I have both, at first I went with clips and straps because they were cheaper, and I have them on all my bikes. On my road bike/commuter, they make me feel more secure on the bike, and the efficiency is noticeable given that you can 'power' on more of the rotation than platforms. On fixed gear, since you need some type of foot retention, the clips and straps are great.

In short: just use some sort of foot retention. I won't ride a bike without it now, and if I do i catch myself picking up my feet right before the top of the rotation, because i normally still have power then.

also, my straps are really tight, and I can still get in and out of them easily. It's all about practice

It is less about efficiency for me and more about comfort and safety. Clipless all the way.

Sounds like what's happened is you read the title but didn't completely read the first post. The title makes it sounds like it's a clipless and pedals and shoes vs toe straps, but then the post makes it sound like it's actually platform pedals vs straps. And it's understandable that someone newer to the terms would get them confused, as they don't make any !@#!@# sense. Like why are "clipless" pedals the ones where you need clip on the shoe? Nonetheless, they're called what they're called so what can you do.

To clarify:
1. Platform Pedals - The standard, basic kind of pedal with no attachment system.


2. Toe Straps/Toe Cages - The kind where there's straps or a "cage" on the pedal and you slide your foot into it.


3. "Clipless" Pedals - the kind where you have to wear special shoes with a cleat the clips onto the pedal.

There is going to be no difference in function between toe-clips/straps used properly and clipless pedals. The difference is that clipless pedals are much easier to use than toe-clips used properly.

Using toe-clips properly entails using shoes with cleats and tightening the straps.

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You can tighten the toe straps around normal shoes and they work OK.

I suspect that most people who do not use toe-clips or clipless pedals are using a low cadence.

At this point in time, clipless are clearly better than toe clips/straps. They also are more expensive and you can't really use regular shoes with them.

Note that there are clipless pedals which have a clip on one side and which are platform on the other. You can use regular shoes with these.

Note that there are two basic kinds of clipless pedals: mountain bike and road. The shoes for the mountain bike style (example "SPD") are easier to walk around in.

The M520 pedals mentioned earlier are "mountain bike" style (and they are a inexpensive and good pedal).

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One problem with talking about how much more efficient clipless are is that we have no details about how or fast you ride. The other problem is that beyond a particular level, the amount of efficiency that any particular piece of equipment can add is small (ie, "it's the rider not the bike").

If all your riding is short trips (<5miles), you probably won't see any real benefit.

The terminology should be revised as a modern pedal like an spd, eggbeater, etc is a clipped pedal and a cage and strap is actually clipless... flat pedals come in a variety of models and types but most people know what a flat pedal is.

We also have Powergrips which are another type of strapped pedal.

So...

A clipped pedal can help in some areas, especially when there is a need for high rpm and having one's foot come loose would be a bad thing although being able to pull up with the neutral leg does not really add that much power and decreases efficiency as it prevent the leg from getting a short rest cycle.

Strapped pedals are also very good for high cadence riding if they are properly set up (tight) and provide a high degree of foot retention... the issue with most people who use these is that the strap and pedal are not set up properly and if the strap is loose and a smoother pedal is being used there is no advantage. Putting straps on an aggressive pedal will make for a very a very nice setup as it will seure to foot and prevent it from slipping fore and aft or coming off the pedal.

Flat pedals with a good base like half step / bmx / mtb pedals will also prevent the foot from slipping during the power phase of the pedal stroke.

With strapped and clipped pedals getting in and out should become easy with a little practice and any cyclist with a well developed pedal stroke is going to be able to lay down the power and these types of pedals can actually help people with less than ideal technique and really aid more experienced cyclists.

I use every type of pedal and being rather efficient in my cycling don't find that I lose much, if anything from using a strapped pedal or flat over a clipped pedal.

Going from a smooth flat pedal to a more aggressive pedal will give one of the most noticeable differences in how much power one can deliver to the drive as it prevents the foot from shifting during the high load phase.

