Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fixed clipless commuting, rare?

I'm totally addicted to the combination of road-level foot retention and fixed city riding, and I'm wondering if you guys see much of this where you are from.

I'm trying to understand my attraction to artificial restrictions and pointless "achievements" (clipping into spd-sl on the 1st 1/4 rotation, stopping by unweighting + front break + skip, avoiding deep sideways skids at all costs, etc.)

where I'm from? No. but a lot of the cities really known for the FG community seems to have quite a bit.

I would need to be commuting at least 12-15 miles for me to want to change shoes when I arrived at my destination. Though I guess some people rock the hidden clip shoes.

DUE EEEEEEEEEEEEET

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/schwinn-67cm-2242_8.jpg

but most I see ride with mountain bike pedals

clipless and fixed, lots and lots of miles, every day

MTB clipless for commuting.

i had spd-sl on my lo pro for a while. it's such a pleasure riding with them. however, due to the frequent amount of start/stopping in brooklyn/the city it became a little annoying to clip in and out, then to swap shoes for walking.

however, riding clipless fixed is a much more rewarding ride then clips/straps i feel.

however, riding clipless fixed is a much more rewarding ride then clips/straps i feel.

Exactly! I rode through Morro Bay wine country clipless brakeless fixed and it was so much fun.

I've thought about it many times, but haven't made the switch on my fixed because I have clipless on my road bike and like having a different bike that I can ride with regular shoes.

Time to get another bike!

I have an extra set of clipless pedals, but I am thinking I need a bike I can just ride without changing shoes... so I am building up the Stop Cycles E.t.A (http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/stop-cycles-eta-3712)

All this talk of changing shoes. I live in my clipless shoes

i bring spare set of shoos to swap into as riding with road pedals is just that much more awesome... but i often don't take em off and violate rule #69 (and 22)

If you commute to work or school, it's always nice to have a place where you can keep regular clothing and shoes all the time so you can change upon arrival.

Extra bonus points if you have shower access too. :D

violate rule #69 (and 22)

I am also guilty.

Go for it, I don't mind carrying a change of shoes when commuting to work (5 miles). I just find them more secure, easier and quicker to get into than toe clips or straps, so it makes up for the hassle of carrying an extra set of shoes with convenience.

i bring spare set of shoos to swap into as riding with road pedals is just that much more awesome... but i often don't take em off and violate rule #69 (and 22)

I usually violate rule 70.

I've thought about it many times, but haven't made the switch on my fixed because I have clipless on my road bike and like having a different bike that I can ride with regular shoes.

My reasons exactly.

a good casual spd shoe like this + mtb pedal is the sweet spot for commuting, unclip and walk as always :)
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/12/dzr-midnight-04-570x570.jpg
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/12/dzr-midnight-01.jpg

clipless4lyfe

clipless4lyfe

+1

I tried clips again on my touring bike. It lasted maybe 3 days before I switched back.
damn clips hurt my toes

Seeing these recessed-clipless shoes, I'm considering making the switch. I just don't have any problems with clips and I am terrified of unclipping at a high cadence.

Seeing these recessed-clipless shoes, I'm considering making the switch. I just don't have any problems with clips and I am terrified of unclipping at a high cadence.

You won't accidentally unclip at a high rpm unless your pedalling technique is really horrible. Once you go clipless, you'll never change back to clips / straps.

i have spd-sl and i walk on my shoes all the time. it feels like you are wearing tap dancing shoes or something but not too bad lol. you can easily walk around a grocery store or something like that. i usually just carry vans in my backpack if i know im gonna be walking more than riding

You won't accidentally unclip at a high rpm unless your pedalling technique is really horrible. Once you go clipless, you'll never change back to clips / straps.

I ride both and sometimes... even rock flat pedals.

Will say that a higher percentage of my riding is done with clipless and have mtb and touring shoes that are also great for walking and serve as my primary shoes.

