Pedals for track

Are toeclips and straps no longer a viable option?

Have all riders here moved on from them for the track?

Nope... there were a few on toe clips and straps this weekend at Calshot.

It's down to a matter of choice. Some like them some don't.

I joke... I have found what I need at Outspoken Cycles and Rabble Cycles.

What size do you want, Ved? I've got a 52t TA (144, 1/8") you can have for a pint...

Are toeclips and straps no longer a viable option?

Have all riders here moved on from them for the track?

Nope, some of the top riders still use them, although I'm not sure which pedals.

Are toeclips and straps no longer a viable option?

Have all riders here moved on from them for the track?

Very few track riders have used clips and straps for the last 20 years, because clipless are better.....for most people.

Very few track riders have used clips and straps for the last 20 years, because clipless are better.....for most people.

you'll be surprised how many elite track riders are still on clips and straps. Here are a few:
Kazunari Watanbe - Track Cycling World Cup on Flickr - Photo Sharing!@@AMEPARAM@@http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2999338294_4446159325.jpg?v=0@@AMEPARAM@@2999338294@@AMEPARAM@@4446159325

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23913935@N07/2383888184/in/set-72157607893495207/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23913935@N07/3301164114/in/set-72157607893495207/

The preferred clip and strap pedal is the Shimano one with 2 lips on the front of the cleat. Lee uses these if I'm not mistaken.

What size do you want, Ved? I've got a 52t TA (144, 1/8") you can have for a pint...

Cazzo!

Thanks Joe, I need 130bcd. ;)

there's a well known problem in doing standing starts on SPD's - the shoe gets released when pulling up - Josie Heffernan knows all about it as she did that in the World Masters Pursuit first time around.

Me- I'm far more comfortable on clips and straps than anything else (its where I grew up...), yes, its another pair of shoes, but its a small price to pay for my confidence- unless I can't get the cleats any longer...

I don't have the problem on the road with Look or SPD's for flat out stuff, out of the saddle stuff is just so much more confident with clips & straps.

there's a well known problem in doing standing starts on SPD's - the shoe gets released when pulling up -

depends what pedals innit, you can get track 'pacific ones these days.

Track specific SPD? Don't fink so sonnybobjim.

Speedplay do a track pedal but it's just a higher release tension.
There's a new Speedplay adapter to use clips and straps.
You can get lockable Keywins.
SPD-SL mod for adding straps.

^ OMGthatswaatIsaidinnit.....!

you'll be surprised how many elite track riders are still on clips and straps. Here are a few:
Kazunari Watanbe - Track Cycling World Cup on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23913935@N07/2383888184/in/set-72157607893495207/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23913935@N07/3301164114/in/set-72157607893495207/

The preferred clip and strap pedal is the Shimano one with 2 lips on the front of the cleat. Lee uses these if I'm not mistaken.

You've managed to find one or two racers who use clips and straps, and it's true some top sprinters use them...interestingly GB sprint squad use SPD-R with one strap as a fail-safe.....but well over 80% of track racers from club level up to six day riders and top endurance and pursuit riders use clipless.

Questions re: SPD-R.

Just got some cleats for my spd-rs but no instructions.

only found some pictures on the google search which looked like the right way to assemble the cleats.

so I bolted them on and tried out the pedals...

right, the cleats are the fixed model but there's "float" definitely movement, it gets less as you wind up the tension on the pedal, but then you can't get the shoe out at all until you back the tension off a bit, then the side to side movement comes back.

They are straightforward enough to get in and out of, but on full tension you cannot release the shoe, not one bit, and I'm not going to risk ripping the bolts out the shoe.

Is this just how they are? or have I made a mistake somewhere?

I installed them like this: (if you are looking at the bottom of the shoe)

Yeah thats how mine look. You cannot get out of them on full tension. You have to smack the heel of your foot very hard with your hand.

I cannot comment on the float though as mine are the 6degree float variety

cheers Mike, well I guess I'll just have them set to not-quite-full then and deal with the float.

Full tension sounds scary.

they're terrible, they pull the cleat around on the shoe, regardless of how tightly you do them up (already stripped one of the bolts) the cleats don't seem to have anything that bites into the sole of the shoe..

on the easiest setting I can yank my foot out too easily without even twisting, on only a couple of notches down they are impossible to get out of, I can bang the heel but they still pull the cleat round. I think the pedals might be worn out, I'll give them back to wally next jumble.

You need to get some brand new Dura Ace ones.
Seriously though. On the looses binding, they are almost impossible to get out. I tightened them up and just could not get out of them so even on trak I just leave them on the loosest

they make you go fast and you will never pull your foot out, perfect for track!

This is why I don't like spd r. I found a tiny bit of 'float' with fixed cleats and the tension all the way up, which I really did not like.

I found getting out difficult, but OK, but getting in on full tension is a real pig.

My spd sl just feel more stable and secure (to me), and you get absolutely no float movement at all.

There is a little diagram of how to install the cleats printed on the inside of the cleat box, if the cleats came boxed.

Hi, next season will be my first on the track (herne hill) and i'm looking to swith to clipless, now i have always used clips and straps so know nothing about spd's. I have read the thread and there does not seem to be a definitive answer as to which are best. Basically what would you guys recommend as having the best and strongest retention? (i don't want to be flying off my pedals)

And eqaully what sort of shoes should i be looking for? one problem is i have size 13 feet, which will probably make finding shoes more difficult.

Thanks in advance

Any clipless pedal system should provide enough foot retention to be used on the track, but it's probably best to go for one which allows for tension adjustment just to be on the safe side.

The SPD-R are popular with hard core trackies but are hard to find. I've seen SPD-SL, Look and Time systems being used at HH. Any of these should be fine.

Any clipless pedal system should provide enough foot retention to be used on the track, but it's probably best to go for one which allows for tension adjustment just to be on the safe side.

The SPD-R are popular with hard core trackies but are hard to find. I've seen SPD-SL, Look and Time systems being used at HH. Any of these should be fine.

Thanks for that, the hard part will be finding shoes that fit :)

just found these in size 49 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shimano-Cycling-Road-Shoes-SPD-SL-R086-White-Black-49_W0QQitemZ380150943239QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET?hash=item5882c30e07

Any good?

I'd be wary of buying shoes by mail order, especially from ebay. You don't want to find that the shoes don't fit after trying them out on the bike and being unable to return them.

I don't think you'll struggle to find shoes that fit. Most of the major brands do larger sizes, i.e. Sidi, Northwave, Mavic, Specialized. Shop around at this time of year, as shops sell off 2009 stock, and you'll probably find a good deal.

Are the shoes going to be used exclusively on the track?

I'd be wary of buying shoes by mail order, especially from ebay. You don't want to find that the shoes don't fit after trying them out on the bike and being unable to return them.

I don't think you'll struggle to find shoes that fit. Most of the major brands do larger sizes, i.e. Sidi, Northwave, Mavic, Specialized. Shop around at this time of year, as shops sell off 2009 stock, and you'll probably find a good deal.

Are the shoes going to be used exclusively on the track?

Yes the shoes will be exclusively on track, i take your point on mailorder, specially since my feet are also very very wide, so definetly best to try them on first.

whats your opinion on these pedals, seems like the best of both worlds,
http://www.worldclasscycles.com/mks_exa_pedal.htm