531colin wrote:I don't understand peoples' aversion to SPD pedals.
Put simply, they are the biggest single advance in my cycling lifetime, and I'm 71 now.
If they don't work, or are unsafe, how come so many of us use them? Or are we all deluded?
Personally I don't have a huge aversion to them.
But being fairly fresh back into cycling, I haven't been that keen.
A number of reasons really.
I have always liked toeclips, I have done many miles on and off road using them in the past, so it was something familiar which was nice.
I did try the small mtb ones as I had shoes that fitted them but a) I struggled a bit getting in and out of them, but b) they made my feet a bit numb.
(I am aware there might be other things at play but it seemed like the pressure was in quite a small area.)
Due to cost, I didn't try the larger road ones which spread the pressure more as I understand. I would have needed new shoes and pedals.
I use my bike for commuting but also to the shops and back, so i find it nice to have a clip but something that means I can use any shoe.
Finally, I find that I am wanting to put my feet wider than my pedals (I believe this is the Q factor) which will need playing with.
I like a lot of 'float' to move my feet about.
All of these problems may be solvable in the future, and when I can get more miles, I may well look to give them a go. As you say, many people swear by them.
But in the meantime, there are a few hurdles in the way of changing from what I am used to and find work fine for what I do. I have other things I need to work out first.