Commuting - Do commuters do clipless?

Just wondering. Do you bother with having to change shoes or just ride to work in your street shoes or tennys?

Absolutely. I change shoes at work, but have on occasion worn Shimano sandals at work.

Al

I have to wear ESD steel-toed shoes at work. So yes, I wear clipless and change them when I arrive.

Clipless here. I always wear dress shoes at work, and there's no way I'd ride 12 miles in them.

I typically just leave the shoes at work, rather than carrying them back and forth each day.

Pants, button down, shoes at work.
So I come in in spandex and clipless and change.

Clipless for anything more than a few mi. Flat pedals for anything less.

I go clipless. To lessen the load I carry on my back I store my shoes at work.

12km needs clipless as I have a 1cm shim (helps make up the 2.7cm difference in my legs) so i NEED clipless. Thinking about going to different crank lengths though in addition to the shim. Oh and campy clipless no less.

I have enough to carry. I just ride in my work clothes and shoes and I bring an extra shirt to change out of my sweaty one on the train.

Yes, Shimano SPD's

I leave a pair of dress shoes at work in my filing cabinet.

I think leaving shoes at work is the ticket since the less you carry the better. A little off the subject: does anyone know of a good backpack that allows for good airflow between the pack and your back?

I only have a 7.5 mile round trip commute but I recently got a pair of Performance Campus pedals. They're SPD on one side and standard platform on the other. So far I have been commuting clipless and changing shoes at work (leaving the work shoes at work). I usually don't change shoes to run errands, which are generally are generally 2 mile trips or less.

Time Atac clipless most of the time, using a Cannondale shoe that I can walk in.

A little off the subject: does anyone know of a good backpack that allows for good airflow between the pack and your back?

Any one that's on the rear rack of your bike.

Seriously, I highly recommend against wearing any backpack if you care at all whether your back gets sweaty.

Time atac pedals, shimano spd sandals, shoes at work.

I'm now commuting 60 miles a day, 5 days a week, clipless.

What kind of clipless is everyone using? I use an old pair of 545's. Yeah, there're downhill/freestyle pedals, but it's nice to be able to ride to the local market or get something to eat during lunch without changing back into cleats.

I'm now commuting 60 miles a day, 5 days a week, clipless.

Geez, the reason I don't commute to work is because it would be 60 miles a day, 5 days a week! :eek: I'd have to wake up 2 am! lol

-clippless shoes (shimano). while using BN 6000tourer, street shoes in rack-pack.
-"clippless", (or without 'click', ratt trapp, etc), with Raleigh Tech mountain bike or currently used Performance commuter/road bike. i like not having to change between shoes on these short run commutes!

I only have a 7.5 mile round trip commute but I recently got a pair of Performance Campus pedals. They're SPD on one side and standard platform on the other. So far I have been commuting clipless and changing shoes at work (leaving the work shoes at work). I usually don't change shoes to run errands, which are generally are generally 2 mile trips or less.

I have a 22 mile round trip and also use the Performance Campus pedals. I go clipless on my regular commutes, have an old pair of slip on Cannondale clogs that I often wear all day but usually change to Merrill slip on shoes when I get to my office. I'll throw on the Cannondales even for short errands but sometimes I'll just hop on and ride with whatever shoe I'm wearing if it's just down the street.

Backpack: I have a jansport single strap over the shoulder back pack that I carry in a milk crate on my rack. I use it as a back pack if I stop for groceries on the ride home and need the room in the crate. Other than that I don't wear it while I ride just while I'm walking around.

I'm now commuting 60 miles a day, 5 days a week, clipless.
Are you sure you don't mean 60 KM? If miles is correct you have to tell us more! Like when you leave, what you ride, how long and etc.


To Sincity: clipless always and work shoes at work. It's nice when it rains or snow I don't have to worry about ruining good shoes.

Clipless.

I guess im the lone ranger here, but I commute on platforms (no clips or straps) and im quite happy. Granted my commute is only 2.5 miles each way, but many times ill take side trips after school for 10-20 miles with no complaints. However on the longer weekend rides i will put my spd's on my commuter.

Exact same clipless on all 4 bikes and leave a couple of pairs of dress shoes at work. Very easy, I don't think I could ride flat pedals anymore, like riding naked, actually riding naked is more fun.

11.2 miles each way, clipless. I keep shoes at work.

Clipless all the time. I'm afraid if I ever try to ride with normal shoes and no clips/straps, I'll one day try to pull up on the pedals on climb, find that my feet aren't attached, and, well, pull a "slvoid maneuver" (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=158571).

60 miles a day isn't too crazy. If it were 60 miles each way, that would crazy. Although in all fairness I did a 30 mile ride before my commute today, which is only 3-5 miles route depending, and my ass feels like it's going to fall off. It was windy though and I'm riding an aluminum mtn bike with knobbies.

Just so you know it would still be 50 miles if he actually meant kilometers.

Oh yeah, I ride platforms, but it's not by choice.

I'm really tying to get used to clipless (SPD) for the commute (16 miles each way), but I find I have a hell of a time getting clipped back in at an intersection when the lights change. This make for some very awkward starts, especially on hills. It is even more problematic since I started commuting on my new single speed. My shoes are PI mountain shoes with Shimano M505 SPDs. Is there maybe a better pedal\shoe combo?

Clipless. I've been wearing my Shimano SPD sandals at work most days this Antipodean summer.

