I don't think its so bad. Only time I had a problem was when I was doing my fixed gear experiments with them. It's tough to hook your foot in the loop when the pedal won't hold still. Of course the solution to that problem is to learn how to track stand.

I ride with mine exclusively in stop and go traffic.

So its definitely a little more annoying thats straight up platforms, since there is a right side up... But, its MUCH easier than toe clips.

I found when the powergrips are new, its kind of annoying and I often just rode with one foot in, and the other foot on the platform side, until I cleared an intersection and had a moment to flip the pedal.

BUT,

as the powergrips wear, they tended to fit the form of my foot better and better, and often times i start pedalling, and found my foot naturally found its way into the powergrips accidently and naturally. After a few days of breaking in my feet almost always find their way naturally into the power grips as I get started, and only sometimes do I have to think about flipping the pedal up first.

Slap me down if I am wrong here, but as regard starting with these power grips... and do bear in mind I have not used them.

But pwergrips are something you can fit to flat pedals... yes?

So.. that being the case, when stopped and your foot is off the pedal, the weight of the powergrip will turn the pedal so that the side without the powergrip is upper most.. in short... a normal flat pedal?

So you set off from the lights... and only when you are moving use your toe end to flip the pedal and slip into the grip? So it should be no harder to start to pedal than a flat... and when safe you slip into the grip?

In the beginning, it's a bit annoying. After a while, your body "remembers" what to do, and it becomes almost reflexive.

All I ever use is flat pedals, even when touring on my Trek 520, no clips or straps at all.

They are great, and I've never slipped off them. (exept when acting the goat, ie: look, no hands or seat!..etc etc)

I disagree. Cycling to work gives me a good workout and I prefer to do it on the same bike I do my weekend rides on, which is a road bike. I can shower at work and store my bike next to my desk so for me platform pedals are a step into the past and compromises, somewhat, the purpose of commuting by bike for me.

Clipless is the only way to go. :beer:

I wear US size 13, and I use the tightest holes on the extra long straps. In fact I'm planning to punch another set of holes one size smaller and see how that works.

Not really. Mine hang 110-120 degrees forward from flat, so a little past vertical. Either side takes some work to get onto at that point. After a few months, it became a habit to step on the pedal with my foot moving back, which flips the strap up. The only problem is that the strap occasionally catches my toe and I have to take my foot off the pedal to reset it.

I have steel toeclips and I'm interested in PowerGrips. How do the PowerGrips compare to toeclips?

Now, this comes secondhand from my housemate, as I've never use toeclips. She used them before her PowerGrips, and said there is no comparison. The PowerGrips were easier for her to get in and out of and she felt the were more efficient. They also don't mar shoes like toeclips can.

I have big feet. My toe clips never really fit that well - even with modifications.

You are essentially correct. The only thing I can say against this method is that the powergrips can drag the ground when you are pedalling with the pedals upside down. For this reason, I usually would start with my right foot securely in the powergrip and try to hook the left side one on the first rotation. I'll admit to a quick little look down while doing this. Some people might not like that distraction in traffic.

PowerGrips come in an XL size. Good for winter boots, too. :)

You seem to have a persecution complex. No one thinks your feet aren't fine.
I've done 80+ mile rides on platform pedals. My feet were fine also. But I also have the added perspective of having done rides with clipless pedals also. For a long or fast ride, I would choose clipless pedals every time.

If you're happy with platforms, good for you. Some aren't. You don't need to justify yourself to them.

My father in law is a hardcore clip user... he tells me he can 'toe and heal' with them? I am assuming this mean that in addition to pushing down on one pedal... he also uses the other foot to lift the other pedal, which I suppose means he is getting twice as much drive for his energy?

This is why I find the Powergrips interesting, I am not keen on having to actually ,ess abput and snap my foot on to a pedal, but I would give the Powergrips a try.

Anyone ever used toe clips with flipflops? I was riding after a rain the otherday and my flipflop slid off the petal and almost wrecked me. Sorry, I am in florida, I am not giving up the flops!! Not even for biking. Plus if I even owned a pair of non-work shoes, I wouldnt want to get them wet in the rain :)

+1, I love my MKS+Powergrips solution. On my folding MKS's and my MKS Touring Pedals!!!

I'm gona have to break down and get them.

But that is the same as toe clips - right?

It's all about what makes sense for what I want to do.

I was pretty much done with toe clips after using them for a year and a half. On the other hand, putting on my clipless shoes whenever I wanted to take a ride was more hassle than I really wanted to deal with, so I bought a cheap pair of Wellgo double-sided pedals: one side clipless, one side flats. My commute is very short and I spend a lot of time on and off the bike, without a lot of time on the bike between stops (class to class just doesn't take that long). I've found that flats really are the best solution for short distance, just-get-on-the-bike-and-go riding. My singlespeed beater also has flats, for the same reason.

