mcutt

what's the verdict on this?

mc

bent_sprocket

there's no verdict, that i know of...

i can't even decide for myself:

commuter fixie: platforms with metal toe-clips and leather straps.
faster fixie: eggbeaters
townie fixie: bmx pedals (cuz that's what was in my parts bin)

of course, i sometimes carry a messenger bag and commute on the faster one, and i've been known to ride the commuter around town.

go figure.

mcutt

do you use a brake?

mc

shrimpx

toeclips, just because my whole intent when i was building my fixie was to keep it oldskool. the toeclips also help me practice trackstands without falling on my head, do the awesome fixie-dismount, and have the added bonus of not requiring extra shoes, thus making my fixie an ideal city riding bike--I ride it to get groceries, to work, to school, etc. So far i'm not planning to go clipless, even though clipless is technically much better...

mcutt

yeah, that's my problem. i am a MTB'er who recently converted to a fixed gear for city riding & commuting. my bianchi pista came with clipless, so i decided to stay clipless because i am so used to it on my MTB. however, i use this bike to go to commute, go to the grocery store, to the bank, to bars & parties, etc... so having the special cleat shoes is becoming quite an annoyance when i just want to be casual.

i am torn between the comfort and ease of just hopping on the bike with straps and the power and dynamics of being clipped in. as of now, i am still clipless...

i don't think i will ever find the solution...!

mc

roadfix

I wear comfortable MTB shoes and use eggbeaters on all my fixies.

dumpstervegan

I like toe-clips because, as has been said a number of times already in the thread, they allow me to wear my normal shoes when I ride.

However, I'm considering upgrading when I start to messenger as I have heard that the power/control you get with cleats/clipless pedals is much greater than with toe-clips (especially since I leave my toe-clips a tad loose so I can get out of them when the need arises).

Is it true that clipless are better as far as power/control/etc issues or is that bunk?

bent_sprocket

yes, and no.

fast fixie: front brake
commuter fixie: front brake
townie: no brakes. it's running a 40x19 (that's about 57") with 38c tires, fenders, and a pair of rear basket panniers, so i never get going fast enough for it to matter.

having said that, i frequently ride all the way to and from work without using the brakes on the commuter. most often, i end up using it to hold the front wheel steady while i push down on the bars so that i can rotate the rear wheel into a better starting position.

let's face it: it's much cooler if you don't use the brake, even if you allow yourself to have one.

Track lover

depends what you plan to to with them and waht kinds of straps you get...same thing with the clipless : there is crap and there is quality (really!).

Good straps will never come off no matter what, unless you're an idiot who cannot set his straps right.

The ONLY clipless pedal I can trust (on the track) is the Speedplay zero Track version. All other don't do. I come out of clipless pedal every standing starts I do. Almost.

I have a Mesenger friend who uses mountain bike clipless pedals. He can walk and bike with the same shoes. But He doesn't pull on them on standing starts!

bent_sprocket

right-on. a nice pair of platforms with leather-toed metal clips and leather straps. old skool cool.

for my money, it's all about the shoes you want to wear.

if you're cool with MTB shoes and SPDs or eggbeaters, wear 'em. that's what i do when i'm out for a training (read: riding to a bakery that's in the next town, instead of downtown).

if your commute includes stopping for coffee on the way to work, the grocery store and the liquor store on the way home, not to mention riding around your company's "campus" during the day to attend boring meetings, go for the platforms and clips with whatever shoes you like best.

if you like to hop on the bike with a pair of sandals and ride down to the local bar, bmx pedals rock.

of course, in the winter i switch to gortex light hiking boots and put a pair of rattraps with powerstraps on the winter commuter (not that same as the other commuter, as i live in the land of road salt).

variety is good.

jasonyates

I use clipless because it is what the bike came with. I had some Diadora Geckos which I felt a little weird walking around in, and now I have these Specialized shoes which look just like regular gym shoes and have regular rubber soles.

I have thought of adding a brake and using platforms or cages but I like being able to pull up hard when I am trying to go fast or when I am trying to slow down or stop. For the street it seems like you would have to have the straps to loose for them to work properly. (Or else risk tipping over while you are trying to loosen them?)

