SurferRosa

"Hey, Rocky!"

We saw @Rocky Gravol at a c&v ride last year (I think), dressed in a tweed jacket. Hope you're still ridin', Rocky.

Chombi1 

I remember being so happy that I eliminated hot spots and pressure points that bothered my feet in clips and straps, when I switched over the ipess pedals in the mid 80's.

rustystrings61 

I am slowly returning to using clipless pedals on the road after swearing them off in 2000 following a nasty crash involving a fixed-gear bike and OEM Look-clone pedals - at 25 mph one of them spontaneously released and I managed to lose control and go over the bars, leaving a lot of my hide on the road and breaking two ribs. I became a big fan of visually verifiable technology and rode clips and straps on fixed and freewheel road machines. A few years later I grudgingly started using Crank Bros Egg Beaters on trail rides, because clips and straps don't work on Southeastern trail rides.

Earlier this year I built up a bike meant for both asphalt and gravel and maybe even a little light single-track. I looked over at the Egg Beaters on the bench and shrugged and threaded them on. Then I took the bike out for a ride. Then another. I reminded myself that the Egg Beaters had never failed me on all sorts of bumpy, rocky, roots-filled trails. I discovered they held together just fine on fast descents - on a fixed-gear, no less. Maybe I'll get a few more pairs for some of my other bikes.

steine13

I started using clipless pedals in the early 90s -- Look was the standard at the time -- and after the requisite times falling over, got quite used to them. Never liked them, though, plus I hated the waddling around on those yuge protrusions.

A few years back I went on a 5-day, 350-mile ride with flat pedals and running shoes.. very Petersen, and very comfortable, but halfway through the day, I got tired of pushing my feet into the korrekt position every minute.. I missed being clipped in so I wouldn't have to worry about it. Then there's the ability to power through the entire 360 degrees on tough climbs, but that only goes so far, since I don't have any hills around here for training. For longer rides, I put on my SPD shoes with the release set to the loose end, and hope for the best.

No way would I ride them in town, but a good friend of mine, a strong rider, even rides in the snow with his SPDs, he's so used to them. Nuts, I say, but to each his own.

I'm thinking I'll add Bruce Gordon strapless clips to my BLT and see how that works... that would provide the automatic positioning and the ability to push forward at least.

Salamandrine 

Another small advantage of being clipped in is that it allows you to bunnyhop over stuff: curbs, small logs, cattleguards, etc -- if you are so inclined.

blamester

You don't need to be clipped in to do that.

Salamandrine 

Yeah you're right. BMX style bunny hops. I forgot. Been a while since I had my Mongoose. Different technique but same effect. If you're clipped in you can just hop both wheels at once, even at high speed.

jackbombay

I run SPDs in snow, no big deal IMO, either you have the reaction to get unclipped, or you don't.

I never pull up on my pedals to bunny hop on bikes with clipless pedals, but I was a BMX rat in my youth, so I can still bunny hop higher with flats on an MTB than most people can with clipless, its great when they razz me for being a roadie, then I challenge them to a hopping contest, and all of a sudden they shut up, they know my roots!

MntnMan62

I started with the cages. Used them for a while. Then heard about clipless. Bought a pair of Time ATAC mountain bike pedals. Totally transformed my riding. It helped my efficiency as well as my bike control. Put the same pedals on my road bike when I bought one as I got older. Now I couldn't possibly imagine riding without them.

John Nolan 

I used SPDs for about a decade, but not in the winter, when I needed to wear winter boots.

I noticed that I had fewer knee troubles in the winter, so a couple of springs ago I switched to platform pedals and dropped my SPDs. No regrets.

And, BTW, when I was using SPDs they were fitted by a physiotherapist/bike fitter.

RobbieTunes

For years, I resisted any kind of foot retention.

I incrementally went to toe clips on flat pedals, then cleats and toe clips, which I very quickly abandoned due to falling over.

I was torn between my affection for gadgets that included cool pedals, and functionality.
The search for the combination of easy in/out and secure retention continued.

@crank_addict turned me on to half-clips, and I think they are great.
A faux pas among the purists, but well, whatever.
A hipster friend turned me on to Power Grips, and they are freaky good.
I'd still fall over, though.

I liked Look Delta's, but wanted to be able to walk around.
Tried SPD's, and while I liked the shoes, the function was beyond my abilities.
When Speedplay became the standard in my area, I simply couldn't afford them for multiple bikes.
The conflict became a raging war between n+1, aesthetics, function, and budget. I was so confused.
Eventually, Look Keo became my huckleberry, mostly Keo2Max models, but everything from Easy to Classic to Carbon/Ti.

I still think Speedplays are nice, but learned an expensive lesson that not al lollipops are alike when I bought the wrong ones as a gift.
Who knew?

