I like clips and staps...and not because I ride a fixed gear from time to time. When I came into riding MTB alot in the late 80's clipless was just getting into vogue...I hated alot of the early spd pedals...so I just stuck with what works for me...plus I like haveing the ability to run different types of shoes when I ride.

I know clipless has made progress...but I guess I'm gonna stick with what works for me. Clips and straps really aren't so bad once you get used to them.

I have LOOK on my commuter modern road bike and my two vintage steel bikes (can swap out for rat traps they came with). I find LOOK is easier on my feet. They are, however, very slippery and awkward to walk in. My mtb has SPD and my son's road has platform / SPD. SPD mtb shoes are nice for walking in.

I agree that Look pedals are comfortable... but they are too awkward for commuting or utility use in my mind. One thing you can do to make Look cleats a *lot* easier to walk on is to get Kleat Kovers. They cost about $10 and slip over your cleats, which not only provides a grippy rubber surface, but also prolongs the life of the cleats. I keep them in my pocket whenever I'm riding my road bike.

+1 Eggbeater Mallet C

I have regular shoes at work and don't intentionally stop and walk on my commute. I use SPD-SL on my commute. One time I had a breakdown that caused me to walk half the commute (6 miles) in my bike shoes and I found it easier to walk in the carbon soled bike shoes (I now wear) with SPD-SL cleats than the old plastic soled bike shoes with the SPD cleats that I used to wear. At any rate on my commute I wound not consider using anything other than road shoes with road pedal/cleats. I've tried the off-road shoe and cleat and this is better for my commute.
You can get all the advice in the world but at some point you have to look at the various aspects of your commute and your bike and make your decision based upon that and not someone elses' ride.

Absolutely. But the thing is, you don't know what you're missing. I ran clips and straps until last summer... And I CAN'T BELIEVE how much better I like SPD.

I used platform/SPD combos on my last bike and wound up using the platforms all of 3 times over about 4 years. Clipless is sooo much better. My new bike has 2-sided SPDs and I wear MTB shoes that have a recessed cleat.

If you like different shoes and clips and straps you could still do clipless and do it without getting out a wrench to switch pedals. MKS makes quick release pedals that come in platform or clipless. You could buy a pair of each and just switch them according to your ride. They also make your bike a little less desrible to thieves as you can take your pedals when you lock up your bike.

I guess your usage pattern is different from mine! I often want to go run an errand or go out at night without changing shoes. The one-sided clipless mechanism of the platform/SPD combos is only a slight inconvenience to me, while having the platforms is a big convenience.

For commuting around town I have switched to platforms/clips on my fixie and just plain platforms for my single-speed. It's fun to ride around in your street shoes (and so much cooler with sandals in the summer)! Used to run all SPD pedals but got tired of walking around with that funny metallic crunch sound that comes from the cleats.

on my commute bike I use speed play frogs , My knees are grateful.

Just before the frogs I had shimano cheapo spd with snap on plastic platforms on one side (very handy)

The rodeo pedal that many use is a nice combination and very practical.

egg beaters have good following and I almost went that route.

all in all I realy like my frogs. but If I were just in town and riding short distances I would use bmx pedals alone or perhaps with power grip staps (I have hutch Round bear-traps on my MTB) .

"John"

For the Performance Bike campus pedal what type of cleats would be best? Do the pedals come with a set of cleats?

Yes! Brand new clipless pedals always come with cleats. I've never seen them sold without in a store or online, including PB or Nashbar. Unfortunately, they never make this clear for some reason.

I like the platform side because I use it whenever I take my kid to the park...Hook up the trailer and go, rather than having to go back in and put on my cycling shoes. I also find the platforms quite handy in winter when it gets very cold (< 5F) so I can wear winter boots. Boots won't even fit into clip/straps (at least not the ones I've tried.

PotAto, PoTAHto I guess.

if u r interested in the eggbeaters also consider the CB quattros - basically an eggbtr with a bigger platform, should work well with more commuter-like shoes. Tho I will say they require some surgery on recessed shoe soles.

Personally I still go plain platforms for commuting in NYC. Pedestrians and cars are just too unpredictable for me to be clipped in. I can use clips/straps okay but they are a hassle to get into at lights and if I keep them loose enough to get out of they don't give enough of a benefit.

I will say I wish I had my clipless on the commuter bike when using the greenbelt path, which I just started doing on occasion.

Hi all,

Is anyone using Shimano A520?
It's single sided SPD, and I'd like to know how comfortable it is to ride with regular shoes on the flattish side.

I'm looking for a clipless pedal, which can be used with normal, or running, shoes.
Using normal shoes on the SPD side isn't comfortable.

Tal.

I use these Shimano M520 SPD MTB pedals on my road bike/commuter - double sided clipless so you down't have to think about flipping them around. Haven't let me down yet.

I had those, and they are NOT convenient to ride on the other side, which is not at all flat. The much better choice is the combo clipless/platform pedals I've been discussing

Great. That's good news. I got some Shimano MT-40 shoes so as soon as the pedals become available from PB (currently on backorder) I can give them a try. Hopefully I'll get more riding in before snow comes.

Shimano PD-M959 for Summer:

https://tinyurl.com/khwwq

These are fairly light for an SPD pedal. The spring tension is pretty high compared to the other Shimano SPD pedals I have used.


Shimano PD-M647 for Winter:

https://tinyurl.com/f8k9b

These a really nice. The spring tension is nice and light on the lowest setting making them easy to get in and out of. They are a bit heavy, but not compared to most standard platform pedals. Being able to use them with any footwear is a big plus.


I have a set of the PD-MX30 platforms too. I don't use them much anymore. It's nice to have a set of regular old platforms around, anyway.


Speedplays Frogs are nice enough. They clog up easier than the SPD's though.


Has anyone used those Ritchey Micro pedals? They look kind of interesting. Do they use a std Shimano SPD cleat?

Do the Performance campus pedals (or similar models from Shimano and Nashbar) come with reflectors? I would like to make my bike technically legal for night biking. The law here specifically states that the pedals must have reflectors and I've met at least one person who had to defend herself before a judge because her clipless pedals lacked reflectors. I've tried to put reflective tape on the pedals, but I don't think it would meet code and it wears off after awhile.

Been riding toe clip and straps for years and always liked them. Definitely like a large platform.

But, having graduated to size 13 shoes -- mostly so I can add orthotics inside -- the clips are harder than ever to get into... would like to see someone make an XL toe clip...

No, no reflectors on most aftermarket platform-type pedals... including the Campus and Rodeo pedals. You *could* put reflectors on the Nashbar Rodeo pedals, however, simply by removing the screws that hold the cage to the body of the pedal, putting on a reflector, and screwing them back down.

Where are pedals legally required to have reflectors???

https://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/mass.htm#C85S11B

During the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, the operator shall display on each pedal of his bicycle a reflector, or around each of his ankles reflective material visible from the front and rear for a distance of six hundred feet, and reflectors or reflective material, either on said bicycle or on the person of the operator, visible on each side for a distance of six hundred feet, when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps of a motor vehicle. This clause shall not prohibit a bicycle or its operator to be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by clauses (8) and (9).

In Massachusetts according to the law you need to have reflectors on your pedals or wear reflective straps around your ankles. It's probably not enforced all that frequently but it is on the books.

I use time ATAC on all of my bikes, but would not hesitate to use the crank bros in any of there variations.
I think an MTB type clipless pedal is better for commuting duty. I'm from an MTB background though. Those with road beginnings probably like road pedals.