I usually use mtb clipless pedals on my bikes. This weekend I'm picking up my first touring bike (Surly LHT 2011) and I'm thinking of just using normal pedals. Lately I've really been questioning the benefit of clipless in general but I also just want to use any shoes. How many of you tourers prefer normal pedals and why? My friend tried to ride on a bike without clipless the other day and his leg kept popping up b/c he instinctively was trying to pedal up.
Also, is there a certain type of normal pedal I should look for? I pretty much never looked at them before but imagine some are better than others. I was thinking about one with a small platform.

thanks

I like clipless. My wife has dual sided pedals but never uses the clipless side.
You might want to consider those Shimano dual pedals.

You could try a find a used quality pedal on ebay.
I've seen some nice pedals, but they are kinda pricey these days
because it's a niche market now.

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list/pedals_and_so_on

I use Shimano A530's on my touring bikes, so I can use street shoes on one side, or clipless on another. I'm extremely pleased with them.

If you don't want clipless at all, you might want to look into platform pedals with toe clips than can be removed.

I can't stand clipless anywhere but in spin class, and it's not a falling thing. My bikes either have track cages or lighweight platform pedals with power grips, and I tend to wear flat and stiff soled tennis shoes or driving shoes. I think Chrome now makes a nice flat, stiff cycling shoe that's good for walking around, I might try those next time I'm shopping. Benefits? Besides not walking around looking like you are wearing your mom's shoes, there are no hot spots, you get alot of side to side positioning or flex if you need it - which I think has saved my knees, different shoes for different rides and temps, you can carry and opt for flip flops/sandels if you dare, on vintage bikes you can work with the OEM pedals, make immediate escapes, if you tightened down you can all the up pull you need. Negatives? the shoe and pedal/restraint combo is not for weight weenies, some shoes will get chewed up by cages and straps, and there is no doubt stroke for stroke clipless are more efficient. If I was worried about maintaining a cadence over 90 over distance I would probably opt for clipless, but 75-85 seems right for me.

You mention side to side positioning. I remember when I first started biking on my cheap ass MTB I used to move my feet a bit for just comfort or change in routine and I don't ever remember having any problems from it. in fact it felt really refreshing. I know some people might say I'm wrong but personally I feel good at 70-80 cadence.

Never tried clipless, because my wide feet make it very difficult to find bike shoes that fit. Used clips for a long time, then took them off last year. Went on a 2,000-mile tour and never once found myself wishing I had left them on. Pedals are MK Sylvans, which get pretty slippery when wet. Might switch them out for something that doesn't have that drawback.

most touring miles .. on steel campag road pedals, toe clips , loose straps..
got my shoes altered to make a slot cleat which was full width of sole,
and an hourglass shape to freely adjust the angle.

and put in some 3/4 length comfortable insoles, in the shoes.

for the above, consider big platform pedals with grip pins sticking up.

My favorites are MKS Stream pedals + MKS half clips (leather version for me)

They're the same as MKS Touring pedals by narrower. The half clips are easy to get out of quickly (vs full clips), but also allow you to position your feet properly and pull the pedal up to a good starting position if you've come to a stop.

I use clipless, but lately I've started thinking that it doesn't matter, especially if you use a typical pair of clips.

You will still want a stiff sole though. Converse All-Stars may not make the cut.

If I'm going to ride for speed, performance and basically a workout, i'll use my clipless shimano pedals and shoes.
I'll use regular pedals with toe clips if I'm riding for transportation (getting there without being sweaty or tired) or if I don't feel like putting on my super suit and going down my pilot's checklist.

I am getting into riding more with regular shoes and toe clips. I will soon get a stiff comfortable shoe that will allow me to ride to a town and then walk around without problem.

For touring, I you will sacrifice performance, but the benefit is great if you intend to walk around a great deal or hiking a bit. I'm not going to lie, I KNOW that clipless pedals makes the riding easier. i've done the same route with regular pedals and clipless, and i was more tired without them.

