clipless pedals....talk to me

[el_oso]

So I want to start commuting on my non-motorised bicycle. It's on the longer side of a commute 25k each way and I'd like to make it as easy as possible. I've heard that clipless pedals can be a big upgrade but am completely clueless as to what to get.

The bike is a 1980's peugeot road racer, so high end stuff would be a waste I feel, just looking at something to get the job done. Where do I start?
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Most of the stuff is pretty good. I had Shimano stuff. Just make sure it's set up correctly so you avoid any knee/hip issues.

I had these:

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-r540-spd-sl-road-pedals/rp-prod5369?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CNqH1raFhL4CFZShtAodxk8Arw&gclsrc=aw.ds
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[G]

I do have some, but don't actually find it makes a massive difference. Prefer to be able to use normal foot wear (aka, my army boots).

My commute at the moment is way shorter (2 miles), but I've done those sorts of distances at weekends doing shopping etc and still pretty much as happy with normal foot wear.

That is a good distance, however - much as I like to both get exercise, earn cake AND get utilitarian money saving transport, I suspect that would start to irk me.

[Ste]

The SPD pedals and shoes make pedalling easier and moar efficient. On road they're dead easy.

G, you've got the crank bros egg beater ones haven't you? Shimano ones I've found to have a much nicer 'feel' to them engaging and disengaging.

[el_oso]

I don't plan on doing this commute daily, maybe once or twice a week. I hate doing cardio in the gym and would rather double my commute time by riding my pedal bike instead of the motorbike.

What about shoes? Do all clipless pedals have the same clip in system or are the universal?
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[G]

[Glen]

A set of Shimano M520 spds will set you back 16 quid-ish. They're double sided so easy to clip in and out of at junctions and traffic lights. SPD cleats are also generally recessed on the bottom of the sole so a touch easier if you're off the bike and walking into the office

[defblade]

I have pedals that you can use either way on my bikes, like these for example

So you buy a pair of shoes/boots wih the cleats on (I like the off-roady style ones, as the cleat is recessed and you can walk like a normal person in them) and use them when you want to, but if you just want to jump on in trainers, no probs.

The main advantages of cleats: they keep your foot in the right position on the pedal and they allow you to use the up-stroke for power, too.
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[G]

[cagiva gezzer]

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/sunday-4th-may/product-detail/ps/p/cycling-shoes-3/

+

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-m520-clipless-spd-mtb-pedals/rp-prod3759

Or

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-m424-clipless-spd-mtb-pedals/rp-prod7808

If you want more support, easier riding when you haven't got SPD shoes on.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[bamt]

Ignoring brands, be aware that there are two main types of clipless systems - road and MTB. Road systems are really designed for racing; they have a three hole fixing onto the shoe, and the cleats stand proud of the shoe so you'll have trouble walking in them (you can get covers for the cleats, but it's still not easy). You really aren't intended to wear them off the bike.

The MTB systems, which have a two hole fixing to the shoe, are used by tourers too, not just off road riders. The cleats are recessed into a hole in the sole, meaning you can safely walk in them. You can get all sorts of shoes for these cleats - I have sandals, carbon soled racing shoes and Vibram soled Goretex walking boots.

I only use MTB style pedals on all my bikes, high end road or MTB, as it means I can wear any shoe, boot or sandal with any bike and I can always walk around wherever I've ridden to - without even looking like a cyclist.

My personal preference is the Time ATAC system - it has more "float" than Shimano (allows your feet to turn slightly on the pedals) so can be kinder to your knees if not set up perfectly, and off road can clear mud better.

[Ste]

[t121anf]

[defblade]

[defblade]

[chris-red]

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/token-track-flat-pedals-w-toe-clips/rp-prod39779?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CPPi_u21hb4CFWTlwgodlkkA1g&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use something like this on my old racer, almost as good as my cleets with none of the faff.
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[Baffler186]

I got Shimano SPDs and mountain bike-style shoes (even though they look like road cycling shoes). Shoes were the cheapest I could find (£40 new) and they are the most comfortable footwear I've ever had! CLipping in and out is easy once you get used to it.

Apparently road shoes are much harder to walk in if that's an issue.
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[weasley]

I have Shimano SPDs and MTB shoes (high level ones that look very MTBey). The pedals are two-sided so can clip in either side, which works nicely if you only wear the clip-in shoes, but I occasionally like to just grab the bike and nip off somewhere in whatever footwear I have on, or even if I am in the right shoes I like to clip-out for gnarly technical stuff so I can dab a foot easily. Hence I clip a platform on one side of each pedal, so each pedal is clip-in one side and regular platform the other. It makes clipping in a little less easy, since you have to orientate the pedal to get in, but I prefer the flexibility.
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[el_oso]

well balls to that. Got some SPD's. Completely overlooked the bike is retro French and takes it's own non standard everything. In the meantime I put the SPD's on the NS to get used to clipping in and out. Only fell off the once. Thought about concentrating clipping out with the right foot first. Clipped out successfully but was concentrating too much on un-clipping I forgot to shift my weight to the right and fell on the left.

Time to ditch the retro bike and get something newer. Will be going used and upgrading when I need to. Queue, new thread for used road bikes on ebay
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[The999Kid]

- thread hijack - apologies OP

Been looking at a set of cleats for my road bike (carerra virtuoso) and keep seeing different colours thrown into the mix... Could anyone shed some light onto this? Purely aesthetic or is there a meaning to it?
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[Rigga]

[Seb]

As far as Shimano goes, the colour indicates the amount of 'float' aka how much motion the cleat allows in your foot before you hit the stops.

If you've got SPD SL style pedals, do yourself a favour and stick to the 6 degree yellow cleats. Blues and particularly reds need a proper bike fit otherwise they will do you more harm than good.

I went from comfortably doing 50miles of moorland hills to having to stop after barely 5 miles of flat time trailing (due to massive ligament pain in my knee) due to an incorrectly positioned cleat. Pay attention to how you set them up and if you experience pain outside of typical soreness don't automatically assume it's best to suck it up and cycle on through it.
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