cleats or clips

[Sasquatch]

I am just now getting my budget builder bike rolling almost the way i want it (Haro X1 frame, marchozi black forks, fox van a coil rear shock, deoer derailers, and a few other little things here and there... college budget, very tight) but now i am focusing on maximizing my riding efficiancy. I have always been fond of my flat pedals in the past because of quick ability to bail out. but now that i'm not falling as much (still falling though) i want to boost up my pedals. i have the aluminum wtb trail master pedals right now on a truvativ blaze isis crankset. but i want to try to minimize my slip now so i want to know which is better, should i get the cleats and pedals, or should i just try the hard toe clips? Any suggestions on what types of products i should be looking at (keep in mind the tight budget)??

[seenvic]

I'd rather have clipless pedals than any suspension, front or rear.

Look for a deal on shoes and pedals together. The cleats come with the pedals.

[mrnutts]

www.pricepoint.com/thumb/1-Clothing-133-Shoes/Mountain-True.htm
copy and paste the link if you need to.

This is a good place to start. In the middle of the page there are a dozen or so shoe pedal combo's from 75.00 to $275.00. If this link doesn't work go to pricepoint.com look under Mountain bike shoes.

Go to a LBS and talk to them. They will normally give you a good deal on pedal & shoe combo. That way you can try the shoes on to see how they feel. Kinda risky buying shoes on line sometimes. (at least for me).

[Sasquatch]

awesome, that helps out a lot. I think if I don't buy them online I'm going to have to go to my local shop (Bikes & Boards in Greenwood, SC). They hook me up wayyyyy too much for me not to give them business when I can. But I really appreciate your help, I really like the Answer Speeder shoes with the egg beater pedals

[EdgeE]

I'd check with Performance Cycle (Greenwood on the by-pass)- liked their prices & staff more.

[Sasquatch]

yeah, i like performance cycle too. I see them out at the trails all the time. Tony up at Bikes & Boards takes real good care of me though (I live real close to B&B too). From what I understand Dave (the older guy) is backing out up there and Tony is taking over at the beginning of the year. So if you give it a little while Bikes & Boards will be able to give you the same prices and service as long as you can ignore the worse facility.

[Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill)]

I have a couple of pairs of Crank Brothers Egg Beaters C pedals I have almost worn out that you can have for free (one pair may need some TLC). Too bad you did not post this last week or I could have given them to you while I was up there. If you are interested, let me know. I may be back the weekend of Dec. 20th. All you would have to do is buy the cleats, which are about $20. I only use Crank Brothers pedals (Egg Beaters mountain or Candy for my road bike and will soon be testing a pair of Acids I bought on E-bay) and love them. Wouldn't use anything else.

[Sasquatch]

I appreciate that but I went ahead and ordered the whole combination, it is supposed to be here today. Many thanks though. thats the kind of southern hospitality that will always keep me here

[seenvic]

Clipless pedals are one product you want to start out with being new, not used.

Getting used to clipping out is key. And the new pedal will have a crisp feel to it that will be much easier to get the hang of. Then as you use them, they become less crisp, but by then you are an old pro at it.

Starting with someone's worn out pedals is a recipe for frustration, and alot of falling over.

[DK]

Dec 3, 2008 13:29:19 GMT -5 seenvic said:

Starting with someone's worn out pedals is a recipe for frustration, and alot of falling over.

So I can't blame all the frustration and falling over I did on my first set of new pedals?

;D

[Sasquatch]

I just got my new pedals and shoes today (what did people do before internet shopping and next day delivery) and I'm hoping to give em a roll today at LCHT today after class

[dgaddis1]

Have fun with them. Clipless is the best thing to happen to bicycles since pnuematic tires.

I took my first clipped in ride out at Modoc...at night. I fell A LOT.

[Sasquatch]

yeah, i'm expecting to have sore shoulders from that slow tip-over, but i'll get it...eventually

[brianW]

Find a field and ride around clipping in and out. I did this in my yard and caught on pretty quick. You will fall a few times on the trail the first few times out. Usally coming to a stop and forgeting to clip out.

[quiver]

Also keep in mind that most clips (on the shoe) can go either way. Depeding on the pedal/clip you choose, you can usually turn them one way to make it easier to unclip (based on the number of degrees you must turn your foot to release from the pedal).... great for getting use to them. And then you can turn them the other direction to make the clip more solid, and less likely to accidently unclip.

I know Crankbros do this...