1 RITES OF PASSAGE

1 GOING CLIPLESS

Riding ‘clipless’ means riding ‘clipped-in’ to your pedals. Yes, we know that makes no sense, but it all becomes clear when you consider pedals used to have ‘toe clips’ that you slid your foot into, then tightened the straps over the top. The trouble was that you had to loosen the strap to take your foot out. But why attach your feet to the pedals? Clipping into cleats, like cycling with your toes strapped in, makes you cycle more efficiently. You’ll transfer power to the bike as you pull up on the pedals as well as when you push down, and your feet can’t slip off. However, once you’ve got the knack, you can release your feet more easily with cleats than toe clips. Got it?

There are two main types of clipless shoes, cleats and pedals. Firstly, the three-bolt system commonly referred to as SPD-SL,