[Closed] road biking

work out the difference between a comma and an apostrophe maybe first?

Road bike with flats .....
thats like socks with sandals.... 😐

Elaine, you're pretty close to me aren't you? I have some Scott MTB Spd shoes you can try if you can get hold of some spd pedals. Nowt wrong with using spd if thats the way you want to go.

EDIT: size 4 if that helps!

SPDs are much more efficient than flats although you have to get used to clipping your feet in and out (especially out) to be safe. You will find that the shoes will have a stiffer sole than trainers and combined with the ability to pull up on the pedal stroke, they make riding more pleasurable and faster.

Although some may contradict me I would imagine the majority of riders, once they go over to SPD probably wouldn't go back. That probably applies more on the road than off however as many MTBers prefer the ability to bale out quickly with flats.

I would suggest starting with SPDs for the road first and then see if you would like it off-road as well.

Personally i use mountain bike spds and shoes on my road bike because road shoes and pedals just dont work on in the mud.

work out the difference between a comma and an apostrophe maybe first?

Capitalisation of sentences also appreciated.

Glass houses etc etc.

derp - Member

work out the difference between a comma and an apostrophe maybe first?

Capitalisation of sentences also appreciated.

Glass houses etc etc.

If you want to go the SPD route, have a look at something like [url= http://www.bicimania.com/pedales-shimano-spdm324-p-952.html ]these. [/url] The best or worst of both worlds.

road bikes are about efficient and maximal power transfer, you will find very very few riders using anything that does not attach shoe to pedal. If you need to walk ie your looking at touring go for mtb type pedals, if you are intending to train just get a set of road pedals and shoes, they are crap for walking in but then they aren't designed for that.

Choices are clipless, ie spd, look, time, etc. or clips, and believe me clipless are safer. If you have never used toestraps you will have nothing to unlearn so the transition is easier.

[i]The correct verb tense is also quite useful.[/i]

Which it was. And the original shouldn't have had apostrophes where the commas are anyway.

Anyhoo... irrelevancies aside...

SPDs (or similar) make a big difference on the road, especially if you're more of a spinner than a masher. Two main choices: proper road cleats, or MTB-style recessed cleats. Each requires different shoes as the sole mountings are different.

The former are obviously road-oriented and are aimed at pedalling performace above all else. They're relatively tricky to walk in but some less so than others - SPD-SLs are pretty easy as they have rubberised corners. The latter are recessed so easy to walk in, and the cleats are often a little easier to step into (I swear by Time Atacs myself). Unless you're some top flight racer they both work just fine - I've done equally long rides with either type without any foot fatigue.

Perhaps just find the shoes you like first 🙂

Unless you are really into training and riding hard etc i would also reccomend mtb-style SPD's. I use M520 pedals and some old Shimano race-type shoes for the road and i have no problems. I ended up using them 'cos i already had them and didn't want to shell out for more!

TBH i've had no problems, done the CtC in a day in them and had no pain etc which is something when your feet are as twisted and bollixed as mine are! (I have CMT which has badly affected my feet).

for a road bike id prob go for spd`s as well, as all your doing is road riding so you don't really need flats but people have different opinions 🙂

Which it was

ok. what's the difference in clipless and spd,s.....sorry if i sound thick i have much to learn in the ROADIE world...hahah
i used to have some specialized mtb shoes (you can unscrew that lip thing underneath the shoe but alas i have worn the specialized shoes out (i use five tens and flat pedals on the MTB ...
is it relatively easy to learn to unclip safely....im worried about that...if i shud happen to skid off my bike..would my feet come unclip with loosing balance ot does the bike just tipply toptail with me...hahahhaha 😉

ok,

i'll do the whole thing with pictures.
[img] [/img]
a quill pedal the traditional road flat pedal.
[img] [/img]
usually quill pedals would be fitted with toe straps, AKA clips.

moving on, Cinelli got there first but don't worry.

Look introduced clipless pedals, these have evolved and the newest are Keo blades.
[img] [/img]

this is a two part system,

the pedal,
[img] [/img]

and the cleat
[img] [/img]

but look at the size of the cleat and the sole of the shoe, not very dirt friendly, so Shimano introduced the SPD pedal.
[img] [/img]

which because it is smaller could be used with a smaller cleat
[img] [/img]

I hope that helps a little.

sorry im struggling here..lol as i've never paid attention to detail with spd,s b4...... so any size spd pedal will it fit any size shoe.... i dont have giant feet or anything 😉 told you im clueless to this roadie game lol....i shall have alook at leisurelakes bikes tomorrow whilst mt bike is getting fixed... 😉

so any size spd pedal will it fit any size shoe...

all you need to do is pick a pedal system and pick some shoes which are compatible.

The two most common systems are three bolt look and two bolt spd.

shoe size doesn't matter,

look 3 bolt
[img] [/img]

spd 2 bolt
[img] [/img]

try both as it means more shoes ..don't let the side down sister

what's past simple tense?

Argh. Grammar pedantry. Special needs foruming. Sorry. But...

[i]"Which it was."
"No it's not."[/i]

You mean, "No it [i]wasn't[/i]."