I commute with time atacs on my fixed when i do commute on it

a good casual spd shoe like this + mtb pedal is the sweet spot for commuting, unclip and walk as always :)
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/12/dzr-midnight-04-570x570.jpg]

I've heard the cleats sometimes clack on the ground. dat tru?

Yeah, on concrete they make a grinding sound. Don't wear them on wood floors, because they will scratch them up.

Once you go clipless, you'll never change back to clips / straps.

Untrue. I have SPDs on my geared commute bike and rat traps on my fixed gear commute bike. I really like having a bike that can be ridden with regular shoes and this is the one I use far more often for commuting. Tennis shoes need to be kind of smooth on the bottom though or it's hard to get in the traps.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OwxnpwvfiF4/TU8jpOLLN2I/AAAAAAAAKO8/jhI-3DacULQ/s400/P2040009.JPG

Yeah, on concrete they make a grinding sound. Don't wear them on wood floors, because they will scratch them up.

TT, you use DZR's? Would you recommend them? I've been considering pulling the trigger on some just to see what the clipless buzz is all about.

TT, you use DZR's? Would you recommend them? I've been considering pulling the trigger on some just to see what the clipless buzz is all about.

Sorry, no. I use Shimano SH-MT51 shoes and Keen Commuter II sandals with SPD cleats. Both are very walkable, especially the sandals, and I've worn them all day w/o problems. But, they both grind a bit, so I assume the DZRs would be the same, since the depth of the recess seems to be about the same. The only thing I don't like about the DZR design is that they only have laces to resist pulling up on the pedal, and prefer something like the Shimano or Keen which also have a velcro strap to keep them tight. IDK know about their durability or comfort.

SH-MT53 shown below:

http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/shoe_test.image.+media+images+cycling+products+actionsports+SH+SH-MT53_600x450_v1_m56577569830724087_dot_jpg.bm.677.0.jpg

Keen Commuter II shown below:

http://a1.zassets.com/images/z/1/0/4/1049405-3-2x.jpg

Yeah, on concrete they make a grinding sound. Don't wear them on wood floors, because they will scratch them up.

That's pretty stupid. Doesn't that render the shoes totally useless then?

I've heard the cleats sometimes clack on the ground. dat tru?

not with MW (DZR).. they are so recessed, its hard to make them clack/touch/etc.

also, since they're so recessed, can be trouble with crank brothers low profile "racing" cleat

not with MW (DZR).. they are so recessed, its hard to make them clack/touch/etc.

also, since they're so recessed, can be trouble with crank brothers low profile "racing" cleat

my crank bros pedals/cleats came with a little plastic shim that's a couple of mm thick. clipping in is far easier for me with the shims mounted than without. I don't get much cleat grind when walking with them on my shoes either, but DZRs (or any other shoe) could be a different story.

not with MW (DZR).. they are so recessed, its hard to make them clack/touch/etc.

also, since they're so recessed, can be trouble with crank brothers low profile "racing" cleat

hmmm...

yeah DZR's are more recessed but their soles aren't as stiff as the Shimanos that TT linked. Chrome Kursk Pro's are something in between...

my crank bros pedals/cleats came with a little plastic shim that's a couple of mm thick. clipping in is far easier for me with the shims mounted than without. I don't get much cleat grind when walking with them on my shoes either, but DZRs (or any other shoe) could be a different story.

even with those shims i had alot of trouble getting into candy pedals.

even with those shims i had alot of trouble getting into candy pedals.

tread interference maybe?

tread interference maybe?

Probably. That happened with my Shimano shoes too.

I've mentioned it before, but the biggest problem I've had with both DZR and Mission Workshop offerings (Rondels and Ovis, specifically) is similar to what Tejano mentions: The shoe's uppers are simply not stiff enough for decent performance. The combination of leather and laces is far too stretchy. The upstroke feels awful when my foot is shifting around the shoe, even lifting completely off of the footbed. Also, the shoes do clack/scrape on concrete and cobblestone.

