billnuke1 

andrewclaus

Using stiffer sole inserts like Superfeet can help when cycling with lightweight hiking shoes on some pedals.

Sometime in the late 1900s I switched from my old platform pedals to clipless. About ten years later I switched back. After trying both, I found that walking shoes and toe clips fit my travel style better. And for some reason, I got bothered having different pairs of shoes for what are simple activities.

billnuke1 

AngeloDolce

I just finished a tour from Portland OR to Los Angeles using platforms and street shoes, no problems.

I've pretty much always ridden in street shoes, used to use toe clips 20 years ago but have been riding other bike with platform pedals since then.

davester

I hate the idea of having to carry a whole extra pair of shoes and then needing to change them for just walking around, so I would never use clipless pedals on a tour (I don't consider spd shoes to be suitable for any type of extended walking around). I do however prefer to ride with toeclips and straps (with the straps loose) rather than platforms just for keeping my feet mildly retained in the right spot on the pedal. This is especially useful on bumpy gravel/dirt roads where your foot can easily slip off simple platform pedals if you're not careful.

Pulling up on the pedals is not something that I ever do or would want to do.

redbagsrambler

I gave up clipless years ago and went back to toe clips and straps. No regrets. I like having stiff soles when I pedal so I still wear bike specific SPD type shoes, but without installing the cleats. This makes walking around a little easier when off the bike during breaks, etc. I also carry a pair of very lightweight, compressible and comfortable Ecco shoes for when the day's riding is over.
But as others have said, this is all pretty much a personal preference sort of thing.

52telecaster

Platforms and new balance for me!

jefnvk

+1, love mine. Ive used the 324 and 530 as well, like the platform side of these much more.

FWIW, I spent most of France clipped in on the left and riding flats on the right. Occasionally I swapped feet, and I was unclipped on both FAR more than clipped in on both. I've come to realize it simply doesn't matter to me, a stiff sole matters far more than foot retention.

If I were going pure platforms, I really like the Race Face Chesters I have on my fatty.

SPD negates a lot of that, at least during the day, but I get you. It was a pain carrying a second pair, and even if no one else knew, I still felt my cleats on marble floors....

BigAura

Nope. I've done my last couple of tours using flat pedals...no issues.

khutch

I switched to pinned platforms and five ten shoes two riding seasons, two centuries, two RAGBRAI's ago and I am perfectly happy with them for any distance I can ride in one day or on consecutive days. It's a wonderful way to power a bicycle as long as you're not trying to win the Tour.

DIY masochist

I put BMX pedals with velcro straps on my touring bike and I'm a total convert. They're wide enough for size 13 street shoes, way easier to adjust than clip/straps, and you can still pull up on them when you want to. You can also ride them upside down until you get up to speed and flip in.

jackb

BMX pedals with pins from Nashbar and whatever shoes I feel like wearing. I like the freedom of moving my foot around as well as just being able to take my foot off the pedal when I stop. Stopped using clipless years ago, but still have some toe clip and pedals in the garage, though I don't use them anymore.

jefnvk

I did forget one big drawback: you'll have loads of people on trails and rrst areas the country over telling you you should really get a set of clipless, for reasons X, Y, and Z

I thought BMX bikes used a bit different pedal threading size (1/2"), is this not actually the case?

fietsbob

a 3 piece crank & BB is offered , on many BMX bikes these days,
not all are one piece.

revcp 

+1. I've successfully toured with this combination on my Surly Troll and Shimano Saint pedals. Also, I just acquire a new (to me) touring bike with original pedals. I thought I would try them out, especially as they were outfitted with MKS Half Cages. I also switched to Freerider Pros, which have a stiffer sole than the regular Freeriders I had used. Fabulous combination.

zacharyhoyt

I do my biking in the summer in sandals and in winter in boots. I have size 16 feet, so bike shoes are not an easy or affordable option and I have never worn them. My longest day was last summer in sandals, 117 miles towing a canoe. I did have a tailwind, though I also gained about 1500 feet over the day. I find sandals very comfortable for riding, they let the air and water in and out easily and they make it easy to hop into a convenient river or lake to cool off without having to worry about socks and shoes.
Zach

stardognine

I used Tri-Color 600 semi-platforms for quite awhile, then scored some Deore DX platforms a couple months ago. These have the teeth for grip, and the smoothest bearings I could ask for. 😘
The only drawback, the bearing assembly and spindle body, are definitely directional. Meaning, they weigh more leaning in one direction than the other, so you have to get your feet on right. I'm probably not saying that the way I mean, lol.

