Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - clipless vs clips

did a search first since i figured this must have come up before, but couldn't find anything.

so what do the majority prefer, and why?

clips. because track standing. and you can where normal shoes. but for racing clipless because they are faster

Some like clipless because they can be easier to get into when your pedals are moving.

I'm a fan of clips and straps because I'm not all that sold on cycling shoes.

I'm a fan of clips and straps because I'm not all that sold on cycling shoes.
Moi aussi! (Me too, for you non-Frenchies.)

i just put my clipless pedals from my roadie onto my fixed gear and woo

its nice

i tipped over twice doing trackstands, but those were alot longer than usual

well, I personally enjoy my eggbeaters (clipless) I had clips/straps for awhile but it just makes more sense efficiency wise to use a stiff cycling shoe and you get better power transfer with clipless in my opinion.

But I guess its to each his own, I know as stated above alot of people like clips and straps because you can wear your street shoes, but if you ask me I say go clipless, if you want to be able to walk around in your cycling shoes, just get MTB shoes

i love clipless. crank bros.

Im kinda torn on this issue. Clipless is faster but like Thez im no pro at the trackstand and sometimes fall over and get bo bo's. Ive got clipless that are big enough so if its a shot ride i just wear street shoes and no problems.

i just put my clipless pedals from my roadie onto my fixed gear and woo

its nice

i tipped over twice doing trackstands, but those were alot longer than usual

I cheat sometimes by unclipping and putting the clip-in part of my eggbeaters under my toes for trackstands. then I can "roll" the pedal and clip in when I start moving again.

Hey, if you fall over f'ing up a trackstand with clipless, you're gonna do the same with toe clips... They are harder to get out of, if you have them properly tightened. Just unclip and move your foot forward if you are uncertain about the trackstand.

Clipless all the way. Easier to get in and out, more efficient power transfer, will never slip out on a careless curb-hop like too loose toe clips can. Plus I enjoy the wierd looks from people when my shoes start clicking on stairs like high heels:D

Im really good at getting out of toe clips. The clipless is new but after only two days
I dont think I'll be going back. Plus ive got overlap like a !@#$%. I think that is one of
my problems with the track stand.

i hear great things about PowerGrips. you'll get no style points with them but they're easier to get out of than clips and straps, nd provide the power transfer close to that of clipless pedals. plus they're cheap and you don't have to buy shoes, so they're great for errand running and commuting and shiznit.

excellent for those who winter bike too. Only clips in the world that will fit big ol winter boots. They have style in that 'who gives a sh*t about style' kinda way.

You can get shoes that have recessed soles for clipless pedals. You don't have to gimp around like roadies with their road specific shoes.

When I go for long rides clipless Speedplays.

When I cruise or run errands, I use platforms and sandles.

It only takes a minute or two to switch them out. I keep the extra set of pedals next to the bike with a pedal wrench so I don't have to go looking for one.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention.

Clipless pedals can give you more ground clearance (less chance of pedal strike).

Crank brothers candy C is $50. Shoes with recessed soles can be had for $30.

If you have the money this is a good way to go.

ok interesting. i use spds and expected to find myself in the minority. re some of the points above i've used them for a long time and unclip much faster than i would exit a set of clips, so the long trackstand thing is no decider here. also to the guy who changes pedals to use flats for errands: you can buy these plastic platforms with spd mounts underneath that you can just clip in for instant flat pedals. i'm sure tyey amke them for all pedal systems

you can buy these plastic platforms with spd mounts underneath that you can just clip in for instant flat pedals.

I friend has these and I have tried them. I am sure they are OK for some, but to me they are a compromise. They do neither (clipless or platform) very well. Sometimes I like using street shoes so I can walk like a normal person. The only thing that works for me is platforms (sandles) or toe clips (shoes).

I have tried the clippless sandles. Also not for me. I have a pair of Doc Marten sandles that I love. The clippless sandles are some plastic crap.

It really is not a big deal to change pedals. I have used this method for two or three years now. It's a little extra work but worth the results.

ive been contemplating purchasing another sit of cleats to screw into pieces of wood to make my own cliples-platform adaptor

no good?

I just put the powergrips on my bike. not very sexy, but pretty awesome. I like 'em!

i hear great things about PowerGrips. you'll get no style points with them but they're easier to get out of than clips and straps, nd provide the power transfer close to that of clipless pedals. plus they're cheap and you don't have to buy shoes, so they're great for errand running and commuting and shiznit.

I'd heard the same. Tried 'em a few weeks ago. Went back to clips. You need a very stiff shoe with 'em. It's a funky feel I didn't like. Getting out of them is similar to doing so with clipless (you need to twist your foot).

I just put the powergrips on my bike. not very sexy, but pretty awesome. I like 'em!

that being said, I rather ride clipless. it's just a pain that you have to wear special shoes.

My current setup is a pair of low-grade Looks. They are a great road pedal for long rides, and the bottom is smooth enough to use as a platform pedal with sandals on. Wonderfully versatile.

Im a fan of clipless pedals and mountain shoes. For some reason I never got the hang of clips and straps. I guess after busting my ass trying to bail out gets you bent on them. :P

if you are me:

apply max torque in all 360 degrees of pedal motion == faster, stronger, more endurance

faster, stronger, more endurance == better

better == must have it!

If you do go clipless I'd say get the stiffest road shoe you can. Soft soles make the whole thing less efficient I think. I don't see what the big deal is about special shoes, either... I got really tired of ruining a pair of sneakers every time I had to ride in the rain. Road shoes don't rot out like running shoes do from the wet. I just carry street shoes in my bag and do a quick switch if I'm going to be walking around.... but usually when I go out I go out to ride, so it doesn't matter.

