Road Cycling - Which pedal setup? Clipless? Clips? Other?

I just got my new Kona Jake the snake in the mail the other day, and I am struggling to figure out which pedals to use. I already have some shimano clipless pedals that I had on my mountain bike (545s, i think) with a cage so that they can be used without SPD shoes. I also have sone normal clipless pedals that came with the bike(515s). I will be using it mostly for short ttrips to get around campus, but I also plan on occasional longer rides. In other words, I would like to use normal shoes most of the time, but I also want to use clipless.
So, I have considered three options:
1. Use the 545s for both (but they are kind of a pain to use with normal shoes)
2. Use the 515s with a pedal insert that converts them to toe clips
3. Use the 515s and a different set of pedals with toe clips, and just change them when I need to.

I would prefer option 2 or three. I guess my question to all of you is how do the pedal inserts work? I have heard that they don't hold up very well. Is there any performance difference between them and regular toe clips?
I would not mind having to change pedals every once in a while, so the third option is most appealing. In that case, what pedals should I get? I have seen some that are made specifically for toe clips, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere. Any ideas where to find some?

Swapping pedals sounds a good idea. SPDs are not ideal for utility cycling.

I use MKS Sylvian touring pedals (2 sided ones) with Christophe steel clips and leather straps. You may want to use plastic clips to protect your shoes from damage, but I can recomend the leather straps. The pedals are good, cheap and easy to service.

Peter White, Rivendell, or Harris Cylery are good for these trad items.

toeclips are really quite dangerous, difficult to use, and pretty much obsolete, except for track use. Go try out some decent Look or time pedals. Most are about $120 a pair, but there are a few that are $70/pair wjhich are o.k. Don't buy the cheap $h!t pedals-they always break.

Droche, welcome to the forums!

For riding around campus i personaly would go for power straps on a platform pedal. On the longer ride, you can swap out for a clipless setup.

I have never had any problems with a standard straps, and they should be no problems for short / city rides, i wouldnt want anything to do with straps if you plan on using the jake for cyclocross :)

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
For riding around campus i personaly would go for power straps on a platform pedal. On the longer ride, you can swap out for a clipless setup.


Joe, by power straps you meant PowerGrip straps? I'm thinking of getting them for my road bike, which is used mostly for city commuting and longer weekend rides, because they are so darn cheap. How do they compare to clipless pedals? Are they comfortable over long distances?

Correct, PowerGrip, I have never owned the power grips, however i did purchase a set for my little sisters bike. I think there great for city / short rides. I havent tried them on any ride over a few miles. Try them out and let us know what you think of them, i picked up my little sisters for $8 at the LBS.

droche,

Unless the SPD version of those toe-clip adapters works better than the Look version, I'd stay away from them.

When you strap them on and snap into the pedals, they do work from that point on similar to toe clips on regular pedals. However, they're more difficult to get into because the mass of the pedal causes the clips to hag in a different location from a normal pedal.

The real pain is when you try to unclip the adapter from the pedal so you can ride clipless again. They just *don't* like to release! You'd probably be better off with two different sets of pedals; switch back & forth as needed.

SteveF

Doesn't Performance Bike sell a pedal that is clip on one side and a regular platform on the other? I think it is actually called a Campus Pedal.

Yeah, they do, but my experience with Performance brand pedals (made by Wellgo) is that they are just plain cr@p. You'll be lucky if the thing lasts a week. There ARE adaptors, which are ok, but if you have Look pedals, you can always just ride with a hard-sole shoe for short distances.

The following is a link to the Shimano PD-M324 pedal page.

http://www.shimanocycling.com/Footwear_Pedals/pedals/pd-m324.asp

One side "SPD" other side platform. I haven't tried them, but am considering buying a pair. $55.00 mail order.