would slide on the pavement rather than providing stable support for my foot. The Frogs also seem to release a little faster which can be important in traffic.

I won the Chinese Split award when I unclipped from the Zeros.

[mudmucker]

Be careful. Sometimes too much float isn't good.

I am going to be selling my Frog Speedplays.

I bought them in May. I was using Shimano spd's for years and once and a while I'd have a twinge in my left knee, not all that bad. I thought I'd try the Frogs. At first they were fine and my knee felt good. But for this season and when I first got the pedals I was commuting to work along a very flat route, (have to drive many miles to get to start point) and hadn't done much riding on them here where I live which is hillier.

I then did a couple of rides here and all hell broke loose using those pedals. The frogs have way too much float for me, and wreacked havoc with my knees, ankles, and achilles tendon all at the same time. I don't always sit hills - I also stand in the pedals and really swing that bike back and forth so that doesn't help either.

I had just about every ailment that Andy Pruitt lists as a possible cause for too much float, and I was off the bike for 7 days. Ankles, achilles, left side of knee, right side of knee, top, below, behind - it was ridiculous. At first I thought I had joint pain flare-up, something I've been trying to address. But this was different. It was tendons and muscles, not joints. It happened again when I got back on the bike. Ouch.

So instead of putting back on the spd's I decided to treat myself to my own birthday present. For 23 years always used mt shoes and never had a really good pair of road shoes. I just bought myself a pair of carbon road shoes with leather uppers. I just couldn't spend $350-$400 for Sidi's, but I found a beautiful pair of carbon shoes by Specialized for $225. They are so darn comfortable, so much more than the mt shoes. There's room for my feet to expand cause they swell, and the leather will stretch. I decided on a platform pedal for greater surface as I was getting hotfoot too, and went with Look Keo's. I've always been fine with clipping in and out so none of that is a problem. They have 4.5 d float and that seems to do the trick. They have another set of cleats that go up to 9 d but I don't think I need it.

Actually, the 2008 Look cleats have grippy things on them. I was walking on wood floors, cement floor, stairs, and concrete and wasn't slipping.

What a difference though with the carbon shoes! The pedaling efficiency I've experienced compared to the mt shoes and frogs are like night and day. My foot feels much more stable. I think this setup will do the trick. Boy, are good shoes important. The Specialized I have has a varus wedge and metatarsal button too.

[Yen]

Thanks everyone. I still have not yet decided which pedals to get, but today I put down a deposit on a pair of Sidi Dominator 5. I needed to replace my current pair of new MTB shoes because they were squeezing my right toes something aweful. I was warned to not try on Sidi (due to the price) but after the first 3 pair of other brand didn't feel right, I tried on the Sidis. There was no looking back. Once I found my size it was like a pair of slippers on my feet.

According to the LBS, they are compatible with any SPD-type pedal.

I'll wait until I actually have the shoes in hand before I start shopping for the pedals. I'll get those at a different LBS where they will put me on a trainer in the shoes and let me practice until I am comfortable, then ride in the street around the store.

[salsabike]

Yen, just fyi, I have had Frogs on my Sidi Dominators also, and am about to put Quattros on the Dominators. So those two types of cleats can also be used--you just have to carve a little off the bottom of the shoes, and the LBS can tell you how to do that.

[beccaB]

Be careful. Sometimes too much float isn't good.

I am going to be selling my Frog Speedplays.

I bought them in May. I was using Shimano spd's for years and once and a while I'd have a twinge in my left knee, not all that bad. I thought I'd try the Frogs. At first they were fine and my knee felt good. But for this season and when I first got the pedals I was commuting to work along a very flat route, (have to drive many miles to get to start point) and hadn't done much riding on them here where I live which is hillier.

I then did a couple of rides here and all hell broke loose using those pedals. The frogs have way too much float for me, and wreacked havoc with my knees, ankles, and achilles tendon all at the same time. I don't always sit hills - I also stand in the pedals and really swing that bike back and forth so that doesn't help either.

I had just about every ailment that Andy Pruitt lists as a possible cause for too much float, and I was off the bike for 7 days. Ankles, achilles, left side of knee, right side of knee, top, below, behind - it was ridiculous. At first I thought I had joint pain flare-up, something I've been trying to address. But this was different. It was tendons and muscles, not joints. It happened again when I got back on the bike. Ouch.

So instead of putting back on the spd's I decided to treat myself to my own birthday present. For 23 years always used mt shoes and never had a really good pair of road shoes. I just bought myself a pair of carbon road shoes with leather uppers. I just couldn't spend $350-$400 for Sidi's, but I found a beautiful pair of carbon shoes by Specialized for $225. They are so darn comfortable, so much more than the mt shoes. There's room for my feet to expand cause they swell, and the leather will stretch. I decided on a platform pedal for greater surface as I was getting hotfoot too, and went with Look Keo's. I've always been fine with clipping in and out so none of that is a problem. They have 4.5 d float and that seems to do the trick. They have another set of cleats that go up to 9 d but I don't think I need it.

Actually, the 2008 Look cleats have grippy things on them. I was walking on wood floors, cement floor, stairs, and concrete and wasn't slipping.

What a difference though with the carbon shoes! The pedaling efficiency I've experienced compared to the mt shoes and frogs are like night and day. My foot feels much more stable. I think this setup will do the trick. Boy, are good shoes important. The Specialized I have has a varus wedge and metatarsal button too.

Has the pain in your knee improved at all with the new shoes?