Bart5657

Well, I commute to school on my dads old steel Kabuki Submariner. Id say for the past year and a half Id either used spd's or traditional toe clips/straps on it. The problem was, the bike is a little bit too small for me, and with size 14 feet its very uncomfortable to have ur feet limited to how far up they can travel by toe clips (although on my perfectly sized speciallized roadie, toe clips were never a problem). Spd's helped the problem although it was still somewhat noticable, and I really dont like changing shoes at school.
Anyway....Today I finally put back the original platforms and wow, what a difference. Its so hard to explain but I just feel, liberated. I know I may be losing some power but It was just so much more comfortable and I just felt free.
Now im not saying I dont like clipless, I love it, and if this bike was fitted to me, id probably put up with changing shoes, but I must say this is nice. How about u guys, any of u commute on platform pedals?

cerewa

My road bike is awaiting repairs so I'm riding my folding bike. So it's platforms for me! When I'm back on the road bike (hopefully after this weekend) I'll be back to the clips and straps. But my road bike fits me well.

jyossarian

I have SPDs with a large platform and I don't wear bike shoes when I commute. I like the freedom of not being strapped in since I have to stop frequently.

Roody

Like me, a lot of commuters use platforms. I might stop at two stores and the barber shop on my way to work, and I don't want to wear "funny shoes" into those places. Also, I might blow a tire on my way home, midnight in the city, and end up having to walk the bike home. Again, I would rather be wearing my running shoes for that inevitability. If I had a 20 or 30 mile commute, I would probably feel differently.

I-Like-To-Bike

Yes, I do. Yes it is nice.

MichaelW

If you can't find XL clips, then Powerstraps fit any size shoe.

PaulH

They work well for my application. Convenience trumps everything for me.

Paul

camy

Do you have problems with the fron tire hitting your foot when turning?

I just added platforms on my wifes bike. I took it for a spin and on the first turn, I hammered my foot into the front tire. I guess this is something I would have to get used to, or not pedal around turns.

Makoa

My main commuter is a MTB with platforms, no clips. I wear sandals sometimes when the weather is warm -- talk about pleasure. Some days I wear running shoes and stop at the track on the way home for a good track workout. My job is such that I MUST be in on time, so platforms gives me options in case I have a flat or other mechanical problem. I can just lock up the bike and run the rest of the way in.

My commute is about 10 miles each way.

When I do occasionally commute on my road bike, with egg beaters, I definitely notice more power when climbing with the clipless pedals.

Keep on riding.

Longhorn

I use mountain bike platforms that have a really good grip. I wear biking sandals with stiff soles and I got some mountain bike type shoes to wear when it's too cold for sandals. However, I've read from folks here that they ride with sandals and socks in the winter and it's fine, and they're in colder climates than I am, so maybe I'll just keep wearing the sandals.

Anyway, I never got into the clipless. I still have the cleats in my sandals and they are easy to walk in but I guess it's time to take them out since I'm not really planning to put the clipless pedals back on my bike.

Makoa

That's one complaint about my sandals -- they are not very stiff, and my feet can sometimes hurt a little when pushing hard or climbing. I also have to make sure my pedals have the "good grip" side up. Otherwise my feet slip around on the pedal some. I guess that's what they call "poor man's float."

spinerguy

They are ok on nice dry weather. Once wet most are extremely slippery so watch out these muggy days comming.
I had myself close calls before SPD.

dynaryder

I only ride platforms. My favs are Cannondale Octopuses. I've got them on 3 bikes.

Roody

Is your bike fit OK? I think you should have the balls of your foot on the platforms, so your toes would be less likely to hit the tire.

I do have one pair of All Terrain running shoes, that are really more like the old "wafflestomper" hiking boots. Sometimes they hit either the front or rear tire. So you might want to try different shoes, if your foot placement is OK.

As You Like It

I ride flat pedals all the time, everywhere.

I find it hilarious on group rides, when I can be the first person up and rolling from a dead stop. Everyone else is twiddling their feet around trying to get clipped in, and I just shove off and start pedalling.

I realize that it could make hill climbing and spinning much easier if I had proper cycling shoes and clipless pedals, but I can't afford them, and I seem to be representing myself well enough without, so I don't worry.

