|
i don't really know how much faster or efficient i am with clipless pedals vs. platforms, but i do know that i ABSOLUTELY LOVE the sensation of being locked onto the pedals. it makes me feel like i have much better control of the bike overall, not having to ever worry about an accidental pedal slip. i can stand up and push as hard as i want to and i know that my foot is always gonna stay secure right there on the pedal. it's a confidence thing.
it's also a psychological thing. with clipless pedals i feel like me and the bike become "one". i've been riding with clipless pedals for 3 years now and last summer i borrowed a bike while on vacation that had regular old platform pedals, and i hated it. i didn't feel like i was really riding the bike, or rather i didn't get the sensation that the bike was just an extension of my body like i do when i'm locked in with clipless pedals. for daily commuting, for centuries, for weekend recreation rides, for running errands, for whatever it may be; if i'm riding a bike, i want to be locked in riding clipless. it's the only way to ride as far as i'm concerned. |
The post from BarracksSi showing the variety of shoes available is an important consideration when you talk about clipless. Different pedal/shoe combinations can give vastly different experiences both on and off the bike.
I've seen countless posts complaining that clipless shoes make a lot of noise and are difficult to walk in for any distance. That's true in a lot of cases but not all. With the PI X-Alp series of shoes and egg beater style cleats for example, you can walk all day with virtually no clicking. They're very flexible and comfortable off the bike as well as on. You do however lose some of the advantages of clipless shoes and pedals by having such a flexible sole. Likewise, modern Shimano and Look road cleats aren't nearly as bad for walking as they used to be. Lake even makes a road shoe with a fair amount of rubber on the bottom which is much nicer to walk on than a typical road shoe, though still stiffer than a regular shoe. |
I rode with SPDs for a few years. Honestly, for me they made no noticable difference over toe clips. I'm sure that's because I "wasn't doing it right" but honestly, I don't care. I just like to ride my bike, I don't want to make a friggin' science of it. I found when I was trying to concentrate on form, I wasn't having fun anymore. Eventually I put the platforms and toe clips back on the bike.
|
Originally Posted by BarracksSi
(Post 12255725)
I'm the opposite. I don't like how toe clips aren't secure unless I really cinch the straps down, which makes them "slow-release" compared to clipless. I don't like how I have to flip the pedal around while trying to cross an intersection, and I don't like the clip dragging on the pavement while turning because I'd gotten impatient about flipping the pedal and just want to get out of the intersection.
I think the efficiency gains, with clips or clipless, is something like 10%, that's just a ballpark, it's noticeable, but not huge. I just like the "solid" feeling it gives me while riding. If you are racing, it's crazy not to take the gain, commuting or other stuff? It's a matter of preference. |
For an alternative point-of-view, read Grant Petersen's nifty little rant about cycling shoes and pedals.
What it boils down to is feel. That's such a subjective topic, everybody says they "feel" better, but they do not actually make a measurable difference in efficiency if your pedaling technique is already good. Now, in all fairness, if they "feel better" then you might be tempted to work harder, but the fact is they're just different, not better or worse. |
Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
(Post 12257662)
For an alternative point-of-view, read Grant Petersen's nifty little rant about cycling shoes and pedals.
What it boils down to is feel. That's such a subjective topic, everybody says they "feel" better, but they do not actually make a measurable difference in efficiency if your pedaling technique is already good. Now, in all fairness, if they "feel better" then you might be tempted to work harder, but the fact is they're just different, not better or worse. The problem with clipless pedals in my mind is that they require a substantial investment both in terms of time and money to figure out if you like them or not. |
Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
(Post 12257662)
For an alternative point-of-view, read Grant Petersen's nifty little rant about cycling shoes and pedals.
I've tried "rat trap" platforms, I've tried clips with straps, I've tried BMX pedals, I've tried clipless, I've tried half-clips, I've tried rubber platforms. Out of all of those, I like clipless the best. But then again, if I count when I got my first bike, I've still got about eight years until I reach the 40+ years of experience that Grant has. Maybe I'll change my mind by then. :rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by tjspiel
(Post 12257407)
The post from BarracksSi showing the variety of shoes available is an important consideration when you talk about clipless. Different pedal/shoe combinations can give vastly different experiences both on and off the bike.