On the other hand, my road bike would be a lot less fun with flat pedals. Without clipless pedals, I can't stand up and really crank when I want to pretend that I'm fast. I also can't maintain a smooth, fast spin as easily without them. When I feel like riding that bike (which is often, it's a LOT of fun), I don't mind wearing my (walkable) clipless shoes. It's worth the trouble! But flat pedals are greatly, greatly underrated.

Agreed.
I love my clipless pedals but my commute involves walking 4 -5 blocks, riding a bus and climbing 5 flights of stairs on a tile floor. Clipless shoes (even Mtb) was not working. I decided last fall I needed to use regular shoes on the commute. I figured I’ll try the simplest, cheapest first – Toe clips that I already owned. But like I said before, they just don’t fit my feet. I think that it is now time to try PowerGrips.

I guess I could do platforms, but I really like to be attached when climbing and descending hills.

sounds like you are not absolutely sure you can blame your injury on clipless. If it were the case , could be use of fixed clips have been too limiting on needed knee/ankle rotation.
I have used clipless for years. Can't imagine difficulties caused by clipless. I feel more secure in clipless. When riding platforms, I feel as if i might loose control of my bike, since a slip off the pedals could cause one to loose control of the bike.
With a short commute on flat terrain, I am sure platforms work out just fine. But, being clipped in, it gives me far more options in terms of like standing on hills, when I need a little more power. On platforms, I'd never get out of my saddle. I would not like that.

I'm not certain the injury was related to clipless, but it has been a LOT better since I stopped using them temporarily two weeks ago (darn it takes so long to get in to see a specialist!). It could be COMPLETELY unrelated, but it was certainly being aggravated when I was clipped in.

I also feel more "secure" when clipped... who wouldn't? To suggest that you can't stand on platforms seems a bit silly, I mean... what did you do when you rode your BMX as a kid? I imagine there are millions of people around the world riding platforms today, most going longer distance, with heavier loads, over more severe terrain than the majority of us here in this forum. My commute is anything but flat (Ya'll know where Knoxville is on a map, right?). This thread was more an observation of something that I had previously failed to really appreciate.

Don't get me wrong, I sure hope this injury heals up good, and isn't related to wearing clipless, because I certainly love riding clipped on my road bike and on our tandem... but I've certainly rediscovered something here on my platforms in the city!

For what it's worth I also wear size 12 (US) and I use the regular length. I have to have them almost all the way extended, but I tried the long size first and found they were too long (I suppose you can cut the length down). Just my 2 cents.

One other plus I didn't think about until now - especially with the MKS pedals - is that they are old-fashioned and can be serviced - not disposable pedals. I think most MKS pedals are like this. This appeals to me on many levels. :) I look forward to learning how to repack the bearings and such when the time comes.

My favorites are MKS touring pedals, but I also have no problem with toe clips as long as they're not to tight. I have some clipless pedals but I never liked using them. I hate to have to "suit up" just to go for a ride.

Toeclips scratch up dressy shoes.

Knox.Let us know how your injury heals. Hope it's not the clips. But, when doing steep ascents, on platforms; I'd never stand on platforms. Just do not feel secure. Fall off the pedals, I'd fear I'd crash. For the flats, for me, platforms would be fine.
Maybe another type of clipless pedal. Eggbeaters.? I suspect a problem with Looks/SPD is selecting a model that does not offer any rotation. If not for lack of rotation, I see little difference between the sensations clipless and platform pedals offer. Other than lack of a secure connection and better power transfer .

I switched over to my MTB one day last week. One reason was that I was going to be riding to the college, then car-pooling with someone to get to the data center building. I didn't want to leave my hybrid locked up in the open all day long. Even though the mountain bike is technically a better bike with better components, it has a lot less curb appeal. Also, since I wasn't going to have to get up early and push hard to make the bus stop in time, I had about an hour and a half to ride 8 miles. No problem there.

After riding only clipless for about the last 6 weeks and going to platforms for a day, my personal observations are:

1) Clipless pedals are way easier to ride with.
2) Clipless pedals make cyclists "artificially" better, form-wise.

My form was horrid for the first two miles being back on the platforms. I'd bet it rivals how bad my form was back when I first started riding last year. By the time I got comfortable on them again, my form was better.

After my experience, I think for the most part, clipless pedals are a crutch. A nice, wonderful crutch, but a crutch all the same.