Commuting - Pedals for commuting

Commuting to work for me, in the jungle of a country that I live in means getting on and off the bike all the time. I recently removed my toe clips in an effort to make this easier but it didn't really work out well! I don't really fancy clipless pedals due to the dedicated shoe thing.. any suggestions for the best pedals to use on such a commute ??
What about the MTB beartrap pedals with adjustable dowels for more grip ??

Claude

Performance sells a decent quality small bear trap style pedal, with sealed bearings. I bought a pair for my commuter, along with the toe straps.

I keep the "feet belts" just slack enough to be able to slip in & out of them with my store-brand sneakers. An advantage of the straps is that on very wet days, I can ride in using old yard-work sneakers or even slip-on canvas beach shoes.

This may not be race winning style, but my racing days ended in 1985... now, all I want to do is get to the office in one piece.

Both Performance & Nashbar carry powergrip straps and complete pedal & strap sets. I've used these quite happily even without any experience with toe clips. It took about 4
rides to get really comfortable with sliding in. Only problem is that the weight of the strap tends to make the strap side be the bottom side, so you need to learn to catch the pedal on the underside to turn them up for entry.

When working somewere with heavy traffic or with seriously icy weather i use DMR V8's. A couple of months a go i got some 636 shimano pedals ya know the caged clipless and find them really good for the long journeys.

As a retrogrouch, I use good old-fashioned toe clips on all of my bicycles, and would not consider anything else for commuting or general transportation. I adjust the straps so that I can just slide my feet in or out of the clips. My biggest problem is finding appropriate shoes, having loved my old Avocet touring shoes (steel shank, grooved rubber sole) to death.

I second John's comment. Toe clips with lose straps give you decent security with quick exit. Shoes, though are a problem. Most trainer-style cycling shoes can be used without the metal cleat, but they all have horizontal slots which catch on the pedals. I remodel mine with a sharp knife to remove some of the knobbles and edges.

I still use Hi Tec silver shadow trainers, budget 1970s style running shoes that are incredibly well built and 1/3 the price of Nikes. Id like them to be a bit stiffer, but they suffice for riding around town.
My pedals are MKS Sylvian Touring with Christophe metal clips and leather straps, retro style and very effective.


I dont trust metal cleats on wet stone, and I know they are not welcome on wooden floors.

As a retrogrouch, I use good old-fashioned toe clips on all of my bicycles, and would not consider anything else for commuting or general transportation. I adjust the straps so that I can just slide my feet in or out of the clips. My biggest problem is finding appropriate shoes, having loved my old Avocet touring shoes (steel shank, grooved rubber sole) to death.

+1 :thumb:

The same way I do it. :beer: