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.

I love my Drive BMX platforms (on my mountain bike, go figure)....awesome traction. Wet or dry your feet are staying put, regardless of what you are doing.

I never used any thing but platforms on all my bikes. Don't think I'm missing out on any thing either. I don't think that any time in near future I'll be going to clipless.

I love the clipless on my road bike, but on my commuter, it's platforms all the way. I made the switch after discovering that in an emergency, my disc brakes can stop me quicker than I can unclip. Slamming on the brakes to avoid a car turning in front of you doesn't do much good if you tip over into the traffic coming from behind you.

When one says they feel secure on platform pedals, might I ask are you a flatlander. Like in Ohio.
Can't imagine standing on a 6 mile 8% grade going up. You need real power on the uptake and on platforms you do not get it.
All the work in climbing , cant imagine feeling secure while doing any kind of mountain work. Now if one just finds you tooling about Amsterdam, I can understand the love of platforms. All the unclicking/clicking in , in city traffic. That is a real pain.

Cyclezealot..............:roflmao:
Im definately NOT a flatlander !
I think platform only-ers come
to their own technique that maximises what
they have to work with. I pedal a 40lb Single
speed chunker in VT. ( A few hills :D ) and still
would not go clipless. As stated previously,
I only use toe clips on my fixie and wouldnt even
do that except for the downhills around here which
would be too treacherous without some type of
holding device.
Hopefully Ill test your theory about tooling around Amsterdam
too !! :D

If you want to frequently get off your bike and walk around, I see the advantages of platform pedals. But I ride to work, and then ride home. If your clipless pedals are causing stress injuries, then they are poorly adjusted.

In the end, I think have dropped handlebars is fantastic, but others prefer a MTB set up. I prefer carrying a Topeak pump for flats, others prefer CO2. If riding with platform pedals makes cycling more convenient for you, go for it.

I was using them for a while in NYC, liked them a lot, not hard to flip the pedal over once you get used to it, but wiggling your toe into it turned out to be more trouble than it was worth in stop and go traffic. It's easy to get one foot in while standing still, but then the other one is a pain, often times my toe would push the strap forward instead of going under it and I'd end up looking at my foot to figure it out instead of watching the road and pedaling

I road Platform pedals all winter, and I was never so happy to return to my SPD's and clipless

But thats just me.... :)


I know what the OP is stating, and I do enjoy the freedom as well, I think I may get a cruiser bike just so I can ride with normal shoes and no helmet, screw all this biker stuff :lol:

So you stand on steep hills on platforms. ? Not being critical/ but, I just can't imagine feeling secure. I just find on certain grades, I get more power when standing. Heck, I can stumble about just walking about. Of course, I have riden in just toe clips, that gave me some sense of security.

I am a klutz. When riding platforms all I manage to do is smack the crap out of my shins. D'oh!
That and it is a tad difficult to spin at 90-100+ rpm with platform pedals.
Anyhow, I would also like a beat up cruiser for around town spur of the moment riding with platform pedals. I would think this would be more appropriate for wandering around town with my kid on his little 12" bike.

I have experienced the same thing. I was hit by a truck a couple of weeks ago, and I'm in the process of healing. My left knee is a bit sore, and when I rode my town bike with clipless pedals I had discomfort. The cleat evidently put my knee in a bad position, and unclipping hurt a bit. So I decided to ride my MTB which has DK Iron Cross BMX pedals. Man, what a difference. No pain at all.

As noted above, I have gone entirely to platforms on all my bicycles. I was at Gregg's Cycles the other day and bought a pair of strapless mini toe clips. They seem to be made of pretty indestructible plastic. I am going to mount them on my FS MTB and see what happens.

A couple of decades ago, I used the Christophe metal clips and leather straps on my roadies, so it will be interesting to compare these strapless clips to those.

Ha Ha....I spend 1/3 of my commute standing !
You just get used to it. Pinned BMX platforms have
alot of grip ! :D
I will always choose simplicity over common sense and practicality :roflmao:

:lol:

maybe, i'd understand If I knew what pinned bmx platforms were like and how they felt. I also agree from my first bike experiences as a kid ; those bruised up chins as the pedals came around and wacked me on the knee. and that was on the flats.
The pinned platforms, they are successful on a 3 % up to a 8% grade, without getting beat up chins.