Mountain Biking - Pedals - odd questions

Two odd questions about pedals and non-standard products.

What does everyone think of mini (strapless) toe clips? For five bones they might get me through until I can drop another hundred or so on pedals and shoes.

Does anyone have any experience with platform adapters for clipless pedals? Once I go clipless, they might be worthwhile for occasional use without cycling shoes.

Does anyone have any experience with platform adapters for clipless pedals? Once I go clipless, they might be worthwhile for occasional use without cycling shoes.
Do NOT under any circumstances use "plaform adapters". They're used for the sole purpose of test riding bikes in a parking lot and are unsafe for anything more than that. They offer NO grip and are often found littering the trail side having shattered due to their cheap plastic constuction.

Even the metal versions such as the Winwood Decksters are for casual use only which is basically a ride around a suburban block. Between the $30 for the adapter and the extra $15 for the extra set of cleats you'll HAVE to buy in order to use them with whatever pedal you're adapting you've outlaid nearly $50 for a pedal that offers less functionality than an inexpensive platform.

Casual suburban riding was all I was interested in them for. Say the family decides to ride two blocks to the neighborhood pool. It really wouldn't be worth it to get the MTB shoes out when flip flops are more appropriate for the destination. I wouldn't take them in the grass, let alone on a trail.

Would that be an appropriate usage then?

Casual suburban riding was all I was interested in them for. Say the family decides to ride two blocks to the neighborhood pool. It really wouldn't be worth it to get the MTB shoes out when flip flops are more appropriate for the destination. I wouldn't take them in the grass, let alone on a trail.

Would that be an appropriate usage then?
I have Shimano shoes with two velcro straps and it's probably just as quick to put them on as to clip adapters into the pedals. The downside is that when you arrive wherever, you're in cleated shoes, but I haven't really found that to be a problem.
There are some two-sided pedals with platform and clipless sides...I'd be interested in hearing opinions on those.
Robert

I've heard that the two-sided pedals aren't that great as Murphy's Law will dictate that the wrong side will always be facing up, until you anticipate that and then flip them over, only to discover that they were correct and you have now turned the wrong side up yourself.

I'd pass on platform adaptors. My experience was I could change a pair of pedals to nice platforms about as fast as I could get the adaptors to click in correctly and I still only had a marginal foot placement surface.

I didn't realize that you also had to get cleats in addition to the platforms. Sure, the ones I was looking at say SPD compatible, but then they say that cleats are required. I guess they meant SPD cleat compatible.

I have Shimano 520, and I put the platforms on very occasionally, when on road, and I don't feel like wearing my shoes or can't. It's never been a problem, and haven't broken off in over a year.

PS: Cleats come with the pedals.

What does everyone think of mini (strapless) toe clips? For five bones they might get me through until I can drop another hundred or so on pedals and shoes.I have a pair of cheap platforms with the mini toe-clips already attached. I swap them onto my cross bike or a mtbike when I want to use it for errands and around the block meandering. Works just fine for casual riding. All I really want the clip to do is keep my foot somewhat in touch with the pedal since I am so used to pulling up against a cleat at other times. Then, I can wear Tevas or whatever I want.

Don't bother with platform adaptors - if you're only riding a short distance you'll be fine just wearing ordinary shoes/flip-flops on your spd pedals, I've been doing it for years with no problems.

I rode 12 miles of rough singletrack this past Mon. with just running shoes on my ATAC xs carbons( not much platform) after realizing Id left my riding shoes at home. a couple blocks will not hurt. bunnyhopping will be interesting but doable. a good pair of sandals is about as stiff as begginer riding shoes at any rate. you may also find some SPD type sandals cheap in the very near future too