Originally Posted by
dannwilliams
...
I've been using clipless for almost 15 years now, but just wondering how flats work for folks day in-day out on a loaded touring bike. And if using flats, do you wear "regular" shoes or cycling specific shoes. I am considering getting flats just for the ability to wear whatever shoe I want. Thanks for all the comments so far, tho!
I use clipless 90 percent of the time. But usually like to wear other footwear in the evenings in the campsite.
Times that I use regular shoes instead of clipless are:
- As noted above, if on difficult terrain I wear regular shoes. By difficult terrain I mean; steep hills where my rear wheel could lose traction and I come to a halt in a split second, occasional soft sand like beach sand, cobble road (like the photos above), ice and snow, or pretty much any other situation where I could lose the ability to stay upright in an exceptionaly short period of time.
- When camping, a quick run to the; grocery store, liquor store, tavern, restaurant, shower building, more photogenic spot for a photo, etc.
- On my errand bike around home for short trips.
- Or other quick rides measured in minutes, not hours.
- My foldup bike has pedals that have a quick release, I can remove the complete pedal from the crank in seconds with no tools. SPD pedals that worked with my cleats that were quick release were unavailable at the time I bought them, so I bought platform and installed toe clips. I used toe clips for decades before clipless, so I am quite comfortable using both kinds of pedals on my bikes.
When I wear regular shoes on a bike for a significant distance or amount of time, they usually are my hiking shoes or trail running shoes.