Platforms vs Clip ins....has anyone tested Grant Peterson's theory?
#251
You gonna eat that?
+1.
some people are under the impression that the only reason anyone would ever ride clipless would be to increase speed, but for me, the reason i commute (and do almost all of my riding) with clipless pedals isn't because i fancy myself as some TdF champ, i just really, REALLY, REALLY like the feeling of being locked onto the bike. it makes me feel like i have better control of the bike. it makes me feel more one with the bike. it makes the bike feel more like an extension of myself rather than just a vehicle i'm riding on.
it's not about speed or efficiency for me, it's all about feel. if others prefer the feel of having their feet free on a platform, more power to 'em.
some people are under the impression that the only reason anyone would ever ride clipless would be to increase speed, but for me, the reason i commute (and do almost all of my riding) with clipless pedals isn't because i fancy myself as some TdF champ, i just really, REALLY, REALLY like the feeling of being locked onto the bike. it makes me feel like i have better control of the bike. it makes me feel more one with the bike. it makes the bike feel more like an extension of myself rather than just a vehicle i'm riding on.
it's not about speed or efficiency for me, it's all about feel. if others prefer the feel of having their feet free on a platform, more power to 'em.
#253
born again cyclist
being able to trackstand also helps one become more at ease riding clipless in urban commuting situations.
not everyone goes through that rite of passage; i've never had a fall from failing to unclip.
#254
You gonna eat that?
#255
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Knock on wood but I'm about a month into riding clipless and I, too, have been able to avoid said rite of passage. I used toe clips for a couple years before making the switch, but prefer clipless so far. I think my time in clips helped to ready me for the transition to clipless, though. That and a fear of falling that's got me constantly reminding me to unclip.
#256
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On my commute, when the weather is nice (not like now) a group of a dozen or so commuters sometimes forms at a particular stop light. When the light turns green, everyone, cyclists and cars, have only a very short time to traverse the intersection.
Usually at least half to two thirds of the riders are clipless, and about half of them completely suck at clipping in. So I sometimes get stuck behind 2 or 3 of these folks, who push forward and move at a slow crawl while they fumble and stumble with their clipless pedals. There have been times the light has changed before I was able to get through the intersection because these cyclists are so unskilled with clipless. So if you ride clipless in these kinds of conditions, please learn to clip in reasonably quickly.
I use clipless or toe clips for fast, long or hilly rides--no strong preference. "Platform" for everything else, including commuting. Haven't slipped off a pedal yet. Haven't ever fallen over with clipless or toe clips.
Learned to do track stands back in the 1970s--and did it in track races in addition to red lights--still do it at stops sometimes--it helps give you a quick start. Used to be able to do it no hands with fixed gear.
Usually at least half to two thirds of the riders are clipless, and about half of them completely suck at clipping in. So I sometimes get stuck behind 2 or 3 of these folks, who push forward and move at a slow crawl while they fumble and stumble with their clipless pedals. There have been times the light has changed before I was able to get through the intersection because these cyclists are so unskilled with clipless. So if you ride clipless in these kinds of conditions, please learn to clip in reasonably quickly.
I use clipless or toe clips for fast, long or hilly rides--no strong preference. "Platform" for everything else, including commuting. Haven't slipped off a pedal yet. Haven't ever fallen over with clipless or toe clips.
Learned to do track stands back in the 1970s--and did it in track races in addition to red lights--still do it at stops sometimes--it helps give you a quick start. Used to be able to do it no hands with fixed gear.
#257
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I have bad knees. I am limited to how hard I can push down before my knees loudly complain. I can pull up as hard I can with no issues. When I need additional power for say, a hill, it comes from the up stroke. Kinda hard to do without being clipped in.
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Wel,, I did go through that particular right of passage but now that I'm comfortable with clip-ins I feel like my feet are much more trapped in toe clips that they are when clipped in -- at least if the toe clips are tight enough to have any effect.
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#259
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#260
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I use bmx platforms on my commuter. I haven't had any problems with slipping. The old fashioned cage type pedal will slip much more easily than the newer platforms
I had used toe clips and cleats for 30 years before switching to clipless. I made it for over a month before I fell the first time. Managed to fall 3 times before I got used to it
Knock on wood but I'm about a month into riding clipless and I, too, have been able to avoid said rite of passage. I used toe clips for a couple years before making the switch, but prefer clipless so far. I think my time in clips helped to ready me for the transition to clipless, though. That and a fear of falling that's got me constantly reminding me to unclip.
#261
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#262
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I hate the feeling of wearing cycling shorts, a jersey, and tennis shoes. To me that'd be like playing soccer on the pitch without cleats.
