Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - What pedals do you use?

Do you use clipless pedals, platforms, or clips and straps? I mean on your SSs and particularly fixies. If you have more than one, state your favourite or most common type.

The reason I ask is because I'm building my first fixer and I'm not sure which type of pedal to use. I have some clips, but I'm more comfortable on my road bike using (double sided) clipless. Most everyone suggests you start off with clips, but I'd have to relearn kicking in as well as learning to ride fixed. Any thoughts?

Old Shimano/Look pedals

Time ATACs on the SS Steamroller, Ofmega Tracks on the De Bernardi (in building process).
Try both and see what is more comfortable for street riding.

Eggbeaters on three fixies.

i ride crank bros. eggbeaters and absolutely love them.

It really depends on the bike and the weather, I use shimano spd on most of my bikes fixie or geared. Although during the winter here in Minnesota I ride platforms, just too much damn ice and snow this time of year. Also last year I rusted the internals of one set of SPDs due to the abundance of salt here on the roads, now I just use platforms. On another note I just had to replace my rear wheel on my winter fixie due to the salt, rusted/fused together not even fixable. I bought a decent suzue/ma3 for bout 85 here at my LBS, lets hope it lasts longer than my last one...

i have some MKS sylvan track pedals on one bike, and some crappy avocet road pedals that i got on the cheap (dual toe straps on both, i highly reccommend trying it out, WORLD of difference). i used to use timeATACs on one of my track bikes, but i switched them over to my road bike, because the old 105 triangular toeclip pedals were not cutting the mustard.

on my BMX i use primo meat tenderizer pedals.

My single speed road has mountain bike platforms with toe clips and straps. Commuting doesn't allow fancy bike shoes, and is much more convenient to just slide in and out, and im not too concerned with efficiency for my deuce-deuce and beyond rides

Crank Bros Candy pedals. The greatest commuting pedals of all time. Use them on both bikes.

eggbeaters - fixie 1
pedals and straps - fixie 2

Crank Eggbeaters or Mallets. Best pedals ever. Someday I'll convert the roadie over to Crank Candies, still have the Looks on that one. Retro toe clips on the single speed, only cause I wanted to keep the "original" look.

Cheap flats with clips. Someday I'll actually get real bike shoes and clipless pedals. I'm sure it will make a difference but I just haven't gotten around to it.

Campy Croce de Aune, clips and straps, 3 sets
Shimano Dura Ace, clips and straps, 1 pair
T.A. Track, clips and straps,2 sets
MKS Sylvan Track, clips and straps, 2 Sets on Tandem
After many years riding clips and straps I tried riding clipless Campy Pro pedals and never could get used to them. I hated walking like a duck when off the bike even with cleat covers. I feel more secure in clips/straps than the other. I understand that Speedplay Zero makes a good track pedal but I don't want to buy the new shoes to try them. I'm just to Oldskool to start over again.

fixedgearhead

i alternate between TIME Impact S's and MKS platforms with straps. Depends on my mood. I definitely appreciate more power and control with my clipless, but the comfort factor of clips/straps + sneakers has been winning lately.

mc

I have slight knee problems which I want to keep slight. I use Speedplay X's which have a lot of float or swivel. The cleats are mighty huge, but I love them for my knees and they ride well.

Depends on the type of ride. If no plans of walking around, Speedplay X's. Awesome pedal.

If I want to have the option of walking, i.e. store, etc. I'll toss on the Eggbeaters and use a pair of BMX shoes that have drillings for SPD cleats.

Dave

Right now, I've got the Looks off of my roadie bike on the fixie. Prolly stick with that and stick with clips and straps on the commuter, which is still geared as of this writing.

cheapo nashbar mtb clipless. my $23 are going a long way since 99.

i also have egg beaters. i like them a lot. sometimes I wish i had something that felt more like a loook pedal. more locked in feeling.

big, cheap, dumb union platforms.

$15 means that I don't care about the whole salt pellets wedged where the bearings should be.

