Cycling UK Forum

I did my ride to work in spd pedals today for the first time, and my first ride in spd's. Almost fell off at the busiest roundabout this morning, in front of a load of cars but just saved it. My left foot seems to release easier than my right.
I thought they were worth about 15% more oomph, being able to pull and apply force on the upstroke made it easy to gain speed and maintain it, for less effort. I got there a bit quicker than usuall (not scientific as traffic is probably more important). I wonder if wearing a helmet and lycra will make me even faster?

dubscratcher wrote:I wonder if wearing a helmet and lycra will make me even faster?

Things I've found made a measurable distance.

Not wearing a reflective vest in the summer (t-shirt only).
Wearing shorts instead of jeans.
One pannier instead of two.

Obviously a lot depends on how fast you're travelling, I used to average around 20mph (on a good day).
Couldn't bring myself to wear lycra, but I'd imagine it'd be worth something.

[XAP]Bob wrote:I find the lisle shoes food, but probably not for a long ride. The plate is quite small and the sole isn't as stiff as my other spd shoes, so they can put a couple of pressure point in.

[XAP]Bob wrote:I use recessed cleats, so walking is okay.

Do recessed cleats make it difficult to clip in and out?
Any shoes you'd particularly recommend? I'd like something that can be walked in and is comfortable for long distance riding...and preferably doesn't cost too much, though I realise I may be out of luck there...
Thanks

Benethi wrote:

[XAP]Bob wrote:I find the lisle shoes food, but probably not for a long ride. The plate is quite small and the sole isn't as stiff as my other spd shoes, so they can put a couple of pressure point in.

[XAP]Bob wrote:I use recessed cleats, so walking is okay.

Do recessed cleats make it difficult to clip in and out?

No, although I'd always assumed that with platform+cleat pedals it would. Although I tried some wellgo ones at the last Draycote ride and they seemed fine.

Any shoes you'd particularly recommend? I'd like something that can be walked in and is comfortable for long distance riding...and preferably doesn't cost too much, though I realise I may be out of luck there...
Thanks

I've used three sets of shoes (excepting racing versions with exposed cleats)

- Shimano (Fairly cheap, ~£25 at my LBS IIRC)
These were good - a bit stiff to walk in, but I could happily do 85 miles in them

- Lidl (very cheap, ~£15)
These are OK - they're fine for short rides, but I have noticed that after 20 miles or so I get some discomfort around the cleat. Probably caused by the relatively small plate. Really easy to walk in though

- Keen Commuter (Not cheap, ~£75)
These sandals are excellent. I can cycle all day, and then walk easily. I will be looking at spending more money on a decent pair of shoes when either winter comes (if I feel flush) or when the lidl shoes give out (they're fine for my short commute)

Sorry for the stupid question here, but when you say recessed cleats, what exactly do you mean? i.e. the lidl ones are slightly recessed and are ok to walk in, but I wouldn't want to walk further in them than I have to...

Looking at some Shimano ones on Wiggle (£25 you say? the cheapest here is £54!) the only one that states recessed cleats is the MT60, but looking at the 3D images they all look the same. I'm just surprised as I keep hearing things like 'recessed cleat design enables easy walking with excellent traction if off the bike' which really doesn't describe my experience with my lidl ones...walking from the bike shed at work to my locker, people have been asking me if I'm wearing football boots...

meic wrote:My Shimano SPD sandals are second only to my rather over-priced New Balance shoes for ease of walking.
It is quite common for walking shoes and boots to have rigid soles. The Shimano sandals have that same delightful rolling motion of a good quality hiking boot. They also have no contact between the cleats and tarmac, it takes quite a rough surface to get to the cleats.

Am I missing something?

Recessed cleats = tread that contacts the ground when walking, not the cleat.

My lidl shoes are just about fully recessed, so on chippings etc the cleats do contact the ground. Inside (an wooden floors) they do not.
My shimano shoes were well recessed, although as the tread wore down from much walking they became less so.
My keen sandals are well recessed.

I don't find any of them hard to walk in (not for a couple of miles at any rate - I reckon the keens might do more, but I'd normally be cycling that far). I'd not like to run much in any of them though.

[XAP]Bob wrote:My lidl shoes are just about fully recessed, so on chippings etc the cleats do contact the ground. Inside (an wooden floors) they do not.

Hmm, mine certainly do!

Thanks for the info, I've just been down to my lbs and ordered myself some Shimano M077s. The recession looks a bit deeper (maybe that's why Shimano prices keep going up) than the Lidl ones, so hopefully will be better, and they haven't got any laces to get tangled in the chain or get torn apart by the velcro - which is what's happened to my lidl ones...

I switched over to SPD a couple of years ago and think they're brilliant in many ways. Like many others I am had a mishap!

Now the occasion ride with normal shoes and pedals just seems weird and makes me feel unsafe - it is as if my feet are going to slip off - so might be worth bearing in mind if you switch back / borrow someone else's bike in the future.

dougie wrote:Now the occasion ride with normal shoes and pedals just seems weird and makes me feel unsafe - it is as if my feet are going to slip off

Actually this is one thing that I've found I really don't like about them - the false sense of security. I have a tendency to feel that because I'm attached to the bike I'm less likely to fall off And is there any reason flat pedals should be unsafe? As long as you're wearing suitable shoes on suitable pedals, why would you ever slip? Certainly not a problem I've ever had.