Got tired of all the unclipping at stop signs, red lights, ect, so I switched out to some blue flat pedals (to match my uber patriotic theme on my bike). Much better commute this morning on them. My speed was about the same, 15mph average, but I felt more relaxed and comfortable. The clipless will be busted out again for triathlon season.

Ride whatever works best for you.

Sometimes i feel the same way, but then other times im soooo glad i gots the clipless, like when i snapped my chain last week they saved me from a nasty pedal slip.

if you get better at track standing and judging other traffic so that you can do rolling stops such that you don't have to take your feet off of the pedals, it can be a lot easier to commute with clipless pedals. for example, on my 15 mile ride into work this morning, i only clipped out and put my foot on the ground at total of 5 times, pretty much par for the course, which doesn't seem excessive to me at all.

but if you really don't like the clipless pedals and they make your commute less fun, then by all means, don't use 'em. its all about fun: if you're riding a bike and not having fun, then you're doing it wrong.

I use the pedals you can flip with platforms on one side and clipless on the other. When I'm going through downtown or an area with a lot of lights, I just flip them over and go platform. When I get past the red lights on a long un-interrupted stretch, I flip them over and clip in. They were a pain at first, having to check which side was up.

The OP's issues with clipless pedals reflect my thoughts about them in stop and go urban commutes. There's been a couple of incidents where if I had been clipped in, they would have ended up being really disastrous on my part. Cleat style platforms really help in preventing foot/pedal slippage, especially on foul weather commutes.

My friend fell over at a stoplight once.

I was ready to abandon clippless too until I switched to the SPD multi release cleats. Now, no problem getting out of them. Just about any motion will unclip them except the normal peadaling stroke, i.e, they don't release pulling up or back but just about any sideways movement will. I love 'em.

Many, if not most, riders have fallen over at stoplights getting use to clipless pedals.

I use platform with strapless toe clips. I find it is a good compromise.

+1 I will never give up my clipless but hey like you say - It is all about having fun and enjoying the ride.

do whatever feels right for you as others have said.

personally i find clipless easier, with one foot always clipped in you can position the pedals effortlessly for easy starts and i can't say unclipping takes any more effort than unstepping.

I do the same on my commuter. I'm actually finding it better than clipless pedals. Every time I get on my carbon bike, it just feels wrong...

+ 1000 no clipless fan here

My commute has very few places I need to come to a complete stop. Over 15.5km there are 4 places I usually need to stop. There are also about 5 stop signs that are either at right turns or I can crawl up to, then proceed without stopping. If I had to deal with an excessive number of stop signs and lights, I'd look for alternative routes even if the distance was longer.

In the end its best to do what you feel is most comfortable / enjoyable / safe.

I use Power Gripps myself on both my bikes. Leave some extra length to them so when I wear boots or different shoes I can adjust them to fit better.

Switched to clipless lately and I love it. Being able to slow roll is priceless and not having to unclip. I'm still having trouble track standing since I'm geared, but just having a slight forward motion is enough to keep me up.

What clipless cleats and pedals were you using, out of curiosity?

I had this problem until I switch from the "campus" style pedals with a cleat on one side and flat on the other, to 2 sided clipless. Now I don't even have to look down to clip in, and I don't find clipping out to be a big deal. So I'm just curious what pedals you didn't like.

Not that it's a big deal either way - ride with whatever is more fun for you. :-)

If I bought some good road shoes, I'd use them in a heartbeat. I was using my prized mountain biking shoes on some old Time ATAC pedals, and was sick of needlessly wearing out the cleats/soles, so I abandoned the idea.

Someday I'll find a good, fitting, non-stinky pair of road shoes at one of the used sporting goods stores in town. Then I can spring for a cheap pair of road pedals.

I was skeptical about these type of clipless. Then I got a m505 that came with detachable platforms. Been happily using them on my commuter ever since. In urban area, I just use the platform and when the road clears up, flip to the clip side and away I go.

Cool story.

I have never really seriously considered clipless pedals for my commute, but its only 4 miles so I don't think it would be much of a benefit to me. I do plan to get some nicer platform pedals with raised pins to give me more grip than the oldish cages I have on some of my bikes. I have them on my SS Monocog and with grippy shoes (I have some shoes that happen to be skater type shoes) that are pretty fantastic and I have doubts my feet would slip on those pedals.

Me three.

This was my solution too. Chips on both sides is annoying when you need to get a quick start at a stoplight, or when y ou
Re in a really crowded area. Campus pedals are wunnerful

I was using a shimano pd-m520, i like them a lot for long rides and racing, just not my commute. I now have the wellgo R025 cleat, good grip and lightweight, a nice cheap pedal.