How do clipless bike pedels work?

Question

Do you need the special shoes for them? Or since they say "standard cleats included", would they be ready to use?

Answer 1

Yes, you need special shoes for clipless pedals.  Clipless pedals are an alternative to platform pedals with toe straps.  The idea is that there is a special cleat at the bottom of the cycling shoe that connects directly with the pedal, providing a solid connection between you and your bike.  The cleat which is bolted onto your shoe will fit into a special binding in the pedal which locks into place once pressed in.  It is a similar concept to bindings for skis or snowboards.  

This connection allows you to pull up with your foot instead of just pushing down on the downwards stroke, making it more efficient.  However, this also makes it harder to get out of since it does not release when you pull your foot up.  Instead, exiting the pedals requires a sideways twisting motion of the heel, which requires slightly more effort.  If you do go for either strapped platform pedals or clipless pedals, I strongly recommend practicing getting in and out without moving before going in traffic.

Don't let the previous poster scare you into thinking that clipless pedals are unsafe, once you learn how to use them it isn't any different from normal pedals.  I certainly think that they are safer than strapped platform pedals.  And for looking cool, seriously, when's the last time you saw a serious cyclist and thought "Wow, that guy looks pretty cool."  Regardless of pedals, we look like oddballs.

For short distances, you can ride on top of clipless pedals without shoes, it's just not nearly as comfortable.  The longer Look-style pedals in particular are pretty well suited for riding with tennis shoes.  Egg beaters or SPD style ones might be a little less comfortable.

Answer 2

Yes you need special shoes.

Be prepared to take many a tumble getting used to them.

They keep your feet locked into the pedals and usually the only way to get them to release is to rotate your foot outward.

Getting unclipped at a stop can cause you to fall over if you are not used to un-clipping.

Its scary.

I say forgo clip-less pedals and get a pair of platforms with the little spikes that help grab into the bottom of your shoes.

If you smash them into the ground mid turn, odds are they will survive. If you are going to crash at least your bike won't try to kill you because you can't unclip in time. If you just want to go for a lap around the block, you don't have to put on your special shoes like a nerd.

You are more cool with platforms anyways.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

You need special shoes for clipless pedals. You can find them from about $60 up to insane amounts.

First, you chose a pedal system. The pedal system will use either 2 bolt or 3 bolt cleats. The first pair of cleats usually comes with the pedals. Then you need to buy shoes that are compatible. Many shoes work with both 2 and 3 bolt systems (they have 5 holes), but there are a lot of shoes that are system specific.

I'm most familiar with the Look system which I consider the best for the road. You put the front of the cleat into the pedal and then push down on the back so that it snap-locks into place. While pedaling, you will get a 15-20% increase in power transfer. You have to uncleat when you stop by rotating your heel outward.

It's not that big a deal to learn how to use clipless pedals. The first time I rode with them, I did perfectly with a 26 mile ride that had a lot of starting, stopping, traffic lights, hills, and descents. I got back to my house and fell over because I forgot to take my foot out of the pedal. Since then, I've done stupid pedal tricks about 3-4 times. When that happens, you fall over on the side. It's much more embarrassing than painful. You'll learn quickly.

HTH

Answer 4

For the straps (toe clips) you do not need special shoes but you will get better leverage with the real deal clipless. You need cycling shoes, which you can get fairly cheap for the clipless. Clipless pedals take a little while to get used to, but after some practice it's a breeze.