jskwarek

Don't feel bad Tom, I've done it twice. Once looking up at a cute chic staring at me from the gas station laughing at me. I didn't care though, I had just climbed a monster hill and was proud of myself.

Jason

Wogster

Yup, it's my opinion, I last I checked, I was entitled to one

Honestly, I looked into clipless, I could buy them at the LBS, and it was well past $200, to even think about it. I can order online, cheaper, but shipping costs, bring it awfully darn close to $200 here in Canada. I can order online from the US, cheaper until the idiot seller decides to ship it UPS or FedEx and the tack on $65 in brokerage charges..... As for wienie, never said you, personally were

Terrierman

I can say that for me clipless pedals vs platforms are the difference in making it up some of the steep hills riding instead of walking. Those old fashioned out dated toe clips and straps might get it done too, I wouldn't know, since I have more money than brains.

tpelle

I just ordered an inexpensive set of "plastic" mini clips that don't requires straps. I'll try 'em out and see how they go.

JumboRider

I used to be clip/strap based, but until I get back up to speed I am going platforms. Once I do get up to speed I don't know what I will do. I think I will go with a pedal that can be used as a platform or clipless down the line.

lil brown bat

No one said or implied that you weren't. Don't roll your eyes at me.

At my LBS I can buy a pair of shoes for $45, the cleats were...hmm...a little less than that IIRC. Dunno why they'd be so much more in Canada, but if that's your reality, that sucks. You have my sympathy.

No, what you said was:

"I think too much of modern cycling is racing oriented, including the crazy ideas of trying to see how many gears we can squeeze onto a cassette, and how few spokes, on a wheel. It's been this way, for a long time, and maybe for weight wienies with more money then brains, it works. Clipless pedals are one of these racing technologies."

Clipless pedals are not a "racing technology", and people are not "weight wienies"[sic] or racer-wannabees or anything else because they decide to use them.

Wogster

Okay, I think I was in a grumpy mood when I wrote that, so I apologize if I have offended you, for me personally, clipless isn't worth it, IMHO. Now why don't we all step back from the computers and go for a nice ride before the rain starts

lil brown bat

It already started, dammit...and it looks to continue for the next couple of days. Yesterday was stinkin' hot, would have ridden anyway but I was in an aikido seminar all day. More aikido tomorrow and Tuesday so it's not like I'll be sitting around anyway...happy riding!

solveg

Aaaargh. I've been using that "eye-rolling" smiley for months now, thinking it was kind of a non-commital, shoulder-shrugging, friendly thing.

Stujoe

I wish I could use either one...clip or clipless I have a serious toe out problem on my right foot and a minor one on my left. I recently bought some Knee Savers (waiting on them to arrive) with the hope it will at least allow me to get more than half my right foot on the pedal and help with the left too.

JeeperTim

I can't go clipless - my bike quits on me 2 or 3 times a month and I wind up walking a long ways. I need good walking shoes. Or $1G to get a better bike

brodie

once i got a little serious,i got some - cannondale coda- pedals and,some -diadora-shoes. i tried them on short rides and,i just wasnt comfortable with them. the position in which they place my feet,just didnt work for me.in the times that i grew up,i had toe clips on my schwinn continenetal.SO I GUESS,ITS WHAT I KNOW.

I LIKE, being able to move my feet around in the cage if i want to.im just comfortable with them. and i use all sides of my pedal stroke to propel myself which is the point ,right.its not like toe clips dont work. they do.but i have seen the looks from my fellow cyclist,kind of like - jeez,why dont you join us in the future.- but,i love my toeclips andstraps.

dahoss2002

I went back to using regular platform pedals................ I just like to wear my regular shoes...... But if I chose between straps and clipless............. Clipless are much better, especially if u are trying to perfect your pedaling technique.

Bearbig

I use SPD pedals with mountain shoes on my roadie. My clips allow 6 degrees of float and I can walk fine
in the shoes. Yes they're heavier than road shoes but.....I'm a clyde!!

Longfemur

I use clipless, but I might just go back to toe clips when my current Shimano sandals wear out. Why? Pedals with toe clips are a timeless, low-maintenance, elegant bicycling invention that make you as a bike rider independent and free from the bicycle industry and its constant need to get you to buy something new.

You don't need special shoes, you don't need anyone to help you adjust the cleats, you can completely ignore the entire clipless pedal industry, all the choices, all the concerns about knees and hotspots, etc. The only downside to toe clips for the average rider is that you need to flip the pedal over to get into them, and if you don't, on a road bike, the toe clip itself may drag on the road as you pedal, say from an intersection.

That clipless pedals are somehow more efficient is just a myth perpetuated by the placebo effect experienced by those who have spent the money and by the bicycle industry's constant need to get newbies to buy stuff. This is where you start getting into other myths such as pedaling in circles, pulling up on the upstroke, etc. There's no big mystery, since the pedals cannot not go around in circles. All you have to do is try to pedal smoothly, saddle not too high, appropriate gear that doesn't make you actively push down with each stroke. You can do that just as easily with toe clips, and even with no foot restraint whatsoever.

As long as your identity doesn't depend on you visualizing yourself as a road racer, toe clips are just fine.

Tom Stormcrowe

Actually, there is a bit greater efficiency with clipless.....better full circle spinning unless you are strapped in TIGHTLY with double straps Keirin Racing style. I'll take the marginal loss of efficiency though

Caincando1

I currently ride with toe clips and straps. I leave my straps loose so I can pull my feet out without having to bend over and loosen them. I can't wait to go clipless so I can be firmly secured to the pedals and not have to bend over and loosen the straps to get out.