Living Car Free - What pedals are best for your daily riding?

Like many others here, I use my bike for pretty much all of my local, in-city travel. Just going about my business, I usually ride about 70-100 miles/week, on moderately busy arterial streets or, if I can, on quiet, residential side streets. I don't ride very fast, maybe 16-18 mph on flat ground, and there are frequent stop signs or traffic lights no matter where I go; given the terrain I ride in, I usually can't ride much more than 5-10 minutes without stopping.

I've tried a lot of different pedals in this environment. At first, mostly because I just didn't know any better, I tried platform pedals. These worked fine, except for steep hills and rain; my feet tended to slip off the pedals at inopportune times. Then I tried toe clips. Even though they were easy to get used to, I found these to be a total pain in the a**. Then I tried SPDs. They were much, much better than toe clips, but still a pain, given the many intersections, and the promised improvement in performance was not at all as great as advertised. I also didn't like having to wear special shoes to ride my bike. Finally, I went back to platform pedals, only this time the wide, BMX-style ones with little studs, so your feet don't slip off when it's raining or hilly. They look a bit stupid, but they're totally practical in a wet, steep, urban environment, and they're way more convenient than anything else I've managed to find.

What do you use, and why?

I use some old school mks platforms with "strapless clips" eg:
http://www.xxcycle.com/marques/zefal/images/large/MT_zefal45.jpeg

You get 90% of the retention of strapped or clipless clips but with seamless ins and outs. Cost is negligible and any shoe works.

On my recumbent SPDs. With my feet higher than my hips I don't find platforms will work. In Toronto I usually used my 'bent for long rides but not so much in the city. More rurally now the bent is my default bike unless I'm pulling the trailer or going on a short trip that involves a double-digit grade hill.

On my hybrid bike I have double sided pedals, SPD one side and platform the other. My commute to work I liked to be clipped in but then if I was just running an errand I could wear whatever shoes. Not so great in practice as the concept because usually the wrong side is up.

I also really like toe clips though don't have them on any bikes right now. (oh wait I do - we put them on the tandem for a 100+ km ride when it would not accomodate the SPDs due to different crank diameter) But they are good for wear any shoes, have foot retention, and also accomodates winter boots.

With my SPDs I use super comfortable walkable velcro mountain bike shoes. I almost like wearing them better than regular shoes to begin with :) Now if they could only ditch the Shimano logos and just look more inconspicuous.

@CBC You got be there. Strapless would not work on high crank recumbent. On diamond frame bikes they retain well enough for just about anything but bunny hops but I can't do that with loaded panniers anyway.

I run SPD on my daily and mountain bike, but do use platform on my snow and cruiser bikes. Ive gotten so used to disengaging my spd I don't even notice anymore.

I run toe clips and straps on most bikes. I've been running them for over 20 years, though. I have a couple without clips at the moment.

Cycling conditions similar to the OP's. I need some retention on the fixed gear bikes. I use toe clips and straps, so I can wear whatever shoes I need at my destination. I keep the right one a little bit looser, so I can more easily slip my foot in and out as needed. I suppose toe clips take some getting used to, but after 50+ years, they're second nature for me - my foot slips right back in without the need to look down. On fixed gear, of course, this must be done while the crank is in motion. I tried clipless for a while, but I didn't think performance was any better than toe clips and the need for special shoes was inconvenient for transportation cycling.

I use the pedals that came on my bike.

I use platforms. I wore out a set and bought BMX style ones. The pins really do work well and I've never felt a need to use anything else.

I use the BMX platforms with strapless clips. I do have straps on one bike, but I rarely bother to tighten them.

I would like to try clipless, but my feet and legs are uneven and "crooked" to a small degree. I have always worried that it would be too much strain to be clipped in.

They are adjustable. You can fidget with the angle of the cleat a bit and some (maybe all) have float adjustment that basically sets how much lateral movement you can make before they unclip.

I have Power Grips on my touring bike, but everything else uses platform pedals.. especially in winter.

Platform type pedals of varying types, touring bikes use toe clips and straps, city bike has half clips, I had power grips but couldn't decide if I liked them or not, someone else wanted to try them and I haven't seen them since. One of my all time favorite pedals is the MKS Touring pedal (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/pedals/mks-sylvan-touring-pedals.html). I have been using it or a copy of it for years.

