Spudulike or Spuduhate ?

[RichardP]

Just put some SPDs on my bike and went for my first ride last night.

What a difference they make....

I managed to get up hills a lot more easily

I managed to increase my overall speed

I managed to fall off twice as I failed to unclip in time.

So the overall rating is 2:1 in favour off SPUDULIKE.

Is this a common rating ?

[Tony]

I changed to spd's about 4 months ago, initially double-sided platform/spd jobs. Found them easy to use and have not yet had a true "clipless moment" fall. I have now changed to small "pure" spd's on both tourers, the double-sided ones being put onto the tandem. The only non-spd bike I have is the mtb, and.....
They do make a difference and initial falls are all part of the learning process. Should have done it years ago.

[robin]

I'm a new convert to spd's, bought a pair off ebay, £10 with the postage, then bought a pair of shimano trainers from local bike shop, i think they were about £35. only managed to fall of once, and that was when my chain snapped (hammering down some single track at the time on Cannock Chase), luckily the landing was quite soft even though i was still attached to my bike. i wouldn't go back to flatties or toe clips now either.

Robin.

[SPANNER]

I dont know about spd's but one of our section members in the vcc who has done track racing for years and is a very fast rider and wears toe clips with the straps done up rock tight, was descending a hill very fast on a club run recently when a kid on a bmx came out of a side road and in trying to avoid hitting him clipped the back of the bmx and went over the handlebars of his bike badly cutting his head.
I personally wouldnt wear spd's in todays traffic but if I used toe clips and straps would leave one slack so i could get my foot out quickly should the need arise

[robin]

you can get your foot out of spd's quicker than you can clips and straps, you just gotta train your mind and feet differently. probably not quite as fast as wearing nothing, but not far off. i/m still a convert.

[philw]

It's *much* easier to get out of SPDs than clips - you don't have to bend down and loosen the strap, for starters. Modern SPDs have friction controls; you can set them so slack that although they still hold your feet in place I'm amazed that anyone can't tweak them out.

Perhaps it's more of an issue if you never rode clips.

I have gone "over the falls" on various bikes over the years with clips, clips and cleats and also SPDs. I'm not sure that the pedals are hugely relevant in that scenario, exept when off-road I think I'd rather keep the bike with me than have it cartwheel down the hill. I suppose if you didn't clip in you could always use a surf-leash or something!

[Bob's bits]

Brilliant
After much ribbing from cycling friends because of my constant refusal to convert to SPD from "rat traps" I finally bit the bullet a couple of months ago.

Should have done it ages ago - just didn't because of some of the stories I'd heard about falling off!! What a load of rubbish!

The only problem I have had (touch wood) is forgetting to turn my foot to detach myself - I was thinking of other things at the time !!!

I'm so impressed with SPD's that I've got them on my tourer, mountain bike and now my recently purchased tandem.

Go for it, you won't regret it.

[ChrisO]

I had them first on my MTB and then on my roadbike, and I haven't forgotten to unclip yet.

When I bought the roadbike it had those normal/clip reverse pedals. I hated them.

I'd try to get away at lights and find myself looking down to try to flip the thing over to the clip side. But they are just plastic inserts so you can take them out and put them back - which is handy if you need to go anywhere and not wear cycling shoes.

I presume they come like that because I'm told it is illegal to sell a roadbike which does not have reflector pedals. And of course I am being illegal by riding it that way, despite the reflectors on my shoes my reflective ankle straps.

[Pete]

I much prefer Time ATACs: easier to get into, more positive connection, lateral as well as rotational flaot, less trouble from worn cleats, no tension adjusters to faff about with.

On the downside they're a bit more expensive, but not that much more and since the cleats fit SPuD compatible shoes I don't see any reason I'd change to Shimanos.

Pete.

[m davey]

Bought SPDs and Shimano general purpose shoes in May 2003.

Started commuting with them on June 20th 2005.

Pedals and shoes have now done more than 21,000 miles - that's excellent!
Shoes are showing some wear, the velcro does not work as well as at first. Cleats well worn nice and loose.
Pedals spin beautifully but perhaps they have too much play now. I am tempted by the new single sided pedal which is reputed to always come spd side up.

Before I used trainers and toeclips - 10 year's ago I commuted 20,000 miles on them in 18 months. But SPDs are far better.