on fgg today there are 5 new bikes, 3 with flat pedals, 1 with clipless, and 1 that I really can't tell.
Do that many people ride fixed with no connection to the pedals? I didn't realize it, so I figured I would appeal to the omniscient (not really) knowledge of the forum
thanks
(btw: i ride with clips & straps)

Same way you ride a normal bike. Put your feet on the pedals and push down on the front one.

Notice that most if not ALL fixed bikes with platforms have a brake too.

if they don't then they should ALL have a brake, it's really hard to stop effectively if you only have platform pedals.

when i converted my raleigh and was too broke for new pedals, i rocked platforms for a long time. you can skid on platforms and stop well too. its all a matter of being willing to slip off and bash your shins while learning.

its possible, i've done it.

I saw two women riding up 1st Ave. yesterday, one had clips, but no straps and the other had platforms. They both had brakes though and were riding at a very slow pace. As long as you are rocking a brake, I see no issue. And it definitely beats the guy who was riding in front of them on a singlespeed with only a front brake.

I ride around campus on a fixed w/platforms and rotafixed cog but I have two brakes. It's not too bad except for the two times that I put my front foot under the pedal to skid and the cog broke loose, taking a huge chunk of skin out of my shin. Sometimes it can get a little hairy trying to brake quickly because you just don't have the control of clipless or clips and straps. For just cruising to class and around campus you can't beat it though.

oh yeah, i guess if you gear accordingly then it's not too bad...it tried it with 52/16 and it didn't last long, you can slow quickly if your cadence is up but once you get going super slow it gets harder to slow down.
i ride 52/18 now and i still don't think i could skid without my clips.

it is a jamaican thing. you hook one foot unter the pedal to pull up.

i run the SPD/platform pedals, with a front brake. i wear mtb shoes when i am doing any serious biking, but street shoes when i am going to class. this setup works fine around campus at lower speeds. it gets iffy with flip-flop sandals tho!

there's a guy i've seen in the boston alleycats who runs platforms/brakeless. Seems to do ok, although every time i see him, his bike has a different fork.

Its more a part of the cost of the bicycles.

Someone with a $200 bike isnt going to spend $200 on shoes and pedals. Also most people who are riding those conversions oh so popular on FGG dont ride long distance or care about riding fast.

Yah-
I run 52/18 and while it is possible it is really tough to skid on platforms.

excellent insight, I never thought of hte jamaican skid (i will still runs clips/straps)

**** all this platform apologetics, its idiotic with no brakes

The other day my stomach started hurting, so I flipped off my clipless and put on platforms. I really didnt want a serious ride, just to go 2 miles to school. It was fine. Much less control, and uphill is a real pain.

Im switching over from clipless to clips for all my commuters though, I've already decided on that one.

--Aaron

I'm the one with the really ugly varsity that was on fgg yesterday. To answer the inquiry, it really just wasn't worth decent peddles. I convinced myself that I like riding fixed and I'm already planning on an upgrade in the near future (probably iro mark v with clips!).

fyi, pedals can generally be moved from bike to bike.