Plus, then I can wear normal shoes to work and not have to change, and not look excessively weird when I am running errands. I ride in just regular clothes (baggy cords, rolled up, and tee-shirts mostly) so if I stow the helmet and roll my pants down, I don't look any more peculiar than I would otherwise look.

Normal shoes for me are a pair of men's workboots, and my pedals are some sort of metal things with pointy bits. I dread the day I have a good wreck and sink one of those into my shin or calf. They seem to mesh well with the tread on my boots, however. Good grip.

bsyptak

I ride recessed mtb shoes with platform/platform+spds. Best of both worlds, IMO. Bought another pair yesterday for the SS.

Lone Prairie

All of my commuting bikes have MTB style platforms from which I have removed the clips. They have teeth aplenty so my feet don't slip and I can go fast enough. I used to commute with clips and straps on them and I have seen no loss of power or efficiency after their removal. I am highly suspicious of most bike gadgets and have found them to detract from the experience of actually riding the bicycle. Every time I find myself considering an 'upgrade', I think about my first bike. It was a Schwinn Stingray with a coaster brake, a banana seat, and platform pedals; I rode thousands of miles on it if I rode one and it worked fine. As a matter of fact, my memories of riding that bike are more about what I saw, heard, or talked about while riding than how efficiently the bike worked. I love bicycles and the bicycles I love the most melt into the ride and become almost indistinguishable from it. In my experience, the more gadgets I add to the bike, the more I pay attention to them, attempting to justify their purchase. All this is done at the expense of the ride itself. I say, just enjoy your bike and the ride.

Hopping off the soapbox,
e.

Nightshade

To me commuting & utility cycling is all about a pratical way to travel
as simply as possible. Clips & toe straps are not in that picture
except for the hardcore "gotta have it" crowd. Platforms are the pedal
of choice of the worlds population that must use bicycles to get around.

Platforms forever!!!!!!!!

Bart5657

You know, this is kinda awsome. Im really glad there are still a lot of people out there who can apreciate the simplicity of riding a bicycle without all the fanfare attached to it. I still love my roadie with all its gizmos and and efficiency, but its a totaly different experience then just getting on a bike and riding (no lycra, special shoes, etc). Maybe I should start looking into a single speed or fixie.

Roody

Would you be willing to tell us more about this?

Roody

Of course you can also just get on a geared bike and go too! I mean, it doesn't have to be a SS or fixie.

I'm all into the "just get on and go" school, but I must admit that I wouldn't ride more than 2 miles without putting on cycling shorts, even though I often wear "regular" shorts or pants over the lycra.

Mxu

For the 2 weeks I've had my bike, I've biked some trips well over 20 miles and I've been wearing long khaki pants to do it! I am crazy! I never wear shorts, don't own cyclinc shorts, and don't plan to in the near (or extended) future.

Yeah, the inside of my right pantleg gets a little gritty after a ride, but it's nothing that unwashable.

I-Like-To-Bike

Exactly!

This IS a COMMUTING forum, isn't it?

Some posters from the Road Cycling and Fixed Gear forums must have gotten their wires crossed.

michaelnel

Based on this discussion, I got an inexpensive set of Wellgo platform/rattrap/mtb pedals and took my Speedplay Frogs off and put the cheap pedals on. For commuting (mine is bike/train/bike so the bike portion is pretty short), it's kind of a PITA to have to wear special shoes, change them when I get to work, change back before going home. The Wellgos let me just walk up to the bike in my regular shoes and Well, go!

I love the Frogs, but I think I'll just put 'em on for longer rides on the weekends. I think the Wellgos will be better in the upcoming rainy season too.

Strangely though, on my first ride with the Wellgos, I found myself twisting out of them at stops ;-)

John Ridley

I like platforms but I think toe clips are important. When I'm riding in the rain without toe clips, I find that my feet slip off the pedal when I'm taking off from a stoplight very often. Doing that with a car behind you is NOT safe. I bought a pair of toe clips after this happened to me for about the 3rd time my first year of commuting.

I'm thinking about going clipless, but it'll have to be mountain shoes+SPD, because I ride to stores, walk around, etc while riding.