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Clipless vs Flat Pedals

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Old 04-17-23 | 08:51 AM
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Clipless vs Flat Pedals

Clipless and flat pedals both have their pros and cons. However, I enjoy using clipless for sprinting. Clipless pedals also help to reduce the strains on my knees and quads when I do a quick acceleration from a slow speed.
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Old 04-17-23 | 08:54 AM
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It's not as if this topic has not been discussed before on BF. Of course that won't stop this thread from hitting 10 pages or more.
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Old 04-17-23 | 09:08 AM
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Are you just making a statement, or did you have a question on the subject?
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Old 04-17-23 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by jaxgtr
Are you just making a statement, or did you have a question on the subject?
Just making a statment.
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Old 04-17-23 | 11:18 AM
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How much have you ridden with both types of pedals? Or maybe umpteen types: pinned flats, flats and toe clips and straps a la Berthet, 'touring'/rattrap, SPDs, SPD-SL, Look, Keos, Speedplay .... The ones you haven't given a chance may be the ones you'll like best.
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Old 04-17-23 | 11:42 AM
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Can you please re-state your premise as a spy-vs-spy cartoon instead?

And here is where we slide into "just plain mean".
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Old 04-17-23 | 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by bikemig
It's not as if this topic has not been discussed before on BF. Of course that won't stop this thread from hitting 10 pages or more.

And the OP isn't even asking a question. Almost feels like Troll bait. I'll take the under on the 10 pages, but only because pedal choice is so much less controversial than brake types.
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Old 04-17-23 | 12:44 PM
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I'd bet on the "newbie getting his post count over 10 so he can post pictures" option if that were available.
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Old 04-17-23 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by ping123
Clipless and flat pedals both have their pros and cons. However, I enjoy using clipless for sprinting. Clipless pedals also help to reduce the strains on my knees and quads when I do a quick acceleration from a slow speed.
Thank you for sharing your opinion.

FWIW, I sort of agree: sprinting (especially from a stop) is really the only situation on a road bike that I find clipless make much of a difference for me.
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Old 04-17-23 | 05:17 PM
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He’s a newbie, clearly. How savvy about BF etiquette were you guys when you first started here. I keep telling you guys, if you have nothing positive to add, go find a thread you like better. I’m tired of preaching that message, some will hear further.
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Old 04-17-23 | 06:13 PM
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Definitely a noob here trying to get his post count to 10 so he can show off his bike that everyone will not care about. Also a noob to clipless in general.

I will say I now can't stand flat pedals as I find my feet fidgeting all the time now. BUT ... I'm still too much of a noob on clipless that I tend to want to slowly roll at stops so I don't have to unclip. Still scared out of my wits whenever I get to an intersection with tons of traffic and little room to face plant should I unclip off balance.

Ok 8 more posts to go lol.
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Old 04-17-23 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by theronin
Definitely a noob here trying to get his post count to 10 so he can show off his bike that everyone will not care about. Also a noob to clipless in general.

I will say I now can't stand flat pedals as I find my feet fidgeting all the time now. BUT ... I'm still too much of a noob on clipless that I tend to want to slowly roll at stops so I don't have to unclip. Still scared out of my wits whenever I get to an intersection with tons of traffic and little room to face plant should I unclip off balance.

Ok 8 more posts to go lol.
You're new here too and you already feel that you can judge others? Dahell is that all about? Please follow the rules that you agreed to when you signed up here. Good point to remember: You are not superior to anyone on here. You had to start somewhere too.
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Old 04-17-23 | 06:39 PM
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Uh ... not sure where you get that I'm judging others. Let's see: I admitted I want post count, I admitted I suck at clipless pedals, I admitted I'm a scaredy cat. By "judging others" do you mean judging myself? Uh ... sorry to myself? I accept the apology from myself ... I guess.

