Clipless (spd) pedals - the pro's & Cons (Spare Parts)

Member Name: salty_monk

Product:	Spare Parts
Date:	30/01/01 (435 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Control, power transfer, efficiency etc

Disadvantages: You might fall off once or twice....

If you're riding XC there is no other option, you should be riding clipless!

Clipless pedals (so called because they do not require a toe clip & strap)improve bike control, power transfer, efficiency of pedal stroke (your foot is closer to center of spindle) & allow those that have trouble lifting the bike at the rear to cheat!

Mainly used for XC not trials, downhill or duel, some platform types exist like the shimano m646's that can be good for all disciplines!

There are two main players in the mtb emporium; these are Shimano who make the spd (shimano pedal dynamics) & Time who make the Atac. But I've seen loads of other makes I hear you cry - sure the list is endless, VP, Ritchey, Wellgo etc etc but at the end of the day they are all shimano copies & are usually adequate but not as good as the real thing! They are generally cheaper though!

A lot of people worry that they won't be able to release from spds's; yes that can be a problem initially but I recently saw someone who's used to spd's fall off a bike equipped with toe clips!! It's all about what you're used to! I think I fell of mine about 3 or 4 times max due to not being able to release a pedal!

Time atacs generally have more float than spd's (5 degrees) which can help if you've got dodgy knees although some say they don't feel positive enough! They also clear better in muddy conditions making it easier to "find" the pedal.

Prices generally start at £15 -£20 for a basic set of spd copy pedals & go up to about £80 for top of the range shimano's & carbon Atacs.

Shoes can be picked up from £20 to £120 depending on spec but things to look for are warmth, sole stiffness (depending on how much walking around / pushing you do you might want a more flexible sole; the more flexible the better for walking but the worse for power transfer to pedal) & fixing. Also style if you plan to walk around
in them!!

I have a set M535 (LX) shimano pedals as well as a set of cheap M646 platform copies from wellgo.

On the shoe front I use Northwave arctics in the winter (the only shoe to have in the cold; Northwave use a shimano sole with their own upper), Specialized comp in summer & a set of Lake "skate stylee" shoes if I gotta walk anywhere in them!

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