After cycling for a few years, the pressure to go clipless can be intense. Sure it’s easy for the salesperson at the shop to say that clipless pedals are affordable and efficient, or that cycling shoes are comfortable and sometimes even practical. You’re already aware of the potential energy conservation and exercising benefits.
But it’s like losing your training wheels all over again, right? For some of us, we put quite an effort just getting suited up to ride to work -- and now we should buy new shoes and new pedals?
Plus, we have to get used to our feet being physically locked to the bike. The first few times I rode clipless pedals on my Fuji Touring, I was pretty sure I would fall. I imagined myself rolling up to the stop sign at the first intersection on my route, and subsequently crashing down like a tree hit by lightning.
The funny thing is that I haven’t fallen yet. Not to say that you won’t fall on your first ride, but a successful maiden voyage is totally possible. Even for the new girl who just learned about gears, clipless cycling is doable.
What might not seem so doable is buying the parts and accessories you need for clipless cycling. With so many brands selling so many models for different uses, a lady can get overwhelmed. This month, I’d like to lend some advice to any curious cyclists looking to fulfill the ultimate New Year’s resolution: bike more.
First, you should get to know your bike. Does she ride mainly on the roads? If so, you might want to look into some light, comfortable road shoes that will make your ride to Valley Forge in the dead of winter a little more fun. Does your bike like to wander off the beaten path and into the mud and snow? Then I bet she will appreciate some durable pedals. Maybe your bike is a stationary one in a spinning class. She can go clipless, too. Even if your bike is a bit indecisive about where or when she likes to ride, there is a clipless option out there.
The standard road pedals are one-sided – meaning that you can only engage the pedal with your shoe on one side – and they provide a wide base for shoes to rest on. Look created the first pedal of this kind in 1984. Shimano, as well as other manufacturers, have followed suit to produce similar models.
Pros to this type of pedal include light-weight material and quick engagement. However, you can’t really walk on them so if you plan going off-road at all, road pedals are not optimal. Furthermore, both road pedals and shoes tend to cost more than other types.
The second major clipless option offered at most shops is the mountain bike pedal. These models have a smaller platform for the shoe to rest and are two-sided, meaning they can be engaged on either side. This makes for a more versatile pedal because it accommodates riding on rougher terrain. Also, the sole of mountain shoes resemble soccer cleats, so trudging through mud isn’t so bad. These pedals tend to be easier to use for the beginner. You probably see these models in your spinning class.
Road and mountain pedals are the two main types I’ll discuss here, although there are some varieties in between that fit certain niches. For example, Shimano manufactures a clipless pedal that has a flat platform on one side, so the rider can run out the door in her boots rather than take the time to swap shoes for a short errand.
As mentioned, there are cycling shoes specific to road and mountain pedal systems. Additionally, there are cleats – bolted onto the bottom of your cycling shoe – that are specific to each pedal. Consequently, you can’t use a mountain cleat on a road shoe, or a road cleat on a mountain shoe.
To complicate the issue even more, for road riders anyway, there are different cleat options for road shoes. Maybe you’ve noticed certain cleats advertising “float” on their packaging. Float basically indicates the amount of foot movement the rider has while clipped in. So no float means no movement, which can be bad for your knees. Thus, a little float can be nice while riding to give yourself some room to move. Most road pedals provide some degree of float, unless otherwise noted.
Similar to bike models, shoes also fall on a hierarchy when it comes to price and use. For example, a rider can buy a pair of shoes and pedals for less than $150 if she doesn’t want to invest too much in a feature she might not like. However, she could also splurge on shoes and pedals for well over $400.
Usually, when you pay more for pedals and shoes, you’re investing in light-weight technology and efficiency. For example, Sidi manufactures a triathlon shoe with a carbon sole and only two velcro straps. This way, the shoe won’t weigh the rider down, and it takes less than two seconds to put on or pull off.
But that doesn’t mean that you’re not getting quality equipment when you go for the $150 deal. Your shoes will still be comfortable, and your pedals – if installed correctly by a mechanic – will function.
As a cyclist, I fall into the commuter/touring category. So I invested in some low-end-but-durable mountain shoes. My touring bike is equipped with the SPD system. This past August, I completed a 550-mile tour across the northeast with this set up, and it didn’t fail me once. I went from toe cages to clipless in a matter of five minutes spent going up and down my block. And I am by no means a big shot biker. So, truthfully, if I can do it, so can you.
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