I like the feeling of being clipped in, especially when I'm climbing. When I'm clipped in I can spin up a hill. If I'm on platforms I would have to mash all the way up.
When I first got my new clipless pedals and shoes I felt like I was re-learning to ride all over again for the better, and it is.
Also when I used to do long rides (anything 50+) in tennis shoes I balled up my toes a lot and at the end of the ride they were killing me because of how flexible my shoes were.
I like the feeling of being clipped in, especially when I'm climbing. When I'm clipped in I can spin up a hill. If I'm on platforms I would have to mash all the way up.
When I first got my new clipless pedals and shoes I felt like I was re-learning to ride all over again for the better, and it is.
Also when I used to do long rides (anything 50+) in tennis shoes I balled up my toes a lot and at the end of the ride they were killing me because of how flexible my shoes were.
#263
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#264
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I have toe clips on my MTB winter commuter (accommodates my duck boots) and clipless on my touring bike. Haven't fallen with either of them, but did have a couple close calls with the clipless in the first couple of weeks I used them.
I prefer clipless, but not by much. As long as there's something to pull up on and keep my feet on the pedals, either is fine. As for getting started at intersections, I have less trouble with the clipless than the toe clips, particularly with certain shoes.
As for the theory that they don't help much, I don't know. Maybe it's true. It doesn't feel that way.
I prefer clipless, but not by much. As long as there's something to pull up on and keep my feet on the pedals, either is fine. As for getting started at intersections, I have less trouble with the clipless than the toe clips, particularly with certain shoes.
As for the theory that they don't help much, I don't know. Maybe it's true. It doesn't feel that way.
#265
Steel is real, baby!
I commute on some generic "mountain bike" style pedals, but would really like to convert to toe clips & straps. The problem I have is that the shoes I wear to work in have very thick & wide soles and "strapping in" is cumbersome.
I don't really have a place at work where I can stash the shoes that would allow me to wear cycling specific shoes & then change in/out of.
I don't think that those "half clips" would work for me, and those new-ish wide straps look like they're more of a pain than anything.
So, I ride without any retention system on the commuter.
I don't really have a place at work where I can stash the shoes that would allow me to wear cycling specific shoes & then change in/out of.
I don't think that those "half clips" would work for me, and those new-ish wide straps look like they're more of a pain than anything.
So, I ride without any retention system on the commuter.
#266
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I am aware of the distinction and choose to ignore it and follow the colloquial definition. The bottom pedal, to me, is the platform pedal. The top is a one-sided pedal. The funny thing is, every single person I have ever spoken to will agree with me, even people at the LBS. They will say something like, "these technically aren't platform pedals but that's what everybody calls them."
Have since used a more modern-looking set of platforms and also a pair of bmx-style platforms.
Many people now refer to cage or rat-trap pedals as platforms but it's just not right.
There is no platform on a cage pedal so it makes no sense to refer to them by that term.
And get off my lawn!
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#267
You gonna eat that?
I acknowledged I was wrong, but refuse to call those and only those platform pedals, because EVERYONE calls these platform pedals, pedantics be damned.
And get off MY lawn. But clean up after your dog first!
And get off MY lawn. But clean up after your dog first!
#268
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Used to be that Bikes were Bikes and Platform Pedals were Platform Pedals.
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#269
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Wrong. This is a classic platform pedal. I had a pair of these 25-30 years ago.
Have since used a more modern-looking set of platforms and also a pair of bmx-style platforms.
Many people now refer to cage or rat-trap pedals as platforms but it's just not right.
There is no platform on a cage pedal so it makes no sense to refer to them by that term.
And get off my lawn!
Have since used a more modern-looking set of platforms and also a pair of bmx-style platforms.
Many people now refer to cage or rat-trap pedals as platforms but it's just not right.
There is no platform on a cage pedal so it makes no sense to refer to them by that term.
And get off my lawn!
I have a set of Lyotard platforms that I bought in the 70s--still spin fine. The "lip" that fits into the slot in traditional cleats makes them uncomfortable with thin flexible soled shoes.
#271
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#272
Banned
Double sided Lyotard 460D was what the Cyclocross racers used ,
[before someone decided to try the then Look, clipless pedals..]
with a toe clip, 2 riveted together , so they sprang back if you stepped on them.
flip them both at once in a single crank rotation.. now go practice that..
[before someone decided to try the then Look, clipless pedals..]
with a toe clip, 2 riveted together , so they sprang back if you stepped on them.
flip them both at once in a single crank rotation.. now go practice that..