Then, a minor stroke, and my left leg does not like to clip in with style and grace.
I'm the last to leave a stoplight, and those lights can cycle while I'm struggling across the intersection. Pun intended.
I have also climbed 20% grades clipped in on one side and not the other. Not fun. Slippage is bad for the shin.

I have learned from iab that for rides like the Dairyland Dare, a flat pedal is pretty much a good idea.
It never occurred to me that flat pedals varied in quality until I saw a guy pay $175 for some White Industries pedals.
Whaat?

Right now, I prefer being cliplessed-in. I'm awkward on the takeoff. Look Keo on most riders.
Eventually the rising curve on awkwardity may eclipse the advantages of being retained.

For vintage bikes, I prefer the half-clips. They fake me out into thinking I'm effective.

jackbombay

It would be interesting to see some slow motion footage of your pedal strokes with both the SPDs and the flats to see how/where the SPDs are limiting movement. I have some friends that have had knee issues when using SPDs as well, I'm currently having issues with my left knee due to overuse, and I sure hope my SPDs are not part of the problem as I LOVE them!

BFisher

Robbie makes a great point about half clips. Maybe a faux pas, but sometimes all one may need is something to stop the foot from sliding, which is a problem I have. I had a pair, but the shape was too flat for my shoes. I have cut old toe clips to make half clips before.

I also use Look Keo pedals and like them, but there are many times where I don't want to ride clipped in. They aren't a preference for me, just another option. I have fallen twice with them when my brain failed to recognize that I hadn't unclipped as I stopped. Happy to make someone laugh that day.

caloso

I have some riding buddies who started out in BMX and they can bunny hop curbs without a sweat. I started out in triathlon and can barely bunny hop an expansion joint.

John Nolan 

Yeah, when I had my bike fittings I used SPDs all the time, and didn't think about it. Now, I wouldn't go back. I use spiked MTB pedals and rubber soled shoes, and don't miss the clips at all.

This Bike Radar article is on point for me:

"Some scientific research suggests there’s no difference in pedalling efficiency for lower intensity riding: a pair of trainers on flat pedals was as efficient as clipped in cycling shoes when tested on a stationary bike."

"Lower intensity" is my middle name!

jackbombay

I do like to try to twist the cranks right off my bike at times so the SPDs are right up my alley, being able to pull up on pedals during shorter harder efforts is something I don't want to give up! I can certainly see that for a lot of my riding flats are fine though, I've actually ridden a few centuries on flat pedals without toe clips even.

RobbieTunes

I know of 2 people with Achilles issues, both using SPD's. I am convinced it is cleat placement, but their doctors told them both to quit riding. One had to have the tendons replaced.

RobbieTunes

But wait, there's a $495 pedal that saves half a watt and six seconds in transition.....as a triathlete, you may be interested.

Sorry, couldn't help but kid you. I know you know what I mean.

RobbieTunes

On the other hand, I was doing a studio ride in January, and a guy forgot his shoes.
He actually bought a pair of flat pedals from the shop and they duct taped his feet to the pedals for his workout.
I kid you not.

jackbombay

Wow, "replacement" sounds quite scary!

I do have some issues with my left achilles at times, I have moved my cleats "all the way back" on my shoes to take some load off the calf/achilles which has helped. It's only really an issue on centuries or century+ rides, and is only the mildest of discomfort, so I'm not too worried about it, but the issue is not present at all on the right leg.

madpogue 

Inspired?

Rick53

CLIPLESS is so You look Cool staying wit your Bike when it falls over

LesterOfPuppets

I usually drove home from the mountain in socks. I still had regular shoes in the car but usually didn't bother putting them on after all day on the slopes

Salamandrine 

This thread made me realize that when bunny hopping curbs with a road bike, yeah, you do it basically the same way as with BMX. I don't often have occasion to do it anymore. Pretty sure I still could.

If hopping a cattle guard on a downhill going fast, then I just hop straight up, both wheels at once. Not really necessary, but fun. Probably easier on your rims than going straight over it.

Andy_K 

I spent several hours over the past couple of days using drills, grinders, and other implements of destruction separating a very worn set of cleats from my SiDi Diablo shoes after the hex screws rounded and a screw extractor snapped off in the hole I drilled for it. Even this hasn’t dampened my love for clipless pedals. I hate toe clips with a passion, but I was always happy with platforms until I tried clipless. Now whenever I use platforms I feel like I can’t keep my feet on the pedals.

Anyone who is concerned about not being able to clip out easily or not being able to move their feet enough should try Crank Brothers. Lots of float and easy to clip out. As an added bonus for vintage bike enthusiasts, the bearings require regular maintenance.