does anyone do fixed gear as well as clipless?. I've heard that such riding is the closest most efficient true way of cycling. but I ask you what would happen if you misjudged your stroke, hit a bump or lost control in some way and got dragged down by the pedals?.

Since we aren't cartoons and can't get tangled around something like a noodle what would happen in this case?.

Would it break your foot or worse?.

very different machines those fixies and even more different when you are locked into the bike.

Well, on track bikes, they ride a fixed gear with toe clips and cleats. They are worse than clipless because you can't just twist your foot out. Anyway, they do it all the time with no dire results. Of course, it's not something anyone can do-it takes a lot of practice.

I ride a fixed gear bike with SPD clips and mountain bike shoes. Why they call this clipless makes no sense at all. They are clips!!

Anyway, it's no problem for me because 1) I have brakes on the bike 2) I feel confident riding with SPD pedals.

I would never ride a fixed gear bike with clips and cleats on the street. My opinion alone but that's suicide if you ask me. I know, I rode with those "back in the day" with my road bike before "clipless" systems came on the market. More than once I fell over at a street light.

Clips and cleats on the track? Yes, sure , it's a controlled environment with no cars.

There's nothing to be afraid of with modern "clipless" systems. Just give yourself some time to get used to your foot being "trapped" in clips with a wheel that doesn't stop before you launch yourself onto the streets.

And yes, every now and then I forget I'm riding my fixed gear bike because I do alternate with my multi-geared road bike. You only forget for about a millisecond though! ROFL.....

I wouldn't call it efficient, not at all, not unless you're planning to ride at a fixed speed on level ground. Whatever advantage you gain by removing 2 small pullies you will lose at the first stop sign. I'm not saying they are not a great bike BTW.

Clipless and fixed together are fine. It's the only way I have been riding fixed gear for years. If you forget and try to coast, your foot just gets dragged around with the pedal, which in a way is better than having the foot unfixed and slipping off the back of the pedal. Your butt might also get slapped against the seat...

I rode clipless and fixed for 10 years without an issue. I preferred being clipped in as I felt the feedback from the pedals better and felt "one with the road". Ultimately, and unfortunately, I got hit by a car 4 years ago the SPD pedals didn't skip a beat and I was cleanly ejected to the hood of the car. Due to knee damage no more fixed gears after that. 🙁

Proper foot retention is essential for riding FG on the road to avoid the dreaded "Cuisinart" effect of losing contact/control of the drivetrain on fast descents and/or rough surfaces. Being "dragged down by the pedals" is a un-founded fear, quite the opposite by being in control of the machine w/ proper foot retention.
Clipless pedals/shoes provide efficient, comfortable & easy to release solid foot retention for any flavor of drivetrain.

-Bandera

You could ask in the FG forum.

What is dangerous are the idiots who try riding FG with platform pedals and zero brakes. Miss a stroke on a steep downhill, your pedals turn into a couple of mixer blades, and you have just become an unconrtolled projectile....

Some type of foot retention is required for fixed gear. Riding fixed without foot retention is unsafe as your feet can fly off at high RPM.

Go ask in the fixed gear forum... You will get unanimous agreement that foot retention of some kind is a requirement.


-Tim-

Foot retention is not a requirement but it's the better idea especially if you're either a beginning rider on fixed gear, or you're a more experienced rider and training to push the cadence higher.

The danger of clipless is when coming to a complete stop, or needing to stab your foot down, and forgetting that you're clipped in.

I hate clipless because I want to have freedom to chose whatever shoes I want to wear...I have 2 fixed gear bikes. One with toe clips and straps and the other with platforms...Toe clips/straps provide all the benefits of clipless plus you can wear whatever shoes you want... My FG with platforms has a very low gear ratio which limits my top speed so it's easier to control...Foot retention does make riding fixed safer... If you don't have foot retention I strongly recommend both front and rear brakes.

Fixed gear and clipless here, in fact clipless on all of my bikes. For me, it just works. I don't like the idea of riding with anything else, flats, straps, cages, whatever. SPD's all the way.

Asking about worst case scenarios, as you did..

Of Note.. there is No Cross Traffic of cars and Trucks on a velodrome - track. to run over and kill you.

while you on your brake less fixie are unable to stop in time, in the street where there are heavy motor vehicles..





...

They are called clipless because the pedals do not have toe clips on them. Technically platform pedals are clipless also. We should actually call them clicks, since that's the sound they make when you click in to them.

get a brake, haha

Or when going down the hills on FG just lift your feet off the pedals completely and rest them somewhere else.

Oh RIIIIGHT.......

I could be wrong. I've been wrong before and it won't be the last time.

I'm living proof that, with the possible exception of the Blessed Virgin, nobody's perfect. Hope you have fun riding.

PAX


-Tim-

I've been riding fix gears on the road for decades, often in hills. I have descended very fast; in the years after I stopped racing hitting 45+ riding a 42-17. (Yes, I was crazy.) Having a foot come out was one of my biggest fears. I did all my fix gear riding back then with Binda straps and saw to it they were pulled tight at the tops of hills. Also aluminum slotted cleats. Pulling a foot out was not an option.

I know that sounds dangerous. But but really it is just swapping risks. Yes I have injured myself quite a few times. But those injuries have been dirtied elbows and knees, road rash rarely drawing blood and real bruising of my ego. Real crashes have featured more skin lost and quite likely fewer broken bones for this non-gymnastic cyclist. Also, I have gotten creative and found ways to ride past, over and through things simply because there were no other options. (It is amazing how focused your mind gets.)

I have played a little with clipless pedals. Scare the **** out of me going downhill fast. I did an out of the saddle un-cleat in my early clipless days fixed. Going maybe 18 mph. Pulled muscles and slammed my shin, all before hitting the road. No thanks!

So I am still riding toeclips, quality leather straps and aluminum cleat. It worked 120 years (except they didn't have aluminum yet) and it still works.

Ben

Clipless and fixed is fine. I prefer double sided spd pedals, like the m520s, personally. Super easy to get the foot in and out.

Use the SH51 cleats and not the SH56, they'll hold your foot in better if you skid.
Shimano SH51 SPD Cleats - Mountain Cleats | Competitive Cyclist