Originally Posted by
AlTheKiller
You seem to be overthinking how complicated it is to pop into a local shop and do some shopping. Last time I visited san diego I was riding a bike too large for me, in a city I've never been in, and I had just come back from a knee injury, and I still didn't find it too hard to pop into TWO random bike shops while dicking around.. Or you could, you know, pick up a phone and give a couple stores a call, explain your fitment issues and ask if they might have something that works you can try before heading there...
I swear, the internet has ruined peoples abilities to figure anything out without being able to "add to cart" and let it sit there for a few days. The amount of insanely easy tasks people pop online to asks complete strangers for that I see every day is staggering.
I don't mean to be rude or anything.
Fair enough, I resemble that remark. I'm sure internet shopping has affected me to a large extent, but I hate phones, and I hate having to drive somewhere to do something I don't want to do, when instead I could be at home doing something I want to do. My free time is precious, I don't want to waste it driving and shopping (although apparently I find it more enjoyable to spend/waste time complaining on the internet) There is a lovely new LBS opened just last year a few blocks from my house, and those guys are great, but they are small and only just started to stock shoes, they have a very limited selection.
If I go platforms and can wear anything I want whenever, that would be very freeing. Nowadays I get most of my shoes from the salvation army (right next door, I pop over every few weeks, there's always a good selection of half-used-up running shoes).
That said, a good set of platforms are awesome. I just upgraded one commuter to a nice-ish set of Giant brand pedals which are super light, decent grip, and really nice bearings. The other commuter still rocks clipless. I've been riding the platform pedaled bike lately.
Link?