The value of exercise

Try it once and you will never look back, clipless pedals, either Look or Shimano (or others), make such a difference, even compared to the old toeclips and strap! Powerdistribution is much better, depending on less flex due to (amongst other things) the harder sole on the cycling shoes used. (Bad sentence)

You will feel like Armstrong (well may be not)

You feel locked in, not just in terms of getting power into the pedals but also in terms of balance and control. The stiffer shoe required is part of the package. My wife is utterly, utterly gizmo-phobic. She uses them and loves them. Believe me this IS proof.

I also reckon they are safer than toe clips. Get toe clip straps done up tight and getting out is really tricky, especially if you crash. Cleats are a knack, but they release predictably and reliably.

Lots of clipless systems BTW. Start with SPD's as cheap and simple. The merits of the more fancy (and expensive) alternatives are a subject of endless debate (rather like interconnects on HiFi fora).

Bruce

I now use Shimano shoes with conventional rat-trap pedals toe-clips and straps on my faster bikes and trike.

I keep looking at the clipless pedals but have imagined all sorts of problems adapting after 4 decades of toe-clips and straps.

Having so many bikes makes the choice even more difficult. The shoe plates that fit the clipless pedals look even more difficult to walk in than the old-fashioned but-thinner slotted plates.

Conventional pedals, toe clips and straps allow a bike to be easily ridden in almost any footwear if necessary.

Yes that's true, but you could use clipless pedals intended for mountainbike riding (some of the shoes are made to walk in) and get an adapter for the pedal when using normal shoes.

Thanks RiNo. I'll look into it.

You're most welcome and enjoy the upcoming rides.

Regards
Rickard

Being locked onto the pedal allows you to pedal in a more efficient style. You can pedal "in circles" pulling on the pedal to bring your foot from the 6 o'clock position back up to 12 o'clock instead of just stamping down on the pedal. You'll end up putting more power into each pedal revolution and go further with less effort. Clipless pedals enable you to do this in safety.

With a bit of practice, getting in and out of clipless pedals becomes second nature; you do it without thinking. It is far safer than being strapped into a toe clip and having to reach down to loosen the strap to get your foot out; imagine doing that in an emergency. With clipless a simple twist of the ankle and your foot is free.

With MTB pedals the cleat (the bit that attaches the shoe to the pedal) is recessed into the sole of the shoe so you can walk normally without the cleat scraping on the ground.

Try them and you won't go back to toe clips.

Mick,

I cycle a lot. My legs hurt. A lot. No one ever made an omelette without breaking eggs* but I second Reginald's cadence advice and would point you at what Sheldon Brown has to say about saddle height.

By the way, if you stick 'chaps' into Google Images, this happens.

C
*Excepting for those freeze dried packet omelettes

And you thought DIN/SNAICS were complicated.

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Thanks to all for the good advice.

Best,
Fred


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quote:

Not sure I understand the difference between "stroke" and "push." Also, how do I measure 80-90 rpm?

But you're basically advising to use stay in a lower "easier" gear and pedal a lot faster?

Got it in one, Fred. Its all about 'feel'. You'll just know.
BTW, to measure RPM easily, just count your pedal strokes for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, but for Heavens' sake DON'T BECOME OBSESSIVE!! Do it by 'feel'. You'll know when its 'right'. Dare I say 'PRaT? No, cycling is far less nerdy. 'Oh I dunno though' (© Kenneth Williams)

seems to do fairly well at 130 RPM, and if pedalling quickly is good enough for him* .........


Feel free to PM if necessary, glad to help.

Regards,

Reginald
* That's Chris Hoy, the Olympic 1000m champion, who has a power output that makes a NAP500 look like a faded AA battery

quote:

Originally posted by Nime:
I always did a track stand at the lights with my plated shoes strapped hard into the pedals... until my front wheel dropped into the slots of a badly placed drain and I fell slowly over sideways while deperately reaching (unsuccessfully) for the toe strap buckle.

..... in front of a schoolbus full of the very young ladies you were seeking to impress.. Yes, Nime. Been there, done it. A distinct blow to the male ego! Oh the frivolities of youth. No doubt one day they will fade.....

Reading this has been an eye-opener. I had my first bike when I was about five. Too big for me, so I would grow into it. Since then I have worn out countless tyres, and a three speed Elswick, a touring Dawes, and most recently an Eagle that I rebuilt from ground up about six years ago.

I never once have worn a helmet, though frequently a cap. Also I never considered cadense (in the non-musical, cycling sense, of course), and I think my posting to this is not really relevant relevant, but for one day when a guy on his super deluxe machine, and who was obviuosly a serious cyclist overtook me on the way home from work. It apparently took him a miles determined work to overhaul me. I always went that speed. As fast as I can on a reasonably not too fast top gear. He complimented me on my style, and speed, and fitness, and then bombed off over the next hill! Only ever used three speeds, the top three, and considered more wasted on me. Should I change? Could I change? Not now, but a very interesting read for all that. The trouble is that drivers are getting less considerate, and now I am enjoying walking more, because of a couple of nasty moments. I don't think a helmet would have saved me if contact had been made!

To anyone trying to walk with me I am the source of despair. I learned to walk very fast even though I am only 5'6" when we used to keep several thousand sheep. Walking them, to find casualties or those stuck in a hedge, would have taken all day if I had not been virtually running, and so I simply have no idea how to walk slowly! Only one person I know enjoys that sort of velocity - my Norwegian Aunt, so we have been known to go on VERY long hikes in the mountain near Skurdalen, where there are some wonderful places near where the familly has many huts, or as the English would call them log cabins.

Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by Nime:
. I was once a happy twiddler and loved outclimbing anybody on long hills by just going up to 150rpm in low gears and staying there. It all seemed so effortless back then.

While agreeing with the idea of raising cadence as a good thing, I tried your quoted rate today and found it quite impossible. I'd like to know how Mr Parry gets on with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
While agreeing with the idea of raising cadence as a good thing, I tried your quoted rate today and found it quite impossible. I'd like to know how Mr Parry gets on with it.

I think Nime may have been exaggerating somewhat. Not even Mr Armstrong has a cadence that high. It's the sort of rate track sprinters achieve over a few hundred metres.

I mispent my youth pacing busses and lorries between cities 10,15 or 30 miles apart and then back again. I once paced behind several lorries from Bath to Plymouth (over 100 miles) without a break carrying camping gear. You learn to twiddle in your highest gear or you "fall off the back". Falling off the back adds another hour or more to get there instead of 20 minutes twiddling your heart out with screaming lungs.
I was also a keen hillclimber and easily out-revved everybody I knew by a large factor. I could pedal that fast for hours because I was tallish and skinny. Sprinters are fighting heavy muscle mass when they pedal fast. The inertia can only be overcome by more power. Which is obviously limited by natural human capacity. Even at 45 I liked to do the Llanberis Pass before morning coffee. Though no longer at 150rpm.