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

How many mph do people usually gain by going from plateform to clipless pedals?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How many mph do people usually gain by going from plateform to clipless pedals?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-30-10, 06:33 PM
  #1  
SnowTown
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 86
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
How many mph do people usually gain by going from plateform to clipless pedals?

Just curious.
SnowTown is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 06:57 PM
  #2  
bhop
Senior Member
 
bhop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,894

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I doubt much at all. I might've gained maybe one or two, but it makes hill climbs, take offs, and pedaling when tired easier.
bhop is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 07:47 PM
  #3  
shouldberiding
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 811

Bikes: '08 Trek 7.3FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think I'm stealing this from another of the five million friggin threads that people have posted about clipless pedals because they didn't bother to use the search function:

Switching to clipless? It enabled me to do the Kessell Run in under twelve parsecs!
shouldberiding is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 09:02 PM
  #4  
bhop
Senior Member
 
bhop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,894

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by shouldberiding
I think I'm stealing this from another of the five million friggin threads that people have posted about clipless pedals because they didn't bother to use the search function:

Switching to clipless? It enabled me to do the Kessell Run in under twelve parsecs!
That's fast enough for ya..
bhop is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 09:06 PM
  #5  
rex_kramer
Acts 2:38
 
rex_kramer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 500

Bikes: '10 Marin Lucas Valley, '13 Scott Speedster 20

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
rex_kramer is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 09:53 PM
  #6  
aley
Goathead Magnet
 
aley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 673

Bikes: Surly LHT, Cannondale Caffeine F3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 1 Post
I'm so fast with my clipless pedals that I get up to relativistic speeds - I can go cycling for weeks, and when I get back only a few minutes have elapsed. It's also almost completely eliminated right hooks.

Seriously, little, if any, difference in speed, but I find it much easier to ride, and the shoes are stiffer and more comfortable for riding.
aley is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 11:16 PM
  #7  
tjspiel
Senior Member
 
tjspiel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times in 13 Posts
I've seen claims for anywhere from 0 to 5 mph. I really doubt anyone is 5 mph quicker with clipless. For me personally, I'm faster in specific situations but it doesn't make that great of difference overall.
tjspiel is offline  
Old 06-30-10, 11:17 PM
  #8  
DataJunkie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
It isn't about speed but comfort. However, sprinting is much easier.
I'm still going to go with 0.03 mph
DataJunkie is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 11:58 AM
  #9  
alan s 
Senior Member
 
alan s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 6,977
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1496 Post(s)
Liked 189 Times in 128 Posts
My "plateform" pedals were made of really cheap paper plates, so my avg speed increased by 17 mph when I finally made the switch to metal clipless ones.
alan s is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 01:22 PM
  #10  
exarkuhn15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 194
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I doubt there's any speed gain at all, unless you're traveling long distances without stopping.

I ride in the city, and I don't ride fast at all, but it's much easier for me to get going at a green light faster than someone with clipless. They might go slightly faster, but it takes them longer to get going too, what with having to clip in and all.
exarkuhn15 is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 01:24 PM
  #11  
LesterOfPuppets
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,167

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12970 Post(s)
Liked 7,888 Times in 4,194 Posts
1.75 mph
LesterOfPuppets is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 01:33 PM
  #12  
truman
It's true, man.
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,726

Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nothing in MPH, but an ocean of joy when I hop off a curb and the point of my saddle doesn't get rammed into my grundle when a foot slips off the pedal
truman is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 01:40 PM
  #13  
Steely Dan
born again cyclist
 
Steely Dan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,403

Bikes: I have five of brikes

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 201 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 31 Posts
Originally Posted by exarkuhn15
I ride in the city, and I don't ride fast at all, but it's much easier for me to get going at a green light faster than someone with clipless. They might go slightly faster, but it takes them longer to get going too, what with having to clip in and all.
clever clipless riders don't have to clip out at all at red lights, they just balance the bike at a standstill. i haven't mastered the technique yet, but i'm definitely getting better.
Steely Dan is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 01:53 PM
  #14  
apricissimus 
L T X B O M P F A N S R
 
apricissimus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Malden, MA
Posts: 2,334

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi San Jose, Redline 925

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1641 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by exarkuhn15
I doubt there's any speed gain at all, unless you're traveling long distances without stopping.

