[Closed] First foray onto clips!

These will do the job
Shimano ME-700 pedals
Personal tip, wind the spring tension all the way out, then back in only 1 or 2 clicks so they are easy to get out, while you get used to them.

Personally I only like the ones with a cage, but also pins. NP Horizons on two bikes work for me.
YMMV.

Obvs not Shimano, but I like CB Mallet E's - loads of float, easy (but not unintentional) release, you don't feel bolted to the bike and a nice platform if you don't instantly get clipped in when setting off. You can even ride them in flat soled trainers for short distances - to the pub/shops etc. I've never tried Shimano

I've always ridden flats but try clipping in every now and then, I've tried Shimanos but felt a bit perched (including caged ones), then tried the Mallet e's and they felt much more like flats, had an actual platform to stand on. Not as definite to clip in and out of but more natural. Still make me nervous compared to flats though tbh.

Pleasedon't go alone on your first few rides. You need your mates with you. Ideally behind you and with a camera! That way even your non attending mates can have a laugh when you fail to unclip the first time. Deep wet ruts are good for this.

I personally wouldn't put much importance on a platform. Clipless shoes are stiff soled to provide the platform themselves. As above I love crankbros because the central spring spins and makes it super easy to clip. But unless you're fully committed just get m520 and have a go. Maybe look on eBay for second hand rather than wasting a new pair

I like Mallet's, I have DH on one bike an E's on the other. I'd been a long time Shimano user before the switch.

If you want some shoe/pedal connection beyond the cleat itself then the Shimano caged trail pedals won't cut it, the cage is more for show and doesn't actually touch the pedal.

Crank Bros clear mud better than Shimano but Shimano are easier to unclip from (CB you have to go fully sideways but Shimano you go more upwards), that can be a positive or negative as I've never accidentally unclipped mid air with a CB pedal.

Shimano have better longevity as the bearings can easily be serviced and are much cheaper to buy. I managed to get my CB pedals for around £40 2nd hand.

Related question...

Which shoes have the most rear set cleats? I'm interested in dabbling again but I always feel like I'm perched on my tip toes.

Crank Bros clear mud better than Shimano but Shimano are easier to unclip from (CB you have to go fully sideways but Shimano you go more upwards), that can be a positive or negative as I’ve never accidentally unclipped mid air with a CB pedal.

To add to this, you need to have feet that can turn inwards to get out of the Crank Bros style pedals. I mean feet, not whole leg. I can't turn my feet inwards unless I turn my whole leg, so I can get out of eggbeaters etc. at the bottom of the pedal stroke, but not at the top. Which is normally OK, but on occasions isn't.

You can test this by lifting your foot up so the knee joint is a right angle. Now try to turn your foot inwards keeping the knee still. Mine don't go beyond straight ahead, whereas many people can get their foot to turn in quite a lot.

Make sure your first time is in a public place with lots of people about to witness your inevitable tumble.
I have shimano xt8100 and bontrager comp - both equally good.
As above, a decent pair of clipless shoes will have a stiff sole so you don't need a platform - you may want one but unlikely you will need one.

To add to this, you need to have feet that can turn inwards to get out of the Crank Bros style pedals.

Count me confused... crankbros are no different to any others. You can turn inwards or outwards. You can set the large vs. small release angle to an outwards turn depending on which cleat you put on which foot.

I personally wouldn’t put much importance on a platform. Clipless shoes are stiff soled to provide the platform themselves.

This is precisely why I like platforms. I hate wearing the stiff soled xc shoes, and in muddy conditions can’t locate the clips as easily. The soles hurt my feet, especially over long distances. So I wear dh style shoes with platforms and pins. But again ymmv.

everyone's different, I prefer stiff soled shoes as I can relax my feet and they don't hurt over long distances.

You don't NEED stiff soled shoes but you need to match the shoes to the pedals. XC shoes will be so stiff that a pedal with a platform is pointless but many shoes are more flexible and the platform does provide extra support. I had some touring style shoes that were really quite flexible, they were horrible on SPD's but felt amazing on Mallet's and genuinely felt like a flat pedal but whilst being clipped in.

It's a case of personal preference rather than one size fits all. It's also worth noting that if you do get Mallet's(or similar) then some shoes will grip the pins too much meaning you have to play around with lowering the pin height or adding cleat spacers.

I'd go for Shimano M424 or M647 and a pair of Shimano AM9 shoes, this is what I did.

When I switched many moons ago I was surprised that the issue wasn't getting out of the SPD's but actually getting back into them when I've pulled over on a trail and its super muddy or I've stopped right on a feature so dont have a few feet to get clipped back in.

Count me confused… crankbros are no different to any others. You can turn inwards or outwards. You can set the large vs. small release angle to an outwards turn depending on which cleat you put on which foot.

Inwards turn isn't possible in some situations because of things getting in the way. Well for me anyhow.

"Which shoes have the most rear set cleats? I’m interested in dabbling again but I always feel like I’m perched on my tip toes."