-Jason

mcutt

are those the specialized sonomas? those are what i wear. but still sometimes i feel a little awkward walking around in them.

i have never ridden a fixed gear bike without clipless shoes yet, it seems to be a lot harder to stop with straps.. am i right?

mc

pitboss

I have one set-up for ATACs and another was set up with toe clips. I liked 'em both, but I prefer the ATACs for the city; good sized platform, I have never popped out (watch, it'll happen tomorrow...), and I would rather use up the MTB shoes I have before trashing my swanky-sweet Nike Cortez'...yeah, I like shoes. Unfortunately, my fixie is now a freewheel (shut yo mouth!)...gotta wait for the Surly hub...we can rebuild it...the 6 million dollar fixie (insert 6mil dollar man music)...

Rev.Chuck

Britney Spears wears Sonomas
I like the clipless pedals, I have very old Shimano/Looks on my fixed.
If you are stapped into toe clips you are there for the day unless you can reach down and loosen them
I have a pair of Campy leather straps still in the un-opened bag and lots of steel clips, Zefal, mostly.

horndude

Toe clips and straps with fixed,clipless on SS....reasoning,ever come unclipped while riding fixed with clipless and you will understand why.......it isnt pretty.

Flaneur

The British tradition of fixed wheel riding harks back to a time when everyone rode fixed or three speed Sturmey-Archer. Even after reliable derailleurs came onto the market, fixed was still the low-maintenance winter training choice, which was cheap, good for the cadence and safe in bad weather.

By running an old Reynolds framed fixie, I feel in touch with that era. Toe clips (stainless) and straps (Binda)on good quill pedals, preferably with replaceable cages, seem appropriate for such a bike, along with a leather saddle and single enamel paint in a suitably retro colour, like, maroon, olive or black.

Some of those bikes from the fifties were wonderfully spartan, -quick, light and purposeful- and the mileages these totally committed lifetime cyclists racked up were amazing.........

smurfy

While we're on the subject...

How about best non-clipless pedals, clip/strap combo):

My fixie has MKS Sylvan SV-1 quill pedals (Campy copy)
Avocet clips
Christophe straps

I also have (but not on a fixed gear):
MKS Sylvan track/cyclocross pedals
Campy aluminum clips
Alfredo Binda straps

I don't know, all straps are basically the same, no?

I also have Shimano 105 platform pedals (PD-1051), you've probably seen them before, the real pointy kind? They came with plastic clips and I broke those both damn clips on the cement the first time I took my fixie out on it's maiden voyage. I believe the Shimano 600 version had metal clips. I hate to toss them out but they're useless without the clips. Anybody know where I can find a pair?

Raiyn

I'm going to be switching to Time Control-Z pedals in the near future. But here's what I'm running.

On the commuter bike:

DK Iron Cross

On my trail bike:


Odessy South Gate

h8r

I'd like a set of platforms w/ clips and straps for errands and short trips. Is there somewhere I can get a cheap set? I've been looking on eBay for a while but most of the stuff there is vintage and/or Campy and I'm not trying to pay $35+ for a set of beater pedals.

riderx

There's some cheap ones at Nashbar

redlights

I do clipped pedals, with blue straps to match my black and blue fixie. my mtb has plats cause I fall off alot. yes, I fall off alot.

stevo

Shimano m324's.... platform on one side, SPD on the other. When I'm in gofast mode, I wear the cleats. Around town and errands, I wear streetshoes.

captsven

I think the type of riding you do dictates what type of pedal you use. I mostly use clipless pedals for my training miles.

I also have a set of platforms for when I go bar hopping. I leave them right next to the bike with a 15mm wrench so I can swap them. I like to wear street sandles to the bar.

mcutt

ha! i thought i was the only one that did that! for bars and parties especially, nothing worse than being easy fodder for jokes about "funny bike shoes" all night long... make sure you keep your threads nice and greased if you are changing the pedals so much.

right now i'm running time impact s pedals with sidi genius 4's for when i'm commuting/training and MKS GR-9 platforms for when i'm in the sneaker mood. however, i dont really feel nearly as comfortable when using clips and straps as i do when i'm nice and clipped in. i think it adds to the whole experience to be so connected to my bike...