carleton

"I walk a lot so I won't use road clipless pedals."

There is a lot of "conventional wisdom" around here, and this is one thing that comes up a lot. It's a social norm / custom of this scene. But, has anyone else ever actually tried to use road clipless pedals and simply removed them and put on regular shoes? I have.

It's only 3 velcro straps. And if you get Triathlon style shoes it's only one strap.


(Shimano SH-TR31. Around $100 or less.)


I can literally kick off a pair of sneakers and strap on a pair of cycling shoes in about the same time it took for me to fasten a motorcycle helmet (back when I had one). And the same goes for the reverse processes.



"But, I don't want to carry extra shoes around."

Those who ride motorcycles don't want to carry helmets around, but that's all part of it. Most of us city riders/commuters ride with some sort of bag anyway. Put the shoes in there.

In my humble opinion, I think it's worth it. It's worth it because of the stiffer soles, better float systems, better pedals, and bigger platforms for power transfer.

Will you guys at least think about it?

Zuma

This ^

yummygooey

I feel like it's not worth it for 90% of my riding during the school year. I'm so busy with school, that the only times I get to ride my bike are to and from campus (I live a couple blocks off campus) and maybe a night ride once a week or so. It makes more sense to me to be able to hop on and off the bike without having to think about switching shoes. Plus, I probably won't benefit from "the stiffer soles, better float systems, better pedals, and bigger platforms for power transfer" very much since I'm spending about 5-10 minutes on the bike at a time.

Depending on where I get stuck in the summer, I'm strongly considering a road shoe/pedal setup. Last summer I was on campus for a research position and I was going on 2 hour rides in the country every day. I definitely think it'd be worth the investment then.

Gyeswho

but what about doing sweet skiiiiidz and hypebeast tricks in them?!

It's true though, clipless is pretty great for the power transfer alone

another option is using mtb clipless

Steev

Did that while I was commuting. Left a pair of shoes under the desk. If you've got a longish commute its worth the effort.

HandsomeRyan

Unless you are racing, SPD's will get you there _and_ you can walk around with minimal discomfort if you wear mountain style shoes.

SPD FTW

WickedOne513

I personally am a college student that has a long commute. So what I do is use some of the DRZ shoes with eggbeaters. That allows me to get good power transfer, while still being able to hope off my bike walk into class then ride to the next one. Before the eggbeaters I was using a pair of SPD clips and pedals but had issue with them unclipping when the cleat would get snow in it during the last snow storm.
If I had a traditional commute I would use a pair or road shoes for even better power transfer, breathability but currently that is not a functional option. But I wont be going to cages any time soon, I prefer performance or appearance. I am not saying that cages cant give close to the same power transfer but that is when they are tightened correctly and most people don't they keep them tight but loose enough to allow there foot to slide out easy.

yummygooey

I am one of those people that don't tighten their straps correctly. I suppose I'm not too concerned about power transfer on my 1 mile "commute", haha.

WickedOne513

Yeah if I only had a mile that wouldn't be a big deal but I do 32 miles round trip, plus the little between classes.

vw addict

After falling on my ass in a gas station buying gatorade on a century ride I have learned just to take off my road shoes when having to walk anywhere. But this is why I have eggbeaters with mountain shoes on my fixed. And actually I use the dh style ones with the platforms and ride around in my flip flops during the summer.

PluperfectArson

I don't mind walking around in my road shoes, but, most of the time, I always forget to throw an extra pair of shoes in my pack.

carleton

I'm talking SPD-SL or LOOK style pedals not MTB pedals.

MTB pedals are the norm around here that I'd like you guys to consider for reevaluation.

vw addict

clipless is clipless bro, what does it really matter if you are using your bike for transportation. I see your point on the track.

dansjustchillin

I can wait to get my new road shoes.

91MF

one day when i have a 'real' bike i'll go to a roadie/trackie clipless setup.
until then, im happy on my commute/around town with my $89 sidi bullet2s and $55 time atac aliums.

i see your point 100% tho.

TejanoTrackie 

I used to do multi-day century rides with spd pedals and walkable shoes, and never had any problems either on or off the bike. I was often riding at a 20+ mph pace and climbing hills out of the saddle. The only time I use "serious" road pedals and shoes is when I'm competing on the track or road, or doing hard training, where I don't get off the bike and walk around a lot. Also, a lot of my bikes do not have any kind of clipless pedal system, and I usually use normal non-cycling shoes with those, except some of my old vintage bikes with toe clips / straps, where I use traditional rigid soled cycling shoes with slotted cleats. Oh, and for off-road riding / racing (MTB and cross), I also use SPD shoes / pedals.

yummygooey

And cranks are cranks. That's why so many commuters and casual riders, like myself, have overkill like Omniums or 75s or any other high quality 144 BCD track cranks on their daily rides, right?

MTB pedals and road pedals are different designs that have their own pros and cons.

vw addict

But when using your bike for transportation it doesn't matter. Just like putting on expensive cranks or deep v wheels, it's just stupid. Oh yeah I forgot, street cred. I have Look's on both my roadies, but all my other bikes have eggbeaters of some form. What are you going to tell me road shoes are 3% more efficient than my cb's on my fixed? Do you think it really matters? I can ride my fixed to the store, get off, walk in, buy my stuff, and get back on and ride home. Do you think I really want to change shoes to go in the store?

Ken Cox

I wear cheap Shimano SPD Mountain Bike shoes and they look and feel like regular athletic walking shoes.

For those who think bike shoes with cleats don't make a difference, you need to experience the difference that "stiffness" makes in fun and ease of riding.

Because modern bike shoes have perfect "rocker" built into them, they walk just like normal shoes.

yummygooey

Or does it? You state it as a fact when it's actually rather subjective.

Why? My Omniums are stiffer than the crap generics that came on my Motobecane, and stiffer than the Truvativ Touros on my GF's Kilo. No, I'm not a track racer, but I like them. So it makes it stupid that I like an expensive crank set enough to put it on my bike?

I'm sure you don't. I wouldn't. But then again, I haven't tried clipless. Maybe one of these days I'll try a road clipless setup that I like enough to make permanent, just like my cranks.

vw addict

why are you posting opinions in this thread then?

TejanoTrackie 

pwned!

yummygooey

Because I see merit in what carleton is saying? Or am I not allowed to post opinions on the internet?

bikessuck

that sounds like a personal preference for someone that has money to blow. A casual ride or commute experience most likely wouldn't change too dramatically with a generic crankset

yummygooey

That's what I'm saying, minus the money to blow part. Well, I guess I did have money to blow, but that's besides the point.

Omniums versus generic, steel versus aluminum versus carbon fiber, clips versus MTB versus road clipless. It's all personal preference.