JoeyBike

Point the bike downhill. Clip in. Make a U-Turn when it is safe.

hueyhoolihan

a tour is a perfect time to learn to ride clipless. safe conditions and lack of traffic should make things safer and easier. you'll have it down in no time.

sstorkel

I'd suggest buying more traditional bicycling shoes. There are lots of options for good SPD-compatible shoes. Sidis are very nice and priced accordingly. I'm a big fan of Specialized shoes. I've been using a pair of Specialized Comp MTB shoes for the last four years; they're the best cycling shoes I've ever owned (better than the current Comp MTB, IMHO).

If you want something that looks more like a normal shoe, you might take a look at the Specialized Tahoe Sport. It looks like a hiking shoe, but Specialized claims that the sole is just as stiff as the current version of the Comp MTB. Shimano's MT-series trekking shoes also look like hiking shoes, though my experience with the MT-31 shoes suggests that the soles aren't stiff enough for long-distance riding. A stiffer sole will help prevent hot spots, though it does compromise walkability a bit. I've walked for miles in my Specialized shoes (Thank you, defective Continental Gatorskin) and was fine, but I'm not sure I'd want to use them for an all-day hike.

benda18

They don't require you to learn some technically difficult move, you just kick your heel out and put your foot down. I think the challenge is that you have to remember "heel out" each time you need to stop, whereas platform you don't have to remember anything. It only takes one fall for you never to forget that.

Your second fall will remind you that when coming to a stop you need to keep the weight of your bike leaned towards the side you commonly put your foot down on. You'll never forget that trick again either.

cplager

To emphasize what was said above:

* Clipping in is about comfort and control more than efficiency.

* Yes, buy clipless pedals now. If you aren't comfortable with them or decide you don't want to use them on the trip, don't.

andrewclaus

I just recalled that I made my move to clipless while actually on a X-C tour. My old running shoes wore out and I needed shoes. A bike shop in Missoula had some on sale that fit, as well as some cheap SPD pedals, which were relatively new back then. I don't recall any problems at all making the change. When those shoes wore out, I was surprised at how much it cost to replace them. Since I had an empty wallet and still had some old toe clips and platform pedals, I changed back and didn't really notice a difference in the ride and my feet were much happier. I still have the SPD pedals and if I ever find a biking shoe I want and can afford, I can change back.

I now see fellow riders who spent more on shoes and pedals than I did on my entire bike.

The decision isn't all about efficiency. Comfort and cost came into the equation for me.

dengidog

Definitely not for me (but I´m an old dog who has trouble learning new tricks) for 2 reasons...

My bike has toe overlap which has taken me forever to learn. I love the bike, but it was definitely not what I was expecting. I can´t imagine how much trouble being clipped in would cause due to my own (not the bike´s) normal clumsiness.

More importantly, what happens if it´s an emergency situation? Again, my luck kicked in and I was hit by a passenger bus (like a Greyhound) which sent me flying. Had I been clipped in, there´s a good chance I would have been impaled on the handlebars instead of bouncing relatively unharmed on my fat a**. Obviously, coulda, shoulda, woulda, can´t decide your riding comfort and I wouldn´t dream of telling anyone not to clip in, but it´s just not for me. I did buy a pair of shoes without the clips for riding and they helped a lot with the numb toe problems.

Go with your own comfort. The poster who said bring both and then send back the one you like least had the best idea, IMHO. You never know what you´re going to actually like until you put them to the test on the open road. Good luck!

(43 days and counting to my next adventure...whoo hoo!)

sstorkel

Doubt it. I've been hit by slow-moving (5-10mph) cars twice while clipped to my pedals (Shimano PD-M520). In both cases, my shoes popped off of the pedals and the bike and I ended up in different places. Clipless pedals do not attach your feet to the pedals permanently; most are designed to resist the minimal amount of force a normal human can generate while pulling up during the pedal stroke. Worst case, you might get knocked out of your shoes, but even that I wouldn't spend much time worrying about...

dengidog

Thanks for telling me that! While I´ll stay with my klutz-proof method (no clips) for now, it´s one less thing to worry about in case I should ever change my mind...when it comes to bicycle riding, I´ve learned to never say never

(42 days and counting to the next adventure...but who´s counting?)

