Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Clipless or not for touring?

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Clipless or not for touring?

Old 01-17-19, 04:09 PM
  #101  
u235
Senior Member
 
u235's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,185
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 437 Post(s)
Liked 133 Times in 86 Posts
Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg
Having retired from a profession where detail was king, I'd pedantically think they should be cleat pedals.
But thanks for explaining.
To add what others have already said. If you want to make sense of it without getting Freud involved....
The bike culture assumes there is always some type of foot retention device. There are clips which are toe clips or straps and later came a cleat style that did not use clips or straps. There is no third option of neither
Maybe the third option is simply just implied as clipless AND cleatless.

Last edited by u235; 01-17-19 at 04:16 PM.
u235 is offline  
Old 01-17-19, 05:08 PM
  #102  
ablasen57
ablasen
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: West Hartford, CT
Posts: 2

Bikes: Rivendell Atlantis, Soma ES

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Both have their advantages

I have toured recently with platform pedals and with SPD (hybrid pedals). I love the freedom of platforms and being able to wear whatever shoes you want to ride. "Normal" shoes are also better for the time off the bike. They are also better if you have to start and stop a lot (as in urban riding, if you want to ride from camp to dinner, etc.. But if the route is very challenging and/or you have an aggressive schedule, I would opt for clipping in and carrying a pair of Tevas for off the bike.

For platforms, the pedal should be very grippy, and it is better to have grippy shoes. I really like the Velo Orange Grand Cru Sabot pedals. For shorter local rides I have even ridden in Birkenstocks or Tevas.
ablasen57 is offline  
Old 01-17-19, 07:03 PM
  #103  
bobwysiwyg
Senior Member
 
bobwysiwyg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344

Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by u235
To add what others have already said. If you want to make sense of it without getting Freud involved....
The bike culture assumes there is always some type of foot retention device. There are clips which are toe clips or straps and later came a cleat style that did not use clips or straps. There is no third option of neither
Maybe the third option is simply just implied as clipless AND cleatless.
Every "culture" has its jargon.
bobwysiwyg is offline  
Old 01-18-19, 10:01 AM
  #104  
Brett A
Word.
 
Brett A's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Rural New England
Posts: 232

Bikes: Surly Disc Trucker, Orbea Oiz XCountry Bike, Specialized Roubaix, Borealis Echo Fat Bike for Winter, many others out in the barn.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Liked 99 Times in 51 Posts
Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
The cleats on all SPD shoes are recessed. (...) If not recessed enough, the shoe sole is not contacting the pedal.
This simply isn't true (Unless you simply meant all the shoes you've tried yourself). On my mountain biking shoe, the metal cleat is clearly the lowest point, and makes contact with the floor. So when I walk around I sound like I'm wearing tap shoes.The cleats on my touring SPD shoes, OTOH, are tucked up in the sole enough that they do not touch the floor when I walk around, they make no sound.

Also, the contact area between the shoe and pedal varies from model to model. If you look at Crank Brother's Egg Beater pedals, there is nothing on them to contact the shoes beyond the retaining clips. Or the ubiquitous Shimano 520 style have about 0.5 square inch of contact which fits neatly within the recessed area around the cleat, not making contact with the walking surface.

Seems you could find a better shoe/pedal combination that the ones that you describe having trouble with.
Brett A is offline  
Old 01-18-19, 11:46 AM
  #105  
Tourist in MSN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,112

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3426 Post(s)
Liked 1,441 Times in 1,122 Posts
Originally Posted by Brett A
This simply isn't true (Unless you simply meant all the shoes you've tried yourself). On my mountain biking shoe, the metal cleat is clearly the lowest point, and makes contact with the floor. So when I walk around I sound like I'm wearing tap shoes.The cleats on my touring SPD shoes, OTOH, are tucked up in the sole enough that they do not touch the floor when I walk around, they make no sound.

Also, the contact area between the shoe and pedal varies from model to model. If you look at Crank Brother's Egg Beater pedals, there is nothing on them to contact the shoes beyond the retaining clips. Or the ubiquitous Shimano 520 style have about 0.5 square inch of contact which fits neatly within the recessed area around the cleat, not making contact with the walking surface.
....
I have never seen a shoe where the SPD cleats stick out from the sole the way that you describe. What kind of mountain bike shoe do you have? Are you sure it is not from the sole being worn down?

