Pedal clipped or not?
Montreal cyclist, are you the type to use clipless pedals – also called clip pedals – when traveling around town? It's everyone's choice, believe experts Jacques Sennechael and Yvan Martineau, editor-in-chief and journalist respectively at Vélo Mag, but they have some recommendations to make your choice easier.
First of all, what is a clipless pedal? It's a pedal on which you can clip your bike shoe using cleats.
Are they necessary for a cyclist who only wants to get around Montreal? The answer is simple for Yvan Martineau: no. However, can they be practical? Absolutely.
More efficient
These pedals allow the rider to push and pull with every stroke, increasing efficiency, power, speed, while reducing effort.
“Someone who goes the distance, who leaves from Lachine or Boucherville and goes to Montreal for work every day, or someone who often has to climb the Berri hill or go through Camillien-Houde road on Mount Royal is going to want automatic pedals [as they help for long distances and make it easier to climb hills]”, believes the expert.
Not dangerous
But is it dangerous in the city? No, but it takes some experience. Jacques Sennechael suggests to a neophyte to practice a little beforehand in an open place before engaging in the dense traffic of the city center.
“People who don't ride clipless pedals feel like if a car door opens in front of them they won't be able to react fast enough to put their foot down, but when you're used to it, it's not not the case”, explains Yvan Martineau.
Easy to use
As the explains Jacques Sennechael, the cycling shoe is fixed in the pedal, but you just have to turn slightly to release it. For someone used to it, taking off and putting back on your foot is as simple as on a normal pedal, adds Yvan Martineau.
It is also possible to choose its adjustment so that the pedal is clipped in a tight or looser way. A city cyclist will probably want it looser while a long-distance runner will probably fit it tighter since they stop less often. “It's a matter of choice depending on the nature of what you do as a trip,” says Yvan Martineau.
Small inconveniences
For Jacques Sennechael, the main constraint of automatic pedals is having to drag another pair of shoes with you. Anyone who minds it should stick with normal pedals. Someone who uses their bike to get to the office can leave their regular shoes behind and that's it.
Lastly, of course, every accessory has a price. This varies a lot depending on the quality. A bicycle shoe can cost from $75 to $250 and clipless pedals from $40 to $280.
