Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
Fyi there's a lot of debate over whether clipless is actually more efficient or not. A number of experiments or studies have suggested they're not more efficient at all, like this is the first one that popped up in a quick search:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNedIJBZpgM
I don't want to get into the endless debates - other claim clipless is less tiring, or that you don't regularly pull up but you do on sprints and hills. I dunno. But you should be aware that clipless are not automatically more efficient.
Originally Posted by
CrankyOne
This is a good point that I hadn't thought of. When I was racing we spent considerable time analyzing pedal stroke for power and efficiency and a gob of time training to use that info and develop good strokes. So for an average person (and I'd include me today) there may be little or no benefit.
Perhaps the best benefit is that the cleats force you to place your foot in the proper place on the pedal but that's easily done with flats as well.
I don't care the first bit about efficiency or power. If I did the first thing I would do would be to ditch the 37lb commuter bike and ride my 16lb road bike everywhere.
I don't care about anything but that, in foul weather, I feel more comfortable with the retention provided by being clipped in. Nice days platforms and Tevas are good up to thirty miles.
I ride dual sided Shimano touring pedals. M-5something. Both sides work great according to the needs of the day. I've had at least a half dozen different SPD pedals and that many pairs of shoes. The touring pedals and Tevas are my favorite....for nice days. Bad weather....don't care much about shoes. They all work alright.
Shimano A530 pedals? Alright clipped in. Slick as owl snot on a glass door knob as soon as they see water on the platform side.
Don't worry at all about flipping pedals to clip in or ride platform. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE. No problems....I'd hate to be the person who started that claim. If you can walk to the bike, you have enough intelligence to ride with double sided pedals.