I was unaware that Crank Bros made a SPD pedal, when did they start?

Shimano makes at least two different pedals with a number 520.

When I walk on pavement, I can hear my cleats contacting the pavement because shoe soles flex under weight.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Old 01-18-19, 03:40 PM
  #106  
Paul Barnard
For The Fun of It
 
Paul Barnard's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,844

Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2131 Post(s)
Liked 1,640 Times in 822 Posts
Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
I have never seen a shoe where the SPD cleats stick out from the sole the way that you describe. What kind of mountain bike shoe do you have? Are you sure it is not from the sole being worn down?

I was unaware that Crank Bros made a SPD pedal, when did they start?

Shimano makes at least two different pedals with a number 520.

When I walk on pavement, I can hear my cleats contacting the pavement because shoe soles flex under weight.

Crank Bros does not make an SPD. Their design is proprietary. The only pedal in their lineup that doesn't have shoe surface to pedal surface interface is the Eggbeater. I was thinking about your previous post on my ride today. I have some new MTB shoes and Crank Bros Candy pedals. I have only used them a half dozen times. It's finally getting easier to click in. The tread of the shoe needs to compress a good bit against the surface area of the pedal for positive engagement. I guess things are wearing in a bit now.
Paul Barnard is offline  
Old 01-18-19, 04:37 PM
  #107  
Tourist in MSN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,112

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3426 Post(s)
Liked 1,441 Times in 1,122 Posts
Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Crank Bros does not make an SPD. Their design is proprietary. The only pedal in their lineup that doesn't have shoe surface to pedal surface interface is the Eggbeater. I was thinking about your previous post on my ride today. I have some new MTB shoes and Crank Bros Candy pedals. I have only used them a half dozen times. It's finally getting easier to click in. The tread of the shoe needs to compress a good bit against the surface area of the pedal for positive engagement. I guess things are wearing in a bit now.
Thanks. I am not sure why the other poster mentioned Crank Bros in a conversation about SPD cleats, I thought he was saying that they now make an SPD version.

Some of my pedals push harder against the shoe sole than other pedals. When I regularly use A530, M324 and Ritchey V4 Mountain pedals with various shoes including Pearl Izumi mountain, Keen Commuter 3, Keen Commuter 4, Keen Arroyo Pedal and Serfas mountain shoes, I have just about every possible combination of very sticky float to shoes that feel really loose in the pedal.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Old 01-18-19, 10:32 PM
  #108  
Awl
Senior Member
 
Awl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 55

Bikes: Schwinn Collegiate, Schwinn LeTour

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Toe half-clips as they hold my foot in a fixed place and there's no trouble getting my foot out/off. Since my tourer is 90's the aesthetic is a bonus.
Awl is offline  
Old 01-19-19, 05:44 AM
  #109  
mrv 
buy my bikes
 
mrv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,801

Bikes: my very own customized GUNNAR CrossHairs

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 518 Post(s)
Liked 424 Times in 247 Posts
Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
I have never seen a shoe where the SPD cleats stick out from the sole the way that you describe. What kind of mountain bike shoe do you have? Are you sure it is not from the sole being worn down?

I was unaware that Crank Bros made a SPD pedal, .
SPD = Shimano Pedaling Dynamics
maybe this was clarified already.
Egg beaters are Crank Bros. About the same size but different.
mrv is offline  
Old 05-22-19, 08:34 AM
  #110  
jrickards
Senior Member
 
jrickards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sudbury, ON, CA
Posts: 2,647

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
If you use flat pedals and shoes, does anyone use a strap across the top of the foot like the bike messengers use?
jrickards is offline  
Old 05-22-19, 12:27 PM
  #111  
seeker333
-
 
seeker333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,865

Bikes: yes!

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Liked 38 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by jrickards
If you use flat pedals and shoes, does anyone use a strap across the top of the foot like the bike messengers use?
Velcro straps are one of the more dangerous options, even more so than decent toe clips.

Nowadays many use clipless pedals. There is a short learning period where you may fall over a couple times because you've forgotten to unclip before stopping. I recommend Speedplay Frogs if they fit in your budget.

Alternatives I've tried include std toe clips, Powergrips and "half clips", which are basically the toe piece without the strap.