I just swiched to SPD from clips today, amazing. I love it.

(Trackstanding just unclip one foot and put the pedal under your toes)

Spd :(
Atac :)

clips. because track standing. and you can where normal shoes. but for racing clipless because they are fasteryah, right....

Spd :(
Atac :)

what's better about the atac's? i've been on SPD's for a while - i've had no problems with them. now i'm in the market for new pedals and thinking this is my chance to try out something different.

I use look Deltas, the black no-float kind.

Many people are telling me that SpeedPlay is where its at, though. One guy at work got so worked up convincing me to use them that he offered to buy a spare set for himself just so I could try them out.

what's better about the atac's? i've been on SPD's for a while - i've had no problems with them. now i'm in the market for new pedals and thinking this is my chance to try out something different.

well for riding fixed i guess theres not too much difference but for SS MTBing the atacs perform much better.

ive been contemplating purchasing another sit of cleats to screw into pieces of wood to make my own cliples-platform adaptor

no good?
How thick would the wood be? Are you going to be willing to change your seat height all the time too? Me, I got some Winwood instep adaptors, but never really used them, just kept using my bike shoes.

It's funny. I thought people got used to whatever they started with. If you started with clipless, clips seemed a pain. "What do you mean, reach down and tighten the strap and then reach down again to loosen it before you stop?" Likewise, people who got used to toeclips got into the habit of pulling/yanking their foot up and back instead of twisting it.

I have no idea what relevance clips or clipless has to do with trackstands- you have to know how to take your foot quickly out of either. And I find it's just as easy either way (or I've learned not to wait past the last moment to dab). Of course, it took me a six hour mountain bike ride where I fell about a dozen times before I truly made the transition from clips to clipless (okay, a lot of that was exhaustion).

I can only infer that a lot of you are starving kids who cannot afford the luxury of clipless pedals and shoes. That's reasonable- a bike often starts off as basic transportation and track bikes are about as basic as it gets. But once you start building up custom frames with handbuilt wheels and high end components, it might be time to look into clipless. Yes, expect to fall over a few times- probably more often than you launched yourself over the bars forgetting not to coast- but I think clipless will provide more benefits than a new frame or high end components could.

To revive an incessant thread, what's the poser pedal of choice? :)

Of course, it took me a six hour mountain bike ride where I fell about a dozen times before I truly made the transition from clips to clipless (okay, a lot of that was exhaustion).Years ago on techincal terrain I used to topple over without even cinching my straps!

The benefits are huge, And youd be suprised at how cheaply you can get a set. Its a shame I waited as long as I did. OH and I use dado spd's I got on the cheap at a used shop for 25 the 50 for shoes and the guy at my lbs gave me some cleats of his own for free.

what's the poser pedal of choice? :)

Eggbeater Triple Ti

i wore clips and straps cuz there wasn't any clipless...then clipless was invented and about ten years later my dad gave me some pedals and I was hooked. I was one of those people who would pull my straps so tight my toes would go numb. full circle pedaling was my desire, and then I had it. Now I am a happy camper.

I was SPD'in for about the past ten years, and just about a month ago got some crank bros candys. I like crank bros more than SPD. the feeling is more tactile--you can tell how tight you're in. When your'e turning your foot to release, you can feel the tension change. It's a beautifully designed system.

For the platform/cleated debate, I suggest a double-sided pedal. My pedal of choice for the past 5 years was a shimano m-324, which is a normal cage pedal on one side and an SPD pedal on the other. This also lent it greater support with clipless shoes, which meant I could wear my mountain shoes till they were very old and not get hotspots. Obviously it's not a solution for racing or serious long road rides, but for general use and not-so-short rides it worked great for me. Crank bros makes a sort of combo platform/cleat pedal called the mallet that I am contemplating using on my MTB, which gets used for grocery hauling as well as going to the train station (in normal shoes, for meetings and such).

i have a question about clips:
i've been riding with clips for about three months now - i've never ridden clipless.
but i never tighten my straps - i just have them adjusted so that i can get into them with my sneakers, and go. am i in danger?
i had read about tightening them on sheldon's site, but i can't figure out how one would balance and tighten both clips while on fixed without holding onto something to steady oneself. is there any advice you all could give me? thanks...

I wore spds for years before I got hooked on times, you can't pull out of times unexpectedly, very nice on fixed or anything else for that matter. folks tell me they can't get out of them as they hold so well. but thats just the first day or the first few hours. just as easy to get out of once its muscle memory and the tight hold is wot\rht it. once they
ve ridden a day or two it's nof\d going back plust the pedals themselves last a long time. I've used 2 pair in 4 years and still use one of the 2. almost no degradation of hold, used 5 pair of cleats in that time, the shoes run out of steam on me fbefore the clealts so I should say that the pedal should last through 2.5 pair of (nice)shoes before the newer models start looking good

My straps are kept tight enough that there's not much vertical leeway but so that I can still slip out of them fairly easily (no-tread soles help). Only when I'm going on a long ride or racing do I crank them down.

It's not easy for me to adjust them while riding; wouldn't want to do it every day.

adjusting while riding isnt bad, just reach down and tug the strap up when you start, smack the tab down to loosen when you're stopping

I should add that I usually keep the strap ends tucked into the buckle tab. You push the tab down to loosen? Mine's opposite that.

I'm thinking about trying out a clipless system when this year's financial aid comes 'round. Hope I don't eat it on the stairs to class.