I'm really tying to get used to clipless (SPD) for the commute (16 miles each way), but I find I have a hell of a time getting clipped back in at an intersection when the lights change. This make for some very awkward starts, especially on hills. It is even more problematic since I started commuting on my new single speed. My shoes are PI mountain shoes with Shimano M505 SPDs. Is there maybe a better pedal\shoe combo?
It's just practice. And also realizing that not clipping in right away isn't the end of the world. Unless the hill is so steep that you can't move without pulling up on the upstroke (in which case getting clipped in can be very tricky), just pedal as you would with platform pedals, and then you can try again each time your unclipped foot is approaching the downstroke. Even with lots of practice, you'll occasionally miss. Just don't panic.

I've read that crank bros eggbeaters and look 4x4s (same pedal) are very easy to clip in and out of. Is this true?

Are you sure you don't mean 60 KM? If miles is correct you have to tell us more! Like when you leave, what you ride, how long and etc.


To Sincity: clipless always and work shoes at work. It's nice when it rains or snow I don't have to worry about ruining good shoes.

Yes 60 miles, it's exactly 48km door to door. No big deal once you get used to it.

Toe clips+Converse All Stars-Then I change into steel toed boots at work. I own some Eggbeaters and Specialized shoes that I love, but I only put them on the bike for long distances or tours, they're too much of a hassle for stop-n-go traffic and actually walking around otherwise.

Old fashioned platforms all the time. Only 7 miles r/t commute but I lay on 80 - 120/week otherwise.
Footwear: Any decent quality all-terrain low-top hiker in good weather.
Bad weather: Waterproof light weight hiking boot, insulated.

I use toe clips also with sneakers with the straps kept loose. They are easy to get into and exit while still providing some control.

I switched to clipless last fall. It's OK, but I don't really care much one way or the other. I don't think I ride any differently with them than not. I can't get used to pulling backwards on the pedals while cranking, and the other three directions I can do with toeclips. My speed hasn't improved, and I don't feel any more or less safe or stable either way. Honestly I don't really see what all the fuss is about.

Even when I wore sneakers and toeclips, I wore a separate pair, since my ride is quite dusty (or muddy if wet) and the shoes had to be changed anyway. The Shimano mountain shoes I'm using are nice because they're warmer than sneakers in the winter.

In the spring I'll probably put the platforms & toeclips back on, just because it's nicer just to walk out to the bike and go than to have to suit up. I find having to put on special shoes to be kind of a PITA. I'll still have separate shoes for the commute, but for buzzing around the neighborhood it's nice to be able to just jump on and go rather than to go inside and put on different shoes first. Gloves and helmet, jump on and go.

Toe clips with gore-tex running shoes, here. I keep one foot clipped tight and the other a little loose for intersections.

Clipless all the way, except when I am out on a neighborhood ride with the kids.

I only have a 7.5 mile round trip commute but I recently got a pair of Performance Campus pedals. They're SPD on one side and standard platform on the other. So far I have been commuting clipless and changing shoes at work (leaving the work shoes at work). I usually don't change shoes to run errands, which are generally are generally 2 mile trips or less.

I just got those pedals too. I haven't even put them on the bike yet. My commute is so short that I'll continue to use the platform side with my tennis shoes for that, but I sometimes take longer rides at lunch and on weekends. I also am planning to do Cycle NC later this year. The new Shimano sandals I just ordered will fill those needs. As for my commute to work, I wear my tennis shoes and change into my work shoes at work (I keep them in my locker).

Clipless .... Shimano PD-M324

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Pedal/Shimano_PD-M324.jpg



Arkel BUG (backpack/pannier)

http://www.velotique.com/images/arkel-bug1.jpg

Toe clips and tennis shoes. Steel toes at work.

I am currently using sneakers and platforms. At work I change into dress shoes.

Since I received my year end bonus this week I will be ordering my eggbeaters shortly. Then I need to visit my LBS to pick out a pair of mountain shoes.

I use dress shoes and platforms. My reasons are convenience and lack of perceived need. I do see some people commuting with them. It is an individual thing.

Paul

I go clipless. To lessen the load I carry on my back I store my shoes at work.
Me too.

Clipless .... Shimano PD-M324

I use Shimano M520 clipless which are double sided without a platform. I find them as easy to use a flat pedals. I find myself clipping in so easily that sometimes I do when I wasn't planning on it.

I test rode a bike with the M324 and found them much harder to clip in than the M520 since the are not double sided and the plaform doesn't give a point target or perhaps the platform prevents the cleat from being guided in if you are not properly aligned. I'm just mentioning this the M324s may look easier to enable a transition to clipless, they actually may make it harder.

Al

Clipless here. Love 'em and wish I'd adopted them sooner. Because I sit in front of a computer most of the day, I just where my SPD equipped mountain style shimanos unless I have to dress up for something. On those days, I bring different shoes.

Platform pedals here.

Clipless; I store a black and a brown pair of shoes at work.

Clipless. Once you get accustomed to pulling as well as pushing it gets hard to go back. Why let a whole muscle group go to waste?

It does take a while (and one fall) to get used to them, though. Just put the bike on a trainer and you have all the risk free practice you could want. I find them particulalry useful on hills. Riding platforms now makes me very uncomfortable, like riding in a car without a seatbelt.

Clipless 4 teh win!! I keep dress shoes at work, along with pants and shirts.