It also keeps you from slipping off the pedals in extremely foul weather. I ride in blizzards. (Or, at least, I used to, until I started needing to haul preschoolers in a trailer.)

I have Eggbeaters on my road bike because I already owned them from the all-weather commuting hybrid I'd just sold, and FUNN Soljam Vipers on my current commuting bike.

I'm not crazy about the Eggbeaters. I love the Vipers. OK, they occasionally puncture my shin, but my affection remains undaunted.

My commuting route is entirely hills. I appreciate the extra power I get from toeclips as opposed to platforms.

What's a platform?
I'm doing 10km each way on plain old flat-pedals. Though I'm starting to consider straps/toeclips

PLatform are the pedals you are riding now, I like riding with clips and straps but it seems necessary on a fixed gear bike. I like being connected to the bike but I don't tighten the straps down too tightly so that if I need to quickly yank my feet out I can.

I used to have Time ATACs on all of my bikes. They work great and after using them for about the last 10 years, I can get in and out of them without even so much as thinking about it. About a month ago I put a set of Grip Kings on my SS commuter/all-purpose bike. I got tired of having to change into cleated shoes every time I needed to run to the store, and having to wear my cleated shoes to work and change into "regular" shoes when I get here every day, and clacking around the office/store, etc., etc... I had tried switching to platforms a couple of years ago by putting a set of MKS touring pedals on the same bike. I didn't really give it a chance. I just decided it sucked right away and put the ATACs back on.

After having ridden the Grip Kings for about the last month, I've decided that (at least for me) the actual perfomance gains you get from using clipless pedals are virtually nil. I'm convinced that "riding free" forces a smoother spin because your feet aren't being "pulled" around by the cranks. I'm thinking about putting GK's on my touring bike now too. I think I'll leave the ATACs on my MTB because I really think that when you're riding really rough off-road trails, there's a real benefit to having your feet firmly connected to your pedals (i.e. your feet don't fly off the pedals). I think for recumbents and fixies, clipless might be the way to go too. I really think riding free is better for general riding though (for me anyway).

I think a lot of folks get clipless pedals when they become "serious" about riding and buy their first "real" bike. They become sold on the idea that clipless pedals are providing big performance benefits and in reality they're just becoming better, more efficient riders. That and they're on a good bike that actually fits them properly. But they just become "sold" on the clipless thing. Anyway, just my $0.02.

Grip King
Brand: MKS
MKS and Rivendell teamed up to design the Grip King pedal. Huge surface area works great with any footwear from flip-flops to winter boots. Distributes the weight load over the pedal from front to back, but is no wider than your average pedal, so you still get clearance for cornering. Designed for excellent grip, this pedal is not intended to be used with toe clips. Built from lightweight alloy.

WEIGHT: 428 gms/pair
THREAD: 9/16-inch
TOE CLIP COMPATIBLE: No
POWER GRIP COMPATIBLE: No

I use platforms but I have to stop frequently because of my route. If I didn't I probably try out clipless.

I was using toe clips for about 2 years and just bought a new cannondale yesterday (!!!) and added clipless. I had it down in about 2 minutes and have yet fallen (came close once)- but from what I can tell they are EASIER to get in/out that the clips. My commute is in LA, all stops etc but no problem.

sorry, was away a few weeks....I can definitely climb better with a full spin circle, rather than potato mashing down strokes only.

Gear guru Frank Berto's book on upgrading written back in the late 80s when people were first switching over from clips to clipless put it thusly:

he said there are three types of riders, two of which should be using clipless:

1. people who just wanna cruise around in street clothes/shoes, who should use regular platform pedals

2. People who ride competitively and tighten their toe straps - who should switch to one of the new clipless systems

3. People who ride in touring shoes with loosened clips and straps - who should also in his opinion switch to clipless and just get recessed cleats for walking.

I think he was right on the mark.

I should be in group 3 for my commutes but I am just too scared to ride on city traffic with feet attached....:o

I only use pedals that can be comfortably used with every pair of shoes I own. That means regular pedals. I haven't ridden to class once with anything other than sandals so far this term.

