Clipless Pedals - Big Difference

[jrs665]

What a difference!!!

Have just replaced the platform pedals on the S40, with Shimano PDM520 Clipless SPD Pedals, the difference is night and day.

Firstly , I adjusted the screws on the pedals so that my foot can unclip with very little movement of the heel.
Incidentally, when moving off can pedal fine with the unclipped foot pedaling , no need for a flat side.

I found that I no longer had to keep conciously correcting with the handlebars, I am now one with the bike. Not even pushing hard on the pedals makes me conciously have to correct, the bike now shoots up hills as can apply full power, and steering at speed is no longer scary. Now that I no longer have to concentrate on controlling the bike, can work on using the handlebars to go even faster up hills

I had switched to clippless to stop my feet getting kicked of pedals over bumpy ground, had no idea they would effect my control of the bike, and to such a huge degree.

 

[chicorider]

Yes. This is one of a few Cruzbike conundrums. Being clipped in when new to these bikes is scary, so we go to flats, which, by comparison, are kind of dangerous and make riding the bike harder. After the worst of the learning curve is over, the new-ish rider tries clipless again, and a big lightbulb goes on, exactly as you described.

 

[Tuloose]

I'll take the opposing side on this one.
I have been riding SPD's on my Vendetta and also on my old Silvio 1.0 and using flats on my T50.
I find that for an around town & occasional gravel bike, the T50 is just so much easier to use and handle with the flat pedals.
So there I was with flats for town & gravel and clipless for road rides.
That is until I got a new S40 last summer...
I was going to replace the stock pedals that came with the bike until I took a few rides and realized how well the sandpaper like surface on the pedals gripped my shoes.
I decided to keep them on for a few days just to see how they worked out and to my delight they worked very well indeed.
I feel that my power delivery and handling prowess is not diminished at all.
The old pedal in circles myth is just that and it has been proven that we do not add power to the upstroke by pulling back with our legs.
What I like is that it's easier to just jump on the bike and ride without having to first change my shoes.
One less thing to hassle with and it makes walking off the bike much easier besides.
I also like being able to quickly take my foot off the pedal and just as quickly get my foot back on.
For the semi casual riding I do on the S40 this works out fine.

That being said there are a few disadvantages but so far not enough to make me want to go back to clipless.
My foot has bounced off once or twice when I hit a pothole but each time I was able to quickly regain control.
I do not have the ability to pedal with one leg when starting out or making a tight maneuver as I do when clipped in.
If my soles get muddy then the gripping ability of the rough surface is lost.

I have been overall so pleased with the pedals that I purchased a pair for my T50.
They grip better than the MTB type flats pedals with pins that I had been using.

 

[Paul Mez]

Feet falling off the pedals has been my annoyance too....sometimes due to bumpy paths and moving fast, but sometimes I just relax too much. I used SPD clipless for a bit but found putting my foot down too slippery at times. Also who doesn't enjoy the freedom of street shoes? That's what I've been doing so far this year. BUT.... I just ordered Magnetic clipless pedals. Not sure if they will be the best of both worlds, but I have 30 days to find out. I can use street shoes or go clipless using one pedal - and don't need to worry about flipping pedal sides. We'll see....

 

[Boreen bimbler]

I prefer clipless pedals. I use MTB ones with some Shimano AM7 enduro type shoes I bought for touring years ago that are pretty much like wearing trainers and great for walking. I tend to pull up as much as push down and feel far more at one with the bike (S40).

 

[IyhelM]

Clipless helped me tremendously at the beginning of my MBB journey. I switched after a couple of hours of training on closed parkings, when I started riding on open road.
I still use them for any serious riding but for casual/utility rides most of the times I don’t bother getting my spd shoes on. Control is now as good with or without, power transfer does not seem significantly different.
I reckon on very long rides or uneven trails clipless still bring a good advantage but that’s it.

 

[jrs665]

I have 2 versions of a shoe, one has a speed cleats , the other is flat with giriper rubber.

The roads where I stay though are terrible. With flat pedals, my feet constantly get kicked of the pedals or move around on them making pedaling uneven.