Rocky Gravol

Am I the only one, that thinks they're a waste of time?

lostarchitect 

Have you used them more than a few times?

Personally I can go either way and usually use toe clips, but there are definitely things to recommend clipless.

KonAaron Snake 

Ride what you want. I HATE straps and my large feet are problematic with toe clips.

Also, which clipless? There are a lot of systems and there are some real differences. I find SPDs easy and intuitive and I far prefer them to straps, or platforms.

ThermionicScott 

I think tilting toe clip pedals to get your feet in and then reaching down to tighten/loosen the straps is a waste of time, but that's just my opinion.

Or are you saying that foot retention in general is a waste of time?

cb400bill

All my bikes have either flat pedals or SPDs. I don't use toe clips.

icepick_trotsky 

I use Look Keos on all of my bikes, C&V and otherwise. No apologies.

Pemetic2006

SPD clipless. Haven't ridden any other way in 15 years. Takes about 2 -3 rides (from memory) to be a full convert.

noglider 

If you've tried them and don't like them, no need to ask what the appeal is. You don't like them. That's fine. No one needs you to like them.

I've used many kinds of foot retention. I ride with it more than not. One thing I like is that I unclip my right foot to put it down and retain my left foot. When I come to a stop, my left foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Before I start up, I spin the cranks backwards a half turn to bring my left foot to the top of the stroke. I don't have to put my foot under the pedal to do this. For me, this is a labor savings. It may not matter to you.

SJX426 

Also converted. I do keep trap and strap on the Colnago. It just looks right. If I am going to ride it for any serious rides, the SPD's go on. What is not to "get"?

OK so I don't get why anyone would want anything different, other than the need to frequently get off/on and walk. But that is what the platform/SPD combination is for.

Rocky Gravol

Yes, pretty much.

I like riding with the big fat MTB pedals, with the grippy spikes.

I ride in the city a lot, so the clipped pedals are right out.
To inconvenient for all the stops and starts.

Right now I have five different pairs of clipless, and three pairs of shoes.
My friends keep giving them to me, telling me how much I need them.

I've tried them they don't make me any faster, or make my hill climbs any easier.

Slash5

I had good intentions on running my Raleigh with toe clips. Have nice pedals and clips but my big feet don't fit - pedal is too small and can't get my foot deep enough into the clip - and they are large clips.
Final straw was when I found that when I was fooling around with the bikes, I had to go and change shoes to ride the Raleigh.

When I started riding seriously, toe clips were all there was. Clipless were a revelation when they came out. Even ran toe clips on my MTB - and you haven't lived until you've tried mountain biking with toe clips tightened down as far as they would go. Had clipless as soon as they came out -still got them around somewhere.

SJX426 

AHHHHH. It is your technique of pedaling that prevents you from experiencing the benefits of "clipless"! All you ever do is push down! I pull back, push forward and lift up besides pushing down. This is especially effective on hills. Kick those heels up a hill really helps!

Little Darwin

I go between flat pedals and clipless (Crank Brothers Candy pedals for me) I ride the flat pedals until I feel stable each year, and then switch. I don't gain speed or power, since I don't lift significantly, but I do feel more solid on the bike.

I can understand why some riders wouldn't like them, but I do.

SJX426 

My wife will not ride with clipless. She doesn't think she can get her foot free fast enough. She now uses a cage on the tandem, sans straps. She likes that her foot doesn't fly around as much anymore. Baby steps.

Beach Comber

I started with toe clips, went to SPD-SL, then tried A530s on my Voyageur for both clip and platform. Sure, its a ridiculously heavy pedal, but the convenience outweighs that. So to speak. Still use SPD-SLs on a modern bike, but when its time for new shoes, think I'll get some M530s instead.

lostarchitect 

???

I don't get this. I ride in NYC almost every day, I don't find foot retention to be a problem at all. For clips and straps, I just don't tighten them down. For clipless, I don't make any changes as it's easy to get in and out anyway.

SJX426 

I use the A530 on my commuter. What is a few extra ounces on a bike that typically weighs around 45 -50 lbs loaded to go to work?

Rocky Gravol

Yes, I understand the technique.

The spikes on the MTB pedals that I ride,
grip my shoes and allow me to pull back, and push forward.
It seems to come naturally, I can feel myself doing it.

But with the clipless pedals, I would think that I would be able to feel myself lifting
up the pedal on the top of my insole, but I don't.

The only time I feel it, is when I sprint, or stand up.

Bimdapogs

Clipless is awesome, and even prefer it on my MTB. It makes me feel like I can control the bike better.
On the road on a group ride, I can't imagine pedalling 80-100rpm on a flat pedal. And it helps with bunny-hopping potholes and road bumps.

Chombi

Look Keo Classics on all of my C&V bikes, so far, except my oldest bike from the 70's, which look a lot more correct with quill pedals and clips/straps on them.....
One thing I really liked when I transitioned to clipless pedals in the mid 80's was the elimination of pressure, pain and hot spots I felt with clipped pedals and the ease and speed one can get on and off clipless pedals with a quick twist of the ankles......
Ddddoooit....Nnnnooonan.....Dddoooooit!

squirtdad

I like clipless, but also use flat pedals, and am looking at putting toe clips on my torpado.

Personally I have had more problems getting out of clips and straps than I ever have had with clipless

I will go flat for for quick one or 2 mile errands

I use a spd/flat pedal combo on my short commute/utility bike and it is never a problem riding in traffic. I keep my left foot clipped in and just start and clip in easily

I use spd-sl on my road bike

I tried the speedplays and didn't like them at all.

all in all I like retention

70sSanO

I've never gone to clipless. I moved from a cleated road shoe to a Specialized Sonoma, that I can walk in, 5 or 6 years ago. So I still use toe clips and straps but I don't need to tighten or loosen them anymore. On my mountain bikes I use platform pedals with hiking shoes. So far I have not had any desire to go clipless. As for toe clips, I have found Large and X-Large Christophe on ebay for my wife. I am still running DA 7400 pedals.

John

randyjawa 

Well, the new pedals do prevent leather strap wear on the crank set. The new pedals are more positive, requiring no hands-on intervention to work. The new pedals are more precise in positioning one's foot properly. Sadly, in my mind, they do look out of place on a vintage machine. But that is of no import to me when my butt is on the saddle and my feet are positively connected to the spin circle.

crank_addict

This fellow doesn't care either ~

Rocky Gravol

At lease one person that hasn't been brainwashed by the Bicycle Industrial Complex.

I thought I would get a more sympathetic group here on the CV forum.