Platform Pedals Question (from someone who overanalyzes everything)
03-29-23, 10:18 PM
#26
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Thread Starter
What are the plans after the tri? Are you interested in trying clipless in the future? Here's what I did. I bought the cheapest set of flat one side/SPD the other pedals I could find. Used will work for the shorter term. Search your local CL, Ebay whatever. You can use the flat side for the tri. Find the cheapest SPD shoes you can to try out clpiless. I went to REI and found a used/damaged pair. I only used them for a couple of weeks while I was giving clipless a try. Go out with one foot clipped in and the other on the flat side. Ride and rotate. Ride some more. Clip both feet in, or not. You'll find out if clipless are for you/not and still avoid most of the crashes. If you like them, then you can invest some more money. Contact your local tri club. Tell them what you're doing. Someone in the club might have some used shoes/pedals you can use for the process. Good luck.
03-30-23, 06:32 AM
#27
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Thank you for your suggestion! Honestly, I'm not sure what I will do after the tri. I'm having a bit of guilt related to the financial cost and the time commitment (I have three young children), so I may just continue solely for fitness/health without training for any races...
03-30-23, 11:21 AM
#28
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Thank you for your suggestion! Honestly, I'm not sure what I will do after the tri. I'm having a bit of guilt related to the financial cost and the time commitment (I have three young children), so I may just continue solely for fitness/health without training for any races...
Mine are 8,10, and 12 and love MTBing, which there's always Xterra races, the two oldest can do the kids tri races now but I've stopped doing them. Cycling can be very open to kids racing. Course, it does start to get expensive when they grow through bikes but nice ones can be handed down. The only down side to them joining in is that they will kill your training schedule but watching them get faster is always good.
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03-30-23, 12:25 PM
#29
Banned
Why not find out what other triathalon participants are doing. Triathalons have been taking place for 50 years and no need to reinvent the wheel.
03-31-23, 08:48 PM
#30
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and if you can establish a good relationship with a LBS (local bike shop) or a bike tech - this would be an asset also
I’m actually fairly familiar with the demands of triathletes - know many including a number of gals including mothers (one with 5 kids) ... a few have been doing triathlons for decades - competed in Hawaii (world championships) and are nationally ranked ... they are amazing
one of my close friends serviced many of their bikes for years and also built custom bikes for some .. taught them how to disassemble the bikes to transport and then assemble when they arrived at their destination
pasted a couple of links to articles - one article lists typical training weeks etc - other article is more recent (mother of 5)
https://archive.triblive.com/news/lo...man-triathlon/
https://triblive.com/local/regional/...xtreme-sports/
.
Last edited by t2p; 03-31-23 at 08:54 PM.
04-01-23, 07:35 AM
#31
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Thread Starter
obviously a supportive family is a must - and supportive employer if you are working
and if you can establish a good relationship with a LBS (local bike shop) or a bike tech - this would be an asset also
I’m actually fairly familiar with the demands of triathletes - know many including a number of gals including mothers (one with 5 kids) ... a few have been doing triathlons for decades - competed in Hawaii (world championships) and are nationally ranked ... they are amazing
one of my close friends serviced many of their bikes for years and also built custom bikes for some .. taught them how to disassemble the bikes to transport and then assemble when they arrived at their destination
pasted a couple of links to articles - one article lists typical training weeks etc - other article is more recent (mother of 5)
https://archive.triblive.com/news/lo...man-triathlon/
https://triblive.com/local/regional/...xtreme-sports/
.
and if you can establish a good relationship with a LBS (local bike shop) or a bike tech - this would be an asset also
I’m actually fairly familiar with the demands of triathletes - know many including a number of gals including mothers (one with 5 kids) ... a few have been doing triathlons for decades - competed in Hawaii (world championships) and are nationally ranked ... they are amazing
one of my close friends serviced many of their bikes for years and also built custom bikes for some .. taught them how to disassemble the bikes to transport and then assemble when they arrived at their destination
pasted a couple of links to articles - one article lists typical training weeks etc - other article is more recent (mother of 5)
https://archive.triblive.com/news/lo...man-triathlon/
https://triblive.com/local/regional/...xtreme-sports/
.
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04-01-23, 11:49 AM
#32
Newbie
I don't do triathlons, but I've put the Race Face Ride on all my bikes, and I am very impressed with them. Just regular shoes, they give good grip to your shoes, much better than say the old Wellgo metal framed pedals from 80s/90s.
The platforms with metal pins are better if you will be riding in rain or mud. Just don't slip and whack your shins on them as it hurts.
I've ridden SPD pedals in the past, and I don't know that I'd argue they give you more stroke, but they certainly do keep your foot in place right over the pedal spindle consistently. I would not recommend the dual platform style that have SPD on one side and regular shoe on the other except for casual riding. Those tend to be hard to use as whatever side you want will be on the other side and so you'll have to fumble a bit getting your foot back on the pedal, which I think would be annoying for a race.
The platforms with metal pins are better if you will be riding in rain or mud. Just don't slip and whack your shins on them as it hurts.
I've ridden SPD pedals in the past, and I don't know that I'd argue they give you more stroke, but they certainly do keep your foot in place right over the pedal spindle consistently. I would not recommend the dual platform style that have SPD on one side and regular shoe on the other except for casual riding. Those tend to be hard to use as whatever side you want will be on the other side and so you'll have to fumble a bit getting your foot back on the pedal, which I think would be annoying for a race.
