Commuting - First Investment: Shorts vs. Clipless Shoes/Pedals

I have a 12.5 commute (when I actually ride). The Tucson heat is killin me right now!
Anyway, which would give me a more noticeable difference?
The [comfort](assumption) of the shorts?
or the ? of the pedals/shoes?

I've never owned or tried either, so I don't really know what advantages/disadvantages either of them give. I would love some experienced opinions, please.

Shorts. The relatively lower price will have you saving for shoes/pedals sooner. But I know lots of riders who suffered for years without good shorts.

Shorts. Clipless does nothing for cooling down.
Breathable\wicking cycling shorts will help. How much depends upon what you are riding in now.

Shorts. The relatively lower price...

Wouldn't I be buying about 3, 4, or 5 at once. Or is it customary to use the same pair daily?

Wouldn't I be buying about 3, 4, or 5 at once. Or is it customary to use the same pair daily?
It is probably more customary to buy one pair and make sure that you love them before you buy multiple pair of the same model. Shorts are very personal items in terms of comfort. I am very very picky.

I commute 18 miles round trip 5 times per week and took about 6 months of that to build up to my current status of a 5 short owner. I was washing them in the shower when I got home each night before that. Not a big deal. They were always dry and ready to go in the AM if I had a fan going on them all night.

What if you take the swelter factor out? Are shorts as much of a life change as clipless pedals?

Well, for me shorts prevent saddle sores. The shorts vs clipless argument is more of a health vs speed issue IMHO

Of course, each has a bit to do with health and speed.

I just started using shorts as underwear. I gotta say, they are incredibly life changing. My ass just_doesn't_hurt_at_all. Not as comfortable as boxers for off-the-bike (IMHO), and I still haven't figured out excatly what to do with the boys (left? right? up?). For long rides though, they are amazing.

Pedals/shoes are good, but save them for next.

Shorts 1st. Comfort, flexibility, and moisture management are big reasons to use bike shorts. Buy one pair, or one pair each of a couple different kinds and buy more when you find one you like.

Wash them every day. Besides being smelly, the bacteria and nastyness can cause saddle sores.

Clipless pedals/shoes are a close second or third purchase. Good gloves, jerseys, and socks are also not to be overlooked.

I must dissent. I would say shoes all the way. I ride without bike shorts all the time, but I can't really tolerate not wearing the shoes, even for short trips. I feel safer and more in control wearing the shoes. I'm also much faster and can climb steeper hills.

Shorts are very nice also, but for short rides, I frequently don't wear them. My commute is currently 11.5 miles round trip, and I don't wear lycra. I reserve the lycra for races and long rides in the country.

I have a 18 mile round trip commute. Sometimes I ride it in dockers shorts and tennies on my beater 9 speed with platform pedals; and sometimes I ride it in bib shorts and clippless shoes on my single speed. And I have ridden it on the single speed in dockers with my clippless pedals, but never on the 9 speed in bike shorts with tennies - as I think I would look like a dork. Of course I live in SoCal where I don't have to deal with your temperatures. Well, hardly ever. If the heat was a factor I'd have to go with investing in some cycle shorts first.

But don't sweat buying the very best! (pun intended) Shorts can cost a hundred bucks a pair and I just don't see why. And I'm even a 'get what you pay for' kind of guy. But I'm also a dedicated bottom-feeder. Find a blow-out sale at Performance or Nashbar.com. You should be able to find a short with a half decent chamois pad for $25-$30. And don't worry about getting a few at a time (often they discount for multiple purchases) since they both have very liberal return policies. Satifaction absolutely guaranteed. Performance even includes return mailing labels in the package. That way you can buy the 3 or 4 pair your going to need once you get used to them. I don't like to ride in cotton T-shirts. They get sweaty and stay nasty for hours. But forget plopping down $50-$100 or more for jerseys. Get yourself down to Walmart or Target and buy a few of those polyester/spandex stay dry workout T-shirts for $12 apiece. If you've got panniers or a trunk you don't need pockets in the back.

DanO

Definitely shorts, not necessarily bike shorts, but never ride in Levis. If you get bike shorts get bib shorts. You should also get a long sleeve jersey to give protection from the sun.

I would go for the shorts, if heat relief is your goal. However, I chose "other" on the poll because instead of clipless pedals/shoes, you might want to try PowerGrips. These have relatively the same function as clipless pedals/shoes, but with a much lower buy-in and (in the opinion of many Powergrips users) seem to be easier to release from when you come to a stop and don't want to fall over. Give them a try, and if you like them, you've saved some cash over buying clipless. If you don't like them, they're not that big an expense.

If I lost both now I'd go buy shorts immediately. I would just put my toeclips back on and ride with those, possibly for a long time.

Interesting,
I dissent also, I have been riding 16 mi r/t in Denver all week at 95+ (today its 101) and I found the shoes and pedals more helpfull. I did however buy a bunch of underarmor (and the Walmart clone) compression tshirts. They have helped a great deal w/ the heat.

Other,

I'm very happy with the $9 CND I spent on toe clips. I was even happier after buying $11 platform pedals that have screw holes for the toe clips, and installing them properly. I doubt clipless is a huge improvement, but I've never tried.

I've never had bike shorts yet either... and not had a lot of distance in sweaty weather yet, either.

You mean you don't own any regular short pants, or bicycling specific short pants? If the first, get thee some regular shorts now, tuna legs! If the second, get thee some clipless pedals. Bike shorts help me with chafing, not much with heat. Regular shorts have better ventilation, especially for the hangy down things if you ride Scottish style. Clipless pedals took almost 20% of time off my commute the first day I rode with them.

i would go with clipless.... i'm thinking they'll take some of the strain off your quads and you won't get as tired as fast... drops would be next if you don't have them... then some bibs.

You are starting to get serious; what with this question, the 12 mile commute, and all. You'll get to appreciate both in good time. In my progression, a pair of shorts came first. But I had already done away with sneakers and had gotten some stiff souled touring shoes and clips/straps. Shoes and clipless came about a year later.

I got shoes first, but it'll depend on what you've got now. If you are seriously sweltering, shorts might be better. However I used to ride in regular underwear and loose jogging shorts, cycling shorts aren't THAT significant of an improvement sweat-wise... If you're wearing something like that, I wouldn't bother with cycling shorts unless either you're way uncomfortable (and even then, a different saddle would probably be a better purchase) or you're riding in jeans or something.

Clipless is awesome for most people, not 100% of people like it, but I do. It doesn't help your temperature comfort any, but I was REALLY impressed with the difference it made keeping my feet in place on the pedals. I didn't know how much they slid around on platforms until I tried clipless. I really like that when going over potholes, unexpected bumps, etc especially while pedalling hard. I realize toe clips / straps will have a similar effect but clipless seems easier to me. The one downside is it requires special shoes... For my general-purpose bike I got Performance Campus pedals, clipless one side, platforms the other so I can ride it without the shoes if I feel like it.

Shorts will make a bigger difference in the heat, IMO. The heat is killer this time of year and not overheating is job #1. Summer lasts like 9 months here doesn't it? :D

I recommend regular jogging shorts under light regular shorts. I don't like the feel of the biking short diaper and tried them once and found that I built up a lot more heat in the nether regions. So I'd try a pair of the jogging shorts if your saddle is a good fit for your bum. I ride 15 miles each way and find that the lycra/spandex jogging shorts give me a good "hold em in place" (because I'm a boy) and a decent buffer from saddle rub since they're a tad slippery in terms of texture, and allow some ventillation and the cargo shorts on the outside wick away most of the sweat that builds up. Plus they're cheaper.