[Closed] tips for SPD's and shoes? (apart from dont fall off!)

Get some time Atacs?

sorry? 😕

Just remember to get out of them you twist your heel outwards, NOT your toes as my buddy used to try and do to much comedy amusement. (and scratches on his new bike)

M520s are fine to start with, and I imagine most people start out with basic shimano spds unless they are uber niche/rich. I think I still have them on my commuter, upgraded to XTR on the XC hardtail.

just a thought. do the M520's have the same clip-in technique as all "SPDs"? or do different companies do different designs etc?

The technique is the same with all designs. What differs is the feel of entry, exit and float.

I have found that the easiest type for all 3 is the eggbeater design. And the stiffest is the time/look design.

Shimano comes between the two but being adjustable has its advantages too.

If you have ever been skiing, its a but similar to ski bindings where you get your toe in then push the heal down. With padals there is less of a defined heal down as you just put your weight on the pedal.

Start with the tension wound right off and maybe only clippling in one foot till your comfortable. when you do have both clipped in, clip out of the first foot long befor you need to stop. should be fine after that.

Companies have different designs but they are all essentially the same to clip in and out of. Ther are slight differences but nothing you own't get used to after a couple of rides.

You can't jut swap though as sometimes the cleats are incompatable.

M520's are fine, as you go up the shimano range you get lower weight but I've never noticed any other difference. If you realy want to lose the weight though then shimano aren't the best to be using. They are however pretty tough.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but Crankbrothers are often lighter, and shed mud better. IME they also fall apart very quickly.

Shimano are a bit prone to clogging with mud and ice

Atac are good take the better bits of Crank brothers and shimano

Just have a look on CRC and you will see most of what is about.

Personally I always go for Shimano as I like things the same across my bikes. I also like the fact they are tough and after an attempt with crank brothers I won't be using them again.

Crank brothers = eggbeater

Got the 540's, just remember to loosen off the grip to minimum and add about 2-3 clicks. this should get you out quickly.

Usual stuff -
Slacken the adjustment right out to start with
Disengage one shoe before stopping where possible
Which ever foot you normally put down first fit the easier to release cleat (think its the one with 2x dots on it, iirc) to that shoe
Flick heel out to disengage, don't try to pull up

You will prob forget at some point and fall over, just make sure it's when your being filmed.

are they adjustable?

Yes

do they do the job like the more expensive sets?

Yes

tips for using SPD's

Take time to set them up properly. Ride and wonder why you didn't buy them years ago!

I was worried about using SPD's for ages and kept putting off using them once they arrived, once I finally tried them, I couldn't believe why I hadn't done it years ago! Definitely worth doing

I just stamp down on my crank brothers. In that respect they differ from the rest.

cheers for all the helpful comments! really appreciated! given me a little boost now 🙂 i'll make sure the better half has a camera at the ready for my dismounting attempts!

You will fall off! I did lastnight!

Try multi-release cleats.

what are multirelease cleats?

Don't try riding somewhere with a precipitous drop all along one side of the trail on your first outing. Or do, you'll learn pretty quick.

I sometimes have problems getting my cleats to engage in places where I can't do a good flat start, and you'll quickly learn the "stamping out the mud" technique. Never have any problems disengaging though, it becomes second nature pretty fast.

I ride multi release cleats, basically they release much much easier -if you pull up really hard you can get them to release.

Based on my observations of others falling off when learning to use SPDs...

I think most riders on flats wait for their bike to stop, see which way it starts to fall and then decide which foot to put down. This doesn't work with SPDs, certainly until to get used to them.

Instead, decide which way you want to go before coming to a complete stop, unclip the foot that side and make a concious effort to go that way (mostly to your dominant side, unless there's a ditch / bottomless crevasse that side).

A couple of stardard SPD things you can count on:

1. As stated above, you will fall a couple of times

2. When you do it will never be when you are alone,but always when you are stopping somewhere there are other riders present, and

3. The odds of you falling are in direct proportion to the presence of someone of the opposite sex you are trying to impress

you will be fine. Have a search online about cleat alignement, as getting this even a bit out can lead to real knee pain if you are susceptible. If you have dodgy knees Time are the choice over Shimano.

my knees arent giving in just yet cheers 🙂

only ordered off Merlin Cycles yesterday, already delivered to work today! A* delivery service! now i just gotta go get them 😕 motorbike decided to die on me yesterday!

I've been trying them out for a while now and I don't see much advantages.

Bad: steep/technical ascents. Trying to get going and stopping abruptly.

Lack of support.

Good: erm... lack of thought needed the rest of the time?