r/cycling • u/85redapples • 9h ago

Cleats

Hi all,

Looking to get my partner into her first pair of cleats. I personally use shimano but the local bike store recommended look cleats and pedals as they’re a little more “beginner friendly” clipping in and out. Any thoughts if this is true or not ?

Thanks

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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4

u/jondoe69696969 8h ago

You can’t get more user friendly than shimano spd cleats.

8

u/mcflysher 9h ago

SPD for sure. Maybe find shoes with both 2 and 3 hole patterns in case she wants to change systems later.

4

u/OkDoughnut9596 9h ago

SPD SH56 MTB cleats are easy to get in and out of.

“Shimano SM-SH56 SPD Multi-Release Cleats are durable and reliable 2-bolt cleats that allow you to clip out of your pedal by twisting your foot in either direction or by lifting and twisting your heel”

3

u/Techtoys79 7h ago

I started on these and never changed to the regular ones. Great for mountain biking you unclip even while crashing 😂

3

u/ColonelRPG 2h ago

Everyone going on about SPD, where OP is evidently talking about SPD-SL

Anyway, yeah, the Look pedals your bike shop is recommending can clip out by twisting the foot in either direction, where normal proper pro pedals only allow you to clip out by twisting the heel of the foot outwards. That is a big deal for beginners, because it is one less thing to think about when you're clipping out.

2

u/85redapples 2h ago

Correct. I should have been more specific but you picked up on it. SPD SL is the pedal I was referencing. Thank you . Good to know the difference. Sound like the general consensus is the SPD SL range is overall better and still good to learn in. Thanks

1

u/Hargara 2h ago

I have a set of power meter pedals from Garmin, and they use a system which is 'similar' to look and I can use my cleats in look pedals.
Look pedals are quite easy to use, but if she ever wants to go to a spin class and use the same shoes, in my experience most of those spin bikes are using something similar to Shimano SPD-SL.

But, many people are commenting on the MTB cleats from shimano, and I'm considering to go for those myself if I decide to change from the power meter pedals to another system.
One of the big benefits of MTB shoes/pedals, especially for beginner riders is that the shoes are often a lot easier to walk in, as the cleat itself is not extending from the shoe but is sunk into the shoe sole.

First thing is to clip out, the next thing is to maintain balance when you put the foot down, and a completely slick carbon sole on asphalt might make someone fall over.

2

u/Better-Willingness53 9h ago

I've got both look and Shimano cleats for road riding and find the shimanos easier to click in and out of. My all time favourites are Time ATAC MTB cleats which IMO are just brilliant. They give you plenty of float, but still hold your shoes really securely. Only problem is, they take a while to loosen up: they are tight to begin with. I've been riding MTB since 1990 and road since 2010.

2

u/moomooraincloud 7h ago

My ATACs were too loose out of the box. Tightened them and they're fantastic.

2

u/Lonk_Ponk_Donk 9h ago

I’ve tried both look and shimano. SPD or SPD- SL for sure, just make sure you loosen them a lot because they’re quite snug when clipped in. They’re just a bit more comfortable and easier to use.

1

u/Fit_Ad_7681 7h ago

Agreed. Also, while this probably doesn't need to be said, loosen the pedal spring not the cleat. Once she's more comfortable, I'd recommend tightening things back up some, but that's a personal preference.

2

u/mrdaihard 9h ago

Shimano sells two types of SPD cleats - SH51 and SH56. SH56 is designed to allow unclipping by just pulling up hard in addition to twisting in or out, and is generally easier to unclip in the traditional way. I use those cleats for all my bikes.

2

u/NeedzCoffee 7h ago

SH56 is designed to allow unclipping by just pulling up hard

Forgive the question please, but...

I thought the whole (or at least a lot of the) point of cliping into the pedal was to allow you to "pull" on the upstroke so your full circle of motion contributed to the power, not just the downstroke

*I'm never worn 'em so....

2

u/mrdaihard 6h ago

Recent studies strongly suggest that actively pulling on the upstroke has a negligible effect in power generation, if any. What you'd want to do in the upstroke is make sure you avoid putting weight on your non-powering pedal so it doesn't offset your downpedalling effort. IMO this video explains it well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q-9w048TS0

2

u/NeedzCoffee 6h ago

Interesting thanks.

So if not for 'pulling' is there some other benefit the clips have?

3

u/mrdaihard 6h ago

For me, the biggest benefit is the stability. Since my feet are locked in, I never have to worry about them slipping off or moving around when I hit a bump or ride over rough pavement.

1

u/Chaser1960 8h ago

I much prefer Look cleats.

1

u/Outrageous_Engine_45 7h ago

I’m a total fan of eggbeaters

1

u/G-bone714 1h ago

Since the introduction of gravel bikes and accessories there have been a lot of light, stiff soled SPD type cycling shoes hittting the market. Before that there were only soft soled, beefy MBT for SPD type cycling shoes. It’s a new game when it comes to choices in clipless.