dannwilliams

I have a new touring bike and I’m thinking of going with platform pedals. I have used Shimano pd m324 on my previous touring bikes, so I can click in on one side and a platform on the other. But looking at the current platform styles, I think they have a larger surface area. Looking at a Shimano pd GR500 or similar. Who uses platform and why? What are the advantages you get from them and what are the drawbacks? Thanks!

RobotGuy

For years I was a platform-only guy on my road bike mostly due to knee surgeries and fear of being clipped in and retearing something. For the past 7-8 years my knees have been great so I tried clipless ... and would never go back. Platforms are comfy when out cruising (I still wear them when out with the kids) but between foot fatigue from soft soles (when grinding up hills or going hard) and the lack of really being able pull down through and back up the back side of the pedal stroke, I really felt a big difference in efficiency.

If it were me, I’d look into modern platform / clipless combo pedals. Some of them have rally big wide platforms.

veganbikes

Did you dislike your previous pedals? If not go for what you had! If you didn't like them try some good platforms. My favored platform pedals are going to be the Spank Spoon if I want adjustable pins for say mountain biking or MKS Lambdas for my hybrid. On my touring bike Shimano A-530s and on other bikes XT Trail pedals (whatever the clipless version is, I have some that are older and some that are a bit newer so the numbers have changed but the pedals are similar) and on my vintage road bike I currently have been using A-600s but I might switch to the pd-7401s that came with it now that I have some delta cleats.

dh024

Once I found a good set of platform pedals that supported my foot and were comfortable, I removed my clipless pedals from all my touring and commuting bikes. I can't imagine that I will ever go back. It is really nice to be able to wear comfortable walking shoes while on tour or commuting - or even sandals (closed-toe). No need for two pairs of shoes.

And for me, I never felt like clipless pedals and shoes were ever a real benefit on touring or commuting - they were actually more of a pain than anything (especially clipless setups for commuting). So I didn't feel like I missed out on anything going to platform pedals - only benefits.

u235

I started riding clipless last year after decades of platforms for various reasons. Just yesterday I installed Shimano PD-T8000 SPD Pedals on my gravel bike. It is marketed as a dual sided treking/touring pedal. A lot more than I wanted to spend but after my first ride in mixed road/trail, I am pleased. They ship with SH56 style cleats instead of the more common SH51 style which are supposed to be easier to get unclipped than SH51 but after only one ride I can't say I noticed a difference. Maybe my older SH51 are getting worn. The platform side is much better than my Nashbar "Rodeo I" pedals and actually usable off road. I don't think I'd ever actually use any dual pedal with regular shoes for a normal planned ride. I'd just spend the 5 minutes and swap pedals to my trusty platforms for the day. I use the dual side when I am riding with my SPD shoes and don't want to clip in for whatever reason like a technical section or something I am not totally confident with.

gorillimo

Went to a set of Nashbar combo pedals. Really liking them. Downtown in flip flops on the flat side. Afternoon longer ride to the beach, my spd shoes. Perfect!

andrewclaus

First, figure out the kind of shoes you want to wear while you're touring, then get pedals accordingly.

I like to hike trails (sometimes rocky), tour museums, walk around town (and I only bring one pair of shoes), so platform pedals (with toe clips) work better for me. I tried clipless for a couple of decades, and I saw some advantages, but ended up going back to platforms, mainly for the simplicity of just having one pair of shoes.

FrenchFit 

+1

When I'm adventuring, not touring mind you, I'll pick shoes that I'll wear in stores, scrabbling on rocks, the beach, hiking short trails. That won't be clipless. The only time I'll wear clipless is a fast ride or serious hills.

MarcusT

I went to flats because for touring I can wear any style of shoe, even flip flops, I wear 5-10 free riders a comfortable shoe that you can wear on the town. Also, after a few hours of riding it's nice to be able to move your foot around the pedal. Lastly, much more convenient if you are in stop and go traffic.

staehpj1

I ride the majority of my day when on tour so I choose pedals that are clip-less on both sides like the Shimano M520. I might or might not also carry crocs, flip flops, or cushe slipper type shoes.

If I expect to do a lot of hiking on rough terrain I might take a pair of light trail running shoes. I tend to prefer going very light so If I need them only for a portion of the trip I might buy them on the road and ship them home. For example when I wanted to spend a week hiking and sightseeing in Yosemite I bought trail runners just for that week.

jefnvk

For touring, I still like platforms. I'm touristing/adventuring as much as cycling, it is nice to be able to walk around a marble floor museum or cobblestone sidewalk without clicking every step, which my SPD shoes still do. Then again, I'm more of a use what I find a deal on type of person, the bike being built is likely getting a set of dual-sided M324, if I don't toss the flats from my fat bike on for my next tour.

I really like those, the best of both worlds. If they weren't so pricey, I think they'd go on all the everyday rides I own.

Tourist in MSN

I use platform (with toe clips) on my folding bike, only because I can remove the pedal without tools when I fold it up.

I have a couple bikes that take SPD cleats on both sides, but those are my go faster kinds of bikes, not general use bikes.

Touring I use either the M324 or A530 pedals. The M324 give me better grip when I am wearing my hiking shoes, but the A530 are lighter. Thus, the bikes I might use on gravel get the M324 because sometimes I want to wear hiking shoes, but for lighter weight touring I use the A530 pedal.

