Flat Pedals vs. Clipping In - What do you prefer? Does it depend on the type of ride?

Nearly 3 years ago I started clipping in with SPD MTB pedals when I bought a road bike. I loved it - especially after it became second nature to clip in.

Last summer I changed out my track and road bikes to use SpeedPlay Light Action and I fell in love with the lightweight lollipop pedals. 

On the other hand, my commuter/touring bike needs the combination flat/clip pedal because I like to wear my boots when I am riding to a party or meeting friends for brunch. 

So I am curious - what do you use when you ride? Does it depend on the bike or the type of riding? 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 13, 2015 at 6:08am

Absolutely. For rides when I expect a lot of stop and go traffic (such as bike commuting into the Loop), I prefer platform pedals. In more relaxed situations where I have a little more warning before I need to stop, clipping in works just fine.

Does it depend on the bike or the type of riding? 

Permalink Reply by Kevin on February 13, 2015 at 6:14am

My dual platforms have served me fairly well. The only very minor annoyance is needing to flip the pedal around with my foot to get the right side.

Permalink Reply by Wuffie on February 13, 2015 at 6:27am

I use the dual platform pedals on my commuter as my commute is long and I prefer the additional efficiency of the clip-ins but, when the weather is really bad (think ice), I like to unclip for safety, and when I run errands around town, I'm in my street shoes unclipped.  Once you get used to flipping them around, it's really not much of an inconvenience, particularly when you consider the flexibility they offer.

Permalink Reply by Beans on February 13, 2015 at 6:29am

Platforms.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on February 13, 2015 at 6:50am

I prefer the platform pedals with toe cages. I don't have to wear special shoes and the cages let me pull up and push forward on each pedal stroke.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on February 13, 2015 at 10:00am

I commuted for about a year and a half clipless and got tired of it. Not so much the clipping in/out part but being limited on what shoes I can wear and I don't like walking around with cleats even though my shoes had them recessed. I know the dual pedals are popular but I'm just not a fan. 

My weekend rider is a different story as that I definitely ride clipless. 

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 13, 2015 at 10:15am


I had those dual platform pedals on my original commuter and eventually switched to these.  

The "teeth" my old pair used to scratch my leg when I'd get on and off the train but I may have just been a bit clumsy.

Kevin said:

My dual platforms have served me fairly well. The only very minor annoyance is needing to flip the pedal around with my foot to get the right side.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 13, 2015 at 11:03am

I think it makes a difference to riding longer distances and/or at higher speeds. Your mileage may vary. ;)

Andy Moss 9.5 said:

I am unconvinced that clipless does anything for efficiency.

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on February 13, 2015 at 11:18am

I run these in the summer on my commuter/beater bike and run some MTB SPD pedals on my roadie.  In the winter I just have the crappy big-ole plastic ones on my commuter/beater since I wear boots.  I really like these (pictured below) since I don't need cycling specific shoes to ride with them.



Yasmeen said:


I had those dual platform pedals on my original commuter and eventually switched to these.  

The "teeth" my old pair used to scratch my leg when I'd get on and off the train but I may have just been a bit clumsy.

Kevin said:

My dual platforms have served me fairly well. The only very minor annoyance is needing to flip the pedal around with my foot to get the right side.

Permalink Reply by Tom Z on February 13, 2015 at 3:32pm

Those are the pedals I was using the first year I used clipless pedals.

Since, I have switched to pedals with clipless on both sides since I was always clipping in every time. It is now second nature clipping.

Though I will say it would be nice to be able to go on short trips with other choices of shoes, which can't be done with my current clipless pedals.

Tom

Yasmeen said:


I had those dual platform pedals on my original commuter and eventually switched to these.  

The "teeth" my old pair used to scratch my leg when I'd get on and off the train but I may have just been a bit clumsy.

Kevin said:

My dual platforms have served me fairly well. The only very minor annoyance is needing to flip the pedal around with my foot to get the right side.

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on February 14, 2015 at 7:28am

Weird that you sorta describe one reason riding "clipless" is more efficient: you don't slip off the pedal or have to readjust your foot position [ever].

"Clipless" pedals don't make the bike more efficient or even the rider more efficient they make the combination of the two more efficient - less energy output per mile for a given riding style. Another factor is direction of force application: for the trained rider, an application of force that is optimal to power delivery is forward/down. A "clipless" pedal allows that to be optimized without concern of the foot slipping off the pedal during forward force application. [so essentially almost the same thing- keeps the foot on the pedal]. Lastly, the upstroke can be utilized for power delivery which makes the rider able do deliver more power per mile ridden.[I suppose that technically is "efficiency of the system"] For some riders (amateurs like me) when the quads get tired on longer rides the hamstrings can be used as the primary muscle group to give the quads a break.

These qualities also apply to clipped pedals (I call them straps).

Trick riders and down hill riders will almost certainly use platforms.

I do like platform pedals for some reasons. For one, they will work the leg muscles somewhat differently and are good to "cross train" the muscles a bit. I seem to feel it more in the glutes.



Andy Moss 9.5 said:

I am unconvinced that clipless does anything for efficiency.  That said, I like riding clipless, especially in the winter and in wet weather.  I have several different pairs of Shimano dual platforms, including the rat-trap style ones, which I like, and the A530, which is so-so (it's cheap, light and durable, but the platform sucks IMHO).  I just switched to a dual-sided pedal (M540), and I think I like it better than the dual platform.

For platforms, I use the MKS Touring Pedal.  Best ever, especially if you have wide feet.

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on February 14, 2015 at 7:57am

I love both! (see previous response)

Regarding the Speedplay light action: I tried these and I really wanted to love them. They look wicked cool/high tech. However, I just hated them. I loved the idea of dual sided entry on the road bike. However, I could not find that clipping in was easy and almost broke my foot when I thought I was clipped it but wasn't and another couple of times painful shin smacks just trying to clip in a "hurry". Secondly there is a steel cup on the bottom of your foot providing almost zero traction on asphalt and I would be terrified to put my foot down on wet asphalt with these.

Best part about them is they made me love, love, love my SPD-SL  road pedals which are single sided but I find to be 100 times easier to clip in and they have rubber tips on the cleats for when you put your foot down! Super stable, comfortable and confidence inspiring for hard riding like sprint and otherwise standing while pedaling.

I love "Eggbeaters" for off road and my foul weather commuter.

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