adamhenry

I have a MTB with Spank pinned platform pedals and a hybrid with Wellgo pinned platforms. My roadbike had SPD-SL pedals before I recently changed to double sided SPD. I prefer the SPD-SL pedals but they are inconvenient when doing a lot of stoplight to stoplight through town. Platforms are convenient but that is their only redeeming quality. Being clipped is far superior to platforms if you can remain clipped in. I have even considered putting SPD on my MTB even though I do a lot of dabbing in tight maneuvers sometimes.

guadzilla

Anything you would recommend by Shimano or Crank Bros, or anything specific l should look for, other than pins?

I need to fix up my single speed bike, and wanted to have platforms on it. I have yet to find platforms that are decent to ride on, but am open to trying out options that might work better.

Racing Dan

Find a pedal that has shallow pins. Most pinned pedals have (too) tall pins that dig on the foot after a while. And get one that is even and flat or slightly concave. Like the XT flats, for instance.

Kapusta

I have never tried Shimano flat pedals. Crank Bros Stamp are pretty popular. They come in a lot of different versions. I have not tried them.

The other part that is just as important are the shoes. I think a big part of the performance difference a lot of people experience between clipless and flats is the stiffness of the soles. Most shoes made for clipless use have pretty stiff soles compared to sneakers and even hiking shoes (especially in the front half of the shoe).

If you are going to ride with softer soled shoes, then the size of the pedal makes a difference. Mo bigger = Mo better.... at least until you start whacking it on things, but I see that as less of a danger on the road, anyway.

UsedToBeFaster

One is platform the other spd. The shimano version is just ok as the platform side is rather small.

C9H13N 

I have ridden with clipless pedals for many years.

I tried pinned flats (MG-1’s) for the first time a couple years ago and hated them with a passion. Unless you maintain downward pressure all the time, your foot comes right off the pedal. For somebody used to clipless, this is a weird and uncomfortable situation, especially at high speed.

On the other hand, I LOVE vintage road pedals with toe clips, done loosely for easy entry and exit. I can pull up with the trailing foot without losing the pedal, while riding in casual shoes. IMO the best pedals for this are single sided, with the little pointed flipper nub. Not quills, not double sided flats. Something like MKS GR-9/10.

ultrarider7

On the other hand, I LOVE vintage road pedals with toe clips, done loosely for easy entry and exit. I can pull up with the trailing foot without losing the pedal, while riding in casual shoes. IMO the best pedals for this are single sided, with the little pointed flipper nub. Not quills, not double sided flats. Something like MKS GR-9/10.[/QUOTE]

I feel the same way, After riding for years with toe clips, I have been very hesitant to go clipless. On my flatbar Cannondale Quick, I have flat pedals. On my Bianchi Infinito I use toe clips.

I have been tempted to go with clipless on both bikes. If I do, I will probably go with the mountain style clips for ease of getting out of the pedals, as I do a lot of urban riding.

ultrarider7

I 'think' I can tell the difference between riding the platform pedals on my Cannondale and my toe clip pedals on my Bianchi. I am about 90% sure I am going to order the Shimano PD-M9120 and change over both bikes to that style.

hydrationnation

I feel the same way, After riding for years with toe clips, I have been very hesitant to go clipless. On my flatbar Cannondale Quick, I have flat pedals. On my Bianchi Infinito I use toe clips.

I have been tempted to go with clipless on both bikes. If I do, I will probably go with the mountain style clips for ease of getting out of the pedals, as I do a lot of urban riding.[/QUOTE]

Funny that you write this.
I received my new bike yesterday and to my surprise it came with toe clip pedals.
I did only a 3.5km ride yesterday. But I already feel that the toe clips point me into a clipless solution and away from flats.

Carbonfiberboy 

I rode with flats when I was a kid, thought nothing of riding 50 miles on my JC Higgins 3-speed. When I got my first derailleur bike, of course there were no clipless, so it came with rat-traps, clips and straps. That was a revelation, all of a sudden just vast power available which I never had with flats. In traffic, I rode with one tight strap, one loose one, but tightened both down out on the road. So when I restarted biking later in life, the first thing I did was replace the pedals on the used 10-speed I bought with SPDs.

If one wants to ride in tennies, then of course clips and straps, and that works well for an errand bike. Out on the road, clipless are the way to go. Even for an errand bike, MTB shoes and clipless work fine, except for the hassle of changing shoes, which I admit is substantial.

The essential difference between clips and straps and clipless is safety, clipless being much, much safer.

CoogansBluff

Not saying you're wrong, as you've been riding longer than I have, but if clipless pedals don't make me faster, then I should've stayed with platform.

I fell 3-4 times the first week while practicing with clipless pedals, and I've fallen twice since then in the past 1.5 years since making the switch. I don't expect to fall much any more, as I've slowly learned my lessons, but I would've thought the fall risk to a new clipless rider is greater than the risk of repetitive stress injuries related to platform pedals.

Sure seems like I'm a tad faster with clipless, but maybe it's placebo effect.