I've got some Sidi MTB shoes like the ones in the last pic of that post, and they feel a lot like a pair of Sidi road shoes I've got -- stiff, no hot spots, fairly light. But, they're easier to walk on when I'm off the bike, and the pedals they use can also work with all the other shoes I pictured. I've got road shoes for the fancy road bike when I take it long distances and ride like I'm a slow-domestique-in-training. I don't need a whole lot of versatility on that bike. For my commuter, and especially since I've converted it to drops, I'd like to use a variety of shoes, maybe even some sandals for the summer, while riding to work or across state lines. So, it's going to have a different clipless system than the road bike. The shoes determine the pedals, not the other way around. IMO. |
Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
(Post 12257662)
Now, in all fairness, if they "feel better" then you might be tempted to work harder, but the fact is they're just different, not better or worse.
My biggest problem with them though, is the whole changing shoes. I do a lot of riding to get somewhere rather than riding just to ride. Having to have special bike shoes is annoying. |
BarracksSi, where did you cut and paste the picture of those Spud Birkenstocks from?
|
Originally Posted by fietsbob
(Post 12258375)
BarracksSi, where did you cut and paste the picture of those Spud Birkenstocks from?
|
Originally Posted by matthewleehood
(Post 12254486)
Hi,
Just wondering how much difference clipless pedals make compared to platform? Will they make me quicker? more efficient?? will they turn me into the next Lance Armstrong? I've only been riding for a couple months but took the plunge after several cyclist friends urged me to get them. They all commute to work and participate in centurys/triathlons, which is also my goal. With that said I started with platforms, so whatever my .02 is actually worth. If you're casually riding and commuting platforms are more than fine. It will also save you some $$$$ If you're looking to maximize performance I would recommend them. You're going to have to develop technique though, and that takes time. I'm still learning myself. My speed picks up 1-2 mph when I consciously engage my hamstrings and it also eases up the load on my quads. I can shift the burn throughout my leg. It helps a lot when fighting head winds or going uphill. When going uphill and keeping my cadence up I'm 2-3mph faster. A buddy loaned me a set of rollers that I use during bad weather days and practice technique. I've noticed a notable improvement in performance. |
Eh.
I switched from toe clips to clipless this season, and I haven't noticed any increase in efficiency or speed. It is much easier to get into the pedals after a stop, however, and somewhat harder to get out.
|
I live by Power Grips. They lock in better than toe clips, and if you use the long straps, you can wear just about any pair of sandals, sneakers or boots with them. Very durable too.
http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/images...DAL_KIT_LG.jpg |
Originally Posted by tjspiel
(Post 12257054)
Are you completely ambidextrous?
Just curious because depending on the type of task, even an unfamiliar one, I'll tend to favor one hand (or foot) or the other. My two older brothers are right handed. My youngest brother is left handed, and I'm mixed. Where it really stinks is when fast action is required - badminton, volleyball, etc. Since neither side is really dominant it takes some "thinking" which hand/side to use when the ball is coming at me. Hence slightly longer reaction time, so I truly suck at these sports. Delayed reaction in traffic is luxury one can ill afford, so I conscientiously trained myself to unclip with my right foot. Sidenote - DH is a third-generation hard-core leftie, I am ambi, both kids are righties. Go figure. Fun, isn't it? |
Originally Posted by sci_femme
(Post 12260462)
Sidenote - DH is a third-generation hard-core leftie, I am ambi, both kids are righties. Go figure.
Fun, isn't it? |
Originally Posted by AlmostGreenGuy
(Post 12260411)
I live by Power Grips. They lock in better than toe clips, and if you use the long straps, you can wear just about any pair of sandals, sneakers or boots with them. Very durable too.
