How to Accessorize Road Bike Pedals
When you're riding a road bike, you should be the one powering the bike. You transfer that power through your feet to the bike pedals. The old flat plastic pedals that you used to ride around the block with aren't the only choice in bike pedals anymore. If you take frequent or long bike rides, you'll get a much better ride when you accessorize with new road bike pedals.
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Consider where you want to take your road bike. If it's a simple ride from point A to B, you may want to stick with the same pedal that came with your bike. If you plan to take longer or more difficult rides, look for a good pedal/shoe system that is more powerful.
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Ask yourself whether toe clips are the answer. Once made of steel, most of today's toe clips on $350 to $1,000 bikes are made of plastic. The toe clip provides a box or cage to slip your foot into. You then pull the strap over the foot for a good fit. While toe clips don't allow your feet to fall off the pedals, using the strap to tighten or release your feet while in motion can be a little tricky.
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Check the latest in road bike pedals, the clipless pedal system. Cycling shoes with cleats snap into a receptacle on the pedal so that your feet just snap onto the pedal. Twist your heel out to snap out of the pedals.
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Realize that the clipless pedal system may be the best, but it's also the most costly. For one thing, you have to buy two components, the shoes and the pedal. Cycling only shoes come in lightweight, comfortable styles, but the exposed cleats make walking difficult. Cycling shoes come with a recessed cleat make walking much easier. Numerous manufacturers like Nike and Sidi make good cycling shoes that start at $70.
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Match your cycling shoes to your pedal. Cycling only shoes need a cycling only pedal. Look for manufacturers who know what they're doing in pedal design, like Shimano, KEO and Crank Brothers. Recessed cleat pedals start at $50 with exposed cleat designs starting a little higher.
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Practice getting in and out of your clipless pedals before you take your road bike on a longer ride. Some cyclists feel that the recessed cleat design is much more difficult to get your foot out of than the exposed cleat shoe.
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