Northwestrider

I've tried clip less for a few years , then switched back to platform pedals. It will not take you long to get used to clip less , but IMO it isn't worth it in any way for me. It adds a bit of complication, and on tour I prefer simple. I use normal Keen Sandals for everything, riding walking, hiking . No other footwear , on tour saves space and weight. Where are you heading for your tour?

phughes

I prefer the inconsistency of foot position offered by platform pedals. I find it to be an advantage on long days. I hate being stuck in one position. Platform pedals with the studs stick very well to shoes. As you said, it is all up to the individual and what they prefer.

phughes

I did a tour wearing Crocs Crosstrails with a pair of platform pedal with studs. The studs stuck nicely to the Crocks so no slipping around. They were extremely comfortable in the heat and after a rain it took a very short time for my feet to dry. No soggy feet.

Northwestrider

+1 ^ This

JoeyBike

HaHa! I am wearing Crocs right now! Never really thought of cycling any distance in them. I have used them for camp shoes, slippers, and long car road trips so I can kick them off in the car easily. I'll have to try them out next rainy ride on my platforms.

Check this one out. Been wanting to give this Croc-like camp shoe a try for walking. Looks like they should work for platforms as well as a Croc.



What's the Most Versatile Camp Shoe? | Gear Guy | OutsideOnline.com

sstorkel

I find that nothing makes my knees quite as sore as the inconsistent positioning offered by a platform pedal or a clipless pedal with too much float.

I started riding on platform pedals and had knee problems on longer rides. Switched to SPD pedals, which offer minimal float, and still had problems. Thought the lack of float was a problem so I bought expensive adjustable-float road pedals and still had problems. What worked? I eventually went back to SPD pedals, spent the time to get my cleat position right, and haven't had any problems since!

My theory is that a pedal with too much float allows my knee to wander around quite a bit during the pedal stroke. Repeat that poor pedal stroke thousands of times and the knee starts to get sore. With a clipless pedal, I think my knee travels along a more consistent path during the pedal stroke. Minimal float makes sure that path stays essentially the same from one revolution to the next. Now that I've dialed in the cleat position, something I didn't do the first time I tried SPDs, I can ride as long as I want without having to worry about knee pain. As an added bonus, being clipped in makes me feel like I have more control of the bike and makes it significantly easier to spin at the higher cadences (90-100rpm) that my body seems to prefer.

phughes

Interesting, but I think I will stick with Crocs. For those looking for an easy pair of shoes to carry with them, I have these: Soft Star Shoes - Smooth Black Dash RunAmoc | Soft Star Shoes They are barefoot shoes. I used to run barefoot and like not having thick unyielding soles. If you are not used to being barefoot it can be tiring at first. Soft Star Shoes have a variety of minimalist shoes of differing styles. They have a very thin sole, I opted for the 5mm thick Vibram sole. That is the thickest sole offered. The shoes are light and collapse thin, and can even be rolled. I travel with them a lot since they can easily be packed in a suitcase.

phughes

I think you are missing some of my point. With the pedals I have, my feet do not slip, and there is no float. I can however reposition my foot if for some reason it gets uncomfortable, on a 70 mike day, I like that. With a platform pedal that has studs, your shoes stick to them well enough that you can easily use a high cadence with no movement of the foot. With clipless, you are locked into one position, period, not something I like.

sstorkel

I understood your post completely, I simply don't agree with it. Sadly, it seems like you've missed the entire point of mine: I've tried the pedals you prefer and found they simply don't work for me. The problem is that every time I put my feet on platform pedals, they end up in a slightly different (usually non-ideal) position, which invariably leads to knee pain if I'm riding more than 20 miles. With clipless pedals, my foot always ends up in the same position, which seems to work well for me. It might also work well for other people who experience knee pain due to an imperfect pedal stroke.

Did I suggest anywhere that you should switch pedals? Nope! If you're happy with platform pedals, then by all means: keep using them.

phughes

Gotcha. I understand. I was just making the point that with a good pair of platform pedals your feet won't slip. You have to use what works for you. For me, being stuck in one position for an extended period of time is uncomfortable and leads to issues. I understand if it doesn't for you.

