Winter Cycling - Clipless pedals

Anyone ride with these during the winter, especially in snow/ice? I'm leaning toward putting regular platform pedals back on my commuter for the winter but hate the thought of it. However, when through certain kinds of snow I can see a big advantage for having my feet free.

Maybe I'm just a wimp, but I don't have the huevos to clip in on snow/ice. I ride clipless/toe clipped 3 seasons out of the year, but it's platforms for the winter. I also deliberately ride slower in the winter, so I don't miss the speed enhancement anyway.

I've ridden both ways. I strongly prefer clipless.

Clipless is perfectly suited to the winter with only one real drawback: it's harder to keep your feet warm in cycling shoes.

Being clipped in lets you spin so that your pedaling torque is very even and you can put out a lot more power when you accelerate or climb without losing traction. You also don't have to worry about slippery pedals. Personally, I can unclip fast enough to prevent any fall I could've prevented with platforms, not true of toe clips.

the metal clip at the bottom of your shoe can break ice :)

it's harder to keep your feet warm in cycling shoes.

That's why they make winter cycling boots. I love my Lake MXZ302s (http://www.lakecycling.com/mxz302-p-111.html). Lake makes a couple other models too, and there are several other brands making them as well.

That's why they make winter cycling boots. I love my Lake MXZ302s (http://www.lakecycling.com/mxz302-p-111.html). Lake makes a couple other models too, and there are several other brands making them as well.

Yep, I'm gonna get myself a pair of those for next winter.

It seems like the consensus is if your going clipless in snow/ice, get egg beaters over spd cleats. Anyone had any expierence with the Pearl Izumi winter cycling boots, or the cheaper gortex northwaves. Lake seems to run in the 250-300 price range, seems hard to justify on a winter beater rig.

Nice. Thanks for all of the input.

I have a pair of Shimano shoes that I think will be OK for most days if I pair them with wool socks and a shoe cover. For days that go below 10 degrees, I'll probably throw on my NEOS overshoes and be thankful that my Time ATAC pedals have a relatively wide platform. :)

It seems like the consensus is if your going clipless in snow/ice, get egg beaters over spd cleats. Anyone had any expierence with the Pearl Izumi winter cycling boots, or the cheaper gortex northwaves. Lake seems to run in the 250-300 price range, seems hard to justify on a winter beater rig.

I'm not sure how you determined this consensus on Eggbeaters vs. SPD. As long as you have me on the SPD side of the ledger, that's just fine. I can't see buying winter pedals for all of my bikes.

As for the Lakes, it depends on many things whether the expense is justifiable or not. In my case, it was a real stretch since they're three times the price of my next most expensive shoe. But I'm car-free. I commute five days a week all 52 weeks. Plus errands and recreational rides. I also like warm, dry feet. And I hate fussing with multiple layers of socks, shoes and booties twice (or more) a day.

For occasional recreational rides, I wouldn't have bothered. But since I ride nearly every day, it was easier to justify. Now since I've had them for two winters, I'm very glad I made the decision.

I always ride with spd's. it is unsafe (to me) otherwise.

ice snow doesn't matter I have far more control

It seems like the consensus is if your going clipless in snow/ice, get egg beaters over spd cleats.

I don't see why. I've never had a problem with my SPDs, and I walked farther in them through the slush and the salt then I did in my regular shoes.