Wanderer

MHO, you are way over thinking this non problem....

You get used to them fairly easily, and can feel the spd mech, there or not! It's just a matter of repositioning your foot once, to get the right side up, and clip in automatically.

I've been using a set for years, and it really is a non issue.

The main complaint seems to be what side is up, and it's just a non issue, as you can pedal on either side, with any kind of shoe.

MRT2

Agreed. When I used this type of pedal, I would just pedal a few rotations to get going, then flip the pedal over with my toe and clip in. It became second nature and I did it without thinking.

practical

Back in the 1980s people used toe straps. Bike stores sold shoes designed to work well with toe straps. I bought a pair and still use them today. Last year I tried clipless. I kept them on for about 6 weeks because I wanted to make sure I became fluent in clipping in and out in all situations and learned how to best use them. They worked fine. But the didn't work any better than my toe straps (with my toe strap designed shoes). So I went back to toe straps because the shoes for the toe straps are perfectly comfortable off a bike whereas the the shoe with the spd was not comfortable off a bike.

practical

Back in the 1980s people used toe straps. Bike stores sold shoes designed to work well with toe straps. I bought a pair and still use them today. Last year I tried clipless. I kept them on for about 6 weeks because I wanted to make sure I became fluent in clipping in and out in all situations and learned how to best use them. They worked fine. But the didn't work any better than my toe straps (with my toe strap designed shoes). So I went back to toe straps because the shoes for the toe straps are perfectly comfortable off a bike whereas the the shoe with the spd was not comfortable off a bike.

mconlonx

On the street, no, easy enough to pedal out of an intersection even on the SPD side and then flip them over once out of the intersection. Offroad, I hate 'em -- fooling around with trying to find the right side and hard soled shoes slipping off the platform = not a great time, and a few low speed crashes.

CliffordK

For me, since I was a toeclip user, I would not ride my bike without some type of clip. So, there was no point in single sided SPDs (one can't drag unused toeclips around).

For SPDs (and others), there are adapters. The Winwood Decksters are available for putting a platform on SPD pedals.
I snagged a pair of Winwood Instep Toeclip adapters (somewhat rare now). I didn't think they were that comfortable to use, but I have them just in case I choose to go without biking shoes.

yashinon

Not at all...it takes a second to flip over if you have to.

12strings

I use dual-sided Flat/SPD pedals for my only bike which I use for everything, commuting, fun rides with other cyclists, and rides with family.

I love being clipped in, as I simply feel more connected to the bike, and I feel like it's more efficient. but I also love the flexibility of not needing to be:

a. If I am taking off at an intersection, I can just pedal a few strokes with one foot on the flat side if I happen to hit the wrong side of the pedal...no big deal.

b. If I am taking a family ride with a small child on the back of my bike...I don't clip in for safety reasons... so I'm much less likely to fall over and bonk his/her head (I have 2 kids that size).

12strings

...That said...If I had 2 bikes...one for "serious" rides, and one for casual family rides, I would likely have full clipless pedals on one and flats on the other.

steve_cay

Been riding my SPD pedals/shoes every day for a week now (first time in my life going clipless). Really liking the feel ... learning curve was very fast and easy, very comfortable and second nature now, and still have not fallen! At one point I was climbing a long hill and getting tired, and realized I was forgetting to pull up on the pedals ... once I started pulling up I felt like I had a second wind! Perhaps in my head since many studies insist that clipless (and pulling up) adds no power, and does not reduce energy expended, but it worked for me!

Today however I was going to the park (a block away) with my daughter, and figured I would go with running shoes and use the platform side of the pedal. A block away turned into a half hour ride, and I felt naked with the sneakers! Just felt all wrong ... the pedal was uncomfortably pushing into on the ball of my foot! How exactly am I supposed to place my foot on the pedals again? Why did the crank just brush against my ankle? Why are my feet squiggling around? My feet even hurt a tiny bit at the end of the trip!

Wow, I now understand that "once you go clipless, you can never go back" sentiment. Now I know what I have been missing all this time!

CliffordK

Congratulations on the new clips (clipless)!!!
And not falling on your face in front of your daughter... or did you skip that part?

steve_cay

So here I was thinking "nonsense, that everybody will fall at least once with clipless." So easy to anticipate clipping out before stopping. So easy to just twist out, even after tightening them up a bit.

Well yesterday I hit some beach sand next to the trail, rear wheel starts digging in, bike tilts, I unclip that foot getting ready to brace ... give a power stroke to try and get out, bike flips the other way ... and down I go stuck to bike on top of me.

Daughter and wife laughing their heads off ... especially since I gave grief to my wife the day before for locking her rear wheel on a steep loose hill, and eating dirt (as well as a couple of leafs) on her way down!

I guese it is when you are caught by surprise, and only have half a second to react while the brain is too busy calculating other parameters ... that the command to unclip never goes through!

simplybao

LOL! sorry for the fall, but welcome to the club. Now whenever I get somewhere where it may be stop and go, I unclip.

Chamaco

Man you just described the way I felt when I tried mine using normal running sneakers in the flat part of the pedal. This is a first for me too with clipless pedals after riding for so long on flats and now I just don't like it how it feels with out it. Now everywhere I go I go clipless

wralyn

All this time, I thought I was the only one! My only wreck after going clipless was at a local park trying to hop up from grass to sidewalk. I misjudged the height of the sidewalk. I ended up on my back, still holding the bars, attached to the pedals, still in a riding position. I'm 6'6" and 340lbs. Seeing something my size like that would have to be hilarious. I quickly popped up, hopped on, and scurried off hoping the mothers at the nearby playground didn't notice.

theslava

I got the SM-PD22 flat pedal cover kit (plastic/resin platforms that clip into the pedals), going to use those for when I switch to heavier shoes for colder temps.

EDIT: Clipless pedals are awesome if you want to go faster of flat ground or if you want an easier time with hills. I have them on my Sirrus Elite, realised I was getting them after doing the 5 Borough Bike Tour in NYC.