Commuting - What kind of pedals/shoes do you use

Are you a clipless commuter, using SPD, Look, Eggbeaters etc, or do you use toe clips, or do you just have plain old pedals?

Why do you prefer what you use?

I have Look pedals, I wanted the wide angle of movement that Look offered back when I was looking to upgrade. I use a cheap pair of Performance double velcro cycle shoes.

Shimano SPD 520s and Specialized Mountain Sport shoes.

I use look. Kind of regretted it for commuting because it was a pain once you were off the bike.

shimano SPD's with diadora geko mtn shoes. I bought the shoes cause they were $2.50 at goodwill (and fit perfect!) but I really like the recessed cleat. I can walk around easily and makes it easy to go to the store or run other errands.

time xs atac with sidi dominator 2 mega

Shoes: Sidi Iron
Pedals: Look A5.1

A nice combo for road riding but I really think for commuting I would be better off with SPDs and a sneeker type MTB shoe, and maybe a pair of sandals. :)

Specialized Sonoma shoes with Shimano 505 pedals.

The Sonoma's were comfortable enough to wear at work the week I forgot to pack everyday shoes in with the supplies for my locker...

My first post!

I use plain pedals because I don't want to have to wear separate shoes just to ride my bike. I once bought cycling shoes and they hurt so bad because they force your feet into a rigid position that I will never buy them again. Also my bike came with plain pedals because most people need a learning period on a recumbent before they switch to other pedals. I have yet to feel any complaints about my pedals, so why spend the money? I'm a commuter, not a speed demon.

Shoes: Sidi Dominator 4 Megas
Pedals: Stainless Eggbeaters

Shimano M520 pedals and Shimano SD60 Sandals. Sometimes I wear them all day at work. In the (mild down to 28deg) winter I wear with wool socks. In the snow (up north) I've worn with thick wool socks and waterproof outer. In the rain they don't get soggy or need to dry out. Very versatile.

Al

Shimano M520 pedals and Shimano SD60 Sandals. Sometimes I wear them all day at work. In the (mild down to 28deg) winter I wear with wool socks. In the snow (up north) I've worn with thick wool socks and waterproof outer. In the rain they don't get soggy or need to dry out. Very versatile.

Al

I have just started using the Shimano sandals, and they are so much better than the SIDI shoes I was wearing. Much better smelling too... :D I am still wearing socks at this point, but look forward to feeling the wind in the summer and not having nasty wet shoes during the monsoon season.

Clips and straps! I work in a fairly informal academic environment, and don't want to have to change my shoes for a 25 minute commute.

On the suggestion of someone in the fixie forum, I bought Palladium Reposal shoes. I love these, low profile comfortable walking shoe with a ridged rubbed sole. Goes into and out of clips easily and looks great. $22 with shipping from this thing on ebay (http://stores.ebay.com/Consolidated-Shoe-Store)

I had Shimano M535 SPD pedals on my old commuter. They were ok but nothing like my Egg Beaters on my new commuter.
Shoes: Lake MX100 and Exustar SM 600

SPD rating: 8.5
Egg Beater rating: 9.8 :beer:

I like Egg Beaters because they are the easiest I've found for clipping in and out in a hurry (in Atlanta traffic) and they're 4 sided.

Love my Speedplays.

http://www.speedplay.com/images/xall.jpg

I have covers for the cleats that fit easily in my jersey pocket so walking in them is no problem.

Serge

I use platform pedals... thinking about getting toeclips and straps. I don't have the money to throw down for clipless and shoes, although I've heard good things about them. If I did have the money to toss around, and I've totally formulated this out of opinoins/testimony of others, I would probably get some kinda mtb shoe with clipless pedals (spd seems to be pretty standard, so I'd prolly get them). Why? There's a part of my homeward bound commute that I do have to stop and cross a street. I've heard that road shoes are not comfortable to walk in. Not to mention, I have wide feet, or as my gf would say "you have frodo feet". *shrug*

I use look. Kind of regretted it for commuting because it was a pain once you were off the bike.
I did the same thing. Look cleats really suck for commuting.