I haven't bought a pair of pedals yet, but I'm gravitating toward the ones like the race face ride that have no metal pins. I had old metal pedals at one point and I remember how badly my shins/ankles/etc would get cut up on them, so I'd prefer to avoid that kind of thing if I can 🤣🤣🤣
I have seen some people complain about the grip, but you don't have any issues? I don't plan to ride in rain/mud although I may ride sometimes while it's still wet outside.
04-01-23, 03:15 PM
#33
Full Member
Most crashes are caused by relatively inexperienced riders using clip-in pedals and not being able to clip out in time and falling over. So there's nothing wrong with using flat pedals. Also I will say that I haven't been able to detect little if any effect a clip in has other than allowing you to pedal circles. This does not appear to actually increase your power but it does maintain a constant pedal velocity which probably helps climbing.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not violent and helmets don't "save your life" But they usually prevent minor and irritating head injuries and so helmets are a worthwhile addition to your kit. Please don't try to argue about helmets saving your life. While anything is possible I have a paper on still available on the Internet showing that it is so improbable that making helmets mandatory is unconstitutional.
https://www.vehicularcyclist.com/kunich.html
I checked the numbers two years ago and they still appear to be the same relationship.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not violent and helmets don't "save your life" But they usually prevent minor and irritating head injuries and so helmets are a worthwhile addition to your kit. Please don't try to argue about helmets saving your life. While anything is possible I have a paper on still available on the Internet showing that it is so improbable that making helmets mandatory is unconstitutional.
https://www.vehicularcyclist.com/kunich.html
I checked the numbers two years ago and they still appear to be the same relationship.
04-01-23, 05:38 PM
#34
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Most crashes are caused by relatively inexperienced riders using clip-in pedals and not being able to clip out in time and falling over. So there's nothing wrong with using flat pedals. Also I will say that I haven't been able to detect little if any effect a clip in has other than allowing you to pedal circles. This does not appear to actually increase your power but it does maintain a constant pedal velocity which probably helps climbing.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not violent and helmets don't "save your life" But they usually prevent minor and irritating head injuries and so helmets are a worthwhile addition to your kit. Please don't try to argue about helmets saving your life. While anything is possible I have a paper on still available on the Internet showing that it is so improbable that making helmets mandatory is unconstitutional.
https://www.vehicularcyclist.com/kunich.html
I checked the numbers two years ago and they still appear to be the same relationship.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not violent and helmets don't "save your life" But they usually prevent minor and irritating head injuries and so helmets are a worthwhile addition to your kit. Please don't try to argue about helmets saving your life. While anything is possible I have a paper on still available on the Internet showing that it is so improbable that making helmets mandatory is unconstitutional.
https://www.vehicularcyclist.com/kunich.html
I checked the numbers two years ago and they still appear to be the same relationship.
04-01-23, 06:46 PM
#35
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Most crashes are caused by relatively inexperienced riders using clip-in pedals and not being able to clip out in time and falling over. So there's nothing wrong with using flat pedals. Also I will say that I haven't been able to detect little if any effect a clip in has other than allowing you to pedal circles. This does not appear to actually increase your power but it does maintain a constant pedal velocity which probably helps climbing.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not violent and helmets don't "save your life" But they usually prevent minor and irritating head injuries and so helmets are a worthwhile addition to your kit. Please don't try to argue about helmets saving your life. While anything is possible I have a paper on still available on the Internet showing that it is so improbable that making helmets mandatory is unconstitutional.
https://www.vehicularcyclist.com/kunich.html
I checked the numbers two years ago and they still appear to be the same relationship.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not violent and helmets don't "save your life" But they usually prevent minor and irritating head injuries and so helmets are a worthwhile addition to your kit. Please don't try to argue about helmets saving your life. While anything is possible I have a paper on still available on the Internet showing that it is so improbable that making helmets mandatory is unconstitutional.
https://www.vehicularcyclist.com/kunich.html
I checked the numbers two years ago and they still appear to be the same relationship.
04-01-23, 09:16 PM
#36
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Most crashes are caused by relatively inexperienced riders using clip-in pedals and not being able to clip out in time and falling over. So there's nothing wrong with using flat pedals. Also I will say that I haven't been able to detect little if any effect a clip in has other than allowing you to pedal circles. This does not appear to actually increase your power but it does maintain a constant pedal velocity which probably helps climbing.
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not etc…
I will also expand on that - there are two kinds of crashes - those where a motor vehicle in involved and usually involves serious injury or death and the overwhelming majority of accidents which are "fall overs" caused by any number of things from flats to gravel on the road. These second kind are usually not etc…
04-01-23, 11:45 PM
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04-02-23, 06:28 AM
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04-02-23, 06:54 AM
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04-02-23, 08:57 PM
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04-02-23, 09:53 PM
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Or the mother of all monster pedals 
, Elliptigo SUB pedals. I'm not sure why they're only on the German site (as far as I can tell). I wonder what pedal strike would be like with these on a normal bike
https://www.elliptigo.de/en/shop/spare-parts/pedal-set-
, Elliptigo SUB pedals. I'm not sure why they're only on the German site (as far as I can tell). I wonder what pedal strike would be like with these on a normal bikehttps://www.elliptigo.de/en/shop/spare-parts/pedal-set-
