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My physio has suggested that I try out clipless to help with my knee issues so I going to give it a shot but have no idea where to start. I have used 5 ten freeriders for the past 7 years with some DMR Vaults and like the feeling of a big platform pedal under my foot.
I am only trying this out to start with so I want to keep pedals + shoes under £100 and happy to go second hand.
What do you guys suggest I try?
If you want them to be easier on the knees then Crank Brothers are the standard suggestion.
So something the like the Mallet DH or Mallet 2/3 would have a decent platform.
They do need a bit more care/servicing than Shimanos though.
Thanks, I will look into those, I'm generally ok at keeping things serviced so should be alright.
Or go for Time Atac last a lot longer than Crank Bros and a good chance of keeping to your budget
Time Atac
Shimano M520s and a set of the multi-release cleats. Super cheap and you can leave them to your grandchildren.
Edit: or the trail ones if you want a platform but I've never felt the need for them.
My current pair of shimano m520 pedals are about seven years old and just keep going without any servicing at aii.
Maltese falcons for the summer and shimano winter boots for the colder months.
MX2 time atac
Really got on with Time and Shimano. Really didn't get on with Crank Bros!
They felt very inconsistent for me. One minute, a flick of the ankle and I'm out, the next minute I'm in a sideways panic fall after trying to rag my stuck foot off the damn thing!
My missus uses the Time for winter boots now and I use Shimano.
Cheers guys, I will take a look at all the suggestions. Someone has already offered me a set of Nukeproof Horizon CL Pedals and Giro Chamber Shoes which I might go for.
Shimano PD-M520, 530 or 540 and multirelease SM-SH56 cleats.
Get whichever shoes you like the look/price of.
Going I from flats to clip less to help with knee issues seems an odd suggestion. Other way round I could see being helpful
I was a long term SPD rider but switched to Mallets as the platform is bigger and you can't accidentally unclip like SPD's. I got my pedals second hand on pinkbike, you can get them quite cheaply in good condition as people often try clips and soon give up.
pedlad
Full Member
Going I from flats to clip less to help with knee issues seems an odd suggestion. Other way round I could see being helpful
I agree. It's why I am now on flats.
I loved my crank bros egg beaters but got fed up of buying pedals or repair kits. Cleats were expensive too (compared to shimano)
Went back to shimano. Tried xtr but they didn't last. I've got a pair of 520s older than some of the people I ride with.
My favourite pair are a540 with a black cage platform. There's a weight penalty but they are better.
I've currently got xts on one of my bike that seem to be the sweet spot.
I use Crank Brothers with Shimano. 2nd pair of shoes. I would not go back
Perfect.
It does seem unusual to suggest for bad knees that you try clipless instead of your current flats. Perhaps clipless has a bit of float whereas grippy flats once you’re in the pedal you’re stuck / adjustment is hard?
I switch between flats and clips - I’ve got the Horizon clipless pedals with the flat platform. There’s not huge float there - so it wouldn’t be my choice if that’s something you want. They don’t play that well with Shimano cleats (even though they work / are compatible they’re harder to get clipped in with).
I’d be looking at Time pedals personally. I used to have atacs back in the day and loved them. MX4 or DH4. For budget it probably need to be the MX4 unless you go secondhand.
Shoe wise if you’re going with a pedal with a platform avoid the more xc style shoes. Something like a Shimano AM7 works well with the horizons or similar style pedals.
I think that physion's suggestion makes some sense. Modern flat pedals and shoes are indeed a zero float system, and one that's no always at the correct position to make things worse. I used Nukeproof Horizons with Five Ten Impacts for a long time and one of the reasons that made switch back to clips recently was in fact kneed comfort. On longer climbing days, say over 1000m gain, my knees specially my left one would start to bother me a little.
I feel no such thing on SPD, even with maxed out tension
The king of all cheap SPD’s is the Shimano 520, 530 if you want a platform. Cheap, last forever and work well.
And for the love of God avoid the multi-release cleats, they are horrible things, vague, clip out at odd times, terrible things. I think they’re even worse for new riders as the lack of certainty in release sends people back to flats. It takes no time at all to learn how to use the normal cleats and they’re so much. Ether.