Newbie with clipless pedals

[bikerchic]

I get very upset when people, especially those that work at an LBS, get this snobby attitude. I mean really, who cares what kind of pedal you have or what kind of seat you are using or how long you ride for...YOU are the one riding and all that matters is what you think! You don't ride for anyone else but yourself. Bikerchic, I would have told your bike builder to go shove it and then take my business elsewhere.

Emily

Na, I didn't take Jim's attitude as being snobby, one of those things which you probably had to be there to understand his attitude. I did make the choice to stick with my Shimano 747's and mtb shoes which I later found out why Jim suggested I switch to road shoes and pedals. Road shoes have a harder soul which helps you get more power per stroke, I'm glad I switched.

What I didn't understand at the time was that I could have kept my 747's and got road shoes and used my same cleats (std's) on the new shoes. I could have at least saved myself a couple of hundred dollars, sigh.
Hindsight is 20/20.....and all in all I'm happy with my Speedplay set up.

[I TRI]

I rode today for the first time with clip-in pedals ... it wasn't too bad - for me, getting the first foot in is easier, the 2nd foot is more difficult. Same with clipping out - the first foot out is easy but the 2nd is hard ...

Should I be trying to clip out the 2nd foot while I'm still rolling or wait til I'm stopped?

[jobob]

Apparently the [Eggbeater] cleats have a different pattern (2 bolt) that doesn't match the 3 holes on the Shimano shoes.

Sorry, but from my experience that's not correct.

I've had Eggbeater pedals for a few years now and I've used 2 different pairs of Shimano shoes with them, no problem. The 2 holes on the Eggbeater cleats fit fine in the SPD cleat pattern of the Shimano shoes. In fact, the Eggbeater specs specify they are compatible with the SPD / Shimano cleat pattern.

Did the guy at REI tell you you couldn't use Eggbeater cleats with Shimano shoes ???

For what it's worth, Eggbeater pedals are great. I've never had any problems clipping in or out with them.

Disclaimer: Both pair of my Shimano shoes are mountain shoes*, allthough as far as I know there is no difference in the SPD cleat pattern between Shimano's mountain and road shoes. But since I've never used the Shimano road shoes I could be mistaken.

*Guess that means I'm not a "self-respecting roadie". Gotta love those pretentious salespeople.

[Crankin]

You definitely can wait to unclip the second foot until you are stopped. There is no need to clip out both feet at lights, stop signs, etc. I only unclip both when i am done, or stopping for some other reason for an extended time period. This way, you are ready to push off again.

[dachshund]

Sorry, but from my experience that's not correct.

I've had Eggbeater pedals for a few years now and I've used 2 different pairs of Shimano shoes with them, no problem. The 2 holes on the Eggbeater cleats fit fine in the SPD cleat pattern of the Shimano shoes. In fact, the Eggbeater specs specify they are compatible with the SPD / Shimano cleat pattern.

Did the guy at REI tell you you couldn't use Eggbeater cleats with Shimano shoes ???

Oh this is good to hear! Thank you. Yes, that's what the REI guy said, but I didn't have my shoes with me at the time. I was going to go over there again because they have a sale on!

Update on the Shimano 105's, I can get out of them most of the time, but I still had several moments of coming up to an intersection and couldn't get out. This is not a wonderful feeling... I'll try loosening the adjustment.