I've commuted for years now with platforms and regular shoes or sandals. works for me.

Just finished reading the thread...these look awesome! I want!

Use a helmet, you will fall at least once.

All of my mountain bikes have platform pedals, and all of my road bikes have MKS touring pedals without toeclips, except my Bertoni which has steel clips and leather straps (but I very rarely ride it). I used to always use toeclips, but once I started commuting I stop using them and haven't missed them yet. I've also tried clipless pedals and couldn't stand it. I hate having to put on any special clothing just to ride, so the shoes pretty much ruined it for me. Plus I didn't like not being able to move my feet around at will. I don't use a speedometer so I don't know if I'm any slower, but I doubt I am and I don't care anyway. :p

Is that a Nishiki? Any more photos of it handy?

I think that having your foot attached results in more balanced muscled development and less strain on legs/knees/ligaments than you would get if you are just limiting yourself to using the muscles that allow you to push downwards on a platform pedal (probably not a big deal for shorter commutes but over a season of daily riding it would make a difference). I just tried eggbeaters for the first time and found them to be far easier to get in/out of than I expoected and much easier than the toe straps/clips that I have used for years. I'm an instant convert! Wow.

+1

Sorry I'm late for the party.

Never had it, never will. ;) Real shoes only.

I use cheap toe clips... keeps me from slipping as I'm navigating that paved jungle...which has happened to me. :(

I use SPD, and before that, toe clips (and I'd go back to toe clips with no reservations) NOT for performance gains, but for safety. I went out and bought toe clips the day my sneakers slipped off the pedals TWICE in one day while I was first in line at a stoplight, a large truck behind me, and the light turned green. It's not fun to lose your power when there's a truck 5 feet behind you gaining speed.

I use SPDs mainly because I can get INTO them faster than I can toe clips. SPD is pretty cheap to get into; I buy mountain shoes when they're on sale for $35 or less, and I bought slightly-used pedals off eBay for $20.

Platform for me all year. I often ride with flip-flops on too if I am not going anywhere important.

Absolutely....here ya go. This bike takes me back and forth to work a couple of times a week. Just finished the MS150 ride on it. My wife got pissed at all the "nice bike" comments. It kinda stands out in a sea of carbon fiber and skinny tires.

http://flickr.com/photos/94086333@N0...7604115911615/

To get back on topic, I love the grip king and power grip setup. I usually wear Keens or Tevas to ride in, but I can wear anything I want and I feel just as secure as I did when I used clipless.

misinformation
 

I noticed in an earlier comment that "platform pedals only allow downward force on the pedals" and this is simply not true if you use BMX style pin pedals and a softer outer soled shoe you can effectively push down, forwards and the proverbial 'dog poo' swipe backwards. Pulling the opposing leg on the upstroke is easy and your legs can be trained to not come off the pedal. That small area in your pedal stroke (contrary to popular belief) does not provide much of a power increase during normal pedaling at normal rpm.
Pulling up can be helpful in rare circumstances but it takes a conscious effort. When racing, solid attachment to the pedals has its place such as, pack riding in the rain and balls out sprinting but most of us commuters need the flexibility of being able to stop and go easily and walk around too. I've spun a 65 inch gear up to around 25 mph with no attachment and while I don't know my pedal cadence, I'm sure it was quite high and my feet did not come off the pedals. Were it a race though, I would not trust my feet to stay on but I do not race and I seriously doubt many actually do. Most of us merely fantasize about racing and I suspect most racers would not spend much time taking about pedaling dynamics, regardless.

Stock platforms here. When I bought my commuting bike, I was going to add clipless (I use Looks on my road bike), but my commute is in an urban area. I find the need to frequently, and unexpectedly, put my foot down. I'm not great with my clipless and think the odds are high I would fall over in traffic. Whatever it may cost me in efficiency and/or speed seems to be offset by safety.

I used to ride clipless mostly because of doctor recommendation but after my knees never feeling any better, I switched back to platform. For commuting it just makes more sense
The clipless weren't that bad though, I got really good at clipping out at lights, still catch myself twisting my foot at stops even when I'm riding the platforms now

this is me too, except my commute is 6 miles each way and I do wish for the clipless when going over the Queensboro bridge twice a day. Also, i ride to work in sweats/shorts with semi-stiff soled touring shoes (Specialized Sonomas); I find a stiff sole helps, retention system or no.

I ride with platform pedals on both of my commuters. I use to use clipless but sometimes I ride in work shoes so I've found that I like the platforms just fine. Also, as others have mentioned on my urban commute I don't want to worry that I'm going to fall over if I have to stop suddenly.

mtb clipless on the fixed gear

Stock platforms and winter boots during winter. Warmer and easier to bail when it all goes terribly wrong on ice.

Ah what a beauty! Is it bad that I could tell it was a Nishiki by the "Japan" sticker on the seattube? :o

Hey, that's part of my old commute!

Why does the bridge, specifically, make you want clipless?

I use Powergrips when I feel the need to stay attached to the bike... otherwise, flat.

I like wearing rafting sandals, what can I say?

Completely flat for me. Using my bike for everyday transportation, I appreciate not having to worry about what shoes I'm wearing, which is usually sneakers in good weather and boots in bad. It's simple. I have enough to worry about with other clothing (mostly non-cycling) and lights. I know I could still use straps or PowerGrips, but it's just never risen to the top of the priority list.

I rode on platforms on my singlespeed last year and this year I am riding toe clips and straps on my fixed gear which is necessary. The platforms were great for winter riding because I could wear some heftier shoes and just sort of jump on and go.
I would like to give clipless a try someday.

When this thread started back in January, I was riding with Look pedals and cleated shoes. A couple of months ago I switched over to my old commuter bike and just used the flat side of the platform/SPD pedals. I was pleasantly surprised that it felt pretty good. My commute is only about 6 miles each way, and I have not noticed much difference in the time. Like others have said, it is nice not having to deal with changing shoes just for the commute. I wear whatever shoes I plan to wear that day at work. One less thing to keep up with, and I like to keep it simple. ;-)

Always. Any shoe works. Easy.

I'm with you, man! :beer: Another lazy flat-pedal commuter.

Platforms on the commuter, straps on the fixie.

65 gear inch means you pedal like a person on a penny farthing bicycle with a 65 inch front wheel, which gives you 65 X π =204.2” of travel per pedal rotation.

25 mph = 0.416666 miles per minute = 2200 feet per minute = 26400 inches per min.

That’s 26400/204.2= 129 rpm.

Someone check my math

Was that in commuting conditions, or racing conditions? One research paper I saw supposedly demonstrating the benefits of clipless had pro cyclists exerting maximum effort in a lab with and without attachment. Of course they did better with the clipless since they weren't used to platforms and having to keep their feet on the pedals at max cadence instead of relying on the cleat to assist. Had they had a chance to practise with platforms for a while and cycle at submaximum effort, there might have been no difference.