Way back when you first tried spd's..

[jakem957]

It was a revelation. I'd got good at the art (now lost) of flicking up and getting into toe clips in long grass, deep mud and all sortsof obstructions during the overcrowded singletrack scrabbles of my early XC days. but to race on SPD! Amazing- could even clip in at bottom of stroke in deep watery mud (did clog a bit though). And got rid of that mad leaning over and yanking straps whilst sprinting off at the beginning of races disappear too. 525s lasted for ages and are still going as spares after 16 years hard service. Drilled 2 holes for grease ports in each one when i got them and works wonderfully. Thinking about it, why don't i do that to my ones now...

SPD feels like part of my body now and even downhilling feels wrong with out them. In general it feels like going running in welly boots ( and ones full of water at that) if i'm not clipped in. Long live the SPD!

 

[velomaniac]

MagD (sometimes seen on here) and I went into Edinburgh bikes back in the late 90's and bought some Shimano copy VP spd style pedals. He got on with them, I did not.

I had two spectacular crashes both lowside slides thank goodness when I couldn't bail out. Also of course the low speed topples and pain in the balls of my feet and my knees. I did try a different set of spd's and adjusted every parameter but still couldn't get on with them.

I'm now a confirmed flat pedal rider but I use really gnarly pedals and gnarly soled shoes when I ride off road. I seem to stay reasonably attached to the bike.