Fair enough. I don't have that ride, but if I did, I wouldn't be on the bike that makes me want clipless.

Paul.................so right.

:cheers:

I'm a bit different. I used toeclips for 38 years or so. Probably would still be using them, but I started riding a bit more in the last few years and went with SPDs for more foot security just over a year ago. And, have now put them on all the bikes I ride.

Platforms don't do it for me. Either toecliips, or cleats. And, one can't ride with toeclips hanging down rubbing :P I did get a set of Winwood Instep toeclip adapters, but only used them once for testing.

Initial setup was under $100, but now I have a couple of pairs of shoes and a couple of pedals, so I probably went a but over. My winterized Shimano MW-02 shoes are great.

I used toeclip and straps and then switched to clipless and never looked back. That said, I commute in my hiking shoes and bmx pedals. I like the flexibility esp. in winter when I can ride with my insulated boots.

I've been riding for about 10 years on mountain shoes and SPD pedals on various bikes. I'm on my 2nd pair of shoes, I'll need a 3rd pair in a year or two.

I just buy ones on sale when they come up. I have paid about $40 each for the two pair I've owned, and clearly they've lasted pretty well. I ride them into the winter down to about 20*F and all year round including in the rain and mud. I've never washed them just dried them and knocked the mud off.

+1 I have the "campus pedals" like you described on my rain/utility bike (which is setup like a commuter). An excellent suggestion.

Heck, I use inexpensive Shimano SPDs on all my road bikes, even the nice Italian ones.

I have, however, switched to "strapless clips" on my tank MTB commuter.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=480084

My primary commuter has campus pedals, I use SPD when dry, and LL Bean boots in the wet. Foot retention has advantages, and disadvantages. I use it, but don't think its "all that" as some do, and could do fine without it.

Really its just a personal preference, and nothing more.

I agree,
While I do commute using SPD, the shoes aren't very practical to wear at home, or even possible to wear at work for a host of reasons.

I still like the idea of oil-soaked torches for lighting. I'm not sure I'd make it through the guard gate with one, though...

Everyone who has posted so far is a relative newbie to SPDs. I've been riding them since about a year after they came out...1992, I think...I went through a road bike pedal phase as well but decided in the end that SPDs just make more sense since you can walk in the shoes off the bike. They are on the only pedal I have on mountain bikes, road bikes, commuter bikes and touring bikes. I have a normal urban commute which means stopsigns and lights but I have no problem either clipping out or just doing a trackstand.

I've also never had a problem clearing the cleat in snow, ice or mud. I might have to bang my foot against the pedal a couple of times to knock out any debris but the cleats eventually engage.

For pedals, I would suggest you look no further than Shimano M520. Dirt cheap (~$25) but far more rugged than any other brand I've ever used. You can get other Shimano SPDs that are slightly lighter but they cost more and they use an allen wrench for installation. The installation is usually easy but removal never has been in my experience.

There are so many shoes out there it's difficult to suggest a brand or model. I want to like Pearl Izumi but they tend to be very narrow. Specialized house brands are pretty good. I'm currently using Mavic which are nice.

I agree; the 520 pedals are what I use. I used to have some Ritchey SPDs on my commuter and one of them broke while riding. Those Ritcheys also "featured" installation via an 8mm wrench from the back side. In trying to remove them, I found they'd frozen up in my cranks and I stripped the interface. Because of that experience, I will never use pedals that deny me the use of my trusty Park pedal wrench.

I commute with these, and once had to wear them all day at the office. It wasn't a big deal at all.

http://www.ciclismoafondo.es/media/c...6f88b9b5f5.jpg

And is there a "right answer" for this thread?

Alright, I'm convinced that SPD is a good option to consider. Now I just need to find a good shoe. I won't wear the bike shoes at work, but I will wear them for walking around grocery sores or such.
As I said, my biggest problem lately is that my current shoes, a trail runner, takes 2-3 days to dry out when it is thoroughly soaked. I like the recommendation of the boot dryer. I'm not really worried about winter or needing to wear boots, but I might go with a campus-style pedal just to have the option.
Y'all have been super helpful so far!