I ride in the city, and I don't ride fast at all, but it's much easier for me to get going at a green light faster than someone with clipless. They might go slightly faster, but it takes them longer to get going too, what with having to clip in and all.
Clipping back in is easy with a little practice. I find there's no time penalty there. And being clipped in makes quick acceleration easier, so there you go.
apricissimus is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 02:12 PM
  #15  
DataJunkie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
clever clipless riders don't have to clip out at all at red lights, they just balance the bike at a standstill. i haven't mastered the technique yet, but i'm definitely getting better.
I know riders who ride 10,000 miles a year and still can't trackstand.
I am by no means perfect but can sort of do it from time to time.
DataJunkie is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 02:28 PM
  #16  
bhop
Senior Member
 
bhop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,894

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DataJunkie
I know riders who ride 10,000 miles a year and still can't trackstand.
I am by no means perfect but can sort of do it from time to time.
I can usually do it on my geared bike, but not on my fixed.. which seems backwards..
bhop is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 02:35 PM
  #17  
annc
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by exarkuhn15
I doubt there's any speed gain at all, unless you're traveling long distances without stopping.

I ride in the city, and I don't ride fast at all, but it's much easier for me to get going at a green light faster than someone with clipless. They might go slightly faster, but it takes them longer to get going too, what with having to clip in and all.
SPDs are pretty easy and quick to clip in; just mash on the pedals and go. But I have seen many riders admiring their shoes while they take their time to accelerate.
annc is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 04:47 PM
  #18  
HiYoSilver
Rides again
 
HiYoSilver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SW. Sacramento Region, aka, down river
Posts: 3,282

Bikes: Giant OCR T, Trek SC

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Best guess is .75 mph. At least .50 and any claim of results over 1.50 is very suspect. Part of the differences will depend on how much the rider pulls with clipless.
HiYoSilver is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 05:39 PM
  #19  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times in 6,054 Posts
I'd say 1 mph, but if I had some dice to role, they might give me a different answer. Seriously, I think there's a few mph gain in average speed in my case. I live in Hilltown, so your mileage may vary. I'll see if I can get an answer from my GPS data, though.

Originally Posted by Steely Dan
clever clipless riders don't have to clip out at all at red lights, they just balance the bike at a standstill. i haven't mastered the technique yet, but i'm definitely getting better.
The longest I've proven to myself that I can track stand is about 30 seconds. Most lights are longer than that, but major thoroughfares through residential districts that rich people don't live in, have long red lights. Whenever I come to a light and have to stop for it, I'll balance until the light turns, or I can't hold it anymore. The more practice I get, the better I seem to be at it. But I've been doing this for years; even before I went clipless, I used clips, and still preferred to keep my feet on the pedals.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 05:50 PM
  #20  
RT
The Weird Beard
 
RT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: COS
Posts: 8,554
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by DataJunkie
It isn't about speed but comfort. However, sprinting is much easier.
I'm still going to go with 0.03 mph
This. And it helps your endurance as you tend to pedal more efficiently. The pedal stroke is no longer a square when you are clipped in. I find it helps most in my climbing.
RT is offline  
Old 07-01-10, 11:19 PM
  #21  
aley
Goathead Magnet
 
aley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 673

Bikes: Surly LHT, Cannondale Caffeine F3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by SnowTown
Just curious.
.03937 furlongs per fortnight, or thereabouts, plus or minus 3j+5. Or is it 8.3 tesla per kilojoule? Now I don't remember.
aley is offline  
Old 07-02-10, 09:15 AM
  #22  
icemanbb
Senior Member
 
icemanbb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA area
Posts: 60

Bikes: Novara Safari; Specialized Hard Rock (set up for street use)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm still transitioning to clipless and I don't know that it's responsible for any increase in speed but like the others accelerating is easier. In the city for those short stop & go sections (roughly a furlong or less) I'll keep one foot uncliped (I have platform on one side spd on the other).
icemanbb is offline  
Old 07-02-10, 09:45 AM
  #23  
AdamDZ
Bike addict, dreamer
 
AdamDZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by SnowTown
Just curious.
Clipless won't make you that much faster except maybe for climbing hills and hard acceleration (no risk of slipping off). But your average speeds are not likely to change significantly.
AdamDZ is offline  
Old 07-02-10, 10:27 AM
  #24  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times in 6,054 Posts
Originally Posted by icemanbb
I'm still transitioning to clipless and I don't know that it's responsible for any increase in speed but like the others accelerating is easier. In the city for those short stop & go sections (roughly a furlong or less) I'll keep one foot uncliped (I have platform on one side spd on the other).
A "furlong" sighting! And in the wild no less!
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Old 07-02-10, 10:34 AM
  #25  
mikeybikes
Senior Member
 
mikeybikes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Edgewater, CO
Posts: 3,213

Bikes: Tons

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Anywhere from 0.03 mph to 12.225 mph.
mikeybikes is offline  


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.