SPD's - the Devils work I tell thee

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SPD's - the Devils work I tell thee

129 posts & 71 voices | Started 4 months ago by dogbert | Latest reply from aracer

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dogbert - Member

Jebus, what the hell are they good for? I can see the benefits when climbing on a perfectly smooth incline, but I have never in my life felt so out of control than I did today. Couldn't get clipped in, once I did I couldn't get clipped out.

The defining moment was tentatively manouvering a 5 foot wide trail with a drop to the left when I heard "NOOOO!!!".....It was ME! I couldn't get clipped out and I nearly went off the edge. They are being resigned back to the SS roadbike and I'm going back to flats.

Don't even get me started on the clown shoes......Mr Shimano, you can stick them right up your archie

Posted 4 months ago #
mikewsmith - Member

MTFU

Posted 4 months ago #
crikey - Member

Aye, give over.

I started off riding with toe clips and straps. Raced mountain bikes and cyclocross with them.

SPDs are a godsend, best thing Shimano ever invented.

Posted 4 months ago #
mindmap3 - Member

I agree! I ditched them for flats a long, long time ago. I attempted to use them for a few XC rides / commuting to work but it just felt so wrong.

I understand that they have their place for racing and that some people love 'em. Not me though.

Posted 4 months ago #
billysugger - Member

Adjust them so they're a bit looser so you can get out in a flap til you get used to them and you can then spin like a machine

Posted 4 months ago #
dogbert - Member

They're adjusted as loose as they'll go without being totally useless, for some reason my feet hurt on the outer edges as well

Posted 4 months ago #
stevewhyte - Member

You will be wanting square wheels next cause round one make you go too fast!!

Posted 4 months ago #
rickmeister - Member

Funny, i feel the sme loathing with my ~~skillz reducers~~ flat pedals.... each to their own indeed.

Posted 4 months ago #
billysugger - Member

Change the position of the cleet in the shoe and try again?

Posted 4 months ago #
mikewsmith - Member

CB Mallets and a pair of Flat soled SPD shoes

Posted 4 months ago #
souldrummer - Member

Can't imagine riding without them although I much prefer Time pedals to Shimano - more float therefore kinder on my knees. I tried flats once..didn't get on with them and my shins still bear the scars.

Posted 4 months ago #
toys19 - Member

dogbert - Member

Jebus, what the hell are they good for? I can see the benefits when climbing on a perfectly smooth incline, but I have never in my life felt so out of control than I did today. Couldn't get clipped in, once I did I couldn't get clipped out.

The defining moment was tentatively manouvering a 5 foot wide trail with a drop to the left when I heard "NOOOO!!!".....It was ME! I couldn't get clipped out and I nearly went off the edge. They are being resigned back to the SS roadbike and I'm going back to flats.

Don't even get me started on the clown shoes......Mr Shimano, you can stick them right up your archie
Posted 16 minutes ago # Report-Post

Dogbert, I am you. Exact same experience. Couple of my mates ride DH clipped in. Bucking Fonkers.

Posted 4 months ago #
fatsimon mk2 - Member

dogbert you deffo havn't got them set up right ethier you have got the cleat set to far back or slightly off at an angle or youve wound the tension the wrong way because if set up right you should be able to take your foot out without trying in fact your foot should be slipping out at every chance and deffo MTFU

Posted 4 months ago #
jonba - Member

I often wonder why so many people clipped in. I think its a peer pressure because you are "supposed to be clipped in". I use them for racing both on and off road but for general riding the gains are so marginal I'd much rather ride flats and not have the disadvantages. Suppose if you are used to it then great but its a bit like smoking in that respect no one likes it when they first start.

Posted 4 months ago #
dogbert - Member

in fact your foot should be slipping out at every chance

is that not defeating the purpose?

Posted 4 months ago #
billysugger - Member

Yes but then you tighten them up more and more each ride as you get used to them.

As for there being little advantage, by being able to pull up you'll be using different muscles/ the same muscles in different ways. I can go a lot further with them

Posted 4 months ago #
themanfromdelmonte - Member

I often wonder why so many people clipped in. I think its a peer pressure because you are "supposed to be clipped in". I use them for racing both on and off road but for general riding the gains are so marginal I'd much rather ride flats and not have the disadvantages. Suppose if you are used to it then great but its a bit like smoking in that respect no one likes it when they first start.

Well, I'm the only one out of my mates who uses SPDs.

Could just be that some people's opinion differs to yours, I guess.

Posted 4 months ago #
billysugger - Member

I like a bit of super-retard foot out-ness when it comes to trail centres or following faster people mind. Then it's back to flats.

Posted 4 months ago #
pedlad - Member

Used Time atacs for years after initially going clipless on the road bike (and falling off a few times).

Despite being used to them on the road bike it did feel properly ropey for the first few MTB outings. Stick with it though as it soon feels more secure and I love that connected with the bike feeling.

