Originally Posted by
Bovice
I've been interested in the idea of getting a cage or special shoes with pedals, and was just wondering on some opinions from other commuters.
I don't want to have to change shoes, so maybe the cage may be a better option, but what's the difference performance wise? And are there any shoes that also double as general shoes so I wouldn't have to worry about walking in them?
My general commute is about 13 miles each way (26 miles) mon-thurs to campus, then a bunch of small rides (store, friend's house, work, etc.) throughout the week. I generally end up at between 120-150 miles a week. Specifically for the longer rides (like school), would be nice to have a bit of an upgrade.
Any recommendations? I have a lot of amazon credit, so things purchasable there would be preferred
Hi Bovice,
I'll chime in with the unpopular answer for what it's worth. I rode for about 20 years in clips and straps, then about 15 in SPDs, and now for about 5 or 6 years (2000+ commuting miles per year) on platforms with my street shoes (actually any shoes in my closet). I'll tell you experientially that the difference between riding attached to the pedals and riding platforms is tiny at best.
This is something that gets discussed (sometimes a tad emotionally lol) here at BF from time to time, so I'll leave you with a suggestion: Get a pair of platforms and use them for a week. If you still prefer to attach, that's fine - but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I won't lose any sleep if you go the spd route or clips and straps, but I'm just letting you know platforms are a real option, especially for decreasing hassle particularly for the shorter rides you describe.