Are the SPD cleats for the sandals recessed enough to not touch the ground when walking?

spds are easier to walk around in.

Are the SPD cleats for the sandals recessed enough to not touch the ground when walking?
They are totally recessed. They may click a bit on uneven hard surfaces (like pebble paths or rough asphault)
I've gone walking in them for 5mi trips, even climbing around on rocks/boulders, no problem.

Al

Shimano MO70 with frogs.

Corsaire

Used platforms up until today.

Now using Crank Brothers Eggbeaters & Northwave Elite MTB shoes.
Would have prefered shoes that looked more like normal runners, but these were 1/2 price at the LBS were I had a gift certificate.

Probably would have tried something less costly if I hadn't received 3 LBS gift certificates for Christmas. :)

I like the simplicity of the Eggbeater design, their reputation for working well even in mud (in case I decide to use them through the winter).

E-beaters and mountain shoes.

I use platforms on my 3.5 mile commute. Its too short of a distance to bother with anything else. I do use toe clips on my weekend road bike.

Eggbeaters and Lake SPD sandals during the summer.

Eggbeaters and Lake road winter shoes when the temp drops below about 45.

Love them. LOVE THEM. Both of them.

I use the Coda SPD's that were fitted to my bike when i got it, and, if i do say so myself, a lovely pair of Nike air shoes which i purchased ages ago and have lasted amazingly :)

I use old raleigh flat peddals and 'stelth' cycling shoes, so I can sneak in to work if I end up taking the long way in on a sunny day. SPD's hurt my knees, I love my speedplays for weekend rides but they are too much hassle for walking around.

Started with SPDs and Shimano mountain shoes. Recently went with eggbeaters and Duegi mountain shoes. The cleats made contact sometimes with the Shimano shoes, but I think that is mainly a difference in the shoes, not the cleats. I do like the feel of the eggs much better. They are smoother float, much smoother and easier to clip out of.

Do they make clipless SPD shoes (not sandals) with recessed cleats as well? I went on my first group ride today and could easily keep up with the yuppies on their titanium colnagos (<-- note suppressed jealousy), but wished I had some clipless shoes.

I would want to be able to walk around in them though...

I ride Shimano 520's and some 6yr old Exus SM600's. They're similar to the ones that are still available except that they just say "exus" and not "Exustar". They're great shoes... I wear them as my normal everyday shoes and they've stood up very well. Granted, they sat unused for a few years while I didn't cycle but I've used them quite a bit over the past 6 months and have had no issues.

I am running Time Atac XS and (looking at feet) Cannondale shoes.

cheapie shimano pedals, and shimano carbon soal plastic covered road shoes ( which are now to small, anyone want to buy a set of 8.5US size ? ) i always feel like a dork walking into work cause they click all over the pavement and marble floors till i get to the carpeted office inside.

just switched to eggbeaters, from shimano m515's (or whatever), love 'em, better cornering clearance & the cleats have a lower profile so they don't scrape when i'm walking, plus they look clean as hell & the 4 sided entry means you can just mash your foot down & don't have to think about it

the the shimano sandals are one of the best $60 you can spend on your cycling experience, they're incredibly walkable (even with the SPD cleats) comfy as hell & look like regular old sandals, you get lotsa 'whoa?s' from people when then see the bike's clipless pedals & see you're wearing sandals, then you show them the cleats & you get another 'whoa'

Pedals: Shimano M505, I use them on both my roadie and my mountain bike. Note this is a "stocker" style pedal, it's about impossible to buy online as a result, but they are inexpensive and very tough...actually mine spin even better now that they have been used a while. No adjustable float (4 degrees of float only), but I don't really need it either.

Shoes: (Performance Bike) Forte Traverse II. Inexpensive, great for commuting, and they look like regular shoes. Only downside is the cleat sticks out more than is normal with sneaker-style SPD shoes.

