pkpyro

So I recently (5 hours ago) converted from a platform pedal to clips on my road bike.
(A fairly vintage bike, from 1987). I fell over on my sides a couple times but I think I'm getting the hang of it now...

I carry some stuff in a backpack nearly all the time that I bike (books, usually) so I can't fit a spare pair of shoes. And I'm definitely not going to class or walking around all day in plastic shoes. Also, $8 clips sort of beat $100 + clipless pedals.

I commute 5km daily for school.
Nearly everyday for 20km~30km for a cardio workout.

Should I stick with platform pedals, or will my daily exercise route justify keeping it on for 5km commutes? Does anyone ride on the no-clip side? Anyone have any tips (special way of lacing the straps) that imitate a clipless pedal?(loosens when I twist my foot) Or even just tips to take it off faster?

PS: My clips drag a bit if I lean at all riding on the no-clip side.

shouldberiding

Get a beater bike for school. You could do 5k on absolutely anything. Then get clipless for the non-beater.

Even without the pedal question, get a beater bike for school. Even if your current bike wasn't expensive. If you like it, get a beater. Bike get stolen from school campuses all the time.

datlas 

Best solution is to get a cheap set of 'campus' pedals, the ones that are platform on one side and spd clip-in on the other.

That way you can ride to school in normal shoes, but if you want to go on a 'real' ride you can use spd-compatible shoes and have the benefi of clip-ins.

Clips/ straps are pretty much obsolete.

PS I just checked, performance has these pedals on sale for 40 bucks. A cheap pair of spd compatible shoes is another 60 bucks so this is a 100 dollar solution.

mvnsnd

I'll second what datlas said.

pkpyro

well here in Vancouver I see lots of folks with clips... and $8 does beat $100. I've gotten used to it and it's quite comfortable now. I will get SPD pedals once I'm out of school and have a job S:

I do ride a beater bike to school. Put in a fair bit of work to it, but I deliberately keep it in fairly bad cosmetic condition (drive terrain is spot clean, as are all moving components) to deter any thieves.

Thanks for the other perspectives, though.

Bluetrane2028

Using clips/straps on a beater bike is absolutely fine. If your bike gets stolen, you're out a nice set of pedals too if you put clipless on there.