Before SPDs, road bikes used to have a thing where your shoe was strapped to the pedal. You need that for going fast, since it allows you to pull up as well as push down on the pedals
I’m now wondering if @teslekova@sh.itjust.works may speak a language other than English. If that’s what they meant, the usual English term for it is “toe clips”, in contrast with the more modern so-called “clipless” pedals (a name that makes sense in historical context, but is patently absurd today, and on that basis I usually refuse to use it). I wonder if the term for toe clips in their language more literally translates to English as “pedal stirrups”.
As a side note, I feel obligated to point out that Shimano (owners of SPD) did not invent “clipless” pedals. Look did.
I think if I had actually known what stirrups were I might have understood. Unfortunately some quick googling now, I think I was confusing stirrups with bridle & reins.
Personally I’ve always pronounced SPD “speed”. I assumed that was the name they intended with the acronym, but honestly have no real idea.
They make pedalling a lot easier, believe me. Very useful on hills. They will also exercise muscles in your leg that haven’t been used for cycling before, so you may feel the tops of your thighs burning for a little while! :-)
I’m just trying to figure out what it means. Pedal stirrups? Huh?
Before SPDs, road bikes used to have a thing where your shoe was strapped to the pedal. You need that for going fast, since it allows you to pull up as well as push down on the pedals
I’m now wondering if @teslekova@sh.itjust.works may speak a language other than English. If that’s what they meant, the usual English term for it is “toe clips”, in contrast with the more modern so-called “clipless” pedals (a name that makes sense in historical context, but is patently absurd today, and on that basis I usually refuse to use it). I wonder if the term for toe clips in their language more literally translates to English as “pedal stirrups”.
As a side note, I feel obligated to point out that Shimano (owners of SPD) did not invent “clipless” pedals. Look did.
Right you are, I just understood what they meant by stirrups because I grew up around horses.
The only reason I remember the name SPDs is because my brother (who is very into mountain bikes) used to call his “spuds”, so it stuck in my head :-)
I think if I had actually known what stirrups were I might have understood. Unfortunately some quick googling now, I think I was confusing stirrups with bridle & reins.
Personally I’ve always pronounced SPD “speed”. I assumed that was the name they intended with the acronym, but honestly have no real idea.
Well, Shimano being Japanese might never have imagined how people in other countries would try to say it, lol
Also, it wouldn’t be unusual for my brother to call them something stupid on purpose :-P
Sadly I don’t speak anything other than English. And I used to use toeclips, so have no excuse for forgetting the correct name! :)
Yep. Competition cyclists these days probably just have the special shoes which lock onto the pedals. Dunno if there’s any goth boots that have those.
I’m old, and my dad and granddad were bicycle mechanics, so I grew up with the stirrups.
I’ve never done anything that would warrant them, lol … just trundling along on my shitty old mountain bike with big wide platform pedals :-)
They make pedalling a lot easier, believe me. Very useful on hills. They will also exercise muscles in your leg that haven’t been used for cycling before, so you may feel the tops of your thighs burning for a little while! :-)
I’ll take your word for it!