Anyone using clipless pedals on ebike?
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Olympia WA
Bikes: Cannondale Quick Disk 5 & Rad Power Mini
Anyone using clipless pedals on ebike?
Just wondering. Used previously with my regular road bike but not sure about using on ebike - if anyone does?
#3
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Olympia WA
Bikes: Cannondale Quick Disk 5 & Rad Power Mini
#4
Clark W. Griswold




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From: ,location, location
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I may at some point swap in my Shimano PD-T800s but so far not so much. I do know quite a number of people that do but since this is primarily a commuter and one of my bozo co-workers threw away my shop shoes and didn't mention it and the other bozo who I allowed to borrow them because they stupidly wore army boots didn't bother to attempt to replace them I just decided I don't want to bring shoes in all the time and switch out. Granted these were older shoes and I didn't wear them often but they were great for the times when I would ride my road bikes in.
#5
Ride more, eat less

Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Too many but never enough.
Depending on your usage of your e-bike.
Clipless pedals are great if you're focus on performance riding, get the most out of your legs and control the bike with your feet.
Not so great if you ride in constant stop-n-go traffic and require to follow traffic laws and clip in-n-out every other block.
Personally, I don't do much performance type cycling anymore.
Most of my bikes & e-bikes that I ride regularly have just plastic large platform pedals, for lightweight and surface volume to make contact with regular shoes.
Weight difference between single-sided clipless pedals with platform pedal on the other side and a large plastic platform pedal can be significant, especially if you have to lift the whole bike onto bike rack for transport.
Clipless pedals are great if you're focus on performance riding, get the most out of your legs and control the bike with your feet.
Not so great if you ride in constant stop-n-go traffic and require to follow traffic laws and clip in-n-out every other block.
Personally, I don't do much performance type cycling anymore.
Most of my bikes & e-bikes that I ride regularly have just plastic large platform pedals, for lightweight and surface volume to make contact with regular shoes.
Weight difference between single-sided clipless pedals with platform pedal on the other side and a large plastic platform pedal can be significant, especially if you have to lift the whole bike onto bike rack for transport.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2014
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From: socal
Bikes: DIY
As above, I used to employ clipless when needing to keep up with a fast group of friends off road. Now it's flats since, primarily, I'm riding with my wife and have no problem keeping up with her. For me, I like the ability to move my feet around at times and this seems to help keep my knees painless.
#7
I do, but I'm wierd. I have a low powered bike that I designed to run at 100rpm - so it is basically a road bike that runs at speeds I would ride at a race pace or at a tandem pace with my brother.
Most ebikes are less than 70rpm, and at that point there isn't much use. Really, I get a lot of benefit from the upstroke to the pedal when clipped in. If I'm not doing that, there isn't much point.
Most ebikes are less than 70rpm, and at that point there isn't much use. Really, I get a lot of benefit from the upstroke to the pedal when clipped in. If I'm not doing that, there isn't much point.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2010
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From: NH
I climb a 14% hill on my regular trip home from the coffee shop. I find the SPDs keep me in the correct position over the pedals and may prevent a sudden lurch off the edge if I lose concentration when it gets steep. That said, I enjoy riding around town on the platform side with ordinary shoes/sandals. Yes, my double sided steel pedals are heavy but I've lost the weight battle already with my 17# ebike retro-fit! (gravity of descending pedal lifts the ascending pedal??) :^) The ones mentioned by veganbikes are a bit lighter.
Last edited by BobG; 09-01-21 at 07:09 PM. Reason: typo
#9
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Joined: Jun 2021
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I use the Shimano PD-T421 Click'R SPD Pedals. Platform on one side, clipless binding on the other. My shins are scarred from pedal teeth, so this was a nice change. My wife appreciates it. I can ride clipped in or commute in sneakers.
#10
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I did not with a trail type e-bike but will be using them with the new road e-bikes. The ones we have are Class III so no power from the motor unless one is pedaling so it is pedal assist only. Clipless allow for a lot more leg power to be used and this is very helpful when going up hills. So with a mountain bike I would be using flat pedals and shoes for flat pedals and with road bikes cleatless are the best choice.
I still go to mountain bike shoes for cleats as they provide a recessed cleat area and makes walking around when off the bike much less of a challenge than with the Shimano SL type of cleat.
I still go to mountain bike shoes for cleats as they provide a recessed cleat area and makes walking around when off the bike much less of a challenge than with the Shimano SL type of cleat.
#14
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I have wood floors throughout much of my house and with the SPD-SL pedals I need to put on the little rubber booty before walking indoors. The extra support provided by the SL version has never been needed as I buy top grade bike shoes with stiff soles. I have a brand new pair of Shimano SL pedals and cleats and rubber covers in my garage as I decided they were not needed and a worry if I forget to have my cleat covers in hand when off the bike.
#15
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Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Wadsworth, Ohio
Bikes: 2008 S Works Stumpjumper FSR Carbon, 2016 E Fat Titanium Bike Custom built by me.
I haven't replaced a derailleur hanger since I stopped using clip in pedals. Merrill Jungle Mock or 5-10 shoes. No benefit to clip in pedals on an e bike. About as useful as a trailer hitch on a Ferrari.