The shoes are an excellent idea and fill a wonderful niche, but the execution just isn't there yet, in my opinion. Maybe this is a problem only apparent in the Ovis and Rondel models, I dunno

Probably. That happened with my Shimano shoes too.

With my experience with Crankbrothers, I've ridden candies, mallets, and eggbeaters, they all clip in and out like butter, super smooth, sometimes too smooth (wish you could tighten/loosen them like most pedals... <__<). However, this is with road shoes, so no tread at all. I had a little trouble with a pair of Bontrager mtn shoes, where the tread wouldnt let me clip into a pair of eggbeaters. 5 mins later with a Dremel and a grinding bit, no tread interference, also didn't affect walking in the shoes either.

As of now, I commute fixed gear + clipless. Eggbeaters and a pair of Gaerne road shoes. It's either eat up your cleat on the concrete all day with the weird "casual clipless" shoe things... or just deal with carrying an extra pair of shoes like everyone else.

I think these types of shoes (dzr, kursk pro) are perfect if you are doing things while you are biking. (running errands, shopping, multiple stops,etc)
If you have to have only one pair of shoes, they are a good compromise.
I like them better than straps but straps do allow you to wear anything and still "make it work".

If it's just point A to B, using cycling flats and carrying shoes might be better.

I don't really believe in those recessed 'regular clipless' shoes. Too expensive and too ugly (giant outsole).

If you have to be walking, get MTB shoes and wear them with attitude or change your shoes.

SIDI Dominators for mad street credz

kurk pros are awesome if you like your heel slipping every 5 seconds

you know, I started getting heel slip in my dominators after about six weeks of use. I'm wondering at this point if heel slip is just an issue one must deal with when using clipless shoes to commute with, or if there is a better shoe option out there re: heel retention.

or maybe that is just the price to pay for violating rules #34 and #69.

I have my FG set up identically to my geared road bikes, including the pedals.

All this talk of changing shoes. I live in my clipless shoes

This. I haven't had to buy sneakers in ages because I wear my Shimano mtb shoes 4 days a week.

I bought a pair of Shimano MT33 shoes after I found an ancient set of SPD pedals. This was simply revelatory - the difference as as significant as going from flat pedals to clips. Pops in easy (well, not always on these old single-sided pedals), pops out instantly.

The cleat is recessed enough so it doesn't scrape on anything other than rocky ground, the sole is stiff enough for decent distances and the upper hugs the foot so it doesn't shift around. It even has a small elastic bit to keep your laces in (crucial, as I discovered this week when another shoe's laces tangled on the pedal spindle at a high cadence). However, they're "walkable" - they're shaped so your motions are still natural, but it's not the most comfortable thing to do over longer distances, nor is the thread grippy on wet surfaces.

However, my pedal wrench has become my best friend. I usually stick with clipless if I'm going to work (extra shoes in my bag - as a waiter, I walk a lot and can't afford to use uncomfortable shoes) or going about my daily business, but I'll swap them out for my old clips if I'm going out, or if my schedule is so packed my bag can't hold the extra work-shoes and cycle in those.

brakeless spd mtb here. done so in boston and now philly.

sometimes, i ride clips and straps. sometimes, i ride flat. sometimes, i ride with the velcro strap thangs.

straps for clipless pedals, lol

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/4623977/Toe+Strap+for+Clipless+Bike+Pedal+-+Winwood+brand

you know, I started getting heel slip in my dominators after about six weeks of use. I'm wondering at this point if heel slip is just an issue one must deal with when using clipless shoes to commute with, or if there is a better shoe option out there re: heel retention.

or maybe that is just the price to pay for violating rules #34 and #69.

My dominators are very, very old and I haven't had this issue. Perhaps they're a touch too big? The instep closure does a pretty good job of keeping my whole foot in.

yeah that was a kursk (pro and normal) problem in general. I would think with something with all the bells and whistles of a road shoe that what you're experiencing shouldn't be normal. kursk in general just suck