Someone once posted here that clipless pedals are 80 percent hype, 20 percent performance. I always thought that was about right.

ultrarider7

One of the big reasons I have delayed getting into the clipless family. At this age, I would prefer not to fall any more than absolutely necessary! I know people worry about toe clips, but that's what I am used to, and frankly it's been years since the last time I felt like I was going to fall due to not getting out of the clip in time.

jackb

BMX pedals are platform with small screws that act as spikes so there is no slippage. I have them on my road bike, mtn. Bike, and touring bike. . Wear any shoes or sandals you like. No snapping in or twisting out. They work great. I wold never go back to clipless or toe clips.

MinnMan

Question for those of you who favor flat pedals on a road bike.

Yes, I get that if you have a smooth pedal stroke you can "spin" with flat pedals.

But honestly, how about power out of the saddle?

Seattle Forrest

Riding longer doesn't mean I'm not an idiot.

You can definitely sprint faster in clipless pedals. But 98% of a typical ride isn't a sprint, and there's no difference there.

When you stand to climb, a foot slipping off the pedal would crash you, clipless prevent that. They let you pull the pedal up at a red light to the position you want for takeoff. They show everyone around that you're a real cyclist. They make a real satisfying click noise when you engage them. They give you a bigger platform which can avoid foot pain if you've got cheap flexy shoes. Overall they do a lot to improve the cycling experience.

The ones that have power meters in them will make you faster though.

Fiery

Regarding repetitive stress injuries, platform pedals, with them the foot is free to find the most comfortable position, and to change and adapt the position from ride to ride and during a ride (making any stress far less repetitive). Clipless pedals are not nearly so forgiving.

Tacoenthusiast

Unless you put the cleat in the right position

Kapusta

Right, and I would wager most people will NOT get it in exactly the right place. Luckily for most people it just needs to be in the general ballpark, but some get it wrong enough to matter.

I think the idea that locking your foot in a single position is going to REDUCE the chances of repetitive stress injury is a bit nonsensical. Allowing your foot to move around to wherever is the most comfortable at any given time is a much better recipe for avoiding repetitive stress injuries. Basically, reduce the "repetitive" part.

philbob57

With the pins sticking into my Five Tens, I can easily move my crank to any position I wish when I'm at a stop light.

I'm not a mountain biker. Don't they ride their bikes up the hills? If so, don't they pedal out of the saddle?

If you're in competition with other people, I can see wanting clip-in pedals. I'm in competition with myself, and the best way to compare my progress is to stay consistent. I tried SPDs a few years ago. I fell getting used to them, I fell in emergency stops, and I fell at a couple of slippery spots that I did not see on damp roads on the day before I switched back to toe clips and straps. Luckily, I did not fall into the path of a car, but that became a waking nightmare.

When my shoes disintegrated, I couldn't find new shoes that were compatible enough with toe clips, so I went with pinned flats. If you take into account the time lost to falls, I expect I'm faster on the flats than I was on SPDs.

rumrunn6

fwiw got a new pic of my 1/2 clips. wonder if anyone ever used these on the flipside of 1-sided cleated mtb pedals

Fourbtgait

i have similar toe clips I picked up years ago but in plastic and go farther back over the toe. Still use them depending on bike, even on the road bike. Foot comes out easily in emergency, can pedal with lifting stroke, etc. I like my Speedplays on the road bike, except with a bad knee on one leg, stiff foot on the other. Now I am running SPD on the CAAD 9 using Shimano Mtb shoes and much prefer the cleat recessed.
But then I am no longer young, don’t do group rides, compete against myself, only ride up to 50 miles a session and don’t care what others think. Ride in what you like.

Kapusta

Wouldn't the 1/2 clip be prone to dragging on the ground when using the clipless side?

Pizzaiolo Americano 

I am primarily a mountain biker and prefer SPD pedals on my road bike. I use the Shimano PD-ES600. Super light and they give some decent support. Starting out, you can use the SH-56 cleat. With the tension at the lowest setting, your foot will come out at almost any angle. The only thing with starting this way is that you may develop bad habits...I started my wife on that cleat on the MTB and it took longer to get her to learn the correct unclip motion because of it. Here is a link to the pedal I am talking about:

Shimano Road SPD pedal

As far at flats or clips, I prefer clips not because they make me faster (they don't) but because my foot is on the pedal in the same place every time so I don't have to reposition my foot. On the road, I think this makes me more efficient. On the trail, it is important to have your foot in the right place going over technical terrain. You don't always have the option to reposition when things get steep or rough...They also keep my foot secure when riding over rocks and roots.

surak

I can't stand flats for road cycling, and despise pinned even more. Constantly hunting for the right foot position (which pins make harder since I can't make any adjustments without completely taking my foot off), never finding it if I'm riding in the city with frequent stop and starts. Not to mention the pain of slipping off the pedals in unexpected situations.

I went clipless and never looked back. Clipless being worse on the knees is a fallacy. With clipless I can make controlled adjustments that stick, and pick cleats with the right amount of float. I've done 213 miles in one day with zero knee pain with my PowerTap pedals.

rumrunn6

maybe if they were the big full cages w/ straps. anyway, it was a chance idea anyway. I use recessed spd cleats & smooth bottom shoes on my road bike & the 1/2 clips on my hybrid & mtb