Glasspacker

Newbie here. This question may have been already beat to death, but can anyone tell me really how much improved performance you really get from clipless shoes/pedals over just a regular pedal using a clipless, or just rigid soled shoe? I had a Rans Stratus a few years ago, and am now am planning to buy a V2. I am "fairly" interested in performance (enough that I will pay for an upgraded wheelset and maybe some other components) but I like being able to easily put my feet on the ground. The LBS here says I would lose 30 percent efficiency. Really? Seriously? I don't remember ever "pulling" my legs on the Stratus and I ran it fast (over 90 rpms) in the top gear on some of the flats. I had basketball shoes on then. I concede now that I should at least have a rigid sole (I bought a pair of Shimanos) but it's hard to believe you get that much benefit from clipping in. Someone please convince me. I hate learning new things.

madpogue 

Clipless are plenty easy to get out of, and the added performance and safety will make you wonder why you didn't switch earlier. See https://www.bikeforums.net/recumbent/24532-who-uses-clipless-thier-bent.html for a full discussion.

Glasspacker

Thanks! I should've searched first.

ChiliDog

I would not ride a SWB or trike without my Speedplays, nor my road bike. But on my Tour Easy, I feel like you...I want the comfort and convenience and ease of putting my foot down whenever I want to...no twisting or having to wear special shoes. I rode in Shimano sandals and clipless and then on platforms with Teva sandals, and I could tell no difference.

Besides, I'm not out for "performance" when I'm riding my TE. I am out for cruising, stopping when I see something interesting, just being out in nature...I could care less about how fast or how far I go.

Saying that, I am considering looking at some BMX platforms that will grip the soles of shoes a little better, but I believe I may use platforms more than clipless. I like how this one bike is just like riding when I was a kid...no special "dressing out" to ride it. I have a comfort DF also, and that's my attitude on that one. I save the special shoes and lycra and jerseys for the road bike....it's my little speed machine~

I think you should do what makes you happy....and comfortable.

sch

When I got my Rotator Pursuit in '00 I used BMX pedals for 3-400 miles til my riding
skills matured. I then switched to Frogs and have had no difficulty getting out or
in the pedals since. On the occasions of a crash, it is over so fast that the opportunity to unclip is usually not there and in my experience it is probably safer
to stay clipped in in the same way it is safer to stay buckled up in a car crash.
I think you are likely to have less injury attached to the bike than tumbling down the
road out of control. In start up a shoe with a rubbery sole, that is say 3mm thick
(not the hyper treaded ATB shoes) is safer to avoid slipping off the pedal. A rubberized sole with recessed cleat is easier to walk on as well. Road shoes with
their hard plastic outer soles increase the risk of shoe slip off and the rare circumstance of leg suck where the leg hits the road and gets bent backward and
overridden by the forward moving bike with muscle strain, tear or fracture as a
consequence. DF road bikes with the leg near vertical and 5-6" of ground clearance
do not expose the rider to leg suck with the shoe sliding off the pedal (though the
privates can take a whack). 30% efficiency increase is unlikely, but some increase does occur especially on hills and you seem interested in performance. Steve

Glasspacker

Quote from Chilidog:
I think you should do what makes you happy....and comfortable.

I want to hear that from my wife when I want to spend money on a bike.

bigmoose

Rode clipless for the first time last weekend. Nashbar "Rodeo" pedal. Platform on one side and "spd" on the other. Used them on the last hybred and loved them. Good for the days you want to go the casual route to the store or attack the long milage route. Really liked the security of knowing that I didnt have to worry about slipping off the pedals. Found them real easy to unclip from. You can adjust the tension of the springs of the pedal to your liking. Also found that on the 'bent it is easier to click into the pedal because you can actually see what you are doing. After the first few times it becomes rather easy.

Glasspacker

Does your "Nashbar Rodeos" allow for some flexibility on foot positioning (I mean on the spd side)? When my knees are straight, my feet point outward. I just bought some Shimano spds. I bought them because I couldn't imagine another shoe feeling more comfortable, even though I don't even have my bike yet and haven't decided on pedals yet.

Bearach

I recommend using the Crank Brothers eggbeater pedals for your recumbent. Clipping in is easy and clipping out is extremely easy. Requires SPD compatible shoe, but you can walk on these cleats because they are recessed in the shoe bottoms like the SPD pedal system.

ChiliDog

Same with Speedplay Frogs...

bruceha_2000

Are there clipless pedals that let you use a regular sneaker with less possibility of slipping off? I found that on my wife's SC-1 Lite, my foot would occasionally slide. She hasn't had that problem. I don't think I need special shoes just to ride down the bike path with the kids. As it was, when I took them out a couple of weeks ago (yes ChiliDog, my house is STILL a mess ), I coasted on those narrow 100 psi tires about 80% of the way and the kids pedaled probably 70%. I was braking just to stay behind them except up hills.

blackbent

On my first bent (SWB Blackbent II) I started out with clipless. Shimano Two sided that have open normal pedal on one side and SPD on the other. After I fell on my ass big time, i quit using the clipless.. Advance 4 years just got a Catrike Road and put the clipless back on.. I see a hugh difference in power, expecially when climbing..I would say it almost mandatory on a trike if you ride a lot and don't want to brake your leg.