Clips are use now for track racing but they were standard equipment up until the mid90s on road and mountain bikes. And you can fall over in clips just as easily as you can in clipless.

There really is nothing special about fixed gear that needs clipless or toeclips as compared to a freewheeling bike. In fact, people used to say not to use clips or clipless on fixed for the same (wrong) reasons that they say not to use clips or clipless while commuting. I use clipless everywhere...road, off-road, winter and summer commuting, touring, recreational, etc. Getting used to them is very easy and relatively quick. If you are having trouble getting out of them after a day of riding, the pedal's release mechanism is probably too tight.


You are actually somewhat lucky when it comes to bicycling shoes. I see your size (European size 47 or 48) commonly on the sale rack. My size (44 to 45) is in the more average range and seldom makes it to the sales table.

And you don't need two sets of shoes. Mountain bike shoes are easy to walk in for a very long time if necessary. Most of them don't look any different from other athletic shoes.

And, finally, on the cold feet, that's an equipment issue. I've used all kinds of methods for keeping my feet warm in winter. Some...like neoprene shoe covers...work and others...like rag wool shoe covers... don't. I invested in a set of bicycling boots a couple of years ago and, while they weren't cheap, they are a great improvement over even shoe covers. I expect them to last me 5 to 10 years which makes them a bargain. I look on all bicycling shoes that I own that way. Most of them last at least 5 years and my previous winter shoes (not nearly as good as my boots) lasted somewhere around 15. That works out to a few dollars per year and I wasted more than that on "fixes". As the saying goes, "only a rich man can afford cheap tools".

You can get decent MTB shoes (I prefer Shimano) that will last many, many years for less than $50. Shimano 520 pedals will run you less than $25 at Nashbar. So, the cost is not that high for the benefit. I leave my work shoes at work.

I switched to toe clips and then to clipless because of safety. I was at a stoplight in the rain, and when the light turned green, my feet slipped off and I stopped fast with a pickup behind me, forcing him to brake hard. This happened twice in one ride. I decided that keeping my feet on the pedals was an important safety concern.

The only times I use platforms is informal neighborhood noodling around, and in the winter I switch because my tires may slide sideways with no warning and I must be able to put my foot down instantly.

I have never had a fall due to clipless or toe clips. Maybe people have their pedal tension up too high?

I like my clipless pedals. I am more comfortable using them for longer rides. I think I fell over once from forgetting to clip out, and that's all it took. I use road pedals on all my bikes but 2 (one mountain bike and my beater mtb). If I have to take a trip while I work, I just ride on the top of the pedals. It's comfortable enough for a few miles. I don't tend stop for stuff on the way home, though I have been thinking of getting one of hte shimano platform/clipless combos anyway.
As for bringing shoes to work...I do that. I have an old pair I leave here in the case I forget to pack a pair, or am loaded with other stuff. I don't like wearing shoes I have been sweating in, so I would do it even if I didn't have to change out of my bike shoes.
Cages don't work for me. I recently sold a bike that had them. They scuffed up my shoes, and having size 13s meant my feet didn't always have enough space on the pedal.
My one bike I still have platforms on (beater mtb) gets ridden usually for trips under 5 miles. I find myself still going through the motion of unclipping subconsciously. I don't see much reason to put clipless pedals on that bike due to the short nature of the trips I use it for...but I do tend to feel less "in control."
As for stopping and such...it is only a twist of the ankle, and I come out of my pedal long before I have actually stopped. The only times I have had problems is mountain biking on an especially muddy day...the mud gunks things up. Just have to remember to bang my feet before I clip in. I had some issues with it being hard to get out quick, but a few squirts of GT85 later and all was good n easy again.

And spuds have very good taste because they tend to choose "real" and "experienced" cyclists like me.

(Hi ILTB!)

Except that now that I am used to them, riding a bike without clipless pedals is very, very dangerous. In fact, people often stare and/or laugh as my foot launches off the pedal and the bike wobbles spasmodically. This sucker is going down...someday.

The funny thing is that when I ride a bike with toe clips, when I pull my foot out, I also twist it, just because of my habit. Funny but benign.

My front wheel skipped yesterday. Hopefully, i barely had enough time to put my foot on the ground from my platform pedal. Happened extremely fast, it was all into reptilian reflex. I certainly wouldn't had time with clipless. Pretty sure I would have fallen. Though it was low speed on a small icy and unplowed street and I had made room with cars anticipating a possible fall but still. That's why i prefer platform pedals.

And that is the thing. It seems to me you have to be riding really slow for there to be any advantage to platforms. In a crash, your feet will release from clipless. And in most non crash situations, releasing from clipless is almost instantaneous, except for the rare situation where your cleats come loose, which is why checking the tightness of your cleats should be a part of your pre ride checklist.

True that! I recently got a bike that had toe clips on it and had a bugger of a time flipping the damned pedals up to get my feet in them. Once I got the pedals flipped, I couldn't squirm my feet into the straps. The things you forget when you don't do it all the time:rolleyes:

Two things: Many, many, many people have said that their feet come out of the pedals in a crash without them even thinking about it. I've found myself 6 feet or more away from a bike on an off-road downhill without knowing when or how I came unclipped.

Second, I find that clipless keeps me upright and on the pedals in many situations where I would have bailed with platforms. I can hop the wheel or use body english to keep the bike upright.

Why are some people so easy to criticize?

Some people do have genuine questions or thoughts and want other people's opinions.

Now that I have been riding a couple of beater bikes for the winter, I've gotten used to flat pedals again. I prefer toe clips but I've been wearing hiking boots and I don't want to fit toe clips on those winter bikes. That split second fitting your foot into the clip may mean keep rolling momentum or stalling again.