A few years ago I compared the A530 and M324 if you are interested, at this link:
Comparing Shimano M324 and A530 Pedals

fietsbob

same question asked here..Flat pedal or cleats?


personally Im Old, I have a set of old Campag road pedals , toe clips ..

touring , I can wear loose fitting shoes, so my toes get wiggle room , and the circulation is better...

supportive insoles .. my feet are comfortable , I'm good to pedal all day long, get off and push as required..






...

gerryl

I'm a platform guy. I see no advantage in clipless pedals other than having to buy a specific type of shoe.
According to these guys clipless pedals don't even provide the "efficiency" that people think they do.

dannwilliams

That’s what I’m after!

fietsbob

I got someone with the shoe repair equipment to work on the shoes.. the sole was modified and stiffened.
full width hour glass slot.. so pedal did not slip, but angle was not fixed. kind of old school slotted cleat soles..

I got behind the counter and we worked on it together.. the ..leave them and come back Tuesday... approach
would not have worked so well..




...

RobotGuy

Love those guys. Endlessly studying complex issues for cavemen like myself.

The results were really cool - I myself like dissenting evidence - it's how we grow.

The results make me rethink my clip-less pedals on the mountain bike, especially as I continue to ride with my children as they grow. (Right now I just wear running shoes over my SPD pedals with the kids. Perhaps I go to platforms full time and never look back.)

Road riding has a different purpose for me, so I don't see the Look's leaving anytime soon. That said, he wasn't exactly using running shoes or penny loafers on those platforms.

WNCGoater

I don't know...you get some racer with quads the size of telephone poles and he probably CAN power the pedals equally regardless the pedal type.

I have no doubt in my mind clipless is for me & helps me work different muscles by varying pedal stroke. I ride mtn biking shoes with Time pedals. The tiny cleat is recessed in the sole of the shoe and is irrelevant when walking, as it doesn't contact the ground. They make some very comfortable mtn shoes that look (and feel) like sneakers. Walking around in them is no different than any other street shoe.

And when I get where I'm going, regardless I'm getting out of the shoes I've been wearing all day.

noglider 

I don't think better efficiency is proven for any type of pedal, so we go on faith. I just happen to prefer clipping in. You have to try to decide for yourself.

And efficiency isn't necessarily the most important question. Especially for racers, they want to put out maximum power, even if it costs efficiency, at least in races that aren't very long.

cyccommute 

I think what most people miss on that video is the bit at the end (around 7:15). The test they ran was one test at a steady state. Simon states that he's not going to give up his clipless because he does pull up on the pedals during hard efforts. This is something that I have noticed as well. Even on a touring bike, there are times when I have to pull up on the pedals to get a little more boost. Out of saddle efforts if nothing other than to stretch out muscles is much easier if your feet are attached to the pedals.

Off-road, clipless offer more security because your feet are attached to the pedals and are less likely to slip off. Additionally, as Simon said in the video, it's much easier to bunny hop while clipped in. Even if you are just lofting the rear wheel over a rock, clipless makes it much, much easier.

u235

My clipless started with as I went longer and more I found that torquing through it was not sustainable. To transition from long term 60-70 rpm to 90-100 rpm required some technique and some help. You are just not pushing down as hard and not planted as good. On road or off road I never had a problem with feet pain or position even with the flimsiest of shoes or with staying planted on good pinned platform pedals, even with my XC hard tail bouncing around (which I still primarily use platforms).
I'm not a big calf puller but I do take advantage of doing it occasionally when out of the saddle on steep hills. I can't say it is more efficient overall from an energy and effort expended point of view but I do get other muscles involved to spread the load at least. I'm not racing so going a little slower and not pulling up is an option.

As for the bunny hopping, I don't notice a difference in the two but don't doubt clipless might be easier. I can do various obstructions logs/curbs etc either way and I assume I am using the same technique for both.

DropBarFan

I really like the versatility of dual-sided pedals. Flat side is not as big as platforms but with reasonably grippy shoes it's OK. Clipless option is nice for longer rides, I find it's easier to keep a higher cadence & maintain control on bumpy roads.

3speed

Nashbar has some of their brand pedals that I would recommend. They’re low profile, which helps keep your foot planted and decrease the possibility of pedal roll, and have a nice big pinned platform. Black with a white Nashbar N and chainring on them. You can get them on sale for around $50. I use them on my touring and mountain bikes and have been very happy with them. My feet stick very well off road and I’ve never had a slip(with Teva mtb shoes) and the platform is large enough to provide enough support that I’m comfortable doing 50mi tour days in flip flops(size 10). I’m never in a race, don’t like to carry extra shoes, and like being able to move my feet freely, so platforms work well for me.

3speed

Oh, and if it’s easier to bunny hop clipped in because you’re basically just jumping and the pedals are pulling the bike up with you, you’re doing it wrong. Watch a totorial on how to bunny hop. The bmx trick guys are the best to help you get started, but of course there are lots of great mtb videos on it too.

J.Higgins 

I've got a combination of clipless and platform pedals on all my bikes, and my method is this> Clipless on road bikes and platform on everything else. For my touring bikes, I've been around the block and back with half a dozen pedals, and the ones I like the most are the Shimano Saint pedals.



They are smooth and solid, and I like them very much. The studs aren't too high or too sharp. I have a pair of the Raceface Chester pedals, which are nice, but I've had to take the studs out and round them off. They were so sharp, that they tore up the soles of a pair of my Nikes!

Then I started wearing these Adidas Trail Cross, which are really comfortable, but have a stiffer sole made from Stealth rubber. Very grippy on the pedals. Easy to walk around in as well, but they caution against them marking up your floor. I tend not to shuffle when I walk, so I've not had any problems yet.