If I remember correctly (I'll try to check when I go home), Bicycling Science does have a section that discusses the efficiency difference between platform and clipped (or clipless) systems. There is a difference, but is really very minor (<5%). Yes, clipped systems allow you to 'pull up' on the pedal and utilize different muscle groups. However, with both systems maximum power is generally limited by blood flow and glycogen production, so the benefit of being able to pull up is fairly limited. It does make enough of a difference to matter when racing but not when commuting.

Some people do find it is easier to pedal quickly and smoothly with clipped systems, and that it holds their feet in place. It must be a matter of riding style. Personally, I've never had a problem with my feet falling off platforms, even during high cadence runs. For commuting, I much prefer the benefits of platforms: I don't have to carry a second pair of shoes, I don't have to stress about a perfect clip-in/out at traffic lights, and I don't have to click-clack around convenience stores if I stop for a drink. If I'm training for a race (and/or riding fixed gear) I will wear clipless pedals.

If you do decide to go with clipped pedals: Don't bother with straps, go straight to a decent clipless system. To me, straps are more a pain than anything else.

Most toe clip riders use them in an intermediate style, somewhere between platforms and clipless in efficiency. Use them with normal footwear for convenience and with the straps fairly lose for quick exit. If you feel the need to cinch the straps tight you should be riding clipless.

The old fashioned racing style of toe clips with cleated shoes will create a very tight bond to the pedal but it isnt safe in heavy traffic.
Toe clips are still used by some track riders. Some track-riding clipless systems have additional straps for security.

Sorry, this is just plain wrong. Whether you have to loosen your straps before you stop depends on how tight you set them. There's no requirement with toe clips to tighten yourself in. People who promote this have generally not lived with them.

Road Fan

Again, wrong, there is benefit without cleats, in terms of foot retention. Let's not confuse racing use with everyday benefits.

Slim benefits IMHO.
Can't stand the annoying things. I would rather ride in platforms if clipless was not a choice.

While it's true that clipless allows a lot of extra efficiency, not everybody takes advantage of it.

I rode with clipless for 3 years, and when I switched back to toe clips this spring, I didn't notice any significant difference. In fact, I'm now back on straight platforms and I had three of my fastest times ever on my commute in the last 2 weeks.

While you can also theoretically pull up, I doubt that very many people actually do. I read somewhere that an actual study indicated that only elite racers ever did anything more than lifting up enough to remove the downward pressure on the upstroke. I'm finding that with some practice I can do about the same thing even with non-toe-clip platforms.

My cadence with platforms averages about 96, and peaks around 110, but I don't go any faster with clipless though I suppose I could.

Don't get me wrong, I like having the clipless pedals on, but mainly because I can just ignore what my feet are doing and just spin; with toe clips I need to pay a little more attention, and with platforms a little more than that. I do put my SPDs back on sometimes, but I tend to put the platforms back on on the weekend when I'm noodling around with my family, and I tend to not bother putting the SPDs back on unless I'm going a long way or something.

I did catch myself "unclipping" from the platforms this morning, I thought that was vaguely amusing.

I did not say there was "no benefit" to using toe clips without cleats! Therefore, it's not wrong. Did you even read the post?

Yes, toe clips do provide some benefit without cleats. And they provide some benefit using normal shoes.

If you want the greatest benefit from toe-clips, you need to use the cleated shoes and tighten the straps (this is the "proper/best" technique). Or, do the sane thing and use clipless pedals!

Benefit from lowest to highest: flat pedals < toe clips with normal shoes < toe straps tightened with normal shoes << toe clips with cleated shoes == clipless pedals with special shoes.

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It is much easier to use clipless pedals than it is tightening toe clip straps.

If you want the greatest benefit and don't mind the inconvenience of having to wear funny shoes and can afford it, clipless is the system that makes the most sense.

If you want to use normal shoes regularly and are tight for money. toe clips work OK.

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This is moot without knowing what your regular cadence is (mine is 80+RPM).

With properly adjusted clips and straps, you do not need to reach down and adjust them at every light. I'm not sure how this myth got started.

I find with clips and straps that there's a slight increase in speed, but a much greater increase in efficiency.

I just recently put toe clips and straps on both bike (a commuterized MTB and a fixie). they do allow me to spin faster without the worry of my feet flying off the pedals, though I doubt my cadence has increased much over platform pedals.

