Originally Posted by PaulRivers (Post 17202914)

But that last sentence is a huge add-on - a good fitter is not cheap, and fitting yourself properly is not simple. It's a bit like talking about an odd car then adding on "...especially if you're an auto mechanic".

It's not a motion that's used almost anywhere else that your leg moves while affixed to exactly the same point over and over again. Usually the leg moves around about how and where it hits as you use it. Like in running, walking, etc. When you're attached to the pedal in exactly the same spot all the time, what could otherwise be a minor problem in leg motion that your body would work out by using the leg slightly differently over time, turns into a exactly repeated motion that turns into a problem. What I mean is - a minor problem can turn into a bigger problem because of the exacting repetition.

Riding clipless is not natural. But in now way does that mean that it's inherently "bad". Surgery isn't natural either, but it's a huge benefit to people with diseases to people who it helps move around better. Likewise, if your body layout is good it can be fine. Or if someone who knows what they're doing sets things up, the posters above certainly suggest that it could even fix a problem if your "natural" motion is somehow screwed up.

But on average, minor problems that your body would adjust to by shifting your foot position around a bit as you ride can turn into noticeable pain on clipless because your foot is always locked into the same position. If your position is good with your body layout - no problem. If it's not, it amplifies what would otherwise be a problem so small it was unnoticeable.

That's my understanding, at least.

Originally Posted by PaulRivers (Post 17199430)

I currently own mountain bike shoes (clipless). I walked a mile home this summer due to a flat (long story, my dad wanted to fix the flat at home rather than where we were for some reason) in mountain bike shoes, and it was uncomfortable. Doeable, but uncomfortable. There's no way I'd walk any significant distance in them. I've gone grocery shopping in them - they worked ok, a little slippery. And I've used softer soled clipless - they gave me more knee pain as the cleat squirmed around (that part may not happen to everyone), and they're not as useful as clipless with a stiff sole for power transfer either. They also have a fashion problem sometimes, depending on what else you're wearing.

I can't be sure since I don't live in Europe, but it seems like wearing clipless being a fashion item (which seems to be most of the people going for pro-clipless for a 4 mile commute in this thread) is a fairly american thing. Whenever I see videos of people commuting in Europe, in the countries where bike commuting is a regular source of transportation rather than a niche racer-oriented thing like it is here, I don't think I ever see people wearing clipless (people who aren't racing).

There's a reason - because clipless for speed isn't useful at all for short distances. It's debated whether it actually improves your speed on long distances for racers even. (Not weighing in that it does or it doesn't.) It certainly isn't going to improve your speed if the max distance you ever ride is 4 miles. I guess you could debate whether you prefer the "connected to the pedal" feel of clipless, but I just can't imagine it being worth the hassle if the longest you ever ride is 4 miles. It doesn't seem like in countries where bike commuting is common, that people there are claiming clipless is at all necessary if you're not racing.

Originally Posted by andyprough (Post 17202602)

Stopping at intersections is for losers. Just keep rolling. :speedy:

I like to call it "taking the intersection". It's great for increasing your visibility to drivers and reducing your risk of getting hit. :bike2:

Originally Posted by andyprough (Post 17202602)

I like to call it "taking the intersection". It's great for increasing your visibility to drivers and reducing your risk of getting hit.

Originally Posted by acidfast7 (Post 17197864)

Sure, I do that.

But it's not so nice when I need to stop somewhere on the bike on the way home (for a party, to go to the pub, to go to dinner, to catch a train/plane/boat).

It's just adds complication if the bike is really used as sole transport.

Originally Posted by wolfchild (Post 17203112)

Platform pedals are most practical and easiest to use for urban/city commuting. My foot has never slipped off the pedals... I also like to use toe clips with straps on my fixed gear bikes. Toe clips/straps give you the same performance as clipless, and you can wear whatever shoes you want. For everyday commuting which involves very frequent stops and dismounts clipless offers no advantages, my toe clips/straps are adjusted just tight enough to get benefits of foot retention but loose enough to pull my shoe out quickly.

Originally Posted by acidfast7 (Post 17203177)

Second smarted post I have seen in a long time on BF.

Originally Posted by tjspiel (Post 17204508)

Anyway, his commute was shorter than mine, but do you know what he rode to work while he lived here? A Honda Civic. ;)

Originally Posted by Corben (Post 17203800)

you know you're absolutely right. I figured because I have a new road bike I must go clipless now. you know....to be in the groove. And I really don't want to be at work earlier now that I think about it.

Originally Posted by tjspiel (Post 17204508)

But what if you ride fixed and don't like toe clips? ;)

Originally Posted by wolfchild (Post 17205608)

It's also a lot easier to track stand on a fixie , so there is no need to take a foot of the pedals everytime I stop.

Originally Posted by spare_wheel (Post 17205642)

Easier sure...but track standing/sitting on a geared bike is not difficult.

Originally Posted by cyccommute (Post 17201100)

And, unless you changed the pedals on your bike from the "BSO" thread, you have toe clips. That's not the same as a platform pedal.

Originally Posted by Jaywalk3r (Post 17206645)

Are you sure?

Personally I use BMX pedals, which are not intended for use with toe clips. Slippage has never been an issue, except for the desirable intentional kind, i.e., the ability to move my foot fore and aft on the pedal as appropriate when the road grade changes.

Originally Posted by wolfchild (Post 17203112)

Platform pedals are most practical and easiest to use for urban/city commuting. My foot has never slipped off the pedals... I also like to use toe clips with straps on my fixed gear bikes. Toe clips/straps give you the same performance as clipless, and you can wear whatever shoes you want. For everyday commuting which involves very frequent stops and dismounts clipless offers no advantages, my toe clips/straps are adjusted just tight enough to get benefits of foot retention but loose enough to pull my shoe out quickly.

Originally Posted by wolfchild (Post 17206017)

I don't think I've ever seen a cyclist do a nice clean track stand in real life while stopped at an intersection. Track standing is a useful skill, but majority of cyclist don't have a desire to practise it and learn how to do it.

Originally Posted by joeyduck (Post 17203879)

I personally ride aggressive and fast compared to most commuters I see; I use clipless.

Originally Posted by tjspiel (Post 17206656)

According that, pretty much all of us have been mis-using the term "platform pedal".

Originally Posted by Sheldon Brown

There is a tendency to misuse the term "platform pedal" to refer to plain pedals that have no provision for holding the foot in place.

Originally Posted by Jaywalk3r (Post 17206687)

I ride aggressive and fast compared to most commuters I see; I use BMX pedals. (They could be more accurately described as nubbed than spiked!)

I would hypothesize that riders who get into urban riding from a road racing (whether or not they actually raced) or mountain biking background tend to use clipless, while those who started out as urban riders tend to use some sort of flat pedals.

Originally Posted by joeyduck (Post 17206706)

Well we seem to disprove each others hypothesis. I started urban riding and have never done racing or mountain riding.

Originally Posted by a1penguin (Post 17208895)

Bottle cage??? No, "should I wear a helmet" is flame bait.