Living Car Free - Clipless pedals and running errands.

Sometimes you just have to carry an extra set of paw covers. The women in DC do it all the time, they wear sneakers on the way to work and switch to pumps when they get to the office. When I take bike trips I carry flip flops for the end of the day for hanging out around the tent before bedtime.

This would work better for me if I wore pumps, but I rarely do. My size 11s take up a lot of valuable room in the backpack or pannier.

Right.

I wear skate shoes as casual footwear when not in flip flops because they're so comfortable. They're also general really friggin big.

I hate getting locked into pedals. Esp. for heavy duty utility cycling I MUST be able to get a foot down on the ground fast. I also need to dismount from time to time. Big BMX platforms with the spikes filed down are the best way to go.

Right.

I wear skate shoes as casual footwear when not in flip flops because they're so comfortable. They're also general really friggin big.

You can get skate style MTB shoes:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/SH310B02-Sixsixone+Filter+Spd+Shoe.aspx

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/SH288B01-Mavic+Cruize+Shoe.aspx

http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/LKC0007/Lake-Signature-Bike-Shoe-Mens.html?CMP_ID=SH_SHP002&CMP_SKU=LKC0007&mv_pc=r110

Not all of this style shoes are clipless ... many of them are just flat regular shoes with a stiffer sole for riding. So make sure they are clipless compatible. That way you keep the skate style that you like.

Regards,

John

Right.

I wear skate shoes as casual footwear when not in flip flops because they're so comfortable. They're also general really friggin big.

661 makes skate shoes with a recess for cleat like the one you have. If you don't want to wear a cleat there is a plate that screws on over the recess.

I knew a guy once who needed to wear heavy logging boots to work and liked to ride his bike. Now these boots had deep tread, but he actually went to a cobbler and got the guy to resole his boots with a recess and small, threaded metal plate right in the same place you would have one on a cycling shoe. Said it worked like a charm

Thats probably overboard, but the point is you could probably modify nearly any shoe to work something like that.

I work as a clown at my day job. Would the big shoes get in the way or pedaling with clipless pedals and cleats?

:p

Not really, but that would be a pretty funny sight.

If you go t your local bike store and ask really nice they may hook you up. Most of the LBS in my area that sell bikes that come with clipless pedals have an insert that clicks into one side of the pedal so you have a platform on one side and clipless on the other, then if you are going to ride on trials or something just take it out.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6268003/2/istockphoto_6268003-clown-riding-a-bicycle.jpg

Carfree clown

He's sporting platforms.

He's sporting platforms.

Look closely. He's clipless!

I too thought that platform-clip combo pedals could be hard to get into.

You might want to try cleat covers. Also I think the Speedplay X pedals have a platform attachment so you can use normal shoes on some rides.