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...-NCL-ANGLE.jpg |
I quit riding platform pedals w/ sneakers after too many slips/falls off pedals, especially when either pedals or shoes were damp. Toeclips tore up the front of my shoes quickly. I prefer the double-sided MTB pedals and the MTB shoes (SPD cleats) - love my Keen bike sandals. The MTB shoes are quite comfy to walk in and get good traction both on the pedal (before clipping in) and on pavement/rocks. I really feel more secure when standing on the pedals to climb. I probably get better power transfer with the stiffer sole road bike shoes, but lots of intersections and sections of off-bike walking favor the MTBs.
|
I'm going to have to agree with Grant Peterson. I have good pedaling technique, and I've tried a lot of pedals, and I agree that the primary virtue of any pedal is keeping your feet from slipping off. In my opinion, basic platform pedals are the least efficient by far- but only because they don't do a very good job of keeping your feet on the pedals. Clips with straps are more efficient, but they're such a total pain in the ass that they're not worth it. Clipless are much better, but the performance is vastly exaggerated. The only advantage in my opinion is on hills, and even then it's not huge, and if you have to deal with a lot of stops, clipless are also a pain in the ass. My choice is Grant Peterson's: platforms with pins. You can wear any shoes you want, your feet never slip off, and your performance is very nearly that of clipless, say 90-95% If you're racing, that 10% performance difference is crucial; if you're commuting, the small performance advantage probably isn't worth the inconvenience.
|
Originally Posted by bragi
(Post 12261166)
if you're commuting, the small performance advantage probably isn't worth the inconvenience.
and the fact that i lock in and out of my pedals dozens of times everyday along my commute means that i can do it in my sleep. it is a completely second nature, "don't even have to think about it", action for me to lock in and out of my pedals, so there's really no inconvenince to riding clipless pedals now that i'm completely accustomed to them. all of my bikes are now equipped with clipless pedals because there's just no other way to ride in my opinion. others will of course have a different opinion, which is fine, but clipless pedals are not exclusively about speed and efficiency gains. |
Originally Posted by FlashBazbo
(Post 12255186)
Apparently not a lot of roadies on this forum.
1. "Pulling up" is no longer considered to be a real benefit of using clipless pedals. Most roadies have known that for several years.
Originally Posted by BarracksSi
(Post 12255725)
I'm the opposite. I don't like how toe clips aren't secure unless I really cinch the straps down, which makes them "slow-release" compared to clipless. I don't like how I have to flip the pedal around while trying to cross an intersection, and I don't like the clip dragging on the pavement while turning because I'd gotten impatient about flipping the pedal and just want to get out of the intersection.
To be fair, toeclips n' straps turned me on to the idea of using the whole pedal stroke for both power and giving various muscles a bit of a break; I wouldn't have jumped to clipless pedals & shoes straight away. But, once I got my first clipless setup, I was stoked. I currently have metal half-clips (no straps) on my commuter. I had been using plain, but nice-looking, MKS platforms, and then wanted to see what the matching half-clips would do for me. I don't like them. The one thing they do is keep my foot in the right spot on the pedal. They don't have any retention, they're difficult to get into -- partly due to the pedals, partly due to some of the shoes I own -- and they're still long enough to drag on the pavement if I have to turn while un-half-clipped. All of the drawbacks, none of the benefits. I'm going to take these pedals off and put on some CB Mallets I have sitting around. At least they'll work well with any shoe and still give me a clipless option. http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/52900001.jpg She's not using clipless but it does makes it a whole lot easier;) Going down that is easier...and faster...and safer...with clipless too. Slipping off a platform off-road is painful:eek: Slipping off a platform in traffic is dangerous. And trying to flip a pedal in traffic is an invitation to a vertical faceplant on the back of a car because you're fumbling with the damned pedals:twitchy: |
They may have a small efficiency benefit. They won't make you Lance Armstrong, and if you're riding in the city, you'll probably still find yourself stopped at all the same lights.
