Toe clip or spd??

[vik]

Hello,

After a few years riding in spd's and never feeling completely safe (i only actually fell off a couple of times), i went touring in the summer wearing trainers (yes shock horror!) and using my one sides spd's (normal pedal other side) as didn't want to buy new pedals. Felt much happier and safer, particularly with heavy load and going up hills. Haven't put spd's back. The speed i ride i don' t think they make any difference, and as for "pulling on the up stroke", not sure i ever really did that anyway..

Jane

I used to be a SPD devotee and then started riding in street shoes and BMX platforms.  Now almost all my bikes are platforms and I just wear regular shoes.  I've never felt at any disadvantage on the bike and have a great advantage as soon as I get off and I'm wearing runners!

I find my bikes' utility and enjoyment is inversely proportional to the amount of specialist bike gear I need to wear when riding.

As a note I also use platforms and running shoes on my downhill MTB....so far I've never come off without meaning to.

[kwkirby01]

Neither! I used SPD pedals for around six years. I was very pleased with them, especially when using the multi-release cleats (which as others have suggested are very easy to get out of).

However, I found the leisure style (and hence not so stiff) SPD cycling shoes gave me a pain in the ball of my foot. I also disliked having to wear special shoes whenever I went cycling.

I've since changed to BMX style platform pedals (the ones with short pegs) which I use with regular "trail" style shoes (Merrill in my case). I can't say that I have noticed much difference in efficiency of pedalling. My feet are not quite as securely planted on the pedals as with SPD, but given I seldom cycle out of the saddle, this isn't really a problem. I like having one pair of outdoor shoes for all activities and not having to wear special shoes for short cycling trips.

Kevin

[Paulson]

I had some spd's on my old road bike, and similarly, I never felt completely safe.  I had at least one nasty fall, usually at low speeds. Indeed, I ended up taking my foot out the clip about 100yds from a junction....until one day I decided enough is enough - I bought some MKS pedals, stainless toeclips and leather straps, and have never looked back.  I wear a pair of Quoc Pham flat-soled cycling shoes.

[rafiki]

Last year, after cycling with toe clips for 16 years, I tried SPDs but soon went back to toe clips after several falls. Yesterday, offroad in a forest, I fell off my Sterling at low speed! Couldn't get my feet out of the toe clips quick enough after coming to an abrupt halt in a deep bed of pine needles. At least it was a soft landing

[Wanderer]

I got a pair of the first SPD pedals when they first came out.  I thought they were fantastic.  I added the clip on reflector things, not for the reflectors, but because they gave you a plain platform on one side of the pedal.  They did a few things: allowed you to ride with ordinary shoes, allowed you to flip the pedals over to the platform side when you didn't want to be clipped in, and made the pedals be always level in the same position so you could clip straight in when you did want to be clipped in.

A more hard wearing, and more positively attached, alternative available these days is Winwood Decksters.  They do add quite a bit of weight though.

I started off with the release tension fairly low, but soon got confident enough with them to adjust it to higher tension.

I'm getting a Raven Tour in a couple of weeks, and yes: it'll have SPD pedals.

[Yehuwdiy]

While I've found SPD's to be more efficient, this is not the main reason I like them. The 'no hand' aspect s what sold me...mind you I always used to ride with clips and straps, never just clips.

(Warning: long winded but relevant point coming)

Funnily enough when I bought my first pair of cycling shoes I went for the MTB Shimano line as I wanted to be able to walk easily when commuting. The pair I bought had an old set of Cannondale SPD clips installed. Getting in and out of my M324's was instinctive and flawless from the first ride. I then acquired a pair of Shimano road shoes with Shimano SPD clips. These locked in far more tightly and had no 'float' like the Cannondale SPDs. After nearly falling several times due to finding it hard to unclip I gave them away.

Just my 2c worth

Yehuwdiy

[Wanderer]

Well, I did puts SPDs on my RT (M980s), and Winwood Decksters, and the combination is perfect for me.

[doug]

I like my SPDs a lot and get on fine but like most other cyclists I've forgotten and fallen off.  Just the once.

I have two bikes, one with and one without.  The issue for me is remembering which bike I'm on!  It reminds me of the time when I used to have an automatic car (which I really liked) and my wife had a manual.  Very occasionally I drove her car, frequently I'd brake towards the end of our road and become surprised when it would start to shudder and stall.  Then I'd remember.  So I do wonder whether it would make sense to have SPDs on both bikes one day.

Anyone else had this difficulty in mentally swapping from bike to bike and back again?

[Danneaux]

Old thread but still evergreen, so I'll put in my two cents...

I have always used toe clips and straps and continue to do so, largely because I've invested in SunTour Superbe/Superbe Pro pedals for each of my bicycles, and they have yet to wear out!  They use a well-shielded combination of deep-groove Conrad cartridge bearings and roller bearings and they just go and on.  The one pair of XC Pro variants even have the WTB-licensed GreaseGuard injection system that pushes out contaminants as fresh grease is injected; ideal for really poor conditions.  Between the tandem and the singles, I'd have to rebuy a number of pedals, so I plan to with these till they die.

