Can you ride SPD pedals without the shoes?
05-16-08, 07:53 AM
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Can you ride SPD pedals without the shoes?
I notice that some bikes come with clipless pedals. Is it efficient/recommendable to ride them without having the cleated shoes? If you do a lot of stop-and-go commuting with a bike, is it worth the hassle to have the cleated shoes?
05-16-08, 07:56 AM
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Depends on the clipless pedals, but by and large, no it's not good to ride clipless pedals w/o matching cleats.
If you don't want to ride with clipless, just ask the shop to put some platform pedals on there.
Edit, here are a few examples of the extremes:
These would be alright, but they're called campus pedals for a reason:
These would probably not be the best with sneaker soles:
If you don't want to ride with clipless, just ask the shop to put some platform pedals on there.
Edit, here are a few examples of the extremes:
These would be alright, but they're called campus pedals for a reason:
These would probably not be the best with sneaker soles:
05-16-08, 07:57 AM
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Typical SPD pedal you definitely would not want to ride any distance without the cleated shoe.
IMHO, the efficiency advantage of clipless is signficant, compared to just a platform pedal, and it's not tha big of hassel to start and stop once you get used to it.
However, you can also consider a dual sided pedal which is SPD on one side and a conventional platform pedal on the other, if you don't want to clip in on short rides or want the option of wearing street shoes.
IMHO, the efficiency advantage of clipless is signficant, compared to just a platform pedal, and it's not tha big of hassel to start and stop once you get used to it.
However, you can also consider a dual sided pedal which is SPD on one side and a conventional platform pedal on the other, if you don't want to clip in on short rides or want the option of wearing street shoes.
05-16-08, 07:57 AM
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I use my clipless shoes every time I ride. If you don't want to though, you can get a platform style peddle with the SPD, so you can effectively have the best of both worlds. You put your foot down when you stop, I clip out and put a foot down too. Or I just trackstand at the light, no biggie. As to if it's worth it.... I'll never go back...you can't make me!!!!
05-16-08, 07:58 AM
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Not that much hastle really...if you will ever be riding the bike in other than stop and go traffic then get some clipless system...and if you will be doing a lot of stop and go then a MTB system like SPD is a good choice due to the shoes having some tread for when you put your foot down.
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05-16-08, 07:59 AM
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I have LOOK styled pedals from Nashbar and rode them for a while without cleats but I wouldn't recommend it - if the pedals get wet they're pretty slippery. On top of that, most SPD pedals are very small compared to normal ones and thus are not nearly as comfortable to ride as rat-trap pedals or the like.
If you need to, you can, but it isn't comfortable/as safe.
If you need to, you can, but it isn't comfortable/as safe.
05-16-08, 08:01 AM
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You can get platforms that clip into clipless pedals and provide a flat surface and a toeclip for riding in non cleated shoes. I have seen them for Look pedals, I don't know about SPD or SPD-SL.
There's at least one pedal that's SPD on one side and platform on the other.
You can ride a bike with clipless pedals wearing regular shoes, but it's not very comfortable and it's easy to have a foot slip off a pedal. I've done it to ride my bike from my car to race registration but I wouldn't do it for any significant distance in traffic.
There's at least one pedal that's SPD on one side and platform on the other.
You can ride a bike with clipless pedals wearing regular shoes, but it's not very comfortable and it's easy to have a foot slip off a pedal. I've done it to ride my bike from my car to race registration but I wouldn't do it for any significant distance in traffic.
05-16-08, 08:09 AM
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If you want to ride without cleated shoes, get beartrap BMX pedals. Otherwise, ride with your cycling shoes. That said, I've done some very short utility rides on Look pedals without my cycling shoes. I was just going a mile down the road and back though. My commuter is specifically set up with eggbeaters so I can use a shoe with a recessed cleat that I can walk in.
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05-16-08, 08:11 AM
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lol so the consensus is no...
I think I'll stick with a bike that comes with regular pedals for now or get a pair of cheaper pedals to switch out with..
I think I'll stick with a bike that comes with regular pedals for now or get a pair of cheaper pedals to switch out with..
05-16-08, 08:17 AM
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ShadowGray, you'll find that many road bikes don't even come with pedals, as pedals are a personal preference.
Finding the ones you prefer..... now that's a whole different discussion.
Finding the ones you prefer..... now that's a whole different discussion.
05-16-08, 08:37 AM
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Yeah, I've noticed that some of the higher bracket bikes give you the option of choosing your own, but a lot of the lower bracket ones do come with pedals, a few of them with said clipless.
On the other hand, how much are clipless pedals worth? Maybe I could sell them for some quick cash.
On the other hand, how much are clipless pedals worth? Maybe I could sell them for some quick cash.
05-16-08, 08:55 AM
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Crank brothers actually makes a pedal called the "Mallet" that works with the same cleats as Eggbeaters, but is bearable without cleated shoes. I use them on my commuter bike to maintain cleat compatibility with my favorite bike, which has the Crank Brothers Candy pedals.
They work well.
They work well.
05-16-08, 08:58 AM
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Yeah, I was just using the Eggbeater as an example of a clipless pedal that probably wouldn't be much fun riding in everyday shoes.
05-16-08, 10:41 AM
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If you get the bike new, (shimano) spd pedals come with a temporary detachable plastic platform on one side which most ppl take off and discard immediatly. 
05-16-08, 11:49 AM
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There are lots of SPD pedals that have a clip on one side and a platform on the other.
Check out nashbar.com or performancebike.com and look at the MTB/ATB pedals, lots of choices.
Check out nashbar.com or performancebike.com and look at the MTB/ATB pedals, lots of choices.