I have one-side clips on my summer bike, so I ride whatever shoe I want to and from work, and save the clipless shoes for weekend fun rides and touring. I find that clips - regardless of any efficiency or other benefit - help encourage a steady rhythm that I can keep up for hours. That said, when I first packed my bike for touring last summer, it was unbalanced and combining that with clipless pedals lead to a couple of hard falls. After 3 falls in 2 days, I repacked and was fine from there on out. |
Originally Posted by mtalinm
(Post 12256014)
can someone fix the misspelling of "peddles" in the thread subject? like fingernails on chalkboard...
|
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
(Post 12262002)
but that's assuming that the only reason anyone would ever ride with clipless pedals is for the 5-10% efficiency gain. as i said before, i ride with clipless not for any specific speed or efficiency gain, i ride them because i absolutely LOVE the feeling of being locked onto the bike. it's all about the man-machine meld that occurs when you have a solid, permanent connection between foot and pedal. i feel more stable, secure, and in control of the bike knowing that i have a hard-point connection to it at my feet.
and the fact that i lock in and out of my pedals dozens of times everyday along my commute means that i can do it in my sleep. it is a completely second nature, "don't even have to think about it", action for me to lock in and out of my pedals, so there's really no inconvenince to riding clipless pedals now that i'm completely accustomed to them. all of my bikes are now equipped with clipless pedals because there's just no other way to ride in my opinion. others will of course have a different opinion, which is fine, but clipless pedals are not exclusively about speed and efficiency gains. |
1 Attachment(s)
I use these on my bike that I ride around on for errands and casual rides with the wife. I prefer to go clipless but if I just need to run up to get some groceries or to the bar, I have the option of wearing normal shoes.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=190948 |
Originally Posted by monsterpile
(Post 12262223)
I don't see clipless, toeclips or platform pedals as something that need to be argued which is better. It just depends. For me platform pedals are the best thing for me.
there are no right or wrong answers here, i just really love riding with clipless pedals, speed/efficiency advantage (or possible lack thereof) be damned. |
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
(Post 12262648)
there are no right or wrong answers here, i just really love riding with clipless pedals, speed/efficiency advantage (or possible lack thereof) be damned.
The correct answer is: "You don't need them, but they make a big difference in feel. Whether or not you'll like that difference depends on your pedaling technique, cycling style, and so forth. Try them and see." |
They feel better. They're easier for me to get into and out of than straps. They're better when you're trying to go faster, but don't make as much difference when you're cruising. Mostly, I think they just feel better.
|
I just started riding semi-seriously last year, and went from a crappy bike to a decent bike with cheap pedals, to cheap pedals with toe clips, to smarty pedals and cycling specific shoes, and I have to say that I liked everything except the crappy bike. :) I'm sticking w/ the clipless because I think it's more comfortable overall. It wasn't when I was first starting with them and I had to correct the improper positioning I'd become accustomed to, but now my feet don't hurt even after hours of riding. I'd like to say I got a huge speed boost out of the switch, but really I think that any speed improvement was from the improved fitness as I went along. Maybe a few extra mph downhill, maybe a little extra push uphill... i don't know.
|
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
(Post 12262002)
but that's assuming that the only reason anyone would ever ride with clipless pedals is for the 5-10% efficiency gain. as i said before, i ride with clipless not for any specific speed or efficiency gain, i ride them because i absolutely LOVE the feeling of being locked onto the bike. it's all about the man-machine meld that occurs when you have a solid, permanent connection between foot and pedal. i feel more stable, secure, and in control of the bike knowing that i have a hard-point connection to it at my feet.
and the fact that i lock in and out of my pedals dozens of times everyday along my commute means that i can do it in my sleep. it is a completely second nature, "don't even have to think about it", action for me to lock in and out of my pedals, so there's really no inconvenince to riding clipless pedals now that i'm completely accustomed to them. all of my bikes are now equipped with clipless pedals because there's just no other way to ride in my opinion. others will of course have a different opinion, which is fine, but clipless pedals are not exclusively about speed and efficiency gains. I'm sure at this point that clipless pedals will never quite work for me,, but I don't agree with Grant Peterson's assertion that clipless pedals are one of the greatest frauds ever foisted on bicyclists; they clearly work really well for a lot of people. I just wish that some cyclists could be more realistic about their advantages. Last year I tried to sign up for an organized tour in Spain, but opted out after I was informed that clipless pedals were required for the trip, as if other kinds of pedals were totally unsafe. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:28 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.