Vintage touring with toe clips or without?
06-25-19, 11:06 AM
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I've tried Shimano road pedals, and Speedplay, but SPDs are the most durable, easiest in and out of, and most walkable off the bike. No question.
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06-25-19, 12:02 PM
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All my bikes have nice MTB platforms with pins now. I used to ride SPDs but any benefit I felt I believe was just psychological. As far as I can tell I have lost no performance with platforms and have never had any comfort issues on platforms.
Not having to plan your bike ride or camping trip around what shoes you need to wear to ride your bike is incredibly liberating and makes the act of riding my bike simpler and less expensive. No special shoes to buy, no cleats to replace, no getting stuck with or without bike shoes. Plus on off-road stuff I don't have to deal with unclipping to put a foot down.
Not having to plan your bike ride or camping trip around what shoes you need to wear to ride your bike is incredibly liberating and makes the act of riding my bike simpler and less expensive. No special shoes to buy, no cleats to replace, no getting stuck with or without bike shoes. Plus on off-road stuff I don't have to deal with unclipping to put a foot down.
06-25-19, 12:05 PM
#28
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It is interesting that this topic came up today. Just last night I put the Lyotard 23 with toe clips and straps on my bike a when for a ride. It could be the placebo effect, but they feel like I was going further or faster for the same effort as with flat pedals. 30 years ago, I rode in nothing but toe clips, so how to get in and out felt automatic. But some of you raise some good points about getting out of toe clips. I had an indecent 30 or so years ago where I was stopped at a traffic light and was doing or trying to do a track stand and fell over. Well, at 20 something no problem. Bruised pride and embarrassment. If I were so bold to try that now, the outcome may not be the same.
So, it was a nice boost to ride in clips, but now I am going to have to weigh things out. As much as I like the feel and look of toe clips, getting injured is to be avoided. I have been wanting to try SPD pedals, however, it is an investment in both the pedals, and the shoes. Then how inclined would I be to just use this bike to go to the store or some other short ride.
To get back to the original question, I don't do loaded touring, but if I did, I doubt I would use toe clips.
So, it was a nice boost to ride in clips, but now I am going to have to weigh things out. As much as I like the feel and look of toe clips, getting injured is to be avoided. I have been wanting to try SPD pedals, however, it is an investment in both the pedals, and the shoes. Then how inclined would I be to just use this bike to go to the store or some other short ride.
To get back to the original question, I don't do loaded touring, but if I did, I doubt I would use toe clips.
06-25-19, 02:36 PM
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I've always toured (since the 1970s) with regular walking shoes (with moderately stiff sole) and clips and straps with the straps always loose. IMHO, even the best SPD shoes suck for extended walking, and I really don't want to have to carry an extra pair of shoes on a tour solely for the purpose of pedaling a bike. I have however been pondering switching to pinned flats for my next tour. The reasons for this are: 1) I did the switch from SPDs to pinned flats on my mountain bike after seeing so many others making the switch and like it; 2) There have been a number of studies that have shown that the efficiency gain from being cleated in is a chimera.
06-25-19, 03:57 PM
#30
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06-25-19, 04:29 PM
#31
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All my bikes have nice MTB platforms with pins now. I used to ride SPDs but any benefit I felt I believe was just psychological. As far as I can tell I have lost no performance with platforms and have never had any comfort issues on platforms.
Not having to plan your bike ride or camping trip around what shoes you need to wear to ride your bike is incredibly liberating and makes the act of riding my bike simpler and less expensive. No special shoes to buy, no cleats to replace, no getting stuck with or without bike shoes. Plus on off-road stuff I don't have to deal with unclipping to put a foot down.
Not having to plan your bike ride or camping trip around what shoes you need to wear to ride your bike is incredibly liberating and makes the act of riding my bike simpler and less expensive. No special shoes to buy, no cleats to replace, no getting stuck with or without bike shoes. Plus on off-road stuff I don't have to deal with unclipping to put a foot down.
I'm a hypocrite, however. I think I'm addicted to SPD...
I do wear a shoe that looks like a low top hiking shoe, however, with inset cleats, as others have noted.
The one advantage of SPD is that your feet can't bounc off the pedals when you're going over a rutted road, but that's an edge condition.
If a newcomer were to ask me, I'd say go with some large platform pedals as others have mentioned.
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06-25-19, 05:41 PM
#32
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06-26-19, 03:17 AM
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06-26-19, 06:33 AM
#34
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All my bikes have nice MTB platforms with pins now. I used to ride SPDs but any benefit I felt I believe was just psychological. As far as I can tell I have lost no performance with platforms and have never had any comfort issues on platforms.
Not having to plan your bike ride or camping trip around what shoes you need to wear to ride your bike is incredibly liberating and makes the act of riding my bike simpler and less expensive. No special shoes to buy, no cleats to replace, no getting stuck with or without bike shoes. Plus on off-road stuff I don't have to deal with unclipping to put a foot down.
Not having to plan your bike ride or camping trip around what shoes you need to wear to ride your bike is incredibly liberating and makes the act of riding my bike simpler and less expensive. No special shoes to buy, no cleats to replace, no getting stuck with or without bike shoes. Plus on off-road stuff I don't have to deal with unclipping to put a foot down.
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06-26-19, 12:02 PM
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1: SPD one side, obverse platform.
2: SPD both sides but add a pair of aluminum platform adapters ($20)
Extended touring with two pairs of shoes (optional sandals) is a new luxury. Friend advised me and surely made a difference.
2: SPD both sides but add a pair of aluminum platform adapters ($20)
Extended touring with two pairs of shoes (optional sandals) is a new luxury. Friend advised me and surely made a difference.
