Clipless or flats

[alibali65]

As a newbie now getting used to his bike and feeling more confident I have started looking at going clipless.What are the advantages or disadvantages of clipless or flats and if I go clipless which pedals and cleat combos should I choose. My shoes are shimano MT 31's.

[tricks]

I have just started to use clipless from using flats and they make life so much easier, i dont hit my legs of the pedles any more (which hurts so much)the best i have seen are Shimano M540 SPD MTB pedal they are only £40, there are better ones but the price starts to creep up so depending on what your wanting to spend i would start look at those.
Dont know what everyone else thinks?

[Sir_Queuesalot]

Hi Alibali,

Lots of manufacturers out there. I'm a crank bros Candy convert, cheaper the better as they get scuffed and knackered after a while anyway (perhaps if I rode better they wouldn't!) But a pair of Candy C's can be had for around £35 quid including cleats.
Mates run Eggbeaters and SPD's and everyone happy with being clipped in, so much so I now feel unbalanced and not part of the bike if I'm not clipped in.

Anyone else dislike hurtling down a descent trying to get your last foot clipped!

IMHO being clipped in is something that takes time and practice and you'll either take to it or you won't. So going against my previous advice of buy cheap buy twice I would suggest picking something cheap up off Ebay etc and seeing how you get on. If you do take to being 'at one' with the bike then you can look around and get something flashier.

[tricks]

Candy C's - someone else said these where well worth the money where could you pick some of these up from??? Im useless at finding things for bikes!!!!!

[Sir_Queuesalot]

hey tricks,

Isn't that why you've got Gorehound?

Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

These guy's are good (Merlin) sometimes but if you go in the shop the short (bald) haired guy is a really miserable piece of work. If I worked in a bike shop I'd be ecstatic, all these people coming in to talk bikes with. If you don't like bikes or people who ride them then go and work at Tesco's! (end of rant ) Anyway they're cheap...

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=pr...&categoryId=63

I usually check out Wiggle as well:-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...y%20C%20Pedals

Then Chainreaction for good measure:-
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...x?ModelID=4967

And we have a winner - Chainreaction if you don't mind them in Grey and 2007's model, £29.99 with free P&P and normally delivery is, in my experience, within 2 days.

[greeneye]

hi alibali65, the step up from flats to clipless is a practice makes quite good thing.
it takes sometime to get used to, when i 1st had them i would get home after a ride, stop at the front door with my wife there to say hello then i would forget and try to put my foot down, OH OH!!
my wife found it more than a little funny to see me topple side ways to the floor stuck to my bike!!
spd's are much better as you can forget about your foot slipping off and shinning your self, which as tricks said, bloomin hurts.
i would defo go for it, i have shimamo xt pedals and there cheap and great.
yes kev, i do push off down hill trying ; desperatly to get my left foot in, " COME ON, PLEASE, WHAT THE HELL, AARRGGHHH!!"
sound about right? lol

[gorehound]

Tricks loves spd's. except when she fell through our hedge..
Her own fault..........pratting about and fell over.

[greeneye]

sounds funny. how you two love bunnys doing?

[gorehound]

She's asleep and i aint nuthin but a gorehound.

[tricks]

sometimes i dont know if Goreh is taking the piss out of me when i ask things about bikes, as sometimes i ask very silly questions.