I rode with flats for the first time in years the other day when I had to borrow a mates bike for a ride and nearly had an epic off when I tried to bunny hop

Posted 4 months ago #
yunki - Member

sounds horrific to me..

I bought a set of spds last year.. some spd shoes had fallen into my possession and all the [kevin and perry] bigger boys [/kevin and perry] seem to use them round here..

they're sat on the top shelf of the desk in front of me gathering dust.. I'm sure that I'll donate them to museum one day..

it's just showing off anyway.. like ski poles for hiking maybe

Posted 4 months ago #
rewski - Member

I've just started using them after years on flats, they're very weird to start off with, I've had lots of stupid falls, but I think I've finally cracked it, they do improve climbing, I actually missed them today on my commute, not ready to hit busy London clipped in yet, I will though.

Posted 4 months ago #
ofeersa - Member

Nae nae and thrice nae
A godsend i,d say
if yer not clipped in yer just on the thing
separate from the bike
when yer clipped in you become part of it
and it an extension of you

Posted 4 months ago #
andrewy - Member

Anyone else remember using clips, straps and shoeplates? Now that was tricky, trying to remember to loosen off the strap (by hand) at each stop! Clipless pedals, and especially SPD's are just great.

Posted 4 months ago #
stevewhyte - Member

Too right i started off on flats on my 10 speed Triumph road bike circa 1982. Then a year later dad bought me toe clips and straps, oh the joy of being strapped in, took just 2 falls to remmeber to bend over and loosen the straps, then 1988 got a set of look clipless on my new 12 speed Careba race bike. The joy its like a revelation. Then a set of carbon pros on my next race bike.

So have been strapped onto my bike since 1983 and only took up mountain biking last year, bought the new bike and got thte shop to stick on my xtr trail pedals, why would you have it any other way?

Posted 4 months ago #
ian martin - Member

I've been riding with flats for the last 3 months. I'm still having to remind my self to drop my heels on the descents to stop my feet bouncing off the peddles.
With spds I can descend much faster and jump much higher as being attached to the bike gives me more confidence.
But when riding technical trails I find I focus on the fact I'm clipped in. So I thought I'd give flats ago and I like the difference but still love spds.
If you're trying spds for the first time I'd recommend using used cleats as they disengage much easier.
I love my spds tensioned quite tight though so you get a nice snap when clipping in.

Posted 4 months ago #
_tom_ - Member

Fine for road but I don't like them for mtb. Feels like your feet are always floating above the pedals, I don't get the "connected" feeling some people talk about.

Posted 4 months ago #
Edric 64 - Member

How do you pedal efficiently without spds you cant pull properly on the pedals to start with .Flats ? no way thats for toys/bmx

Posted 4 months ago #
Dibbs - Member

I can never understand when people complain about the lack of float with SPD's, in my experience of grippy flats there's no float at all.

Posted 4 months ago #
Superficial - Member

I'm convinced SPDs help you control the bike in a way that you can't with flats. Then there's the efficiency thing. Surely the OP just needs more practise? I always look at XC riders without SPDs as a bit amateurish, perhaps that's just me?

Posted 4 months ago #
bigrich - Member

spds on the xc/roadie, flats on the dh bike, and I'm thinking of going over to spds on that.

i remember what it was like first ride out on spds, you have to stick with it.

Posted 4 months ago #
M6TTF - Member

Some people don't like em, some love em - there's no right or wrong.

Posted 4 months ago #
fourbanger - Member

I prefer flats for street and bunnyhoping etc, but SPD's for anything aggressive as it stops my feet bouncing off, which can be a problem in the alps on a HT.

Posted 4 months ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

Always ridden clipped in, never since changing to spds have I had an issue with not getting unclipped when I want. IMO it make a huge and obvious difference to peddling efficiency.

I do have flats and sometimes ride on them - and it probably the only way to learn to jump properly

Good riders (not me )do not need spds to keep attached to the bike . keep control

Posted 4 months ago #
rickmeister - Member

"I often wonder why so many people clipped in. I think its a peer pressure because you are supposed to be [s]clipped in[s] on flats or your not riding properly / skills are rubbish / lazy / cant ride"

Not a go at the person who posted this but an often and lame reason to use one pedal system or another...

If you have ridden on either system for years and swap, its going to be a bit of a steep learning curve.... I had a rant about flats and ditched them, I am obviously a bad person.... but my shins and riding have gone back to normal....

Stick or ditch, your choice but don't follow fashion as the only reason. S-pose the best would be pedalardextrous and use both as you wish...

Posted 4 months ago #
teamhurtmore - Member

Can't imagine not being in spd's until I get to an exposed drop like the short section early in Whinlatter N! Then wonder why I am attached to this bulky thing between my legs! Did I just say that?

Posted 4 months ago #