I'm looking into buying road bike cleats and pedals, should I start with a one sided or more then that?

Question

Are there certain ones that a good for beginners?

Answer 1

They look different but basically all work the same way.

The disadvantage of platform/cleat combo pedals is they are heavy and you have to flip the pedal to get the right side. They are also only (as far as I know) available in spd style ... which limits you to that system. The advantage is they allow either regular shoes or bike shoes without changing anything.

"Real" pedals are always the "right" side, available in multiple different styles and lighter, but more expensive and require commitment to wear bike shoes whenever you ride the bike.

You need to consider whether you want to walk in the bike shoes .. in which case you want spd or similar cleats since road cleats are difficult to walk in.

I don't know your wishes, habits, etc ...so I can't guess which is better for you.

My view though is that a good place to start -- assuming you aren't "hard core" -- is with the spd/platform combo pedals. They are easy to get used to and are also relatively inexpensive.

Answer 2

I would chose the pedal platform based on what kind of riding you want to do.... if you're looking to do long rides or race, then a typical road setup is probably for you. If you're commuting or running errands and will be walking around without the bike, then SPD is the way to go.

If one-sided versus two-sided is your main concern, you could also look into the Speedplay type of road pedals. They resemble lollipops in shape, and you can clip in on either side. These are also good for people with bad knees. The cleats would still be more difficult to walk around in though.  

Either way, whatever route you go, you should find a grassy area to practice clipping in and out before you go riding. It takes a little time to get used to clipless. you can't wait until you come to a complete stop before you clip out of one of your pedals, or down you will go. since you won't be moving, it usually hurts your pride more than anything else.

Answer 3

I kind of agree generally with agb90 but don't get an SPD/Platform combo !  - That's for part-time MTBers!!

If you don't do a lot of Miles and have to walk anywhere then go for something simple like a good SPD pedal (suggest Shimano M520)

If your not planning to walk much then go for the two most popular (both are easy to use) Look Keo or Shimano SPDR.

With a proper road pedal, you will transfer power, perform better and avoid 'Hotspots' on the foot (provided your shoes are half decent).

On the surface Speedplay pedals are a dream come true but they do have a few inherent problems -best avoided for now!

btw. Look Keo has different degrees of 'float' on the pedals (regulated by a colour coded cleat system) so if you do have dodgy knees or inexperienced at setting them up, choose the red cleats.

Ask at your Local Bike Shop mate.

Best of luck.

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