thetroutguy

OK, dumb question here. Are clipless pedals really worth it? I have a new MTB and I am mostly just riding it to work and around some logging roads in the mountains near my home. I was going to get toe clips and keep seeing clipless pedals and thinking hmmmmm, maybe there is something to that. I don't want to have to change shoes when I get to work is the only thing. A backpack carrying shoes and all my other garbage would annoy me. What do you all think I should do?:confused:

ljbike

Use toe clips.

R.C.

you could always keep your work shoes in a locker at work and switch when you get there. assuming you have a locker or some place to store them. i went clipless 2 monthes ago and love them.

Dwagenheim

I think the whole Toe Clips/Clipless Pedals terminology is a little confusing. Whenever I hear the word toe clips, I think of clipless pedals because when I use the CPs, I think of clipping in to the pedals. Maybe its just me.

Ok, I am going to go to bed now...

Dave

oceanrider

I use toe clips. I can wear regular shoes and can react quicker when needed. They're cheaper too and may provide more stability since your foot has a solid platform to rest on. I don't think you'll get more speed out of a clipless vs. using toe clips.

Kathy

Bikinguy

Use your present setup until you are comfortable with your bike then change to clipless. They are much more energy efficent as you can pull back on the pedal stroke. I use a spd type as it gives me a platform of sorts and I wear shoes that I can actually walk in.
Your comment about not wanting to change shoes is a bit odd as the staps will cause wear and damage to your shoe over time. Also you dont want to keep on shoes you sweat in during your commute...let em air out ...change shoes. Clipless is faster in an emergency once you are used to them. I have ridden both systems and its alot easier to get hung up with straps. When you change to clipless just be sure to do it at your local LBS as they should as mine did set you up right and put your bike in a stand to give you time to clip and up clip without falling over.

Ride safe...Dudley

oceanrider

Sweaty socks all day. Icky, yucky and bacterially disgusting. You'll want to change shoes and socks after your commute regardless. I'm not familiar with SPD clips but the toe clips I use are strapless. I'm not sure what they're called but they're open plastic jobs that curve over the toe. Pretty cheap at $12 and I haven't fallen over yet but then again I've only been using them (and the bike they're attached to) for a total of a couple of days.

You do get more speed with some type of clip system because as the last poster said, you get power from both legs at all times. Also, they're safer than nothing at all if you really spin or hammer. My foot has slipped off a non-clipped pedal many times. Luckily, not at a critical moment as an adult but once I went tumbling down a bridge as a kid that way. I hate bridges.

Kathy

Heather

I have been clipless for two years and will never, ever go back! I tell everyone I know to get the clipless pedals, for several reasons:

1. As previously stated in this thread, more power on each stroke

2. Safer. I've twisted my ankle trying to get out of toe clips, but never (once I got used to them) had trouble getting out of clipless.

3. You don't have to keep flipping them up with your feet if you're trying to get started, which, if you've ever experienced it, is so annoying! Plus, if you just leave them down they can get caught on rocks/branches etc.

4. Instant added technical skills!!! It's easy to cheat bunnyhopping, wheelie-ing, and throwing the back end up.

It also depends on how technical your ride is. If you never need to get out of the pedal quickly (and I know I do ) two and three don't matter so much.

Ride happy!

Rotifer

Clipless pedals are a must. I used straps for quite a while, the only way you can equal the performance of a good clipless pedal is to tighten the straps beyond your ability to remove your foot. Anybody who insists on using straps (aside from track riders) are blowing air out their butts. Sorry guys.

kIFEbASTARd

Hey... I would go with clipless.... I just got clipless for the first time this year. I love them so much better then the old school pedals. If you get them you won't be sorry

Jim311

I use clipless. Takes a while to get the motion programmed in your brain, but after that it becomes natural.

MichaelW

Toe clips are quite OK is you use them properly. They are not for racing or for extreme riding, but for riding to work and easy trails, they are good enough.
Plastic models will be easier on your shoes. Dont cinch the straps tight. Most of the problems people have with toe clips happen when they tighten them.