There has been a few times when I wonder, while riding through the bumps and the troughs in the snow, if toe clips would have made me more stable as in keeping my foot on the pedal.

Benign unless you roll up to a stop, and realize too late that you had tightened down the straps. ;)

That never happens with me. I rarely tighten my left strap, and I never tighten my right strap. My right foot is my in-and-out foot.

Funny, the same thing happens to me with clipless pedals. I'll belatedly notice that the driver in front of me is not paying attention to the green light, and one of my feet is unclipped and on the ground before I realize it. Reptilian reflex, I guess.

All that could be nothing more than the differences in riding styles between you and erig007. I can't recall a single riding situation where what type of pedal I was using ended up causing or saving me from a spill.
It seems self explanatory that the needs and desires of a competitive or aggressive cyclist will be different from a cyclist who rides for utility or relaxation, and what they prefer for their primary type of riding will carry over into the rest.

I never had my foot slip off platform pedals, never... I often ride FG without foot retention and never had any issues, however, most times I prefer toe clips with straps...If you can't ride with platform pedals without foot retention and if your foot is slipping off and you're banging up you shins then you're doing something wrong, maybe cycling is not for you.

I've had feet slip of of this kinda platform pedal. They're tough to keep the feet on in the rain.

http://en.hollandbikeshop.com/images/PDU872.jpg


These are a lot better - it's almost like being clipped in with a new pair of Vans, or trail runners, but one pair of mine are getting worn out. Might splurge for some replaceable pin pedals when I decide they're too slippery.

http://box.groundedbmx.com/files/ima...sted_black.jpg

Finally, if you're doing at least slightly spirited riding, keeping your feet on these in the rain, without clips and straps would require some magic incantation. :)

http://www.citygrounds.com/prodimages/2360-SILVER-l.jpg

All depends on what you get on your bike to Go Do ...Myself, I think I'll go have a Pint :beer:

These were on my old cruiser:

http://pacificbeachbikes.com/wp-cont...ser-Pedals.jpg

The uptown has these:

http://www.reximports.com.au/sites/d...les/PEX375.jpg

Night and day, really.

- Andy

Why are you criticizing my opinion?

Being a competitive or agressive cyclist doesn't mean that we don't ride for utility or relaxation.

Many of us who have transitioned from platforms to toe clips and/or clipless (some haven't gone through the toe clips at all) can recall riding situations where the type of pedal has ended up causing a spill. While slow speed crashes using clipless (and even clips) is common, higher speed crashes with far more potential for disastrous results are more common with platforms. There is nothing quite like landing in a heap at the bottom of a hill from slipping off a platform pedal to teach you that being connected to the bike is a good thing.

And once you are connected you find all kinds of situations where the pedals keep you on the bike through situations where you might have bailed or crashed before.

Yet I think at least a third of these guys ride on platforms:

platforms for commuting / touring / dirt road coffee shoppe rides
clipless for road biking with road bikers who are wearing all the plastic super hero outfits

once i tried to bunny hop with platform pedals - kinda forgot i wasn't clipped in - hurt quite a bit when i thankfully landed on the seat. (as opposed to the top tube or crashing)

Not the old clips/cleats vs platform debate again.

As with many things, it can take a while to get used to the clips/cleats. And so beginners can have problems (and thus good for some spectacular candid videos).

Do 5 yr olds crash their bikes because of the flats? But, they also learn to ride flats... so clips/cleats are new to them when they eventually install them on their bikes, perhaps years later.

For those used to the clips/cleats, they are no less safe, and just become a matter of preference.

Close the You-Tube, and get out and ride the bike.

Any science and evidence to back that up ??...Are there any studies or statistics which show that clipless pedals are safer for city commuting ??. I am not talking about competitive cycling or competitive aggressive mountain biking .

Majority of free riders and mountain bikers that I've ridden with have used pinned platform pedals. Trust me, some of the rock gardens I've ridden through were pretty bad ass.

I am not against clipless pedals, I know they have their place in competitive cycling, I just don't find them practical for my daily riding. The only time I find foot retention to be of any benefit for safety is when I am riding FG. I am fine with toe clips and straps, wearing normal shoes is just a lot more practical for me.

It's not a debate..... its .... how i feel about it. Youtube.....no idea what you're talking about. Please do read the whole thread including my own replies (which are several and extensive).

- Andy

You seem to have totally missed what I was saying, and are now contradicting what you yourself said in another post.
Once again, I have used all 3 types of pedals, and still have clip and clipless pedals, just not currently in use, as I have found for my current needs and desires, pinned platforms provide 99% of the efficiency, and stability benefits of foot retention for how I ride.

As to personal safety considerations, I was agreeing with you, sparewheel and others, the safest pedal is which one we are most comfortable and familiar with, I was simply expanding on that by saying an aggressive or competitive cyclist that benefits the most from, and prefers foot retention, will likely also find it safer and preferable to use foot retention when riding for utility or relaxation because that's what they're familiar with, and the opposite will most likely be true for more sedate riders like myself.
I have had only one bail off in the past 30 years if I remember correctly, obviously judging by your extensive experience with crashing and saves, our riding styles are entirely different, ergo our experiences with, and benefits from foot retention will be entirely different.

Unless you're now attempting to claim that foot retention offers unquestionable benefits to all types of riders under all circumstances, I don't understand what point you're trying to make.

My anecdotal experience is 20 years of riding clipless in all forms of biking road/MTB/commuter/winter etc. I can say with 100% certainty that platforms are not safer. I've had many many crashes, none of which were made worse or have had anything to do with the pedals. In fact I'm certain that they have saved me from many crashes dues to increased bike control I gain from being connected to the bike.

Stop watching you tube and ride your bike.