The main difference for me has been an almost total elimination of an aggrevating knee pain in my right leg, apparently caused by constantly readjusting my foot with platforms.

While they may not have improved cadence persay, they definately helped by biomechanics on the bike.

You do not "need" to do this. You don't even "need" clips. Toe clips work fine if you don't tighten the straps but they work better if you do.

The functionality/efficiency/benefits of toe clips is equivalent to clipless when you tighten the straps and use the proper (cleated) shoes. It's just harder to do that than it is using clipless pedals.

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It's quite possible that the original poster would be better off with toe clips. It certainly would be cheap to try them (which is what I recommended).

What DJ said.

I use both Toe Clips and Clipless Pedals.

Is there a great speed difference... not realy. Is there a perceived improvement... absolutely. Toe Clips or Clipless pedals won't magically turn you into Lance Armstrong on a bike, but it does allow for much more secure faster cadence riding.

My main reason for starting to use toe clips is that I ride in any weather. Especially in the rain I've had my foot slip off the pedal before, that is NOT fun. With Toe Clips your feet are at no risk of slipping off.

During the Spring through Fall I use clipless on my hybrid commuter. My road bike gets clipless exclusively. For Winter use I put on a set of Toe Clips as I have no desire to buy expensive Winter grade cycling shoes. I definitey can feel the more secure connection I get to the bike with my clipless pedals, but I can't say that I am actually any faster than when using the toe clips.

If you want to try toe clips, it will cost you as little as $15. Clipless is a significant investment, cost you anywhere from $100 to $500 for shoes and pedals combined. I definitely do NOT like riding without either as I can't lift up on the up stroke, and worry about possibly having a foot slip.

Happy riding,
André

I thought about this thread as I rode to work this morning. Today, I used clipless (SPD) pedals. For extra power climbing hills, when I stayed in the saddle, I pulled forward and pulled back at the same time, and I didn't push down very hard. I think I subconsciously do this to rest my push-down muscles which get most of the work.

I don't understand your comment that clipless is safer.

Having a foot slip off a pedal can cause a cut and is a hazard to be sure. But it doesn't compare to the safety hazard of failing to get your shoe out of the clip when you have to stop right away or when you are in a collision.

If this isn't about efficiency or power, then it doesn't make sense to me. Platforms are more comfortable and safer, in that you are free to move your leg and you can put it down right away.

I am the king of crashing. Each and every time my foot has unclipped in the crash. Yet with platform pedals I have racked my shin numerous times and slipped off my pedals (even bmx pegged pedals). I even had one incident involving a wet railroad crossing where my bike started sliding one direction and I was able to right my bike by pulling up with a foot.
Plus I ride fixed. Trying spin down a hill at 20 to 30 mph with a platform.

Platforms are not safer for me.

You're not suggesting that you stop your bike Fred Flinstone style, are you? Personally, in any emergency situation, I want to be as solidly connected to the bike as possible.

Clipping into clipless pedals is far easier than flipping the pedal around when the light turns green. If you are an expert at trackstanding and never have to touch a foot to the ground throughout the course of your ride, this might not matter to you.

I nearly crashed in traffic once when my foot slipped off a platform pedal.

Some of this has to do with riding styles. If you ever find yourself sprinting or doing other types of hard riding, it's probably best to have some retention. If going at a more relaxed pace and taking in the sights is more your thing, then it's not as important.

To me the whole padded bike short vs. regular clothes debate often comes down to the same thing. If you're out there pedaling at 90+ rpm and working up a sweat, then you're more likely to benefit from bike shorts than someone who isn't.

I frequently sprint on my intervals or just for the heck of it. This would be miserable without clipless.

- Just to be clear here: DataJunkie rides a fixed gear bike. It is certainly miserable (and potentially very painful) to sprint a fixed gear without some kind of foot attachment. However, its neither miserable or painful to sprint a safety bike (non-fixed gear) with platforms. For the typical commuter (riding a safety bike), I just don't see the point of clipless... for someone to say clipless is 'necessary' for commuting is just a bunch of hype. Save your money and get a decent saddle, a rack, or some rain gear.