BUT - it feels dam good to be able to get off your bike and walk around comfortably, not feeling like a duck.

I have always used a set-up like Fiestbob. I have a metal platform over the top to stop the cage bitting into regular shoes. I prefer the idea of clipless, but I broke my ankle and can't get the offset I need. So when the time came to upgrade I just gave it a pass. I use cycling sandals that have very stiff soles and prefer those and their efficiency.

I need to install some White industry pedals I bought:

https://www.whiteind.com/pedal.html

These look good:

https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...g-236g-pr.html

I have the Shimano convertible (clipless/platform) with MTB shoes and do feel they are more efficient than the old tennies/platforms I used to ride on. However, that's probably more because the tennies were so flexible, as well as the platforms being rather slick so my shoe slid around on them some, especially when wet. But my gf's new Novarro has these big platforms with good grips and I suspect they would be great with a shoe that has a rather stiff sole. I'll stick with what I have for now but wouldn't be opposed to trying that out some day. When it comes to platforms, I'd guess that bigger is probably better, to spread the pressure around.

I like these.

hey for once Im not the old fart luddite--I have loved good ol shimano mtb clipless for about 20 years, 19 maybe. There are loads of spd shoes that are more walkable than others, but even my mtn specialized whatsit shoes with really nice stiff soles and great fit for me, are walkable in...not a lot , but into stores etc without any skating.

all I can say is go do some hills with a crrapload of stuff on your bike, with and without clipless, and the added efficiency will show up pretty darn quickly.
Everyone has a preference, but seeing you are used to them, take some sandals along with you and use spd's.
I have some real old ones Shimanos that go back to maybe 92, and a new set of I think 520s, $50 here in Canada, prob less in the States. Simple, light (ish) small and cheap.

or dont

My preferred touring setup:

+

Regardless of what people think, the majority of power in a pedal stroke is directly DOWN. The pulling effort adds virtually nothing to your stroke, just as long as you unweight your pedals, your good. What clipless does well (relative term) is in keeping your feet positioned optimally as your ride. Side effect is knee issues if things don't line up properly, obviously not an issue for flats/clips/etc.

Ive said it once and I'll say it again, clipless is much better suited to racing, which is what it was designed and developed for. Some will disagree, but I don't see any point in using them on a touring bike. People that downplay them have either A) not used flats, B) not tried them with an open mind or C) are not being true to their needs.

or D) Dont agree with your comments and opinions. Tourers schlepping a 30lb bike plus 40lbs of stuff up a mountain and/or all day 100km ride are expending a heck of a lot of energy just like a "racer", so while you are convinced there isnt an efficiency gain I cannot change your view, but I will however take any help in my schlepping, especially up hills.

and E) as we don't have to all wear Chairman Mao uniforms, folks will make up their own minds, going from all opinions if they dont have a chance to try some before on their own.

cheers and good riding no matter what your pedals.

Go big. One of the benefits of platform pedals is (wait for it...) the big platform. It distributes the force nicely across your foot. I have some MKS RMX pedals:


These are nice, but a little slippery compared to BMX pedals with pins. I have some heavy BMX types as well right now, but when I'm feeling flush someday, I might upgrade to the popular Wellgo MG-1:


The only downside to the width is catching the edge in turns, so take it easy when pedaling while turning.

I go for the cheapest metal platforms I can find $12 - ride them until they start grinding and replace 'em, while using Powergrips, and get this, with Hiking Boots. It works for me.

I use these, they work great.

https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...g-pedal/14-053

I used to use clipless (road and mountain type) but always seemed to have hot spots in my foot and some knee pain. Platforms fixed all that, and I haven't noticed any performance difference with my tourer.

I use dual-sided pedals, but in reality I use the clipless side probably 99% of the time anyway. The Shimano MTB shoes are just fine for walking in. In fact, I've done many 20km hikes in them without any problems. It's worth remembering that MTB shoes are designed to support your feet when you're carrying an MTB over logs and other obstructions on MTB trails, so they're not likely to lose much to any other shoe in terms of walking functionality.