My thoughts on this are similar to that of running as well. I found that with an over supportive shoe I had more issues, I suffered from shin splints, after first training a while barefoot to work on proper stride, I began wearing a less supportive and more flexible shoe, I no longer had issues, and still don't. I began wearing Nike Free 5.0s then went to Nike Free 3.0s. Because I have two webbed toes on each feet I couldn't use the Vibram Five Fingers. I finally modified a pair and travel with them since they pack small. When you run, your feet don't hit the same way each time, and as long as you condition yourself, you won't have injuries. When you ride, I feel one position puts you in the risk of repetitive stress injuries more than if you can vary your position. If your position isn't correct on a platform pedal, you likely won't pedal that way long and will adjust. Once you are in a good position, your shoe will stick to a good platform pedal. The adjustment happens naturally when you put your foot on the pedal.

The advantages of a platform pedal makes them my choice. I can wear any shoe, I can move on the pedal if so desired, nothing in my shoe can break and render them useless, they are better for around town where the roads and traffic are very bad, oh and I like them.

Okay going to go ride now. Ride what you want and enjoy the ride.

Cheers

fietsbob

Alpine Life MEN CAPSICO

making a shoe for those who dont bother to put their shoes on properly ?

but they maybe just the thing for putting on to leave the tent to go Pee, in a campground, where they have a toilet .

sstorkel

Seems unlikely. By my calculations, I turn the cranks over about a million times per year (7 hrs/week, 28 weeks/year, 90+rpm avg), which seems pretty repetitive, yet I haven't had a single repetitive stress injury in the six years that I've been using my current pedals. Most professional bicycle racers use clipless pedals, ride much more than I do, and don't seem to have many problems with RSI. Of course, if you ride clipless pedals and don't have your shoes/pedals/cleats adjusted properly, then all bets are off...

alan s 

Lots of hand positions is great...lots of foot positions is not so great.

phughes

I understand all that. What I also know is that years ago we didn't have clipless technology, and our platform pedals weren't as good as those we have access to today, and yet we managed to ride long days without injury. I think many people, especially younger riders who always had access to clipless pedals, seem to think you cannot possibly ride, and ride safely without them, only because that is what they are told. Unfortunately that isn't true, we rode just fine without them for centuries, doing centuries. If I were three weeks out from a tour, I wouldn't want to make a switch to clipless, good or not, and yes, I am not against clipless. They are just not for me.

As I said, ride what you want to ride. Clipless pedals are great, no denying it. My platform pedals are nice, I also have ridded many thousands of miles with no injuries, with platform pedals. And yes, the minor changes in foot position can be nice at times.

JoeyBike

Maybe for some people. Most clipless systems have large amounts of built-in "float" so one or both feet can move a bit through the pedaling cycle. It is likely that yours does too, unless you specified NO FLOAT when you made your purchase. I use SPDs and my feet move all over the place depending on if I am on the saddle, standing and pedaling, or riding with no hands. The built-in float also makes setting up your clips much easier. You just have to get within a range of possible foot movement and your feet do the rest. If you have a no-float system, you gotta nail the adjustment perfectly and know that your feet never move.

I find that under most circumstances a no-float system is going to cause injury, especially to cyclists who try to make the adjustments themselves. Pros have an entourage of fit people setting up their bikes for them who (hopefully) know what they are doing. The rest of us better use some float.

The "X" factor with platforms is the contact area. Platforms are so large these days that your foot can be positioned on them almost anywhere and still be perfectly happy. I use both systems - SPD and Platforms - depending on the bike. I do big miles on either system. The only difference I notice is occasionally I have to reposition a foot on my platforms, and I can't bunny-hop with platforms nearly as well as I can with SPDs. But with practice, it can be done. Sam Hill won a world championship in downhill freestyle racing on platform pedals a few years ago. He won't pedal a whole lot but his feet do need to STAY on the pedals over rock gardens at 40mph and 30 foot drops. It can, and has been done.

Jaeger99

I'm not sure why people speak of "learning" to rid clipless like it's any kind of a challenge. 15 minutes in an empty school parking lot - clipping and unclipping both feet - and I was good to go. And I'll never go back to flat pedals. Studies be damned, I know what my legs are telling me. And I sure don't miss my feet moving around on the pedals - and occasionally slipping off.