Cheap nylon pedals at this time. I am thinking of going to clipless on my MTB for those trails and my hybrid for those long weekend rides. I'll keep the nylon pedals on my beater Roadmaster Citybike since it's my commuter...Either that or get rid of the beater and get a nice Trek MTB and make that my commuter. Either way, keep platforms on the one I use to commute on.
Ernest

I love me some platforms. The work well for me, require no special shoes, and when you wreck they allow you to really superman over the bars without bringing the bike with you :)

My favorite platforms I think are Suntour XC-II
I have them on my MTB and a clone knockoff of them on my commuter. They have a super large platform and lots of grip but you do have to worry about them bashing into your leg or scraping you (which has happened)
My roadie has toe clips right now and besides being slightly more difficult to enter (have to flip the pedal right side up), they seem just as effective as the clipless pedals I've tried

Well i switched from platforms to clips and straps, and i must say clips >>>>> platforms. Being able to pull up, on the hills especially, is a huge plus. They also feel safer in the rain.

Just attached my first set of rat traps, so now I'm a clipless.
I'm still trying to decide if I feel they actually help all that much.

I've done toe-cages, spd's, and flats. I like the flats for commuting; I have Grip Kings on my fixie (which was supposed to be a "Fun Bike" and quickly became "Ride It for Any Reason at All"), but then I also have front & rear brakes on it. Thinking of going to cages there, but I don't know what would fit my boots--suggestions?

My first couple years of bike riding I had toe cages and they were cheap nylon & plastic jobs--the lateral slippage of the clip there I think made them less useful.

Finally, SPDs have been fine but I seem to be very "horizontal trackstand" prone. Scary for traffic. Also proved a significant pain whilst touring--shoes don't seem that big until you have to pack them! Even a pair of sandals seemed to take up a huge amount of room. I do find, though, that they're absolutely the right thing to have on my recumbent trike. Of course there, gravity is positively trying to pull your foot down and off the pedal.

I don't notice any efficiency gains with clipless but agree that it just feels more secure and stable and it's one less thing to get distracted over (until I stop).

Clipping in and out of my pedals in city traffic is such second nature that the thought of switching to platform pedals has never even crossed my mind. Interesting perspectives.

I hate toe clips with a passion.

I used to rock SPDs, and while I like the "connected" feel, I started to get pains in my ankles from having my feet fixed in the same position for the duration of a long ride. So that set me off looking for alternatives.

After searching through a bunch of the forums (fora?), I settled on MKS Touring with powergrips for my day to day bike, and a pair of grippy, no-name black platforms for my singlespeed winter bike. While I wholly acknowledge that in a slipping on ice scenario, platforms vs. clipped-in will likely be a draw, somewhere in the back of my brain, I've convinced myself that having a free foot will save the day.

I have always thought it to be a badddd idea to ride in traffic attached to the bike. but maybe its just my skills that are lacking:rolleyes: oh well i use a bmx style platform with pronounced pins sticking up they seem to engage my shoes well and i don't slip wet or dry.

I ride my MTB in extreme weather conditions with platforms, because I need boots in said extreme weather conditions. The rest of the year it's Time ATACs and Specialized Sonomas.

Man, August seems so far away. I've stopped wearing sandals. Wearing regular shoes. Got a second road bike. Still rocking platforms.

I think worrying about riding in traffic is probably a mental block more than anything. Next time you go riding, take notice of how your feet are almost always on the pedals even if you're using platforms. In that sense it's not much different than if you were clipped in.

toe clips, my biked is converted to a fixed gear now so it's essential but even before i converted it i liked the efficiency that comes from having foot retention. being able to pull up and push down makes for a quick ride

I've been using a clipless system, Crank Brothers Eggbeaters, exclusively for over two years. I like being attached to my pedals, and I can unclip instantly. My wheels have slid out from under me before, and I was still able to get my foot down. Lately I've been thinking about trying platforms again though. The main reason I want to change is to be able to wear any shoe I want. It seems like a good mountain bike or BMX platform pedal with replaceable pins, sealed bearing, and a concave shape is the best option, so that's what I'll probably try.

Good thread. I use PowerGrips on my commuter bike, SPD pedals on my road bike, and I'm considering going to platform pedals with sizable pegs for winter. The PowerGrips are the normal size and my foot is size 12, I can't fit winter boots under them. I might also just get longer PowerGrips for winter, but my winter boot shoe will envelop most normal pedals and I wonder how well even the long PowerGrips will work. I'm thinking I'd like to just put my foot down and go. I'll be riding very cautiously though and not going too fast or standing much. I love being attached to the pedals in some way, I just don't see a good winter solution (that's not too pricey).

I use the stock platform pedals on my bike. They have pegs and they grip the soles of most of my shoes just fine.

Tried toe-clips with straps a long time ago and despised trying to get the pedal to flip back up into position and I don't want to buy specific shoes to go with clipless pedals (also, there are just other bike-related things that I would rather spend my money on).