Clipless or not?
08-01-08 | 05:15 AM
#26
Wtf +1
08-01-08 | 05:16 AM
#27
08-01-08 | 06:38 AM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,878
Likes: 1
From: Boston (sort of)
Bikes: 1 road, 1 Urban Assault Vehicle
I use clipless in stop-and-go traffic and love it, but as others have said, "should I go clipless" isn't an answerable question in the context of a commute. People make it work with platforms, with clipless, with clips, with those Powergrip things which look silly as hell to me but what do I know. The reasons behind their choices have very little to do with objective advantages and disadvantages, and everything to do with personal taste. The biggest problem is that it's not easy to try all three and see what you like best. If you have a friend with clipless pedals on a bike that more or less fits you, and the same shoe size as you, you could maybe try them out, but otherwise you pretty much have to buy the package (which doesn't have to be that costly btw).
08-01-08 | 12:32 PM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Portland
I use pedals that have my clips on one side a normal pedal on the other. I am still new to riding/commuting and I road my frist 6 or so commutes with regular shoes. Now I am using my shoes and clips but i still use both. I feel better when I climb the hills and can be unclipped when I am in stop and start areas.
08-01-08 | 02:17 PM
#32
Genetics have failed me
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,057
Likes: 16
From: Zorneding, Germany
Bikes: Norwid Aaland, Radon Slide 140, Elom 505 Titan, Dahon mju, Pedalforce CX1, Battaglin Power+, Old MTB and lots of spare parts
Clipless for my 30 mile one way commute. I race clipless as well, so I'm used to it.
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Gelato aficionado.
08-01-08 | 02:52 PM
#33
RacingBear
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,053
Likes: 68
From: NorCal
And this one time at band camp... Anyway +3 on WTF.
To OP, try them decide for yourself. You can get relatively cheap ones/used of craiglist performance. If you don't like them you can probably get most of your money back. *shrug
To OP, try them decide for yourself. You can get relatively cheap ones/used of craiglist performance. If you don't like them you can probably get most of your money back. *shrug
Had I been strapped in ten years ago when I was riding, I might not be here today.
Here's what happened:
I was riding my bike out to a baseball field to watch a student play baseball. After a little while of watching, shaking some hands, etc., I wanted to take a little ride.
All of a sudden I looked up and saw several skydivers falling toward me from thousands of feet above. When their chutes opened I watched as they, one-by-one, decended to the ground behind a grove of trees a couple hundred yards away.
I rode in their direction, but soon came to a dead end. Through the trees I could see a small airstrip with an airplane and the falling skydivers gathering up their gear. I was watching, mesmerized.
Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw, on the front porch of a nearby house, a pitbull sleeping. As soon as I looked at him I had a feeling he was going to come charging, even though he was asleep. No sooner did I put one foot on my pedal than he woke up, gave a quick bark and growl, and came racing toward me.
Unfortunately, my bike and I were facing him, so I had to quickly pick my bike up, turn it around, and start riding me arse off.
Dogs accelerate better than someone who is on a bike and in the wrong gear.
So, as I picked up speed the dog came up along side of me. Luckily, my foot swung at him as he lunged. Perfect timing on my part, and I connected with his chops and sent him rolling across the ground as my foot neatly recovered, got back on the peddle, and continued gaining speed until he gave up and went home.
That wasn't fun.
Here's what happened:
I was riding my bike out to a baseball field to watch a student play baseball. After a little while of watching, shaking some hands, etc., I wanted to take a little ride.
All of a sudden I looked up and saw several skydivers falling toward me from thousands of feet above. When their chutes opened I watched as they, one-by-one, decended to the ground behind a grove of trees a couple hundred yards away.
I rode in their direction, but soon came to a dead end. Through the trees I could see a small airstrip with an airplane and the falling skydivers gathering up their gear. I was watching, mesmerized.
Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw, on the front porch of a nearby house, a pitbull sleeping. As soon as I looked at him I had a feeling he was going to come charging, even though he was asleep. No sooner did I put one foot on my pedal than he woke up, gave a quick bark and growl, and came racing toward me.
Unfortunately, my bike and I were facing him, so I had to quickly pick my bike up, turn it around, and start riding me arse off.
Dogs accelerate better than someone who is on a bike and in the wrong gear.
So, as I picked up speed the dog came up along side of me. Luckily, my foot swung at him as he lunged. Perfect timing on my part, and I connected with his chops and sent him rolling across the ground as my foot neatly recovered, got back on the peddle, and continued gaining speed until he gave up and went home.
That wasn't fun.