Aaron :)

Time ATAC. Best clipless I've ever used.

I don't mind the 'special shoes', or frequent stops; riding, even for running errands or commuting, is something of a Zen event for me. It's a different, better reality.

For me, platform pedals relegate me to just "being on the bike", instead of "riding the bike", being invested in the experience. I don't like the disconnect.

i keep the forte clipless pedals on.. i think they're forte 150's or something...the $40 ones from performance....they have enough area to be used on short jaunts as a platform with sneakers, but mostly, to encourage me to use my cycling shoes more often...i ride everyday, everywhere i need to go, rain or shine

One of my all time favorite pedals is the MKS Touring pedal (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/pedals/mks-sylvan-touring-pedals.html). I have been using it or a copy of it for years.

Aaron :)

Yes, me too. Great pedal. You can even service the bearings... rather than throw the whole thing away... when it stops spinning.

Platform type pedals of varying types, touring bikes use toe clips and straps, city bike has half clips, I had power grips but couldn't decide if I liked them or not, someone else wanted to try them and I haven't seen them since. One of my all time favorite pedals is the MKS Touring pedal (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/pedals/mks-sylvan-touring-pedals.html). I have been using it or a copy of it for years.

Aaron :)

I love the MKS touring pedal; it has very classic lines that make any bike look even better, and, in dry weather, it's perfectly functional. Unfortunately, in wet conditions, this pedal is really, really slippery. It's very easy to install toe clips on the MKS, and I imagine that's exactly what it was intended for, but if you're not a fan of toe clips and you live in a wet environment, there are probably better choices than the MKS.

I love the MKS touring pedal; it has very classic lines that make any bike look even better, and, in dry weather, it's perfectly functional. Unfortunately, in wet conditions, this pedal is really, really slippery. It's very easy to install toe clips on the MKS, and I imagine that's exactly what it was intended for, but if you're not a fan of toe clips and you live in a wet environment, there are probably better choices than the MKS.

My boots have a lugged sole, grabs the pedal just fine in wet weather. I do utilize half clips on two bikes to keep my foot where it belongs. I have looked at the BMX pedals with the grip pins, but I don't think they would work with some of my shoes.

Aaron :)

Egg beaters on the road bike/commuter. That way I can use standard mountain bike shoes to make walking around easy. Look Keo on my TT bike - no particular reason other than I have them, they are light, and reasonably aero.

Platforms or toeclips. Being on and off the bike a few times every day makes clipless just silly. I walk quite a bit around campus, and the constant scraping of metal on concrete gets old. Being able to wear any of my 6 different pairs of shoes trumps being attached the pedal.

Spd mountain pedals and DZR shoes. Easy to get into, easy to get out of. I never have to look down to clip in or out, and once I'm clipped in, I don't have to think about maintaining the balance between keeping enough force to keep on the pedal without creating back pressure on the non-power part of the pedaling stroke.

The shoes look like normal street shoes and are comfortable enough to wear wherever.

Odyssey bmx platform

@Roody: I recently went to clipless, and found that they are a bit gentler on my knees. It just takes some time (or a visit to one of a handful of doctors who specialize in bike fit) to get the correct cleat position. I haven't done anything over 24 miles since I got clipless, but so far so good. This is totally YMMV.

For the original question, I ride MTB clipless (crank brothers to be exact). Most of my riding is either commuting or pleasure. I have to wear steel-toed shoes for work (which I wouldn't wish to wear while biking), so changing shoes on arrival is not an issue. I just feel a lot more comfortable in the wet and slippery conditions knowing that my feet will stay on the pedal until I want them off.

I like large platform BMX pedals with grip studs, My favorites are Sinz Pro (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=12589). Tons of grip in any weather, including all types of Winter weather, and comfortable, large platform (no pressure points if wearing sneakers with soft soles). The downside is that pedals with studs will wear off your soles quicker. Although, I started seeing signs of damage after about 2 years of using this type of pedals.

I use a set of Crank Brother's Candy C pedals. They're like eggbeaters in the sense that you can clip in on both sides, but they have a little more platform to them.