The word "appreciated" is being used as an adjective in this context. The tense was fine. It was a sentence with omitted words, much as you'd find in newspaper headlines, ie either of the following:

- Capitalisation of sentences [would] also [be] appreciated.
- Capitalisation of sentences [is] also appreciated.

The fact that in this case it's the primary verb that's omitted is perhaps what's throwing you.

what's past simple tense?

It refers to a finished action in the past and requires a time reference, either clearly specified, yesterday, last week, etc. Or through understanding that the reference is to a finished action, "Did you go to Mountain Mayhem?".

Perspective Bez, both is or was are acceptable, that same as come and go. 😉

The word "appreciated" is being used as an adjective in this context.

"[i]Perspective BEZ, both is or was are acceptable, that [sic] same as come and go.[/i]"

Oh, sure. But if you're having a conversation where it's being referred to in one tense then you don't just wander off and refer to it in another - especially if the conversation centres around being pedantic about tenses 🙂

Oh, sure. But if you're having a conversation where it's being referred to in one tense then you don't just wander off and refer to it in another - especially if the conversation centres around being pedantic about tenses

Googling tenses, it seems they've all changed since my day (or maybe it's just a Latin background, but I'm fairly sure we were taught the same in English/French).

"Past simple" is what I was taught as "perfect".
"Past continuous" is what I was taught as "imperfect".
"Past perfect" is what I was taught as "pluperfect".

"[i]you don't just wander off and refer to it in another[/i]"
"[i]Interesting, but wrong.[/i]"

Touché. Clearly you [i]do[/i] do that. For some reason 🙂

"Past simple" is what I was taught as "perfect".
"Past continuous" is what I was taught as "imperfect".
"Past perfect" is what I was taught as "pluperfect".

[i]So needs an auxilliary verb.[/i]

That sentence needs a pronoun. You've omitted it. Do you get my point? It's ok to do that - as newspapers etc do all the time - because people understand the sentence without it. In fact surely it's [i]better[/i] because then people can jump on it and willy-wave about knowing about things like auxiliary verbs.

Anyway, buy some Time Atacs and some shoes in a nice colour. I can only apologise for everything else.

yep something like this looks ok to me
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-m520-pedals

oh crumbs (just read they are for MTB lol...anyway yes i shall have a good look round...

mtb pedals will work on a road bike if that is the route you choose to take

Yes, they're fine. As above, double-sided MTB style pedals are a bit easier to clip into, which is no bad thing at all. You'll have a wider variety of shoe styles to choose from, too.

SPDs are much more efficient than flats

really?

evidence please.

SPDs are much more efficient than flats
really?

evidence please.

Have you ever used clipless? i guess not as if you had you would realise that is a really stupid question.

i use MTB spd pedals, great for commuting and roads with lots of traffic and stops and starts as they are easier to clip in and out of

but conversely a lady i ride with uses mtb flat pedals and 661 shoes and is as fast as me (admittedly not saying much but hey)

I have SPDs on my mountain bike and Look Keos on my road bike.

The shoes and pedals on the mountain bike are almost exactly double the weight of those on the road bike; SPD shoes have very thick dense rubber on the soles to create the well for the cleat. Road shoes have no treads at all, just a rigid plastic sole. Road shoes and pedals make a fantastically comfortable and flat platform when you are out of the saddle.

so went to leisurelake had a quick look round, they only had the 'look' spd pedals in....nothing else.... was hoping to get some shimano clip- ins... they had just one kind of specialized road shoes ..think there's more choice online so will check out their website ...

I've only recently switched my road bikes from SPD to SPD-SL. I can't say I've really noticed all that much of a performance difference yet though, as SPD's (M520's) with decent shoes seemed fine.

ive found these but are they only for xc ????
it says a host of other uses....?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/m520-spd-pedals-ec005948?query=spd

Shimano M520's work fine on the road bike, I've used them on mine. Given their astronomical price/performance ratio I'd be willing to hazard a guess that they're probably the most popular pedal on STW. I've got them on at least 6 of my bikes!

My road bike had pedals with spuds one side, flat the other. Average speed was the same using either type of pedal. The only time I felt a real power advantage was standing up and powering up hills as I could pull up as well. Generally I don't think spuds did anything other than give me knee pains and headaches from trying to get the cleats lined up properly.

I'm not seeing too many TDF riders using flats, so expect there is some practical advantage...

or these i found at melin cycles...
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Road+Parts/Transmission/Pedals+-+Road/Shimano+105+5700+SPD-SL+Pedals_1675.htm

dont wana get this wrong buying online..lol.....
i have found some specialized road shoes on evans cycles in the sale ..they are last years model but a great price...so now for the pedals...its kinda complicated when your unsure and new to the 'clip-in' scenerio...lol

I'm not seeing too many TDF riders using flats, so expect there is some practical advantage...

Yeah there must be when you're at the top of your game like they are.. for the average (or below average in my case) rider I didn't see much of a point.

Those 105/5700 pedals are what I use on my road bikes. They seem to work well enough but if you're not already used to SPD's you'll definitely find the M520's you posted earlier easier to get on with. They're easier to clip in and out of and you'll be able to walk normally with the SPD cleats where as the SLD-SL's make you walk like a penguin.