SPEEDPLAY : HIGH PERFORMANCE PEDALS

Power Grips

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Grips-S.../dp/B001FYGGLC

https://www.amazon.com/Zefal-Cristop.../dp/B002NGS9ZW
seeker333 is offline  
Old 05-22-19, 01:53 PM
  #112  
jrickards
Senior Member
 
jrickards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sudbury, ON, CA
Posts: 2,647

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by seeker333
Velcro straps are one of the more dangerous options, even more so than decent toe clips.

Nowadays many use clipless pedals. There is a short learning period where you may fall over a couple times because you've forgotten to unclip before stopping. I recommend Speedplay Frogs if they fit in your budget.

Alternatives I've tried include std toe clips, Powergrips and "half clips", which are basically the toe piece without the strap.
I do use and have (name of brand escapes me at this time) MTB shoes with Crank Bros cleats to go with my Eggbeaters (been clipless for several years) but I got to thinking that I might be more comfortable with flat shoes and pedals.

I'm a bit surprised about your suggestion for Speedplay, I thought that they were meant for road bikes/shoes, oh, wait, I've just looked online, the Frogs are the MTB versions of the road ones I've seen more often, got it.
jrickards is offline  
Old 05-22-19, 02:07 PM
  #113  
Ged117 
Senior Member
 
Ged117's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 580

Bikes: 1951 Sun Wasp, 1953 Armstrong Consort, 1975 Raleigh Competition, 1980 Apollo Gran Sport, 1988 Schwinn Voyageur, Mystery MTB

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 359 Post(s)
Liked 445 Times in 189 Posts
I've got shimano saint platform pedals on my touring / commuter bike. I'm planning to use keen arroyo or newport sandals for my warm weather tours. Anybody else use those? My feet get hot, and they are wide. I like the comfort and utility of a closed toe sandal. I'm the kind of guy who stops for a nature sight or a quick dip in the lake, for lunch etc. A stiff-soled sandal is a good thing, at least for me.
Ged117 is offline  
Old 05-22-19, 02:52 PM
  #114  
seeker333
-
 
seeker333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,865

Bikes: yes!

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Liked 38 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by jrickards
I do use and have (name of brand escapes me at this time) MTB shoes with Crank Bros cleats to go with my Eggbeaters (been clipless for several years) but I got to thinking that I might be more comfortable with flat shoes and pedals.

I'm a bit surprised about your suggestion for Speedplay, I thought that they were meant for road bikes/shoes, oh, wait, I've just looked online, the Frogs are the MTB versions of the road ones I've seen more often, got it.
Yep, Frogs are MTB pedals but they're also great for all-around road use. The cleat has a low height so you can walk in your bike shoes more naturally than some road shoe/cleat combinations. Frogs let you walk without damaging a wood floor. Their most useful feature is the no-spring-recentering design that lets you twist your foot laterally on the pedal like it's on ice, or as Speedplay puts it "knee-friendly, non-centering free float."

I have some Eggbeaters too, I quit using them after I got Frogs. I've revisited street shoes + flat pedals a few times over the years, I immediately swap the pedals out (again) after trying them. For me, Frogs are simply the best.

Last edited by seeker333; 05-22-19 at 02:55 PM.
seeker333 is offline  
Old 05-22-19, 03:25 PM
  #115  
Tourist in MSN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,112

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3426 Post(s)
Liked 1,441 Times in 1,122 Posts
Originally Posted by Ged117
I've got shimano saint platform pedals on my touring / commuter bike. I'm planning to use keen arroyo or newport sandals for my warm weather tours. Anybody else use those? My feet get hot, and they are wide. I like the comfort and utility of a closed toe sandal. I'm the kind of guy who stops for a nature sight or a quick dip in the lake, for lunch etc. A stiff-soled sandal is a good thing, at least for me.
Are you aware of the Commuter 4 sandals? You can install cleats, or not, your call. Note the comment on the website about size, I followed their sizing advice and was happy that I did.
https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/M-COMMUTER-4.html

It has a very thick insole. The foot bed under that thick insole at the location of the cleat hardware has a very uneven surface. I suspect most people do not notice it but I do. I put a thin sheet of steel from a coffee can base over that uneven surface and taped it in place to make a smoother foot bed.

