my 2¢ worth. I'm old school, toe-clips for me. In the winter I sometimes switch to power grips to accommodate my NEOS's when things go way, way south.

Platform only. I need to be able to move my feet.

- Andy

You make me feel like dancing....

Platform, to me its not worth the hassle messing with bringing extra shoes. Plus my regular New Balance tennis shoes are much more comfortable than my clipless shoes. From my experience (I have commuted clipless before) any difference in speed is negligible at my commuting effort.

In a situation where time spent preparing is not counted, clipless provides a small advantage.

In a situation like commuting, I find that any performance gains I might be receiving are offset by the time spend changing shoes at the beginning and end, the extra hassle of trying to carry shoes with me, etc.

There's a lot of arguments on either side - perhaps you simply enjoy riding clipless more. Or less. Perhaps you are doing more "setup time is not counted" rides elsewhere, so you want to reinforce the motions and muscle patterns you will need when riding clipless is of small benefit. Perhaps you want to look like a biker - I would not enjoy riding a pink bike with tassles into work each day, others prefer to go with the clipless look for the same reason that sports fans wears jerseys. It certainly doesn't hurt anything. While I find it more troublesome to find shoes, cleat angles, etc with clipless, it seems easier to get an accurate fitting when my foot doesn't move around on the pedal during the fit.

Winter is nigh and we don't get enough cold weather in Georgia to justify SPD boots. We can just wait until tomorrow. The snow will melt and it will warm up.

I wear flip-flops around the house. When I leave to go anywhere, on a bike or in Cheryl's ride to the doctor's office, I have to change shoes. No big deal just choose the shoes for the task ahead.

I tried out the ol' Merrell Hiking boots with the platform side of the A530s the other day. I really wish the snow and cold temps would linger longer so I wouldn't feel bad purchasing boots that I don't need. I just don't have to be anywhere bad enough that is so far away that I can't put on the boots and walk if I REALLY need to get there. That sucks, because riding with platforms sucks worse than walking does.

No roadie, efficiency, muscle building, fitness, Fredness, simplicity or anything else thing to me. I just don't like to ride unless I am clipped in. I've felt that way since the second time I fell over learning how to ride clipless. More secure, no cleat angle crap, no one around here rides a bike so I look strange anyway, no float crap, no nothing about cool--there is no one to impress, no nothing.

I like SPD pedals and I think other forms of clipless pedals, that I have tried, along with platform pedals suck eggs.

The roadie has those A520, or, something road SPDs on it until I get weight weeniesh and decide to buy some A600s because they are grey and weigh 50 grams less. That I can justify!!

I love great, big BMX platforms with removable pegs. Some Easterns you can even run straps on. Now they make them in plastic composite type stuff, even better!

Platform. I wear New Balance running shoes every day because I also walk about 4 miles during the lunch hour to keep my back in shape. NB has 4E shoes that fit my weird feet very well. I've never found a pair of cycling shoes that were comfortable. I like VO Touring pedals - light and very grippy. My feet never slip.

Large Wellgo BMX w adjustable screws on my everyday bike (I am car-free).

Shimano 540s & SPD shoes/sandals on my more sporting Synapse.

Joe

Am I reading this correctly, that you are asserting that some riders use clipless pedals for aesthetic reasons or as markers of a social group?

Yes. Have you actually ridden in group rides with roadies? There's a number of people who get their tights in a bunch if you aren't wearing the "right" gear. What's the latest - even having a saddlebag is not unfashionable or something? I've seen them get obnoxious about not wearing spandex and wearing mtn biking shorts, having a rack on the bike, or using any shoes that aren't road shoes.

I suppose wearing SPD's is somewhat part of my identity, i.e. who am as well as what I do. But I think it's harmless, as it doesn't lead me to do anything bad. I don't sneer at people who use plain pedals, which is my preferred word over platform pedals, as that term has a previous meaning.

It's true that some cyclists use clothing for aesthetic reasons and as markers of social group. I've seen groups of roadies on training rides, not a race but a training ride, maybe about 10-12 guys all together, and every single one of them was dressed in exactly the same kit. Same jerseys, same shorts, same colour shoes and socks and gloves, same helmets, I mean every of them exactly the same from head to toe. I didn't notice what brand of pedals they had , but I bet they were all the same too. I definitely wouldn't get along with that group.

Yes.

Absolutely.

I was wondering when the powergrips would show up .

SPD clipless for me Spring/Summer/Fall, and I use shoes I can walk in. Powergrips in winter because boots. If I spring for Wolvhammers this winter, it will be clipless year 'round.

I was an SPD commuter guy until 4 years ago when I traded bikes, and two days later, before I had a chance to swap out the platform pedals, I got T-boned by a right-turning car . I was lucky to be thrown from the bike, and I decided that platform pedals are nice for commuting.

I like the idea of the hybrid SPD/platform pedal, using the clipless side on my rail-trail section, and the platform side on the streets.

Don't you think the impact from a car would have unclipped you? I would think so. Anyhow, glad you are still here

I do that sometimes, if the right song comes on from my playlist.....

- Andy

Both. Shimano A530 all the way.

When I'm offroad wishing for either platforms or clips, neither is ever there.

Commuting, clip-in is never where I need it and cycling shoes slip off platforms.

Lose-lose, at least I'm consistent.

I have been been on many group rides. Maybe you should come on the ones I do.

Sounds like a team ride.

Can't remember my last platform pedals (as far as what they feel when riding). Started with toe straps and moved to clipless SPD more than who knows how many years ago! Second nature to get in and out, even with many stops. Had SPD II on my road bike, and changed them to regular Shimano's SPD. Too much trouble for urban riding.

Double O

What's SPD II? Are you referring to SPD-SL? I have that on my track racing bike. It's secure once I'm in, but getting in is tricky. Walking on it is treacherous.

Yawn. Ok. Well, I've talked to a number of people who get crap showing up for a fast group ride without the "right" gear. Most people seem to go with clipless because that's what they feel they're "supposed" to do.

(This statement does not reflect on whether clipless is actually helpful or not, simply the motivations behind people using it.)

I can't dispute that. Your observations and the conclusions you draw from them are your own. My personal reason for clipless pedals is that they are effective for keeping your feet attached. And to be honest, I have gotten crap from a Campaphile teammate for having Ultegra pedals on an otherwise Campy bike.