The extra efficiency of clipless is of most benefit to hard riders. If you just cruise along the road, rather than sprint, the extra advantage of clipless is less pronounced.

math2p14

Clipless pedals rule unless you are a dirtjumper. If you are not then they are perfect for most applications. Especially Time Z-control series has excellent performance since they have a large stable platform able to pedalling even unclipped. I usually go downhill unclipped without any problems.

Jakub

I would not recommend toe clips unless you are really on budget. First you can break the strap (it happened to me 3 times - 10 years ago ) and they are not that safe. When you have a crash the leg does not easily get out of the toe clip (especially when tightened).

Clipless pedals are more expensive (but 505 are ok. and the prices is fine) and recquire special shoes.
But the pedaling is better and they are safer and will last much longer than toe clips.

If your riding technique is fair, and the terrain not that demanding you can always use normal pedals

Maelstrom 

Or if you are a technical rider or if you do trials. I would never even fathom wearing clipless on skinnies...

Happy

Hey Trout,
Take a look at Shimano 324's. They are clipless on one side and platform on the other. Problem with the work shoes is solved. Clipless really does make a difference and doesn't take that long to get used to. One very important point...make sure you adjust the tension screws before you clip in for the first time!!! Mine were too tight, got my shoe stuck, had to go to the store to get a 3mm hex ect.

Mad Dog JR

how tight should the settings be on clipless ? i have a set but havent used them yet.

KaTooMer

I've kept quiet on this subject for a long time, but now you're going to hear my 2 cents

I went about 7 years using toe clips as a recreational MTB'er and they were fine. I used the kind that are molded plastic, curved around your shoe with a strap to regulate the tightness (Nashbar sells this kind). I set them somewhat loose so that I could get in an out quickly and easily. Never once had a crash related to not getting out of the clips in time. When I bought my NSR this year it came with Time pedals, so I bought a pair of Shimano shoes. Here are my thoughts:

1. The first 10 or so times you ride clipless on technical trails, you will be scared when you ride. You will crash more than you ever thought possible. You will have bruises after you ride. You will curse more than you thought you were capable of.

2. I immediately loved the pedaling efficiency of clipless. Toe clips are O.K. for power on the upstroke, but there's no comparison with clipless.

3. I don't agree that you can get out of clipless in a panic as quick as toe clips. Clipless forces you to be more prepared to get out, which means I give up sooner when tacking tough obstacles than I ever did with toe clips.

4. Crash-induced knee twisting has already happened a few times. Never twisted a knee with toe clips (although I didn't crash that much with toe clips).

5. Technical trails still scare me...the rocky Chubb trail here in St. Louis still leaves me with bruises, every time. I don't like being scared when I ride.

6. In wet, muddy conditions I sometimes have trouble getting locked in. A minor nuisance.

In summary, it's a trade-off. Serious bikers will always choose clipless because of the pedaling efficiency. Eventually, I'll probably be convinced that the pedaling efficiency of clipless more than offsets the injury risk (and fear), but right now I believe it's an even trade. If you're pretty much a recreational MTB'er, I'd recommend the toe clips.

Maelstrom 

Arg...that type of blanket summary always pisses me off. 'serious bikers' will always choose clipless. I don't think so. Many serious dhillers still don't ride clipless. MOST (I would say 90% and over) freeriders (not even the serious ones) WON'T wear clipless. Serious trials riders won't wear clipless and in fact refuse to acknowledge any bike handling skills of someone wearing clipless.

Now if you had said any serious xc riders uses clipless I would have agreed and kept my mouth shut. But I promise you clipless aren't making an impact on my kind of biking. (thank god, suicide by bike doesn't interest me)

Maelstrom 

If you live in a rain forect thats not minor nuisance. That is the whole ride

Zahnster

Aren't eggbeaters supposed to solve the lock in issue in the wet?

Maelstrom 

Yes and I have heard they do in fact work quite well.

KaTooMer

That's exactly what I meant.

sparticus

Clipless are more efficient in the fact that you can pull the pedal backwards and up, and in my opinion are easier to get out of than toe clips.

montlake_mtbkr

I just went clipless last week and I gotta say that the pedaling power is night and day different. I got the Time Z controls and they are sweeeeeet. Unclip to a platform for hairy descents or log bridges, clip in to power up the hills. Best of both worlds.