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Any commuters ride without any sort of toeclip/clipless?

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Any commuters ride without any sort of toeclip/clipless?

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Old 01-03-08 | 04:10 AM
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Any commuters ride without any sort of toeclip/clipless?

Who here commutes without toeclips, straps or clip less pedals?

I've been commuting with LOOK style pedals for the last several months, and now I've been thinking about saving those for longer rides and just putting in toeclips. Then it occurred to me that I could just commute with completely flat.
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Old 01-03-08 | 04:27 AM
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From: Northern VT

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Have shimano mx-30 flat pedals on my CkCx, just under 4000 km last year.
these pedals are wide and large nicely holding what ever shoe or boot I had on.
installed the shortest pins, don't have any problems with slippage or shin bashing.
the convenience of just hopping on and going with what every is on your feet is
great.
my partner has shimano 324 pedals on her bike, she likes the combination of platform
on one side and clip in on the other. they seem to work well for her.
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Old 01-03-08 | 04:32 AM
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I'm riding completely platforms now that it's turning to winter. In my summer bike I have platform/SPD combo pedals, that enables me to do the occasional ride with normal shoes / sandals / whatever.

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Old 01-03-08 | 04:36 AM
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I use big , pegged BMX platforms on all of my bikes.
More comfortable and I appreciate not having to worry
about all the stuff that goes along with not having to
worry about clipping and strapping at every lite .
In riding in snow, I didnt want be clipped in in case I
needed to put a foot down quickly.
No, no foot retention stuff here
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:04 AM
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Sometimes, but not often.

It's a bit slower, hence I generally reserve them for the freeride bike.
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:11 AM
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Platforms on my commuters, a lot of stop and go/cross traffic on my commute, enough where clipless would be a hassle.
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:25 AM
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I used to ride with flat pedals but I opted for Powergrips. I'm very happy with them. At first I thought I might take them off for winter riding but I find I can still put a foot down very quickly if needed, and I really prefer having the foot retention once I got used to having it.
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:38 AM
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:48 AM
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BMX pegged pedals on my MTB for winter. As soon as the snow disappears it will be converted to clipless like the rest of my bikes.
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:54 AM
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Platforms for me, all year. It's more fun and simpler.
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Old 01-03-08 | 10:56 AM
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I have a mix of clipped and flat pedals and use what works best in given situations...I like them both equally.
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:00 AM
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In the fall of 2006 I took the clipless pedals off my commuter so I could ride in winter boots. By the middle of the spring 2007 realized I hardly missed them. I time my rides occasionally, and my best time home is usually about 25 minutes. This was true before and after switching back to platforms.

So I laugh at all the talk about how much more efficient clipless pedals are. If you're a hardcore rider they probably offer a small advantage and certainly in extreme conditions like a very steep uphill or a mad finishing sprint they are worthwhile.

The truth is that for most commuters they are not worth the bother of switching shoes, clacking on the floor, unclipping at lights, etc. Ride with them if you like them, but don't fool yourself that they offer any advantages.

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Old 01-03-08 | 11:00 AM
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Always. My car has no pedal attachments; why should my bike have them? I'm too lazy to even consider anything beyond "hop on bike, ride to destination, get off, sit down."

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Old 01-03-08 | 11:17 AM
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Road bike has clipless, commuter has platforms. There's just something about the thought of putting clipless (even toeclips) on a 3 speed upright that makes me cringe. It's also nice to just ride in my dress clothes (in the cold) and shoes without having to deal with changing shoes at work.

one caveat is that my ride is a whopping 1.5 miles each way, so the benefit in power/efficiency/what have you that I would get from being clipped is minimal.
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by cooker
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No need to risk lung ailments.

I've ridden quite a bit with and without them, and suffice to say my experience differs from yours.
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by cooker
In the fall of 2006 I took the clipless pedals off my commuter so I could ride in winter boots. By the middle of the spring 2007 realized I hardly missed them. I time my rides occasionally, and my best time home is usually about 25 minutes. This was true before and after switching back to platforms.

So I laugh at all the talk about how much more efficient clipless pedals are. If you're a hardcore rider they probably offer a small advantage and certainly in extreme conditions like a very steep uphill or a mad finishing sprint they are worthwhile.

The truth is that for most commuters they are not worth the bother of switching shoes, clacking on the floor, unclipping at lights, etc. Ride with them if you like them, but don't fool yourself that they offer any advantages.

Donning asbestos suit.
Interesting, my experience is different but then again my commute is 90 minutes one way typically and ridden at 18+ mph.
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:34 AM
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There are too many traffic lights on my routes home (47 on one route that's only about 35km), and I'm too much of a clutz to unclip or trackstand at a red, so it's flats for me
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:47 AM
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*waits for the usual anti clipless zealots*

Anyhow, I vastly prefer clipless over non clipless. In winter I am finding that I can keep my feet warmer and need to bail occasionally on ice. So no clipless.
While everyone's experience is different, mine is such that clipless are quite superior for virtually every form of riding. More comfortable, safe, efficient, etc.
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Old 01-03-08 | 12:19 PM
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I ride with cheap nylon pedals, 'cause that's what came with the bike.
I'd like to move to clips or straps (these pedals can get slippery), but have no desire to try clipless; but then, I commute in normal clothes.
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Old 01-03-08 | 12:25 PM
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Little different for me. Almost all my nightly commutes are of a high performance nature. I find myself striving to beat my old times, and just generally hammering to get a good workout.

SOooo.....the clipless pedals stay on.
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Old 01-03-08 | 12:26 PM
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Big clunky BMX pedals!! Too much of a hastle for me to have clipless pedals. Although straps would help.
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Old 01-03-08 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by savethekudzu
I ride with cheap nylon pedals, 'cause that's what came with the bike.
I'd like to move to clips or straps (these pedals can get slippery), but have no desire to try clipless; but then, I commute in normal clothes.
What does riding in normal clothes have to do with it? I be confused.

I frequently ride with clipless pedals and regular clothes. It is not like a uniform is required for certain pedals.
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Old 01-03-08 | 01:18 PM
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Platforms here. Main ride is used for transport, groceries and hauling the toddler to school- so no foot retention. I did try some mini-clips (toe only), but even that seemed a bad idea with the child on the back. The other bike is a DL-1 three-speed, so platforms there as well.

Maybe one day, when I finally get the road bike that I'll get after the longtail, I'll use clipless. Or maybe not.
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Old 01-03-08 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by savethekudzu
I ride with cheap nylon pedals, 'cause that's what came with the bike.
I'd like to move to clips or straps (these pedals can get slippery), but have no desire to try clipless; but then, I commute in normal clothes.
same here. 4.2mi commute. thinking about the pegged bmx pedals for the winter, have had a few slips. may try a combo pedal like forte campus for longer recreational rides in the summer.
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Old 01-03-08 | 03:23 PM
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I ride straight platforms and hunting boots in the winter. I ride clipless 3 seasons, but honestly, toe clips are basically as good as far as I'm concerned. Given it to do over, I'd stick with toe clips. SPD was an interesting experiment and given that I already have it, I'll keep using it, but as soon as either the pedals or the shoes die, it's back to toe clips for me.
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