I am hoping this isn’t going to be the stereotypical clipless post, but here goes…
A mate has lent me a pair of Look PP206 pedals and Carnac shoes that he is not using anymore. I have quite an old road bike that I purchased second hand, and doesn’t fit me very well.
Currently it has a super old pair of old Shimano toe clip pedals - the type where they have a ridge at the back and a gap in the shoe, you put the gap over the ridge and crank the toestraps on to stay in. I have just been using these with my runners on.
My main concern is not doing damage to myself with the clipless pedals. I seem to remember having read that you can screw up your knees if everything isn’t quite right.
As I said above, the bike was second hand, and is probably a few sizes too small for me, I don’t get full leg extension on the downstroke.
Is there any tips for putting the pedals on? Am I going to hurt myself using them? I am not doing huge distances, I only do a fun 400/10/4 tri every year, so I am probably doing 2-3 1hr rides a week and maybe a 2hr on weekends.
The toe clips aren’t too bad, but the constant leaning down to crank them on, and then the sudden stops without having time to ease the straps and almost falling over is giving me the shits.
SB
And as an aside, would you go back to the toe clips for the 400/10/4 triathlon? It seems that any time savings I would make using better pedals would be easily lost in two shoe changes - even if I leave the pedals on the bike.
-once you get used to them, using clipless pedals isn’t that big a deal, although they can be intimidating at first. i’d definilty get used to riding the bike w/out them first, if it’s a new bike and you’ve never clipped in before.
-once common problem people have w/clipless pedals: you’re riding around, doing fine, then you get to a red light/stop sign etc., someplace where you have to stop, so you slow to a stop but forget that you aren’t using toeclips. at that point it’s too late… and you fall over to the side. more embarrasing than anything else.
-for the sprint tri: last summer i did one that was aroudn 2 miles from my house. so i just biked there,w/my running shoes on and my bike shoes in my backpack. i was surprised how well i could ride even w/the little pedals. so yes, very possible that you could make up more time in T2 by biking in the running shoes. but you should still use the clipless pedals for training.
-once you get used to them, using clipless pedals isn’t that big a deal, although they can be intimidating at first. i’d definilty get used to riding the bike w/out them first, if it’s a new bike and you’ve never clipped in before.
I have done well over 1000km on the bike, so I am not worried about that.
-once common problem people have w/clipless pedals: you’re riding around, doing fine, then you get to a red light/stop sign etc., someplace where you have to stop, so you slow to a stop but forget that you aren’t using toeclips. at that point it’s too late… and you fall over to the side. more embarrasing than anything else.
At the moment I crank my toeclips on once I am moving. With them cranked they are very difficult to get out of, so I have already had this experience twice when I forget to lean down to ease them off and get my shoe off - at least I can unclip from clipless ones easier than that - no lean and grab!
At least thats the theory.
SB
Urbanrider
There is a guy in SoCal Russ Jones Age 50. Talked to him at a race and read an article in Competitor magazine on him. For sprnt/oly’s he uses running shoes with mod. 105 pedals. He said it really saves time. I don’t know if he is right but at 50 and he places in the top 5 or better in most races the enters.(over all). I was thinking of posting a thread on the subject. He hammers on the bike! . One more thing I’m 53. I walked by him at the end of a race and said to him how did you do? he ans. #2 . I said to my wife I did not do too bad she burst my bubble he took #2 over all… OH!
Bob
Russ uses platforms with two leather straps, each. His T1s are about the same as everyone else. It’s his T2’s that are smoking fast as all he has to do is rack the bike, pop the helmet off and run. Russ claims his setup is lighter than pedals and cycling shoes and with a full bed platform, he gets the same stiffness as a cycling shoe. If you’ve seen him ride, you know he turns it over at a really slow cadance, yet is able to pull off low 18 min 5ks.
Steve
I have seen his pedal set up several times. I would try the set up if any one sold them.(in a sprint) As you know, his look home made? I have seen him ride several times the last time in Palm Spring as he blew by me. He is smoking fast, nice guy also.
Bob
Russ is a classic. Before I knew who he was, i called him “the Grunt Guy” because he grunts and sort of talks to himself through the race. I’ve done about 5 races that he was in in 2005, and he smoked the field in his AG in every one of them, winning by minutes, not seconds.
Jay
He is in my AG how do I compete with that? I first met him at Long Beach Tri in 04. First guy I raced with an aero helmet. I checked out your training on beginners web site. Looks like your ready for Ford 70.3
Bob
Right on Bob. Yeah, putting in the miles,but not nearly as much as alot of guys do! I’ll be upping the run miles here slowly over the next 6 weeks leading up to my taper. Doing most of my run miles on the dirt fire roads around my house…plenty of hill work…I love it!
About beating Russ…if you could just cut his achilles it might slow him down a bit…just joking of course. The guy’s a legend. We all swim in his wake!
I read the post from urbanrider. You got some good advice. I just want to add my bit. Give them some time you will get them down. They are well worth it. Make sure they are working properly they should not be that hard too get out of. As for the posts on the guy (Russ) he is a special case with his own pedal system.
Good luck and ride safe Bob