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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - General Discussion
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Combo clipless/platform pedal. Advice, please... (8 posts)
|  Combo clipless/platform pedal. Advice, please... | Greg
Dec 14, 2002 12:56 PM | | First, a little background: I am an experienced road biker, and just got into mountain biking. I never had problems clicking out of my pedals on my road bike. Then again, I didn't spend more time falling on my butt than riding.
I went out with a few friends to some intermediate trails today, and managed three end-overs in not many more minutes than that -- and was stuck in my pedals every time. I had to take my shoes off to untangle myself from my bike. It went downhill from there. Oh, well. We all gotta start somewhere, huh?
Anyway, I found myself not clicking in at all because not being able to click out of the pedals in my frequent falls was making me nervous. I was using Egg Beaters, which I love on my road bike, but they are virtually impossible to use if you're not clipped in, so I found my feet slipping all over the place.
So, here's the question: Should I switch to a platform pedal until I am more proficient, or does someone manufacture a decent pedal clipless pedal with a platform on one side? After all, I already have the shoes...
Thanks for your help.
Greg |
| Try the Shimano 324 pedals | maZonic Man
Dec 14, 2002 1:27 PM | | I too was a roadie for 10 years then starting riding mtn two years.
I've been riding the Shimano 323, now called the 324 pedals. Platforms on one side, SPD on the other.
The platform side is very grippy and usable. Some of the other Shimano offerrings are not as usable from a platform standpoint, like the 646 (spd unit sticks up to far to make full platform usable).
One bad thing is that sometimes it takes longer to clip into the SPD side because you have to make sure the SPD side is facing up.
http://shimanocycling.com/footwear_pedals/pedals/pd-m324.asp |
| I think jumping in head first is the best way to learn... | næstep
Dec 14, 2002 1:34 PM | | ...be it your Eggs or the 535s I learned on.
I have a pair of half-and-half Shimano 324's that are good for what they are, but they don't have the smoothest clip-in action and I've got to do a lot of foot tapping to get the pedals flipped around the the correct side for the shoes I'm wearing. They're great as a dual purpose sneaker/bike shoe utility pedal, but I'm glad I had a good pair of dedicated clipless pedals to learn on.
I've not used the Eggs, but this might work for you: Something I did early on with the 535s was adjust the cleats on the bottom of my shoes so they're pointing slightly toe-in (towards my big toe). This has the same effect as twisting my heel out a few degrees, so when my feet were straight ahead I had a shorter distance to click out. Made for a decrease in float but faster releases.
næstep |
| Shimano 545 | The Girlfriend
Dec 14, 2002 2:14 PM | | Short on time, so here's a quick bit of advice.
I switched from road biking to mountain biking a few years ago, and my first set of MTB clipless pedals was Shimano 545. They do not have a platform on one side, but are wide, platform style SPDs.
I kept the tension at the minimum for easy clipping out (sometime accidentally!), and on rough terrain where I was unsure, I simply rested my foot on a non-clip-innable angle on the pedal, so basically, I had the stability, but was not clipped in. As my confidence (and skill) grew, I tightened the tension, and stayed clipped in more often. I eventually changed my pedals and now run Shimano 747s (Amazing!). My 545s are in good use on a friend's bike, though.
GF |
| Shimano 545 | Cube
Dec 14, 2002 5:06 PM | | The 545's work for me. They are platform clipless hybird pedals. They have clipless on each side and are very wide. I use them clipped in on the smooth stuff then just clip out and use their wide pedals as platforms as needed. Not as smooth as my old 747's but offer the choice of pedaling not clipped in on the rough trails. |
| re: Combo clipless/platform pedal. Advice, please... | CRUM
Dec 15, 2002 5:38 AM | | First, put the egg beaters on the shelf. They can be a brutal pedal to learn to use off road if you haven't gone through the learning curve on another type of pedal. Plus, they didn't earn the name "leg beaters" for no reason.
Any Shimano, Ritchey pedal will be easier to learn on. My favorite pedal is the Speedplay "Frog". Easy entry, easy exit, and unlimited float. My funky knees just love the float.
Before you head out into the woods, try riding around the yard, a grassy field, anywhere that doesn't require paying attention and will offer a soft landing during the practice trials. Click in, Click out click in click out until you feel comfortable with the action of your particular pedal release.
But most of all, learn to not be nervous. Being nervous only increases the likelyhood you will go down. |
| Thanks to everyone -- and another question | Greg
Dec 15, 2002 7:46 AM | | Many thanks for all the advice. It was very helpful. The Egg Beaters are going on the shelf for a while until I'm not so nervous about falling, and I have ordered a combo pedal. (I'm a bit surprised I survived yesterday with only minimal loss of blood! I'm a mass of bruises and abrasions this morning -- but once I can hobble around a little better, it's back on the bike!)
Now the new question: I have adjusted my seat-to-pedal height the same as for my road bike so that my leg is pretty much extended at the bottom on the down stroke. Should I shorten that so I can put my foot on the ground easier or leave it where it is?
Thanks again for your help and patience with a "newbie!"
Greg |
| Thanks to everyone -- and another question | CRUM
Dec 15, 2002 7:53 PM | | I'd say that if you wanted the same power transfer, try to duplicate your road bike seat to pedal distance. But, since learning to use clipless pedals is 90% mental and 10% physical, doing what makes you comfortable wouldn't be wrong. |
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