Originally Posted by
CliffordK
I agree with the sentiment that someone doing 2 or 3 miles commuting doesn't need toeclips, cleats, or whatever. Not that it really hurts. Perhaps they do longer rides other times.
I am glad to see renewed interest in toeclips. They had virtually died out a decade ago as racers had shunned them, and commuters hadn't adopted them yet.
5 miles? That is pretty marginal. Not long, not short, but a moderate ride. The benefit would depend on the ride. If it is non-stop for 5 miles, then one might still choose foot retention. If one is starting and stopping every block for 5 miles, then the first thing might be to choose a better route, but one might not find the foot retention necessary.
Again, it might depend on the route. One of the roads I periodically hit has about 8 stoplights in 10 blocks. It is tolerable only if I can hit the section of road between 20 and 25 MPH, and hold my own with traffic. And for that, I feel the clips help.
I used clipless pedals for a while, but never really liked them, road shoes are simply too limiting and awkward so I went back to clips as they will accommodate a wide variety of footwear. I ended up shelving the clips as I found that pinned pedals provide virtually all the advantages of full foot retention for how I ride with greater convenience.
I just did the Cascade bike clubs 33 mile Chilly-Hilly
http://www.cascade.org/ride-major-ri...out-ride/route ride that also included a 52 mile round trip ride to the Seattle ferry, and at no point did I wish I had foot retention or even think about it.
That said, this thread has got me thinking about giving SPD campus pedals a try when the budget allows, as it sounds like they may be a good compromise, allowing me to enjoy the extra efficiency of foot retention on long recreational rides while retaining the simplicity and versatility of platforms for commuting.