Originally Posted by
Don in Austin
I have twice ridden 115 miles in one day on platform pedals. I understand platform pedals are supposed to put me at a disadvantage. Perhaps so, but I think in terms of power the difference is much less than is commonly supposed.
There have also been a few threads on which pedal to use on tours, and several riders reported going on long distance tours with flat pedals, so it's a completely viable choice. The OP in fact stated he doesn't like using cleats on his commute, and was trying to commute in work shoes, but they didn't work well with toe clips, so flat pedals and work shoes might turn out to be ideal.