I've always used plain old flat pedals. For shoes, I just wear whatever I've got on for everyday.

Hopelessly uncool, I know.

Most of my bikes get clips and straps, and I wear vans.

If I've gotta wear the steeltoes, I grab one of the bikes with bmx pedals.

Pedals and clips...

Mostly Carnac mountain shoes or Carnac Ventoux with spd cleats that let me walk around , 3 bikes have spd, 9 with toeclips. In the Summer I have a nice pair of Lotto white leather shoes to use with my toe clip bikes.

Mostly SPD's for the past 2 years, but I am going to try powergrips this summer as my new commute route will take me through more city and less bike paths.

Looks on my road bike (Northwave shoes), and SPDs on my MTB and my flat bar commuter (Exustar shoes). Wish I could use Looks on my commuter, but walking in those cleats sux.

4 different pedals on 4 road bikes:
original look pedal with adidas road shoes
First generation Time Sport pedal with Time sport shoes,
First generation Time Titan Mag pedal with Time criterium shoes
and
Time Impact Mag pedals with Time Equipe Pro shoes.

Favorite right now are Lyotard Berthet with Christophe clips & Detto Pietro winter race shoes. Close second is Campagnolo or Zeus Pista with same clips & shoes. No cleats.

I use plain pedals because I don't want to have to wear separate shoes just to ride my bike. I once bought cycling shoes and they hurt so bad because they force your feet into a rigid position that I will never buy them again. Also my bike came with plain pedals because most people need a learning period on a recumbent before they switch to other pedals. I have yet to feel any complaints about my pedals, so why spend the money? I'm a commuter, not a speed demon.
What she said. Except I ride a hybrid and I've never even tried cycling shoes. I just haven't felt the need to do anything else.

Shimano SPD 520s and Specialized Mountain Sport shoes.

I am thinking about getting these (my first ones). I tend to like shoes that are wide at the toes. Would you say the Specialized are such shoes (I hear Pearl Izumi and Sidi are but they cost more)

Currently using toe straps but will probably go to clipless at some stage

I use SPD pedals and have Wellgo cheapie shoes. The Sidi Dominators are for the fun weekends.

One great thing about crank brothers pedals: you don't need a pedal wrench!!!
I forgot this until last nite. :)

Hahaha . . . that's exactly the same setup I have. I tore up the straps on the shoes though (one collision with a car that sent me sliding on the pavement wore most of the bottom strap on the right shoe away) and I had to stick laces in them so that I can still wear them. The pedals are only a couple years old; the shoes I've had for five years.

The shoes look relatively normal and have a nicely recessed cleat so that I can walk around in them pretty easily. I ride fixie when I commute, and the clipless pedals are clutch -- I can control my cadence that much better. It makes a huge different navigating in traffic.

The pedals are nothing special. I have SPD-SL's on my roadbike. They're like a dream, but for commuting I'd definitely go with the double-sided pedals for easier clip-ins in traffic.

Cheers.

I've always used plain old flat pedals. For shoes, I just wear whatever I've got on for everyday.

Hopelessly uncool, I know.
Me too, although I have a word of caution. I used to sometimes pedal in my penny loafers, until the day my foot slipped and the shoe fell off in the middle of an intersection! I had to park the bike on the side and walk back out in one sock foot to get it. Talk about hopelessly uncool... :(

Also, someone said (on this thread, or maybe another?) that cycling can wear shoes out faster because your foot bends in ways normal shoes are not made to. Of course, I always have an old set of sneakers or two around (because my wife makes me buy new ones before the old ones are completely in tatters), so I can just use those, since they are otherwise useless anyway! :)

I bought a used bike that has Time pedals (TIME Mag. EQ). Does anybody know more about them? Are they worth keeping, or should I get something newer?

I bought a used bike that has Time pedals (TIME Mag. EQ). Does anybody know more about them? Are they worth keeping, or should I get something newer?
Should be fine, unless you have some strong reason to want a different style of cleat, or a lighter pedal, or something like that.