Alareth

I got a pair of Crank Bros. Smarty pedals and some MTB shoes about 6 months after I went car free. I was worried about falling but managed to put that off for at least a couple of months

The first thing that made me realize the difference it makes in pedalling was I noticed a completely new set of muscles on my calves beginning to develop that I didn't even know were there.

JPprivate

Don't see that it came up, but I am quite happy with these (I am no expert at all, however)



it seems like a middle way of clipped/clipless and standard platform. (don't try to ride barefoot on those, though). Gives me a good "grip" on the pedals, much better than standard platform without my feet being kept in one place by some device.

jediphobic

Nothing is so great about them, just like everything else. They have their advantages and disadvantages. I love mine. I will, however, not try to tell people that they are the only way to go. I still use platforms on my utility bike, and I feel fine with them there because my pace isn't very high.

Honestly, they do have better power transfer, but if you are able to notice it on your commute, you're probably pushing the pace a bit harder than is common.

I also love them because I feel safer in them. When I rode platforms exclusively I used to have problems with my shoes slipping when my cadence was high. It was pretty scary to me at least. I suppose toe clips would have been another way to go, but I was afraid they'd be too hard to get out of.

If you get a chance to try them without too much investment, take it. They might work for you.

travelmama

I ride with the SPD M324 so that I can ride with and without cycling specific shoes. Most rides are clipless because I can keep a good cadence without slipping however, I will ride on the platform if I am uncertain of the oncoming traffic or going down or up a long hill. If a friend wants to ride on of my bikes, he/she doesn't need to change shoes. I fell off my bike once last year while clipped in only because I blacked out. Other than that, I feel confident using them.

DVC45

That time of the month again, eh?

Dual sided pedal is my holy grail on this subject.

Harvey2

My feet are so flat you'd think you saw the tracks of a duck with toes. I don't wear shoes with arches I can't remove (I mean I literally buy the flattest shoes possible, take out the foam/and saw out the interior of the shoe in order that my feet won't be in pain). Every pair of clipless shoes is arched. I can wear a raised heel but nothing with arch support. And it sucks.

So I'm sure the shoes work. I mean, just the idea of a better transfer of energy from your muscles to the pedals has got to be something huge. And frankly I'm bummed that I've never tried a shoe that I could see working.

I don't have them but I'll be hecked if I wouldn't if I could.

or something like that...

Harv

DX-MAN

Not trying to flame anybody, your experience is your experience. But the whole clipless/platform argument is a waste.

If you want to try them, try them (clipless); if not, don't. The biggest, and only true, advantage of one over the other is making your ride experience a better one in your own opinion. One of my buds rode clipless, and swore by them. Another swore AT them.

I ride clipless because I ride better with them. I like the 'connected' feeling to the bike, it's like it talks to me during the ride. I'm not just clicked in, I'm plugged in. I've since tried platforms, and the week I rode them was the most painful in recent memory, worse even than the collarbone that shattered. Leg cramps and shooting calf pains that would not quit until the 2nd day back on clipless.

Am I faster? Likely so, since I'm faster across town now than when I was 16, by the clock. Lower top speed, better cruising speed, I guess. Does it matter? No. As long as the ride is enjoyable, I get my business done, and I don't get hurt, each ride is a success.

101% personal preference.

azesty

I commuted barefoot on pedals like these for 4 years. It started in winter when I was going to university. If I rode in the rain I had to wear wet shoes all the time. I just stuck them in my backpack with my clothes and rode barefoot. You dont need much extra leather to deal with them as the ball of your foot sits on the smooth central axel case.

I commuted clipless for a couple of years. I liked them (though I did fall off one time, in the first day using them, because I couldnt unclip quickly enough). Now I am back to platforms and trainers.

I find I can generate much more acceleration with clipless because of the pull on the upstroke. It took me a little time to get good at the pull, but it did make a difference.

z

gumbii

this...

ItsJustMe

Is that a result of riding clipless, or NOT riding clipless? I can't tell. Could be either, in my experience. Riding with straight platforms has caused me to fall by falling off the pedals. Others have fallen due to being clipped in and not able to get out. Maybe a few people have fallen due to toe clips (though probably less than the other two).

dobber

I think you have to first accept the fact that with proper foot retention you'll increase your pedaling efficiency. At that point, clipless is just a logical extension of the clips and straps.

surfrider

Platforms by default; I've got size 14(US) feet. When I was interested in trying clipless a few years ago I couldn't find a shoe that fit my feet. I looked for 6 months, but nothing in any bike stores or at REI (they tend to stock larger sizes of all types of shoes). I'm satisfied with pinned platform pedal on my bikes. Current favorite pedal is Crank Bros 5050's. They're expensive at full retail, but can be found at online sales for <$50.

Best advice: If they're comfy and you're getting out and riding, that's the perfect pedal for you.

Arcanum

Based on my recent experiences with Power Grips, that means you have them too tight.

Radiohead84

I went to clipless pedals prettysoon after getting my first nice bike. Honesty I would never go back to non clipless unless the bike I was using was just for going to the grocery store with a basket and such.

Riding more than 10 miles without having my clipless shoes on is really annoying. When I ride clipless I feel like I am in total control of the bike. I know exactly where my feet are, and where they are going to be so it is one less thing I have tow worry about. Going up hills, the extra pull you get is amazing.

When I ride without the shoes I just balance on the small stubs. I DO NOT fell comfortable with egg baskets. Clipless are 10x easier to get in and out of than egg baskets in my opnion.

steffie224

MrCjolsen

When I transitioned from toe straps to clipless, I found myself far less reluctant to take risks because it was far easier to get in and out of clipless than it was for toe straps. Shortly before going clipless, I actually went down once because I approached an uncontrolled intersection where I was planning to proceed, and suddenly found that if I did, I'd probably get hit by a truck. I hadn't loosened my straps and I just went down to avoid certain death.

True about the scratching floors part. Especially when you have SPD and the rubber sole of the shoe starts to wear due to walking.

But as far as falling because of clipless, the only time I ever did was when I attempted a trackstand clipped in on my fixed gear when I really wasn't that good at trackstanding yet. But that problem is easily solved by disengaging one foot before starting the trackstand.

I keep my pedals set fairly loose. There's no need to have the tension set real tight unless you're really hammering big gears or stopping your fixed gear with no brakes.

And I have SPD shoes that are more comfortable for walking than some of my ordinary shoes.