I just got some Specialized 2fo Cliplite shoes and automatically put the cleats back as far as possible but for the 1st time i'm thinking i might want to move them forward a bit so they could be a good option.

Shimano m520 pedals ,mw7 boots for the winter and five ten Maltese falcon for the summer.

or I’ve stopped right on a feature so dont have a few feet to get clipped back in.

I think one of the few things one has to learn (practice every time) is putting your foot on the clip and clipping in first time without needing to shuffle about or reposition your foot. Just bang it in.

I might have a pair of basically new mallet e's (long spindle version) up for sale. Pm me if interested

I don't think I've ever turned my feet inwards to unclip from Mallets.

Yeah, you have to set them up right, but once done, they are really easy to get in/out of

Shimano ME-700 pedals, or PDM 520's as cheap, reliable start points. The former has a small cage, the latter doesn't.
As above though, everyone is different.
Someone above has said to dial the tension out to begin with, I disagree and think that too little tension can make them feel a bit vague, I'd rather have a touch more and feel properly attached. The increased tension will give a more satisfying click when you clip in/out. I'd personally avoid multi-release cleats for the same reason.
I also prefer stiff soles, clearly others don't.
I'd also make sure you give yourself time to get used to them. The first ride or 3 can feel strange, persist and they may come good, you need a good few rides on a variety of terrain to know if they do work for you or not.

I personally wouldn’t put much importance on a platform. Clipless shoes are stiff soled to provide the platform themselves.

Well the OP has ordered a pair of AM503 which probably aren't that stiff and will work better with a platform SPD.

I’d go for Shimano M424 or M647 and a pair of Shimano AM9 shoes, this is what I did.

I use M424 on my MTB, they're cheap work well enough in terms of having a platform. but do use the older mechanism that doesn't clear mud as well, M647 would behave better with a more modern binding design but will cost more.
M530 are a bit more of a middle-ground option, like an M520 but with a minimal, extended platform and should clear mud a tad better than M424(?).

I've also got some old DX M646 which are bloody monsters and arguably a bit too much cage, currently they're living on my fixed pub bike, I might try them back on an MTB at some point, they are probably the scariest platform SPDs that Shimano ever made...

I find even with the lower release angle on CB pedals you can have situations where your toe hits the crank when trying to unclip, it's not something I've had with SPD's.

Going the other way (from clips to flats) I have to ask why bother?
The only bonus with clips are shoes made for cycling rather than looks.

I switched to SPDs one day out in Morzine, we were sitting in the car park at Linderats and I thought I’d have a go, first run down the Chatel Blues was interesting (and resulted in me suturing up my knee after I failed to commit and Lea enough in the second berm and finding the one sharp pointy rock), but then I realised that with flats I never really took my feet off the pedals anyway and from then on it was pretty much easy going.

I decided to run them exclusively for the next 12 months to see if they made me faster of slower and after 2 holidays in the Alps, lots of BPW, XC, DH and regular riding around my local trails at FOd (including lots of timing on climbs and descents) I came to the conclusion that it didn’t effect my times, I wasn’t any better going up, down or jumping and that a nice pair of 5Ten Impacts or Freeriders were way more comfy than clipped shoes which all seemed to feel too stiff and narrow for my feet. So I switched back.

It was a nice experiment and glad I tried it. On the flip side, my wife switched to clips years ago because she felt her feet were always being bounced off the pedals on rough stuff, again she picked it up pretty quickly without any comedy crashes and just got faster from then on.

I think it’s worth people going from flats to clips or clips to flats as there a benefits to both, but should commit to 3-12 months to give it a good go.

I always preferred the Shimano SPD pedals with a good platform (mine were DX) as the click in and out was less vague than with Crank Bros (also my MK1 Mallets dissolved in UK weather in seconds!). Others prefer CB for that reason.

It's a very good point you make about taking your feet off, I think flat pedal riders often panic that they're stuck to the pedals even though they never take their feet off when they aren't clipped in. The big benefits of clipping in for me is riding my hardtail on rough terrain, if I rode my full sus more I might use my flats a bit more often.

Going the other way (from clips to flats) I have to ask why bother?

I have seen mention of studies saying flats can be just as powerful as you concentrate fully on a good downwards stroke. All I can say to counter that is that I can't ride up the hill to my house on my singlespeed with flats but I can with clips.

Apparently I haven't moved with the times regarding shoes! I have the Shimano spaceman shoes and they seem stiff enough

I don't get the turning inwards thing? Or for that matter the difference between CB and PD, other than PD being clickier, the action is no different.

My top tip for new users is to borrow/buy cheaply some used pedals and cleats and then invest in new stuff once you're confident. Brand new can feel a bit harsh if you're not used to it.

I'll also say that in 20 years? of riding clips, I've never not been able to un-clip when I've needed to. I think folks on flats think this is harder than it is in reality. I've also never been involved in a serious crash (lots of energy involved) where my feet have remained clipped in. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's more rare than you probably think.