Anyway, not here to start an internet fight lol. So read what I wrote how you want I guess?
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Old 04-17-23 | 10:29 PM
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Well I'll start a fight. Road clipless pedals are dumb and for dumb people. Everybody should ride mtn bike clipless. And here I'll make it even worse. Time Atac is the best and shimano is poo.
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Old 04-17-23 | 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Canker
Well I'll start a fight. Road clipless pedals are dumb and for dumb people. Everybody should ride mtn bike clipless. And here I'll make it even worse. Time Atac is the best and shimano is poo.
Why you find Time Atac is better than Shimano if you have time to explain further? I am simply asking not arguing.
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Old 04-18-23 | 01:30 AM
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Well at the time I started riding clipless 10+ years ago Crankbrothers were known for clearing mud extremely well but being fragile. Shimano were know for being indestructible but clogged with mud easily. Time were both indestructible and cleared mud nearly as well as Crankbrothers so that is what I went with. Now all my bikes are Time, I'm use to Time, and I have no reason to switch to something else. The only real downside is nearly everybody I ride with is on Shimano, kind of the default, so we can't swap bikes mid ride just for fun.
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Old 04-18-23 | 04:03 AM
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Originally Posted by bikemig
It's not as if this topic has not been discussed before on BF. Of course that won't stop this thread from hitting 10 pages or more.
wonder how the OP lubes his pedals
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Old 04-18-23 | 04:05 AM
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Originally Posted by ping123
Clipless and flat pedals both have their pros and cons. However, I enjoy using clipless for sprinting. Clipless pedals also help to reduce the strains on my knees and quads when I do a quick acceleration from a slow speed.
I like cleated pedals & shoes too. I have them on my road bike
my 2 other bikes have flat pedals, a hybrid & a mountain bike
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Old 04-18-23 | 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted by theronin
Uh ... not sure where you get that I'm judging others. Let's see: I admitted I want post count, I admitted I suck at clipless pedals, I admitted I'm a scaredy cat. By "judging others" do you mean judging myself? Uh ... sorry to myself? I accept the apology from myself ... I guess.

Anyway, not here to start an internet fight lol. So read what I wrote how you want I guess?
I agree, no idea what the mod was talking about there.

I find clipless much better for road biking, just takes a little time to become second nature. But I still prefer flat pedals for technical mountain biking - mostly for practical reasons e.g. no worries about clipping in muddy conditions and flats are better when off-bike.
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Old 04-18-23 | 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by theronin
Definitely a noob here trying to get his post count to 10 so he can show off his bike that everyone will not care about. Also a noob to clipless in general.
Originally Posted by theronin
Uh ... not sure where you get that I'm judging others. Let's see: I admitted I want post count, I admitted I suck at clipless pedals, I admitted I'm a scaredy cat. By "judging others" do you mean judging myself? Uh ... sorry to myself? I accept the apology from myself ... I guess.

Anyway, not here to start an internet fight lol. So read what I wrote how you want I guess?

You said "his" and "he" in your first sentence. Do we need to explain the difference between first person and third person?
If you weren't intending to judge OP, don't blame the mod for your poor writing.
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Old 04-18-23 | 05:37 AM
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Yep, that's the source of confusion, though I wouldn't say he was necessarily wrong. The edit button is a useful feature if you find what you posted isn't being understood as you intended. Now back to the evergreen clipless vs flat....
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Old 04-18-23 | 05:50 AM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
Yep, that's the source of confusion, though I wouldn't say he was necessarily wrong. The edit button is a useful feature if you find what you posted isn't being understood as you intended. Now back to the evergreen clipless vs flat....

It's actually interesting to hear from people who use both. The "debate" is boring, but I think op was really asking for a compare and contrast. Surely, a bunch of experienced cyclists should have some interesting insights other than "we already discussed this."
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Old 04-18-23 | 05:56 AM
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anyone with regular shoes can ride a bicycle with flat pedals. only those with the correct fitting clipless shoe will efficiently ride the clipless pedal bicycle.
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Old 04-18-23 | 08:27 AM
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I like riding with clipless pedals. First started using them on my mtn bike. It was pretty good and I liked being attached to the bike. When I started road biking I just used mtn bike pedals and mtn bike shoes. I rode that way for a good 15+ years. Mtn bike shoes are definitely much more comfortable off the bike then road shoes. Later, when I got a new road bike I went and got road pedals and shoes. Took a little bit of time to get used to them but I like them ok.
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Old 04-18-23 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
He’s a newbie, clearly. How savvy about BF etiquette were you guys when you first started here. I keep telling you guys, if you have nothing positive to add, go find a thread you like better. I’m tired of preaching that message, some will hear further.
I think a majority of newbies are AIChatBots these days.
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