These were my first keen cycling sandals, but they are discontinued, no longer made.
https://www.rei.com/product/812176/k...ike-shoes-mens

I have heard that if you mount your cleats further back that it can fix hot foot problems. I have always mounted my cleats a bit further back and have never had a hot foot problem.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 07:09 AM
  #116  
jrickards
Senior Member
 
jrickards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sudbury, ON, CA
Posts: 2,647

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by seeker333
Yep, Frogs are MTB pedals but they're also great for all-around road use. The cleat has a low height so you can walk in your bike shoes more naturally than some road shoe/cleat combinations. Frogs let you walk without damaging a wood floor. Their most useful feature is the no-spring-recentering design that lets you twist your foot laterally on the pedal like it's on ice, or as Speedplay puts it "knee-friendly, non-centering free float."

I have some Eggbeaters too, I quit using them after I got Frogs. I've revisited street shoes + flat pedals a few times over the years, I immediately swap the pedals out (again) after trying them. For me, Frogs are simply the best.
My Eggbeaters are on their last year, I should consider Frogs as replacements.
jrickards is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 07:16 AM
  #117  
Ged117 
Senior Member
 
Ged117's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 580

Bikes: 1951 Sun Wasp, 1953 Armstrong Consort, 1975 Raleigh Competition, 1980 Apollo Gran Sport, 1988 Schwinn Voyageur, Mystery MTB

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 359 Post(s)
Liked 445 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
Are you aware of the Commuter 4 sandals? You can install cleats, or not, your call. Note the comment on the website about size, I followed their sizing advice and was happy that I did.
https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/M-COMMUTER-4.html

It has a very thick insole. The foot bed under that thick insole at the location of the cleat hardware has a very uneven surface. I suspect most people do not notice it but I do. I put a thin sheet of steel from a coffee can base over that uneven surface and taped it in place to make a smoother foot bed.

These were my first keen cycling sandals, but they are discontinued, no longer made.
https://www.rei.com/product/812176/k...ike-shoes-mens

I have heard that if you mount your cleats further back that it can fix hot foot problems. I have always mounted my cleats a bit further back and have never had a hot foot problem.

Thanks for the tips. The Keen Commuter sandals are no longer available in Canada, and they aren't available on US Amazon either. I wrote to Keen, and the fellow there told me that the Commuter sandal base is just about the same as the Newport or Newport H2, so I think I'm going with those. I don't need the SPD with my sticky pedals, so it should be a good solution. I thought of picking the new Arroyo 3 hiking sandal, but it is the same base as my Keen Targhee 3 boots, which are too narrow for cycling. Happy riding.
Ged117 is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 07:30 AM
  #118  
BigAura
 
BigAura's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Chapin, SC
Posts: 3,423

Bikes: all steel stable: surly world troller, paris sport fixed, fuji ss

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 623 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by Ged117
I've got shimano saint platform pedals on my touring / commuter bike. I'm planning to use keen arroyo or newport sandals for my warm weather tours. Anybody else use those? My feet get hot, and they are wide. I like the comfort and utility of a closed toe sandal. I'm the kind of guy who stops for a nature sight or a quick dip in the lake, for lunch etc. A stiff-soled sandal is a good thing, at least for me.
I too currently use saint pedals & keen sandals. But most of my earlier tours were on cleated-keens and SPD pedals. I think flat-pedals work just as well as clipless for touring. For me sandals are the only way-to-go for touring shoes though.
BigAura is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 10:26 AM
  #119  
gauvins
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: QC Canada
Posts: 1,950

Bikes: Custom built LHT & Troll

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 832 Post(s)
Liked 141 Times in 100 Posts
Originally Posted by Ged117
I've got shimano saint platform pedals on my touring / commuter bike. I'm planning to use keen arroyo or newport sandals for my warm weather tours. Anybody else use those? My feet get hot, and they are wide. I like the comfort and utility of a closed toe sandal. I'm the kind of guy who stops for a nature sight or a quick dip in the lake, for lunch etc. A stiff-soled sandal is a good thing, at least for me.
Saint here as well + Teva Toachi (usually) or some light trail runner in cold weather (Scarpa Gecko)
gauvins is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 12:29 PM
  #120  
phughes
Senior Member
 
phughes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,064
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 1,252 Times in 724 Posts
Originally Posted by PaulRivers
The most comfortable pedals I've used by far are the Dmr Vaults.
- Big pedals for big feet (size 12)
- Slight concave (curves slight) design is very comfortable and I can feel generally if my foot is well positioned on the pedal.

