Recumbent - Type of pedals?

I am a road biker and thinking about getting recumbent and was wondering do most people use standard pedals or do they use clipless pedals on this type of bike?
Thanks

I used to think that most recumbent riders used clipless. Maybe it's just a vocal minority on various recumbent lists, but it seems there's a larger population of non-clipless users lately. I'd say, the higher the bottom bracket of the bike you're considering, the more advisable clipless would be.

I have standard pedals with Zefal strapless toe clips. I use these on my DF bikes as well. I can pull up on the pedals just fine with the toe clips and enjoy being able to wear shoes that I don't have to worry about damaging while walking around. They're also simple and less expensive (not that money is a big issue considering I have about 10 grand invested in bicycles at the moment). But to each his own.

i've got the pedals with shimano clips on one side, and clipless on the other. best of both worlds.

Opinions vary. I ride clipless because it makes it so much easier for me to spin smoothly and maximize my power. Some riders are afraid of being welded to the pedals. Others have no need for it. The only downside for me is the need to change shoes for every ride. Mr. Markets (post above) may have the best of both worlds.

After you get comfortable on your recumbent (somewhere between six seconds and six weeks) you might throw on your current clipless pedals and give it a try.

Only way to ride is clipless. When I made my transition to bents my clipless pedals & shoes just followed along. It is especially recommended on a trike because of possible leg suck if your foot comes off the pedals at speed. Your leg gets sucked under the cross member.

I'm an urban commuter so with the frequent start and stops I encounter going clipless is more than a hassle than anything. However when I was making longer commutes with fewer stops I used those Shimano pedals with a platform on what one and clipless on the other.

I came into recumbents after decades of riding with toe clips, then power grips, then spd clipless. My first 2-3 weeks on a recumbent I used bmx-style platforms but then went to spd clipless. Current pedals on my ride-to-work V-Rex are Nashbar bmx-platform one side/spd the other side and on the V3 I have different Nashbar magnesium pedals with spd on both sides. I seldom use the non-spd side on the V-Rex.

I've been riding with SPD pedals on my recumbents since they became available... nearly 20 years. They're the only way to go, IMO. I tried Look-style clipless when I was first riding my Lightning in 1991, but gave them up pretty quickly. SPD is the only way to go.

Ditto on using BMX/platform pedals for the first 100-300 miles until you get used to the steering, startup and stopping idiosyncracies of the bent. Depends on the
bent, but since most bents have the leg horizontal +/- 30D above or below, using a pedal compatible with a shoe with a non slip sole is a good idea, ie an ATB
shoe with recessed cleat. Road shoes with hard plastic soles would be more likely to slip off. Worst case is leg drops down, hits ground and is rolled up under
the bent resulting in severe muscle strain to life altering compound femur fractures. It has happened.

Agreee with above posts; the higher the bottom bracket is relative to the seat the more you will eventually want to be clipless. As to what type clipless, there is a recent poll on BentRiderOnline's site with over 100 responses: What type of clipless pedals do you use? (http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55404)

I'm an urban commuter so with the frequent start and stops I encounter going clipless is more than a hassle than anything. However when I was making longer commutes with fewer stops I used those Shimano pedals with a platform on what one and clipless on the other.

With a trike, clipless and frequent stops are not a problem. You just sit at the stop light all clipped in and ready to go!

I use the pedals that came with my Stratus LE and Power Straps. They suit me for the time being. They keep my feet on the pedals and allow me to pull up on the return stroke. I'm sure they are not as solid as being clipped in but they work for me and allow me to use any shoe I want. Easy out - not so easy to get into sometimes.

I am contemplating going to SPDs but can't decide on the shoe.

Jim

I'll preface this with the statement that I have 'normal' feet -- I'm a perfect 10-D, so it's easy to find shoes to fit me. Also, I use SPD because of the walkability. So how do I find a shoe? Last year at Hilly Hundred I went to the sales tent that they always set up there. At the first booth, they had year-end closeout shoes. I found a pair of Pearl Izumis in my size for $49. Sold. My last pair went for 6 years' of hard use, so I'm pretty sure I'll get my money's worth out of these.

I use regular BMX-style platform pedals I bought at the local bike shop. I can't imagine any advantage of buying special shoes that clip to the pedals if you have to carry a second pair of shoes just to walk around in. My seat height is 23.75 in. high. My crank is 25.5 in. high.


I used to use metal toe clips on a DF bike. I loved them. But I never tried anything like that on a recumbent.

I use Crank Bros. Mallets. I have wide feet and roll my feet towards the outside. I like being clipped in and I need a wide pedal platform to combat the numb feet I get otherwise. The Mallets work fine for me.