Campy record pista w/ christoffe straps for the pinarello, and the basso

zeus pista with straps for the simonetti (in the building process, full zeus track group)

I ride generic pedals with steel toe-clips. Standard jazz.

sugino 75 carbon pedals w/ clips & straps for now... i need to get some track cages for the suntour superbe pro's

i had some with toe-straps, but i yanked the straps off and simply ride the platforms. yeah, it makes depedalling difficult, and skidding nearly impossible, but i dont wanna buy cycling shoes, and i don't like wiggling porky shoes in and out of the straps. jus' lazy, i guess.

-rob

I ride $20 Bike Nashbar SPD's ;)

I like cheap, versatile pedals, quills of variable bearing quality will usually suffice on salty winter roads. I have some MKS and Miche pairs and a couple of sets of stainless clips left in the stash.

Like a choice of shoes, dependent on the weather, or maybe if I'm on business, rather than just out spinning. Also like quite a broad platform, so not tempted by Frogs or Egg-Beaters. I find Times and Looks a bit slippery...and the walking is a lottery. Spuds are more like it, regarding recessed cleats, just a bit small.

Tired knees make me more conservative than I might otherwise be.........:-)

Crank Bros Candy pedals. The greatest commuting pedals of all time. Use them on both bikes.

i'd like to ask a question:

is it possible to ride a few miles on a fixed gear in gym shoes using crank bros candy pedals? would you want to do it on a commute to work? my commute is only 3 miles each way. i'd prefer not to have to wear cycling shoes at work. but i would like the advantages of clipless pedals for weekend and afterwork rides. so do you think it would be ok to ride on candies w/ gym shoes for a few miles, or are they unsafe on the fixed gear? thanks in advance for any help.

dan

I spent a couple of years riding around the city on an early 80s mongoose with vintage Look clipless pedals and tennis shoes-- most unfun. I never got around to changing them out; I was too concerned with the bent rear axle and ****ed up adjustable (read: rusted solid) dropouts. Even managed to tear the b-screw off the ancient suntour deraileur. That bike was a problem.

Anyway, riding clipless in tennis shoes is no fun. Emergency stops take on a whole new dimension of panic. Rain just gets slippery as ****... Get ready to mash your balls on the top tube at some point in the future.

I'd suggest you keep your regular shoes at work.

Like a choice of shoes, dependent on the weather, or maybe if I'm on business, rather than just out spinning. Also like quite a broad platform, so not tempted by Frogs or Egg-Beaters. I find Times and Looks a bit slippery...and the walking is a lottery. Spuds are more like it, regarding recessed cleats, just a bit small.


Times?? "slippery??" what model and how are they slippery? i run ATACs and haven't had much trouble with them. the only times they've been a hassle was when i was being dumb and couldn't get the cleat to engage by kicking at them wildly (it worked once...). i use them on my road bike now, because they match my color scheme...and clipless feel so much better on a road bike than clips and straps do.

Speedplay and ritchy SPD compats.

No-name spd bargain basement pedals. Allows me to sport my Adidas (moment of silence for Jay) spd compatible "trainers" at work. I don't think Adidas makes them anymore, but they sort of look like classic Sambas with a stiff sole and recessed cleat. Stylin'...old skool...but with skinny laces.

Egg beaters on my road bike and Mtn bike. If I could afford it I'd have them on my Tandem as well.

is it possible to ride a few miles on a fixed gear in gym shoes using crank bros candy pedals?
dan

Absolutely, I do it when I'm going to the bar. A better option may be the Crank Bros 'Mallet' pedal if you want true versatility. Candy's aren't the most efficient or comfortable with street shoes, but the Mallet is. http://www.crankbrothers.com/products/pedals_mallet_c.php

Spuds 536's on my SS. New fixie will get Egg Beaters

30 years using various clips and straps.
1 year experimenting with various clipless shoe pedal combos.
Return to clips and straps for good.
Nuff said!


fixedgearhead