Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy

To me, these are really funny threads. But it's just BF. You gotta laugh.

So when I was given my first bike at 6, it was a robin's egg blue 20" girls bike with flat rubber pedals. I put a lot of miles on that bike, riding it the 3 miles to school and back, etc. Then I inherited a 26" bike from my brother, also with flat pedals, and put a lot of miles on that bike. Finally at 12 I saved up the $50 for a Montgomery Wards 3-speed, also with flat rubber pedals, and put a really lot of miles on that bike, riding 20 miles or so a day in the summer.

When I went to college I got really lucky and bought a used full-Campy Legnano with rat traps and toe clips for $125. I guess a lot of people have simply never ridden a bike with either toe clips or clipless or these threads wouldn't even happen. I got on that Legnano and the angels shouted hallelujah! OMG. I was turbine powered. It felt like I could bring the front wheel off the ground just with pedaling power. It was a revelation. Why don't other folks experience this? Maybe it's just a lack of strength? I was always a runner and a skier and on the college Nordic team, so I had some serious leg power.

So that's my advice anyway: if you don't think clips or clipless is better than flat pedals, get your butt in gear and develop some legs. I only have a 6" commute, so I commute in walking shoes, but all my bike riding, touring, etc., is done clipless. I have up toe clips long ago: too dangerous, too limiting, and they made my feet cold in winter.

Most of the folks I ride with can pedal uphill faster with one leg than most of the folks on bicycles can pedal uphill with two. It's not that hard. Anyone can do it. Just takes a little work, that's all. Well, maybe more than a little but it's totally worth it.