SPUD grumps

[orange71]

toeclips=devil's spawn :shock:

I had far more incidents with them than spd's - you can never get out of them, unless they're so loose that they serve no useful purpose anyway.

 

[ekiborter]

I never ride without spds and can only liken doing so to riding a bike without being able to grip the bars...... by that I mean imagine riding your bike only able to rest your hands on the bar and not having fingers to grip it. Damn scary! that is a little like how I feel about riding without spds. crank bros egg beaters to be more precise.

 

[Dead Rats]

toeclips=devil's spawn :shock:

I had far more incidents with them than spd's - you can never get out of them, unless they're so loose that they serve no useful purpose anyway.

I find toe-clips do keep your foot in the right place if they're the right size for your booth, and stop you slipping off the pedals... but I agree that, in order to get any climbing advantage, you have to do 'em up so tight that they're a bugger to get out of. I use still toe-clips on road (though I used to use them for MTB in my yoot) and DMR or Wellgo flat pedals off road - with skate shoes or similar... I think nerves and my dicky knee prevented any lasting success with SPDs and I gave two sets of them away in the last year or so.

Anyone here use Look cleats? My lass is slowly moving over to them for road use after using them on the local velodrome. The pedals weigh a blo*dy ton tho!

 

[EarlofBarnet]

I can't ride in any other than Spds

Me neither. Just don't feel like my feet are secure enough with flats on. The only time I use flats is when riding a bit of street.

 

[Nick C]

I've ripped my body up with toeclips done up nice and tight, roadie style...I was on a road bike though, swore I'd never go back to those.

I bought a pair of 5:10 shoes a few weeks back and have had no foot slippage since. In fact even though I sport lovely battle scars on my shins from countless past pedal impacts, it was actually a very rare occurrence.

I know I'm in the minority, but that's fine by me. I like to think of it as being a little bit special.

 

[Pickle]

Ditto No spd's no riding.

They take a bit of getting used to but persevere. Slacken off the spring tension a bit to make engaging easier while your feet get used to finding the pedal.

x2.

When I started SPuDing, zero tightness. As you get used to being connected to the bike, tighten them a little.

You will get used to them quickly, and also find the assist you with the bike control (bunny hops etc).

Now I ride with them set to maximum tightness and the unclip heel twist movement comes naturally.

 

[Nick C]

I lived and rode my mountain bike daily in the Lake District for around 5 years from 1995 to 2000, I think I rode on SPDs for around the first year and then switched to flat pedals and never looked back. My recent trip in the SPDs reminded me why.

And as for helping with bunny hops, clearly you've never seen the VHS videos whith Hans Rey? For some reason he called his dominant foot his 'chocolate foot', or that's what it sounded like!!?? I wonder if that was the video that also had the ape riding the bike and roller skating? I remember he was called Mr Chips! :shock:

 

[xizang]

I've tried spd's a few times and always go back to flats. For the first ride or 2 it does indeed feel better but then my knees start to hurt.
I've bought a pair of AM40's (with the XC insert fitted) to use with my Crank Bros 50/50XX's (on 1 bike) and Shimano MX30's (on the other).
VERY grippy with both pedals, no slipping at all.
I'll stick with flats.

 

[Dr S]

I've always hated SPDs. Tried them in the early 90s and took an instant dislike. Tried them a few times in the last few tears but cannot see any advantage at all. Climbing you say? My legs and lungs are the weakest link so no gain there.
Good flats and soft skate shoes for me.

 

[Andy R]

I've never ridden without them (apart from when I was a kid, of course) so I suppose that I never really think about it.

Although I did consider getting some flats last winter because SPD's were a pain in the snow.