I'm in the midst of finishing up my first single speed bike. Its a late 70's touring frame running a suzue basic hub. I'm running 42/16 free and am going to try the fixed side of the hub eventually.

To the question: Are platform pedals enough? I see that everyone runs clips or clipless but I want to know if that's really necessary. If so, where do I get good clips? How do you tell the difference between good ones and crappy ones? I can't really afford clipless. Heck my whole fix/ss project will total in well under $100 when I'm done and I don't want to go over that really.

Thanks

You'll be fine until you go fixed. I wouldn't consider riding fixed without attaching my feet somehow.

You don't need clips / clipless pedals to ride fixed, most people just seem to prefer that. I don't know why everyone thinks it's in the fixie rule book right under "no visible cycling shorts."

ditto what paul said. I ride unattached all the time and my world has not yet ended.

Bah, you don't need foot retaining garbage! I happily run trials style pedals on my SS MTB for maximum traction, foot or shin!

I run clips on my fixed roadie and track but ran beartraps on those too for some time. Some people are afraid that given the inability to freewheel on a FG, you're pretty screwed should your foot fall off the pedal (the cranks get ahead of you or you have a hiccup in your pedaling that causes your foot to slip off). They may be right, but I never really had a problem.

In short, ride what you like. If you find yourself thinking you'd really like a more positive response from the pedal or you'd really like to be able to pull as well as push or spinning a high cadence becomes a hairy scene, well that's the time to look at foot retaining systems.

....but what about skidding?

can one skid with platforms? not in my experience...

I've done it, you just have to really put all your power into pushing the pedal in the back down.

It's possible, but not pretty. I was doing them at work on Tuesday. You have to push down with your back foot like normal, but hook your front foot under the pedal and pull up. Basically, the pedal is on top of your front foot, and you pull up with your toes. It helps if you lean way forward.

I'll take this opportunity to slip out of my lurker status since I just recently put clips on my fixie.

Platforms are just fine for free wheel single speeds - I did it for about a year and a half.

I retained them when I went fixed recently but, after riding my brother's fixie, I noticed that the clips allow two things that the platforms did not:

1. With clips, you can pull up on your "down stroke" which helps control your speed, particularly on hills.
2. Skidding ... I've yet to do it out of necessity but it sure is fun.

After using a pair of clips that were lying around the house but did not really fit my pedals, I got a pair of MKS track platforms with the matching clips for around $30 new. I usually shy away from product endorsement but these things rule. I had always had trouble clipping in before but these have a nice metal tongue thingy that you can use to flip them around. I clipped in with out even meaning to the first time I rode them. It's like they are hungry for feet or something.

I hope that helps.

Thanks everybody for the great information. In so little time I have learned so much! I know I can ride platforms while SS, my question pertained to riding fixed with platforms. Slartibartfast- thanks for the recommendation of the MKS track platforms. That sounds like what I'm going to need.

Again, thanks everybody for the education. I have alot to learn yet...

The mks pedals are nice and inexpensive and there are allways a few pairs on ebay.. I'de go with them if I were you. The first time I rode my fixie I didnt put my feet in the clips and when i went to stop the pedals went around and my feet fell off them.. it wasnt a nice time.. but then again that was the first time i rode fixed..

You rode my bike?

Busted by way of internet, on a forum. Digital footprint will become a real foot print on the a$$.

I love my new MKS pedals. They spin great and are cheap... I highly recommend them. Toe clips make it much easier to skid, I've not been able to skid without pulling up.

By the way, with the Suzue Basic flip-flop you don't really want to skid anyway. I was skidding on mine for a while and then the threads for the lockring stripped off... I upgraded to a Phil Wood and am extremely happy with it.

I can do it quite easily with my Primo BMX platforms and no straps. I'm not sure if this is just a fortunate fluke from the way that my Caterpillar work boot's thread fits the pins or what, but it's never really been a problem. I don't have to do the 'hook your front foot under the pedal and pull up' thing either.

I guess I'm just lucky.

Same concept as the famous one footed skid with the other foot over the bars. If you can do that with clips, you can easily skid with some platform BMX style pedals.

More good info, thanks! BTW no plans to skid, by any means. I know the Suzue basics have their limitations, besides I'm not into stunts and stuff, they usually get me in trouble!

that's cold ... "join the forum" he says, "everyone's so cool" he says.

so i join and then he calls me out on my first post ... and I was going get him some pie for christmas ... well, he can stick it up his stash pocket now ...

I do it every day. If you are just doing light riding, then platforms are fine.

I use clips without the straps. Part of it is because I lost the straps that went with the pedals but I find it works ok. I can push against the clip but I am not trapped in to the pedal. My fixed gear isn't just for training rides it has become my running around/ cruising bike so I like being able to just hop on and go.

if you have clips/clipless it is so easy to skid especially if you can put your weight over the handlebars (especially with bullhorns). you can skid effortlessly.