Saint spds are great, but also ££££s. Slightly cheaper are the dxs. The trail caged pedals below that don't really offer any support, but I suppose are a slightly bigger area to aim at in a hurry.
So in a recommending-what-you-run fashion, saints for trail/dh shoes and pd520s or 540s for a stiffer xc shoe.

Whatever you go for, don't go for a one side spd /one side flat pedal. They are wrong'uns.

I don’t get ... the difference between CB and PD, other than PD being clickier, the action is no different.

In my experience (this was many years ago mind) eggbeater style pedals require a greater angulation of the foot to get out of, you need to turn your foot a bit more after you have passed the peak of resistance to turning. With Shimano, once you pass that point, your foot pretty much pops out (which may be what you mean by "clilckier"?)

As I posted above, my foot doesn't like pointing in by large angles, so I notice this, if your feet are different, you may not.

As a recent convert to a dropper post I couldn't figure out how to unclip and dab with the seat down.
In my opinion dropper posts and flats go hand in hand.

I don't think that the Shimano ones with a platform that your feet don't rest on are a platform in the same sense. It just gives a bigger object to allow you to flip it level to clip in as MTB pedals don't hang in the same way as road ones.

I couldn’t figure out how to unclip and dab with the seat down.

maybe I'm not understanding, but why can't you just unclip? It's the same as taking your foot off a flat, isn't it?

maybe I’m not understanding, but why can’t you just unclip? It’s the same as taking your foot off a flat, isn’t it?

Maybe because when you lift your feet your weight is resting on the saddle via your arse. When the saddle isn't there you've got nothing to press against.

Just guessing, I don't clip.

i tried clips for a bit, i don't feel i benefitted postively

and those commenting on the no need for a platform.. well, when i tried pedals with just a mechanism, my foot did nothing but rotate and slid all the time..until i tried dmr v twins, my foot was less secure than any platform pedal
i also felt high pressure on my foot under the cleat, these were on shimano and 510 clipless shoes
conversley.. i had no issues bailing clipped in, exception being.. on technical rooty clinbs where i'm barely doing walking speed, then of course a wheel would slip or i'd stall... and thats it over i go

i think, if i was at peak fitness, wearing xc clipless shoes, and spinning pedals constantly, they might be useful (to me)
or, taking part in some high level downhill race... otherwise, you can keep them

 When the saddle isn’t there you’ve got nothing to press against.

the other pedal?

I think flat pedal riders often panic that they’re stuck to the pedals

I'm the exact opposite. 22 years in clips, I worry about not being connected in technical sections and my confidence goes.

This might be worth a watch Clickety. It applies a bit of thought to the different scenarios you might encounter before you actually do. Pretty well explained, I thought.

Only times I’ve failed to unclip in an emergency has been the comedy slow speed OTB catching me out resulting in an impressive catapulting effect of bike over body!

All the rest of my (many) crashes have resulted in momentum and body contortions unclipping me anyway, and I don’t think they would have hurt any less had I been wearing flats!

In my experience (this was many years ago mind) eggbeater style pedals require a greater angulation of the foot to get out of, you need to turn your foot a bit more after you have passed the peak of resistance to turning. With Shimano, once you pass that point, your foot pretty much pops out (which may be what you mean by “clilckier”?)

I had the same sensation using both Garmin and Boardman SPD pedals. Really didn't like it, made me nervous I wouldn't be able to do a quick dab on a technical secion. Shimano pedals have a very positive click, in and out, much nicer feeling.

Like others, in 10 years using SPD's, I never failed to (unconsciously) clip out in a crash.

One of the advantages of Shimano SPDs is they pretty much last forever so you can buy a cheap 2nd hand pair on eBay and they’ll pretty much be fine. I’ve got a pair that’s over 20 years old, never been serviced and still work fine. So just buy a battered 2nd hand pair for £5 - £15 to try with. And a cheap pair of shoes.

They’re also adjustable so you can tighten/loosen how much they take to unclip.

I've always been clipped in. Started on road, and I'm using super stiff Specialized carbon shoes and Look Carbo Pro or Campag C rocord Pedals - super stiff retention and take some getting out. MTB it's XT pedals, both the small XC pedal and the Trail pedal. Trail pedal on the FS which does give some confidence if you need to leave a foot unclipped.

I only use the single release SPD cleats - twist foot out. If getting used to them, you can buy the multi release cleat

I'm still using 2006 bought Time ATAC XS Carbon on the commuter, they don't make them like they used to!

I just hit the local on clips which has some pretty steep sections laced with roots. Still damp and slippery. Nerves still in that sort of grease. There is truth to being locked in and committed though. Last few flat pedal rides have not felt really connected to the bike and just seem all over the place. Conditions and fitness maybe. Feet never in the right place.

Main benefit of clips for me is the added power and efficiency. Especially while standing and getting up a steep hill.

Used shimano and find them the easiest to clip in/out. Tried CB egg beaters once but found them hard to clip into.

Also if shoes are stiff enough there is no need for a platform.