Riding with clips

I use spds, and clips, either normal shoes or proper cleated shoes, which are ace. I'm +1 for what skoota says.

My tip for clips:
Get your left foot into the pedal at low speed, don't razz away the moment you start away. The pedal swings nicely to meet your foot first time the crank revolves, once you get into the habit. Using steel toeclip rather than light ones helps.

Except that you end up having to readjust the straps for each shoe, IME.

Yeah, cause readjusting a strap (which I don't even have to do - strangely it seems all my shoes are the same size! what are the chances?!) is much harder than DRILLING HOLES IN ALL OF YOUR SHOES AND ATTACHING CLEATS TO THEM. What was I thinking?!...

Meh. Clips and straps, technology has moved on. Come and join the phuture*

*I admit clips and straps look better on trad frames/builds

Meh. Clips and straps, technology has moved on. Come and join the phuture*

*I admit clips and straps look better on trad frames/builds

On a day to day basis I don't really worry about the more efficient power transfer that clipless pedals would give me. It certainly doesn't make enough difference to make it worth carrying around a spare pair of shoes everywhere.

^Exactly

In case no one's mentioned it yet: The easiest way to clip in is to wait for the upstoke on the pedal and gently flip the pedal over with the ball of your foot on the little tooth which usually sticks out the rear underside of the pedal. In one smooth movement you should end up with your foot in the clip. If you get the initial position of your foot on the tooth spot on then you'll end up right in the clip ready to pedal without extra movement

it sounds to me like you are leaving your straps set to one size.

your supposed to tighten or undo the strap every time you get in out or out of the pedal.

In racing and the like yeah.

but with everyday riding, I tend to leave it as it is, easy enough to slide my feet in, but tight enough to have some sort of retention.

no you should always undo them. easier to get in/out, proper fit. stop being a bed wetter and use them proper.

Are there any clips/straps that don't eventually ruin shoes? I prefere having at least one bike without clipless pedals but I also prefere having shoes without the leather all scuffed off the toes!

Have thought about lining the inside of the plastic with a fabric but never got around to it.

Are there any clips/straps that don't eventually ruin shoes? I prefere having at least one bike without clipless pedals but I also prefere having shoes without the leather all scuffed off the toes!

Have thought about lining the inside of the plastic with a fabric but never got around to it.

These: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mks/steel-toe-clips-with-leather-ec023223

Ahhh! I think I've seen those before but though they were a DIY job. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to do a DIY job something similar either. Must give it a go before I wreck another pair of shoes.

i dont think the leather last very long on those clips. not worth it IMO.

i think plastic clips are probably less damaging than metal, but it depends what kind of shoes your are using. i dont think theres much you can do really, other than use leather straps with a wide section under the clasp. i often use pliers to slightly bend the clips into shape.

http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Pedals,%20Clips%20&%20Straps_files/100_04301-1.jpg

DIY toe clip leathers from freshtripe. Only 5.5£

no you should always undo them. easier to get in/out, proper fit. stop being a bed wetter and use them proper.

What, at every set of traffic lights?

i think plastic clips are probably less damaging than metal, but it depends what kind of shoes your are using. i dont think theres much you can do really, other than use leather straps with a wide section under the clasp. i often use pliers to slightly bend the clips into shape.

Defintely, not only the plastic does less damage but are a lots more comfortable (especially the double strap one).

I have those, would choose them over any of the NJS in the world.

Look Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals - anyone else using them and having problems unclipping?

I've got SPD's on my fixed bike and Look Keo Carbon pedals bought new 2 years ago on my geared bike and have never had an issue unclipping from either including at the last second and when completely stationary. I just bought another geared bike and got a set of new Keo 2 pedals. Took the bike out for my first decent ride over the weekend and managed to fail to unclip twice, both times ending up on my side in the road.
My gut feeling is that they need a bit more of a twist to unclip than the other pedals.
The pedal tension is as they came out of the box so presumably at minimum.
Thoughts?

My gut feeling is that they need a bit more of a twist to unclip than the other pedals.

The pedal tension is as they came out of the box so presumably at minimum.

First thought is that maybe not this ^ ?

road pedals in general keep you more firmly clipped in than mtb pedals.
I read the paper that came with my keo2max and they do indeed come shipped with minimum tension.
just HTFU and practise a bit.