I read on Sheldon Brown's site that you should put the pedals you normally use on your fixed gear as well. I have my first fixed gear bike on the way right now and I am trying to decide what to use. I have never ridden a fixed. I have Look Keos on my road bike and Crank Brothers egg beaters on my mountain bikes. I am leaning towards the egg beaters because this bike will be a commuter, but in that case, should I just put clips on. I am concerned with how easily the egg beaters release. Will the be dangerous on a fixie?

I have extras in all three options, so I don't have to buy anything. I am just wondering what you all would recommend.

Many thanks

You had it right the first time. If you are just starting out on a fixed gear, I would suggest clips+straps. Unless you are super comfortable unclipping from your egg beaters you are going to want the option of being able to yank your foot out, especially when learning trackstands, or riding backwards at all.

Clips and straps. Cheap ones. I've had pedals stolen.

Thanks. Both good points. This is a cheapo bike so that I can lock it up outside in the city. If I like it, I will probably build out a nicer one over the winter.

Oh if it's a beater and an outside dweller, throw some solid cheap platforms and clips and straps on it.

I'd go with the eggbeaters. its really not harder to get out of those than it is clips and straps, my main concern would be in the commuting part of it. how comfortable are you walking around in cycling shoes all day or do you have the ability to change shoes once you arrive at your destination. Thats the only reason i use clips and straps personally.

It's a beater. Bikes Direct even! Actually, it seems like some people on this forum have had good experiences with them other than bottom brackets, but those are easy enough to replace.

egg beater candy c are excellent for fixed gear use. they don't release too easy like you think. i use them on all 3 of my bikes. i used them brakeless for most of last year, no problems.

I have two pairs of shoes, my real mountain biking shoes and a pair of black Shimanos that are pretty discreet looking. I can definitely wear them in stores and pubs. I think I am leaning towards the platforms and straps for now. It looks like the bike actually comes with a set too. I thought it was without pedals.

I'll third (fourth?, fifth?) clips and straps. At some point you may want to put your eggbeaters on. I know I did ;-)

That said, I reverted to Sylvans because I like to get on and ride and then walk around in my requisite Sambas.

bf

I use mountain shoes (recessed cleat) for the most part, great for walking and at-work. I run eggbeaters on all my bikes and I'd go for it if that's what you're used to - only when using my road shoes with scratched/gnarled up cleats have I had an unclip by accident, and that's when I was doing some unusually hard cranking when trying a sideways hockey-stop type thing. This is other than bad technique where I've rolled my ankle in a skid and had the cleat pop out.

Go with what you feel comfortable with, sounds like you're already comfortable with 'beaters - frankly I've never had a problem. Clipless 0mph fallovers happen, you'll do it in clips too I'm sure, unclipping isn't a big deal and you should be accustomed to all that anyway.

Thanks. As I mentioned, I ride two kinds of clipless, but the more I think about it, I haven't used toe clips for any real riding in 18 years. I think I have ruled out the keos. Those will stay for road cycling and I love them for that. I guess I just need to try clips and egg beaters and see which I prefer.

I guess it is hard to believe that I have never been on a bike without a free wheel/hub in the 35 years I have known how to ride a bike.

I would go with the eggbeaters, at least to start with. A lot of the process of learning to ride fixed is getting the mechanics of getting on, getting off, starting and stopping under control. Stick with what's familiar and get the mechanics down to the point that you're comfortable, then go to the clips and straps if you see fit.

If you already have extras in all three options why don't you just try each and go with what feels best? FWIW I feel I can get out of my spds faster and easier than I can in my pedals with clips.

I'm just looking for a good place to start and trying to avoid a few 0 MPH fall overs. I haven't had one of those in years, but I don't doubt that I will on the fixed. Based on what I have seen here, I think I am going to go with the egg beaters. My main concern is that they unclip too easily, but perhaps my cleats are shot. The bike will have brakes too, so maybe it isn't a huge issue.

Thanks again for the help here. Now I just need the bike to show up.

Your Keos will be absolutely fine. You don't need to run clips/straps if you have been riding clipless for some time. People hype it up like clipless on a fixed gear bike is crazy or something but I don't have any problems. I run shimano SPD-SL. I used to run the mountain type spd with no problem either. I'd rather rely rely on a ankle twist rather then having to slide my foot back out of a clip/strap set up if I felt I was going down or losing balance. I learned to track stand clipless as well. Feel like you're gonna fall? Clip out.

MKS-GR9s for the win