Tired of screwing up clipping-in at lights.

[Machoman121]

I"m tired of struggling to clip in at the lights - i have a Xpedo magnesium Look Keo compatible pedal - it's pretty light at 117grams each. But sometimes it's a struggle to get in - i read somewhere that I should try to clip in at 6 o'clock and not at 12o'clock. Even then sometimes it's butter smooth to go in and sometimes i scrape chunks out of the bottom of my very nice carbon sole shoe trying to clip in.

Question: Will something 2 sided like the speedplay help? Are speedplays the answers to easy clipping in at the lights?

[donncha]

Yes.

On our club rides, if someone cocks-up their clip-in away from the lights it's invariably a non-Speedplay user. It's a running joke at this stage so we just laugh and shout "speedplays" at them

[queequeg]

Speed play or SPD. SPD is the cheaper option. I use those for commuting and all that clipping in and out will tear through your expensive cleats.

[wombatK]

You're worried about scraping your expensive carbon soles, but how much are you going to shell out for speedplays on all your bikes ? Cheaper to accept that sometimes you'll be unco and most times not. Unless a very pretty girl walks by as you're about to clip in.

[GTR4N]

I have so much trouble finding my spd clip in point on my mtb, and they're double sided, my keo cleats for road were easier

[CKinnard]

the problem with speedplays is the cleats are pathetically fragile and don't like being walked on at all. and if you are a heavier chap, within a few weeks you'll bend the cleat and it won't click in properly.

[Sweeper59]

Why do you need to clip in straight away? I used to panic if I couldn't clip in as soon as I moved away from traffic lights, but I've learnt to stay calm and just ride with my shoe resting on the top of the pedal until I've got a little more time. If your other shoe is clipped in, you should be able to provide all the power needed to get up to speed.

[donncha]

Do you guys not use Keep-On covers? They're excellent and mean your cleats last for ages.

[Jesmol]

Also practice one legged pedalling, you can still build up speed with one side clipped in

[silentC]

ride with my shoe resting on the top of the pedal

That is one advantage of Look style pedals. You can even ride the bike in normal street shoes in a pinch.

Can't say I've had any difficulty clipping in at the lights with mine (I've got those cheap Shimano Look-style pedals PD-R540). But then there are only 3 sets of lights within a 100km radius of my place

Rode with speedplays once. I found I got used to them pretty quick and they are good but I see no reason to change and I'm used to the PDs.

[MattyK]

Ah, this thread reminds me of why I love my Shimano RT shoes. M540 (double sided) pedals on the commuter bike, and A520 (single sided) on the road bike. Even if I snafu the initial engagement, the shoe sole is rubber coated so it will grip reasonably and not scratch everything, until I can get moving and clip it in.

Also I can walk around in them without destroying cleats or falling over.

Save your nice shoes and pedals for race day.

[queequeg]

Ah, this thread reminds me of why I love my Shimano RT shoes. M540 (double sided) pedals on the commuter bike, and A520 (single sided) on the road bike. Even if I snafu the initial engagement, the shoe sole is rubber coated so it will grip reasonably and not scratch everything, until I can get moving and clip it in.

Also I can walk around in them without destroying cleats or falling over.

Save your nice shoes and pedals for race day.

Exactly what I use on my commuter and road bike!

[g-boaf]

Why do you need to clip in straight away? I used to panic if I couldn't clip in as soon as I moved away from traffic lights, but I've learnt to stay calm and just ride with my shoe resting on the top of the pedal until I've got a little more time. If your other shoe is clipped in, you should be able to provide all the power needed to get up to speed.

This is exactly the right way. I use SPD-SL and don't have many problems with them until they get a bit worn. One leg pedaling is also a good technique to learn.

[ft_critical]

just ride with my shoe resting on the top of the pedal until I've got a little more time. If your other shoe is clipped in, you should be able to provide all the power needed to get up to speed.

The secret revealed.

[RonK]

Why do you need to clip in straight away? I used to panic if I couldn't clip in as soon as I moved away from traffic lights, but I've learnt to stay calm and just ride with my shoe resting on the top of the pedal until I've got a little more time. If your other shoe is clipped in, you should be able to provide all the power needed to get up to speed.

This is exactly the right way. I use SPD-SL and don't have many problems with them until they get a bit worn. One leg pedaling is also a good technique to learn.

Gear selection is also important - too low and you won't get much drive from the first pedal stroke, too high and you'll struggle to get moving.

You can also back pedal a half stroke if you miss the cleat first time.

Standing up to maximise the drive and engaging the cleat with the pedal at the top of the stroke before sitting works for me.

And I have fewer missed cleats if I don't look at the pedal.

[g-boaf]

And the other bit is to have the pedal you are pushing off with about inline with the downtube. That will help you get the best acceleration off the line.

Getting going in a bigger gear for me on the flat isn't usually a problem, I actually prefer that because it is what I'm used to. At least it lets you get some speed going.

I wouldn't recommend to back pedal, just pedal with one foot clipped in smoothly and try again to clip the other pedal whenever you've got enough speed to try again. Looking ahead is important - where you look is where you'll go.

[m@]

Oh, do people still use those old-fashioned single-sided road pedals? Cute...

[RonK]

Oh, do people still use those old-fashioned single-sided road pedals? Cute...

Yes - the majority in fact.

Most riders are quite competent and don't need to resort to kiddie pedals.

[m@]

Oh, do people still use those old-fashioned single-sided road pedals? Cute...

Yes - the majority in fact.

Most riders are quite competent and don't need to resort to kiddie pedals.

The existance of this thread, and the gumby-ism I see on the road say otherwise... but hey, feel free to go on using glorified ski boots if doing things the hard way floats your boat

[silentC]

Pedal-elitism now! The internet is a strange and wondrous place...

I've got to say that my old-fashioned single-sided road pedals were a step up from what they replaced: ancient single-sided quill pedals. I've still got the shoes and pedals and might put them back on one day for a laugh. People who have trouble clipping into/out of clipless should try anticipating light changes well enough to reach down and undo the toe strap

[RonK]

People who have trouble clipping into/out of clipless should try anticipating light changes well enough to reach down and undo the toe strap

Yep, every time I read a thread expressing fear of clipless pedals that is exactly what comes to mind.
Not to mention the sore knees, hot spots and numb toes.
Worst of all was using them on a fixed wheel training bike, which our coach insisted was the only way to learn proper pedalling.

[wombatK]

Back in my day ...

[silentC]

'course when I were a lad, we never 'ad pedals...

[RonK]

'course when I were a lad, we never 'ad pedals...

The truth is stranger - the only bike in our household was an old gents 28".

I learned to ride by standing on the pedals from inside the frame triangle.

[rodneycc]

Do you guys not use Keep-On covers? They're excellent and mean your cleats last for ages.

+1 for the keep on kovers. Although I tend to lose one of them every now and again which can be really annoying (I've started turning around and chopping out a section of the other sides kover!