I own a few other pairs of not-cheap flat pedals and I've stopped using them in favor of the dmr vaults. I'm more comfortable in these pedals and five ten shoes than I am walking around in my regular shoes, they make biking really really comfortable (for me at least).

https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/P...lt-2/Vault-NEW


I use Five Ten Freerider shoes in black
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...men-bike-shoes




That's actually the same grip you get with Five Ten Shoes plus Flat Pedals...the grip is that good forward, down, and back (not up obviously).
I have the DMR V12 Magnesium pedals, though at the moment they need rebuild, there is a bit of play in one, so I need to get the rebuild kit for them. I swapped them out the other day and have the Welgos on it. I had them in the garage.

I use these pedals with a pair of Crocs. Not the basic ones, but the Swiftwater clog. They are topped with leather, look good, have a stiffer sole than most, are comfortable, and they dry quickly after a rain.
phughes is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 12:42 PM
  #121  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
I got my well broken in Birkenstocks resoled with a denser rubber mid sole and a Vibram Outsole ..

At the Shoe Fix-Shop..

It stiffened up the sole more than the less dense original resole material ..
fietsbob is offline  
Old 05-23-19, 06:24 PM
  #122  
PaulRivers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times in 38 Posts
Originally Posted by jrickards
If you use flat pedals and shoes, does anyone use a strap across the top of the foot like the bike messengers use?
I don't think that's accurate that bike messengers use straps nowadays.

They're the worst of everything...
- worse to get your foot out in an emergency than flats or clipless
- getting back in at a stop is pain because the strap rotates down to the ground and you have to flip it back up
- clipless doesn't even get you an efficiency or speed benefit in lab tests so straps are even less likely to

I wouldn't recommend straps to anyone I know, it's flats (with five ten shoes if you want top grip) or clipless. Both are good systems, straps have drawbacks without having advantages.
PaulRivers is offline  
Likes For PaulRivers:
Old 05-23-19, 08:43 PM
  #123  
Ged117 
Senior Member
 
Ged117's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 580

Bikes: 1951 Sun Wasp, 1953 Armstrong Consort, 1975 Raleigh Competition, 1980 Apollo Gran Sport, 1988 Schwinn Voyageur, Mystery MTB

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 359 Post(s)
Liked 445 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by phughes
I have the DMR V12 Magnesium pedals, though at the moment they need rebuild, there is a bit of play in one, so I need to get the rebuild kit for them. I swapped them out the other day and have the Welgos on it. I had them in the garage.

I use these pedals with a pair of Crocs. Not the basic ones, but the Swiftwater clog. They are topped with leather, look good, have a stiffer sole than most, are comfortable, and they dry quickly after a rain.
Though I have the Shimano Saint pedals on my Voyageur, I've also got the DMR V12 magnesium pedals leftover from a hybrid I built up and then sold. The V12 pedals are destined for my Peugeot AO-8 sturmey archer IGH four-speed commuter project I'm starting in the fall for a nice, slow burn winter project. I agree that they are excellent. I think I prefer the V12 pedals over the Saints, but both have proven themselves. I'm doing a short trip this weekend, and I'll be using the saints with new Keen Newports. Sans socks at this point...
Ged117 is offline  
Likes For Ged117:
Old 05-24-19, 07:25 AM
  #124  
jrickards
Senior Member
 
jrickards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sudbury, ON, CA
Posts: 2,647

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by PaulRivers
I don't think that's accurate that bike messengers use straps nowadays.

They're the worst of everything...
- worse to get your foot out in an emergency than flats or clipless
- getting back in at a stop is pain because the strap rotates down to the ground and you have to flip it back up
- clipless doesn't even get you an efficiency or speed benefit in lab tests so straps are even less likely to

I wouldn't recommend straps to anyone I know, it's flats (with five ten shoes if you want top grip) or clipless. Both are good systems, straps have drawbacks without having advantages.
"They're the worst of everything..." LOL

I'm learning that these straps aren't as good as I had thought. I just thought that they'd be a way of wearing flat shoes but having some means of increasing pedal stroke efficiency.
jrickards is offline  
Likes For jrickards:
Old 05-24-19, 11:09 AM
  #125  
fantom1 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Middle of the desert
Posts: 542
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 136 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I use clipless mtb style because I feel way safer and more comfortable with them. Bumps, wet weather, etc. make it too easy to come off and lose the whole rig, especially when you're tired.

That's just me though.
fantom1 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.