Clipless Combo for beginner.

[tristancliffe]

Hello. Cycling newbie here! Had a mountain bike (on road-ish tyres) built by a work colleague (Kinesis Maxlight XC2 frame, Acera/Deore groupset, hydraulic discs - it's not the best bike in the known universe, but I like it a lot so far, and not a bad introduction).

Putting on the miles, and I do prefer to spin the cranks (85-100rpm) rather than grind, but I'm currently using flat pedals and trainers (or steel toe capped boots for my short commute), and I'd like to try clipless to see if I can spin at the rates I want without my feet centrifuging off the pedals at top dead centre.

I'd like cheap to start with, in case I don't like them or they cause knee pain, so I won't have lost out too much. I can always spend more later once I'm happy.
I'd like mtb style so I can walk like a normal person in them.
I'd like double sided pedals so I can commute in work boots or nip to the shops without having to change shoes, although I have seen adaptor plates that clip in for that eventuality.

But maybe I'm misguided, naive, stupid...

What combo of shoes and pedals would you recommend for someone who doesn't want to discard the flat pedal concept entirely, but would like a cheap entry into the clipless world? Open to all sensible suggestions.

[smifffymoto]

Shimano A 530 pedals and a pair of shoes you have tried on rather than bought off the web.Decathlon are cheap.

[Mr Ted]

Plus 1 thumbs up for the Shimano SPD/Flats, I have a pair of M324 on my Genesis Croix de Fer and either wear 5-10 Freeriders and use the flat side, or some 5-10 shoes with SPDs, I think it is fair to say that shoes for cleats have stiffer soles as the contact area with the pedal is smaller so although I can wear my flat Freeriders all day the SPD shoes are just a bit too stiff for all day wear.

Living on the overpopulated edge of the Cotswolds I frequently find myself hill starting on some quite steep gradients (often as a result of a 'yummy mummy' in an Evoke lol) and the M324s are a good solution. I find clipping back in on steep gradients can be a bit hit and miss with road cleats but with the SPD/Flat pedal it doesn't matter if I don't hit it right I can still get going then reset the errant foot once I have some momentum.

Practice clipping in and out somewhere safe and accept the fact that sooner or later you will fall off!!

[tristancliffe]

Thanks both of you.
I'm prepared to fall off. Though I have foolish confidence that I'll be the one that doesn't!

Like those pedals, but finding shoes is quite difficult. I tried a few on in town to get an idea of fits, but the shops in Norwich only have a nice but four shoes each, all of which above my budget. So I think I'll go for the option of buying several online and sending back the ones that don't fit. Slightly more expensive initially, but the refund hopefully won't take too long to process.

Thanks again.

[Magic919]

Use someone like Wiggle, that are good at returns. You might have to go up a size. £30-40 should do it.

[tristancliffe]

I've got size 11 (46) feet, and wiggle have a very poor selection in that size. Chain Reaction has a decent range of budget and slightly less budget options. I thought about using Evans so I can collect in store, try them there, and return them instantly, but their range and prices aren't quite as good. My local bike shop (I don't count big nationwide stores as local bike shops) don't do shoes.

Chain Reactions wins so far.

[Magic919]

Wiggle and Chain Reaction are same company these days. They are fine to deal with too.

[tristancliffe]

Odd, then, that they don't have the same stock.

Have ordered the A530s, and a selection of 4 mtb shoes in 46 and, for Shimano, 47s. Hopefully one of them will be comfortable.

Thanks folks.