I ride with my special shoes half of the time, and with normal shoes the other half. At first it feels strange riding on them without my special shoes, but it really isn't bad. I like being able to have pedals that double as clipless and platforms.

My shoes are made by Six Six One.

http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661Bike.aspx?id=98342a29-3236-424a-bc19-80ccae7ab32c&product=8f39445a-6a88-44ff-b0ed-254eee406449

I'm not crazy about how they look, but I love that I can walk into the grocery without changing shoes. Also, since they have rubber on the bottom, I don't have "slippery feet" syndrome like I do with my Shimano road shoes. With my road shoes, it's impossible for me to stay on my pedals without being clipped in, which has proven to be very inconvenient.

I use pedals just like the MKS touring on my city bike (they might *be* MKS touring, have never bothered to look),

And I have used BMX pedals with pins on other bicycles that I have owned in the past. A good set of these pedals has more than enough grip.

I've been riding the MKS GR-9's for a few years now with clips and straps, the only issue that i have is that they are a bit narrow for when I want to wear boots, so for my winter riding I've been using plastic bmx pedals and they are quite comfortable and cheaper.

I use toe clips and straps on all my bikes except my Torker Tristar trike. The bottom bracket sits so low to the ground that toe clips scrape when I'm not clipped in, so I installed Power Grips. I had to do a little redneckery with my Dremel and drill to get them to fit on the cheap plastic pedals I had to buy. It's a 1/2" pedal axle, so my choices were limited.

I prefer toe clips over clipless because I want more efficiency than I would get with platform pedals, but I don't want to have to wear special shoes to ride my bikes.

YES! I am so stoked to read that I am not the only one that uses these. I ride in Seattle,WA where it's all steep wet hills and I switched to bmx style pedals, my friends make fun of me but my feet don't slip off and I don't have to wear special shoes are worry about toe clips.

Large BMX style platforms for me too. Good grip, good comfort with any shoes, no issues with the stop and go of city riding. If I ever got into touring I'd probably get a set of clipless pedals or attach clips, but that's not what I'm doing right now.

I was using platform for a while but I just bought egg beaters and MTB shoes yesterday. Clipping in and out was second nature after riding with them for ten minutes.

I use the SPD/Platform combo known as a campus pedal. I use spd shoes most of the time, but for around the block or to the park and back with the kids or for Wow its cold out I'm going to wear boots, the platform comes in handy.

http://media.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/415/00-1473-NCL-ANGLE.jpg
Link to product on Performance Website (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1033468_-1___)

Started with generic platform pedals when I rode again as an adult.

Eventually bought a Surly LHT and equipped it with MKS Touring pedals with Power Grip straps. This combo worked so well that I didn't bother with clipless. I don't plan to ride clipless, because I don't want to deal with having to wear a special type of shoe that's normally too narrow for my wide feet, and pedals & shoe clips that require more maintenance than a plain platform pedal. I'm pretty lazy about maintenance in general :p

Recently decided to give platforms a try again, because I was annoyed at having to fiddle with straps, and basically wanted pedals that would grip when I wanted but gave me the freedom to wear whatever shoes I wanted and to lift my feet off the pedals whenever I felt like it. Tried MKS Lambda/Grip King pedals and they did not grip very well for me at all. My feet kept slipping off, even when I wore "no-slip sole" shoes during dry conditions.

Then I bought a pair of VP-001 pedals and test rode them during a rainy day. I purposefully ran over every bump, crack, pothole, cobblestones, etc. to see if I could force my feet off of the pedals. No effect.

VP-001 pedals are what I use now for all of my bikes.

Update on pedal choices. I installed a set of MKS Grip Kings (Lamba (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/pedals/mks-lambda-pedal.html)) on my son's city bike... I might have to get a set of these for some of my bad weather bikes. He has large feet 13.5 EEEE so regular pedals don't work, he said these are the best he has ever ridden on.

Aaron :)

Update on pedal choices. I installed a set of MKS Grip Kings (Lamba (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/pedals/mks-lambda-pedal.html)) on my son's city bike... I might have to get a set of these for some of my bad weather bikes. He has large feet 13.5 EEEE so regular pedals don't work, he said these are the best he has ever ridden on.

Aaron :)
Big pedals are awesome. I like to wear lightweight running shoes in the summer, and the bigger pedals give better support to the feet.