If you don't care about riding in non-cycling shoes I suggest Egg Beater pedals.

Nice and light and probably the easiest to get into since they are always in the right position...

In addition to clacking, the main issue with the ones I had was that they had a built up front sole to recess the cleat, but a flat heel, so when you walked the front of your foot was higher. It looks like at least some manufacturers now build the heel up a bit too, to make walking more comfortable.

If you do that, be sure to take pics (and video) and come back and post them on the forum before letting us know how it worked out. :D :D :D

I think you missed the point I was making that any topic that gets asked over and over each week usually doesn't have 1 answer that's universally superior to all the other answers.

Fyi, some people (like myself) don't like campus style pedals. Their main drawback is that with at least one style (or possibly both depending on how good the pedal is) to get back into them you have to look down and flip the pedal over. This also happens exactly at the time when you usually want your head up watching traffic (at intersections). With 2 sided pedals, you can clip in with practice without looking down at the pedal at all.

I use the Shimano 324 pedals on my commuter so I can do quick hop ons in any shoes too. For shoes I run Keen Arroyo II in warmer weather and shimano MT33 shoes when it gets cooler. Eventually I wear my Asolo 520 hiking boots when it gets cold.

I like SPD pedals for commuting because they are double sided, and the shoes are easier for walking around in than road bike shoes.

+1 on Shimano 520 pedals.

Smear some copper grease on threads before mounting pedals and they will come off easily - whichever model you get.

SPDs are no problem in urban, off road, or road cycling. Even during falls, they clip out always. :)


I ended commuting on platforms, because I prefer not having to change shoes when coming to work - a lot more convenient. But as far as riding goes - SPDs are very nice. :)

I use Wellgo MG-1 sealed bearing pedals on my daily/commuter bike. They are double-sided platform BMX pedals with adjustable pins. They are wide (I wear size 48W/13E shoes).

I use a couple of different Shimano SPD pedals on my mountain and road bikes. One set are the "Click'R" 420s, platform one side and SPD on the other. The other (road bike) set is the Shimano 540 double sided SPD. I have all the tensions set very low.

I find that the SPD pedal/shoe combinations make it easy for me to keep my feet in the right place but are a bit more bother when I have to take my feet off the pedals and stop signs & lights.

The platform pedals are much easier to use for going to the store and around town, at stop signs, traffic lights and so on but they are a bit more of a bother if I'm gonna ride for a few miles without stops as my feet seem to wander around a bit, even with the pins set to take a rather aggressive bite into the soles of my shoes.

I want to put a good word in for Shimano's new "Click'R" line of pedals and shoes. The Click'R pedals are much easier to get into and out of because of the reduced spring tension. Also, Shimano's new line of touring Click'R shoes have good walking soles and a fine compromise between stiffness for pedaling and flex for walking.

Joe

I don't have any experience with the Wellgo MG-1's that you mentioned, so I don't know if they're otherwise good pedals with good pins for traction or not.

Fyi, if you get Five-Ten bike shoes, and good pedals, your feet will become extremely sticky to the pedals. In my experience to much.

With Chrome Kurks it was about right - feet don't wiggle around, but don't have to completely remove my whole foot from the pedal to reposition.

Just fyi, you can get flat pedal / shoe combos that are very very grippy and your feet won't wander around.

That's a fact.......

Which tire?
Which chain lube?
Which bike for (insert forum that you are in)?
Which saddle?
Best headlight?
Best taillight?
On and on and on and...............

It's as if people forget about the "Search" function. Or, maybe they're expecting to, somehow, receive a different answer than what was posted several thousand times in the last hundred threads concerning such common subjects.

If there was a product to answer the question everyone would hear the story on the evening news.....it be that big of a deal.

I've been told on (don't know why it turned r.e.d.d.i.t. into a masked out swear word) that sub******s have tried banning newbie questions. What happens though, is that the sub****** dies. Without new (though repetitive) questions discussion disappears and people stop coming to the sub******. :-/

One can always just skip the repetitive questions. Sometimes something new is mentioned in the back and forth to.