Our thoughts on the clipless debate.

https://pathlesspedaled.com/2010/11/y...oing-it-wrong/

I was a fan of being clipped in until a tour where we riding a road that was about 14% grade, loose gravel for a few miles. I could not clip in and out for the life of me and ended up walking. I still think they are great for certain applications, but during our long distance, multi-month tours, the advantages of regular shoes become more obvious.

Russ

Well, 20 years of pedaling in unyielding clipless bike shoes left my feet pretty messed up - it got to where hotfoot would set in after only an hour if pushing at a decent pace or on hills. It got much worse after I quit running and started road cycling 10 yrs ago. Eventually I was wearing orthotics and even getting pain in the balls of my feet when I hiked also, which really set off alarm bells. Apparently the hard-soled cycling shoes with tight toeboxes and small SPD pressure point hadn't done me any favors.

Fortunately there is now a movement back toward healthy, minimalist footwear (even running barefoot!) and I found a younger podiatrist who is helping me return to healthy feet. Minimal soled, flexible shoes with a wide toebox, no more orthotics, and barefeet at home. Plus several exercises designed to strengthen the feet. I'm getting back to cycling with normal shoes and platforms again and the hotfoot is gone. I'd rather lose 3% efficiency and have some normal foot fatigue than force those dogs into hard, stiff soled shoes for extended periods anymore. It feels really good (literally) to get back to basics.

Disclaimer: I still use my Sidi mtn bike shoes and SPD pedals when riding singletrack - I've taken a couple nasty spills riding offroad without being clipped in - but the rest of the time it's free and comfortable feet for me.

wow lots of comments and pedal ideas thanks. I'm not competitive and not a very strong cyclist, any amount of extra push I might be getting from clipping in would have to be really small, it's always been a foot position thing for me personally. The only reason I started wearing them in the first place was I bought a nice road bike and my big feet were hitting the tire sometimes. I do think that wearing clipless has trained my feet to be in the correct location and for that they were worth the effort. I have the two sided spds on mt MTB and yesterday I rode around in normal shoes trying to pay attention to how it felt. I noticed that with good grip you still get to "Pull" you leg back after the downstroke. I might be doing it wrong but for me I use the downstroke and pull for 99% of my power.

It won't hurt to just try pops and see how it goes. I can always change them out later. While it's usually a PITA being flat footed seems to help me on normal pedals. I flat stiff shoe is actually the most comfortable thing I can wear.

really shows how everyone is diff-for me, biking in shoes that are not really stiff in the sole makes my feet hurt, as hardish pedalling makes the soles "bend" downwards, and this bugs my arch. When I replaced my old old Shimano spd a few summers ago with new Specialized mtn bike ones, my feet were immediately more comfortable--partly because tehy fit so well and also cuz of the stiffness.
re:Hot spots, Ive been lucky not to feel that before.

pathless--your example is a perfect one for the times that clipless are not good. I dont really mtn bike that much, but what I have done has shown me that I cant decide what is better, the safeness of having your feet seecurely attached for bouncy sections, the climbing aid (in my opinion) BUT then reg pedals are safer for getting feet off quickly and easily when things are tricky (like your example).....

I can also understand for long long tours like you have done that regular shoes are just plain handy for day to day "stuff". I just really am comfortable with spd but do get out of them whenever I can and always have a pair of sandals to get into.

cheers all, high today of 11c here!

oops forgot to add this one thing that I find to be an advantage to clipless---diff muscle use.
I find that by varying my pedal stroke, I can give diff muscle groups a little break, and just like switching around hand positions is good for neck, back, wrists--by "pedalling" differently, it can be easier on my legs overall after a long day cuz I can change which muscles are working more. The "scraping mud off shoe" motion uses lower calf muscles more, so can give a little break to the "push down pedal" muscles.

any others find this?