DropBarFan

Out of curiosity I looked up large size bike shoes--Shimano & Sidi supposedly make some 50/52 size but they seem hard to find. Customs are pricey of course. But I find that street sandals can work pretty well for cycling; with a couple pairs of wool socks they're good down to ~25° F.

Bang0Bang00

https://www.ynotmade.com/en/shop/pedalstrap/

Hopefully someone mentioned these already.

There are few pieces of equipment I'd trust my life to. City Commuting in traffic on a fixed in running/skateboarding shoes with these is doing just that. I've been riding them for a few years. Love them.

Great design. Great build quality. I would sell all my clipless stuff if I wasn't planning on going back to the track. They take a bit to break in or adjust, but that's because they're rock solid.

They're worth every penny.

TiHabanero

Zacharyhoyt, I commute in sandals almost exclusively, and in cold weather I use light hikers. Can't say enough good about sandals for riding. Never considered them for long distance stuff, but now that has changed.

DropBarFan

They look more substantial than the Power Grips & with 2 mounting straps (vs 1 large one) perhaps easier to fit on avg pedal.

u235

I'm not a big tour guy like others but I ride 300-450 a month and I've done a few 5 day 400 milers. I can do either clipless or platforms on long tour style riding with no problem with either. My clipless setup is dual sided PD-T8000 and SPD sandals and my non clipless setup is platforms with some type of breathing draining water shoe like the Columbia Drainmaker. When I go clipless, the sandals are all I need and good off bike comfort and only minor clicking and have no need to carry additional shoes. I wear them riding in winter, summer, dry, wet, on and off road. Adjust or change socks based on conditions.
My thoughts on dual sided pedals... I love them when I have SPD shoes, I can clip or not. I don't like them with regular shoes, I get the clip side way too much and have to fiddle with it. Even with the T8000 that has a top notch real platform side. If I want to use my regular shoes for a day ride or trip, I spend 5 minutes and swap pedals.

Everyone has their reasons. None of which may be an other persons reasons. I don't have foot pain issues with even the softest flimsy shoes so the choice is nice.

Trevtassie

I wear Shimano SPD trekking boots, MT-09s. no problems doing long hikes in those. Vibram soles. Until the soles really wear out the cleats are just below the surface. I carry the inserts to replace the cleats for long hikes on rough country. Our longest hike last trip was 15km return, with 1480m elevation gain. So yeah, steep and long, (and in bear country). I'll fit the cleats when we finish travelling at the start of a trip, and if we are doing something like a days hiking or returning home I put the covers back on. Basically the MT-09 has the same sole stiffness as my Scarpa SLs , which is what good hiking boots need, a stiff sole. Never had any foot problems but did get the usual screaming walking muscles from being aerobically fit from the bike, but using untrained walking muscles.... The other bonus is they are Goretex lined. If you put your rain pants over the top your feet stay dry when you are riding.
I did tour in a pair of 5Tens once, one of the soles broke in half when I was hiking, which kind of sucked, luckily it was near the end of a tour. Plus the thing that made them good with pinned pedals, the flat sticky soles meant they were as slippery as anything on mud and wet rocks.

Bang0Bang00

Exactly! I took a close look at the imitation brands trying to save a few bucks and it's just not worth it. The difference in quality of the webbing is extreme.

Huge range in shoe accommodation too.

Velcro works for NASA, so Ynot?

I'm sorry. You're welcome.