I don’t know anything about shoes and the pedals you clip into. Don’t they call them clipless pedals? What the??? On my road bike I have the little cages and straps on my pedals. Seems like these should be called clipless pedals…but whatever. I think they have road shoes, and mountain bike shoes. There are different types of pedals. Where do I begin? DO I buy the pedals, then the shoes, or the shoes then the pedals. Does it matter? Do I need certain types of shoes for certain types of pedals? Should I get road shoes of MB shoes? What kind of pedals? I have some of these pedals that came with my recumbent bike (not attached). They didn’t come with the part that clips into them. Does this come with the shoes? Or would need to buy this separatly?
Do I even need shoes/clipless pedals?
Most of my riding is done on a wind trainer. I have done a 50 mile road ride. I have done 2 off-road duathlons. I am doing a mountain bike race. Should I get both kinds? What brands?
I don’t want to spend a lot.
Clipless pedals give a GREAT many advantages over platform pedals and toe cages. They’ll keep your foot exactly in the right position to deliver all the power you can crank into your pedals. They’re easy to get into and out of (with a little practice), and allow you to pull up on your pedals with just as much ease as you push down. This can nearly double your power!
Proper bike shoes (road or mountain) will not flex along the sole, and when fitted properly, you will feel the inside of the shoe grip the top of your foot, your toes will have room to wiggle, and your heel will feel like it’s about to come out of your shoe when you walk on flat ground (due to the non-flexing sole). The more expensive the shoe, the less flex and weight your shoe will have.
The clips and pedals should always be matched up (same company and whatnot), but most shoes will be ‘SPD compatible’. SPD being the standard Shimano clipless pedal system.
As for mountain vs. road shoes, I really don’t have much information there, as I’m only a mountain bike rider.
I suggest going to a local bike shop (Towpath, Towners, or Park Ave) and getting fitted up. Towpath, over in Pittsford, offers a good discount on clips and pedals if you buy shoes with them. I’m sure other stores offer similar deals though.
Happy riding!
Comment by Mike Gillman — April 8, 2008 @ 9:25 pm