AlmostTrick

^^^ Triple Win!!!

davlafont

That's an interesting idea. My patent lawyer says I might make a mint...

j/k

kickstart

I mentioned in another pedal thread the possibility of a cleat that could clamp to any type of footwear like an old-fashioned roller skate. Not everybody wants or can afford a closet full of compatible footwear for all conditions.

BTW, it was a post of yours about campus pedals that was the straw that broke the camels back, motivating me to give foot retention one more try. Trouble maker.

spare_wheel

Spds do not imbue the user with special powers, are not especially difficult to use, and are not a commuting badge of honor. They are just pedals.

CliffordK

After years and years of toeclips, I finally made the change to SPDs.
Somewhere I have leather shoes with cleats for the toeclips... what a pain to walk in those.

I don't find the SPDs to be perfect for walking. Fine for errands, but I like to change shoes if I'm planning on wearing them for a few hours off the bike, or perhaps heading out to do outside work. The soles are hard, and more slippery than other shoes, but presumably wear less too (only 1/8" or so and one wears below the cleat). But they are far more comfortable (and safer for walking in) than my old Italian road shoes.

As far as foot retention, (toeclips or SPDs (or others)), I personally like it. I've been riding a bike with the toeclips for so long that I feel very uncomfortable without it. But, I can certainly ride a bike, at least for short distances without it.

I don't know what my average crank stroke is like. I do know that I pull up from time to time, especially when accelerating, climbing a hill, or pulling a heavy load. And, I get a better short-term power boost from the cleats. Once clipped in, I never have to worry about where the feet are.

Good or bad, I wonder if the clips/cleats give better calf muscle exercise, as many people ride with a mid-foot position with flats.

Anyway, I agree that it isn't a one-size-fits-all thing. Cleats are good for some people. Not necessary for others. I don't see a lot of them around town, but when I did the DRT race, almost everyone had them.

tjspiel

I should be more careful about what I write. I'm not sure I can handle the responsibility that goes along with someone actually paying attention.

Not everyone likes campus pedals. I was pretty luke warm about mine when I first got them, - before I figured out that they do hang a certain way which makes clipping in more reliable. For some early winter riding I replaced them on my fixed gear with a set of cheap pinned platform pedals. The weather is starting to get nice enough that I can put them back on again.

Looking forward to it.

tjspiel

Just because they didn't give you any special powers...

I can now turn invisible and travel through time.

noglider 

Can we close the thread now? If I say cleats are better, you can bust that as a myth, but if I say I like them, you can't. Why can't we have our own preferences and leave it at that?

RoderWrench

I'm experimenting with velcro.

AlTheKiller

In true Mythbusters fashion, a completely unscientific approach was used one time, to form a very strong opinion and claim busted/plausible/etc... bravo

As a guy who commutes on both platforms and SPDs, and did a few years of toecage commuting I can say one thing for sure, the OP got most of it wrong.

kickstart

"Most of it wrong" with no explanation?
My post was a less than serious attempt to share my impression of SPD pedals, and address some of the blind enthusiasm, and bike shop sales pitch that over emphasizes its advantages while glossing over their limitations.

gregjones

With no thought of agreement with either side of any safety or efficiency issues.....

I just got back from my first ride on the 324s that I got yesterday. This makes the sixth model of SPD pedals from 2 manufacturers that I have used. They are BY FAR the easiest "clipping" of the pedals that I have used. I took the wrench with me to adjust them and stopped within the first half mile to increase the tension.

HiintheSky

Im no stranger to clipless pedals, having tried several different brands and models. In the end however im a fixed gear addict who cant stand being attached to his pedals. Clips and straps for me. Distance and speed are no issues at all for me. Granted im not racing but more frequently on and off the bike with a lot of in traffic riding. I wont ever clip in again, i just love the freedom of flat pedals too much.

ItsJustMe

I've ridden with them for about 10 years, and I'm ambivalent about them. To me they're a mixed bag compared to toe clips. I don't think I would change to SPD if I had to go through the expense of pedals and shoes again, I'd probably just keep riding with toe clips.

Since I have them on both of my bikes anyway I'll probably just keep riding with them, though I do switch to platforms for the dead of winter when I'm riding with big stompy boots.

wphamilton

Let us know how it works out for you. It was about 6 years ago I showed off my velcro non-clicky clipless on a thread here ... no one was impressed. Including me. But I can't help wanting to revisit the idea from time to time. Let's see what you come up with.

Phloom

I use these for my clipped as in old school clipped pedals and my daily commuter with simple flat pedals. One of my best acquisitions ever.

Archwhorides 

I commuted with pinned platforms for many years for the conventional reasons. When my office moved further away and I increased my cycle commuting up to 4 days/week+, I started to experience severe cramping of my leg muscles during evenings and early mornings. I switched to clipless on the advice of a cycling friend, and the cramps disappeared in short order. Coincidence?

Phil_gretz

I ride clipless on all of my bikes, mostly because I've already invested in the various shoes, pedals, neoprene booties with cleat cut-outs, etc. But I agree with what @wolfchild says ^. If I were recommending a starting point for a newly commuting acquaintance, it would be simple platform sans pins.

noglider 

I've been using SPD for many years, and I finally got a pair of these pedals. I agree. I never should have waited.

Archwhorides 

LOL, I tried the Shimano M-324 for a few days and didn't feel the love, happier with two-sided Ritchey SPD mountain-biking pedals. Just goes to show, there is no accounting for taste in pedal selection!

HardyWeinberg

I don't see any cycling shoes as usable off the bike in any meaningful way, the rigid sole is a killer for me, even with the superfeet inserts that I love.

Steely Dan

that greatly depends on the shoe in question. and the person too, i suppose

my recently deceased shimano sh-mt22 SPD shoes lasted 8 years of daily riding and walking as my main everyday shoe.

i couldn't eve begin to calculate how many thousands of miles i walked in them.

i personally think that qualifies as "usable off the bike in a meaningful way".

alathIN

Chris Froome took an unexpected hill run recently in his clipless cycling shoes, and it turned out OK for him.

mcours2006

My SPD shoes are fine for walking around the grocery store, which is the only place I use them for walking...well, I did have to walk up and down a 25% dirt hill one time. They work fine for that purpose, and immensely superior to SPD-SL shoes.

I wouldn't walk around work with them on all day long. But for short periods, they're fine.

gsa103

Once the pedal axle loosens up some they'll gain a preferred orientation (usually SPD side up).

And yes, on any hard, uneven surface SPD pedals are going to make some noise. That's the nature of the metal cleat.