Decades ago, I managed to buy out the remaining stock of old size 45 Detto Pietro Article 74 1- and 2-bolt cleated cycling shoes (leather with nylon soles and cleats) from a failed bike shop and they are a good match for the pedals, so I should be set for awhile.  The first pair lasted for 100,000 miles before I reglued the toes and heels to the soles and delegated them exclusively for use on muddy/rainy day rides.  I carry a spare set of shoes for walking and off-bike use while on-tour (a pair of nylon mesh Merrell Breeze clogs I can kick on and off with no hands needed when I crawl in and out of my tent while cyclo-camping).

I really have nothing to compare my present setup to; they have always worked well for me.  That said, I'd sure be willing to try a set of clipless pedals and shoes if I could find a set in leather to fit my narrow feet.  I can see dedicating my expedition bike (the Sherpa) to a clipless setup while keeping all the others as quill-and-clips-and-straps.

Are there any clipless pedals -- I think I'm beginning to prefer the SPD format for walkability -- that have shielded cartridge bearings and similar longevity to my SunTour Superbe/XC Pro quill pedals?  Any good leather shoes you might recommend for SPD use?  Thanks in advance!

Best to all,

Dan.

[JimK]

I have wide feet. I remember back in the 1970s when I had a racing bike and would go out occasionally with some racing groups. I had a pair of those skinny leather Italian racing shoes with the cleats on the bottoms. They really were't comfortable! I still have the leather toe straps - they're on my Carradice SuperC saddlebag, for tying down a wet jacket.

I use Time ATAC pedals now. I don't know how durable they are - mine have lasted maybe ten years, but I haven't pushed them hard at all. My favorite shoes are "Shimano MT52 Mountain Shoes". They've got a good amount of room at the toes - maybe too much if you have narrow feet!

[Danneaux]

Thanks for the data points, Jim.  Darn, I liked your Time ATACs, but my 5A-width feet don't if the shoes that go with 'em are wide.  When asked if I have narrow feet I reply, "Yes, I ski!".  Somewhere between us is a pair of average-width feet...

Best,

Dan.

[JimK]

The ATAC pedals take cleats that fit into SPD shoes. So you can use any SPD shoe that you like.

For the colder weather I have a nice pair of Lake brand shoes.  Hmm, I don't see the same shoe anymore on their website. They have one cycling boot that's even more seriously insulated.

[in4]

Having ridden without toe clips or spds for years I thought I might hedge my bets thus: I bought a pair of Shimano MT 32' shoes and a pair of Shimano A520 double-sided pedals. I was very skeptical about using spds as the thought of an unceremonious traverse through 90 degrees to the tarmac was strangely unappealing! I set the pedals to their loosest setting, clipped my shoes in and off I went. Only for a three hour ride that was mostly on tarmac. My initial thoughts are that I like the spds a lot. They do seem efficient; it is quite reassuring that your feet stay put and don't move around and getting in and out of the pedals is easy with a quick flick on the ankle ( sounds like a cue for a song!) For day rides and perhaps longer I'd give them a hearty thumbs-up.

My immediate doubts thus far: For off-road riding I think I'd prefer to have my 'twitch muscle' reactions unencumbered. The thought of slipping in mud and not being able to instantly react remains a concern for me. In those circumstances I think I'd prefer to ride on flats with a pair of trainers on. I imagine too that on a long tour I'd prefer the flexibility  that the afore mentioned combination offers. All IMHO of course


PS With regard to flats I rather like the look of these: http://www.ergon-bike.com/gb/en/eurobike2011-pc2

[Danneaux]

Speedplay maintain a nice online museum of historic pedal designs (and has at times offered a traveling exhibit at bike shows here in the States as well).

See:

Speedplay Pedal History Museum Landing Page
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.intro

Quill/Platform Pedal Gallery
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.quill

Clipless Road Pedal Gallery
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.clipless

MTB-specific Clipless Pedal Gallery
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.mtb

Toe Clips, Toe Straps, and Cleats Gallery
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.mtb

Bicycle Pedal Timeline
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.history

Fair warning:  This site is a time sink; I've spent way too much time there, looking at everything from the oldest spindle and spool designs to the latest in clipless.  I wish there was more detail and some technical specs included, but it is still an entertaining effort and a great series of galleries.

Best,

Dan.

[greywolf]

I used clips for years, changed to SPD's and was perfectly happy until I rode a long event (200km) with one cleat slightly out position. The result was terrible pain in my (already weak) knee. Following that I tried the Crank Eggbeater style, which allows much more float and that seems to help with my knee problems. These seem to be working well (three years now), and I have them on both of my road bikes and my MTB. When we get rain down under, it forms really tenaceous goo with our clay soils and that clogs most clip-less styles, but the simple wire system of the Cranks Bros things seems to be unaffected.
Over the years, I have suffered some terrible falls, on and off-road, but find that all clipless styles seem to release you to be free of being tangled up in the bike, which is more than I can say about clips and tight straps.
Regards from Australia,
Greywolf