Clip-ins vs. Not... Advice?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using clip-ins from people who use them? Thinking about switching to a two sided pedal, one block or flat, the other clipped. What say ya'll?

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Permalink Reply by Bruce on May 22, 2015 at 6:47am

I have used platform pedals at rides like Critical Mass and similar circumstances where there is likely to be a lot of stop/slow/stop/restart riding in crowds that will slow, then stop, then restar,t then slow again, etc. for aways always unexpectedly.  Perfect control is essential in those extremely crowded situations.

Otherwise I prefer to clip in with a multi-directional cleat I can pull out very quickly if need be. Shimano makes a silver one for this.  And I will keep my pedal tightened a little loose. 

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on May 24, 2015 at 9:26am

I've used the shimano touring pedals with spd clips on one side for touring.  Ultimately, I gave up spd clips forplatforms with pegs.  They hold my foot just as securely while pedaling and provide a lot less "hot foot" issues when on the bike for hours.

I'm a lot happier on all my bikes.  If you don't race, don't bother with clips and cleats, they're not worth it.

Marc

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on May 27, 2015 at 6:39am

Definitely not worth it.

The biggest myth in bicycle riding is the need for special cycling shoes and the benefits of stiff ones. The argument in favor of Special Shoes is this: With a firm connection to the pedal, you will be able to apply power for the full 360-degrees of a pedal revolution.
That's one of the biggest, fattest lies of all time on any topic, but experts, riders, and the media repeat this over and over again, year after year. Coaches, trainers, people we're supposed to listen to. Statesmen and Pillars of the Community. Even the Girl Next Door says it over and over.

Rivendell's Grant Peterson from his piece "The Shoes Ruse"

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 27, 2015 at 6:51am
From the guy who says to eat more bacon.

They guy is a bike salesman, not an engineer or a physician.

Huxters gonna hux.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on May 27, 2015 at 7:03am

His points on this one are entirely valid. One does not have to be an engineer or a physician to know what works or to see that a marginal and perhaps imaginary gain of some very small percentage of efficiency is not worth falling off one's bike, maintaining specialized expensive equipment and having to have a special set of shoes. Just to ride one's bike! Which should be and can be a simple joyous and liberating experience.

A lot of otherwise sensible people seem to think that eating bacon is somehow acceptable. I don't get it myself, but that does not mean that they are wrong about everything else.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 27, 2015 at 10:20am

When it comes time for me to buy a $150 hatchet, or a frameset with two or more redundant top tubes and WAY too much trail, I might listen to what Teh Ghrant has to say.  Otherwise, not so much. 

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on May 28, 2015 at 3:12am

I ride a recumbent now and I rode two-wheelers for 20-plus years. I have always used some kind of device to keep my feet at least semi-attached to the pedals.

I currently use power grips which allow me to apply pressure forward and down (quads) and back and up (hamstrings). This allows me to share the load between two different muscle groups, rather than putting the entire burden of my ride on my quads.

I notice the value more in the winter than the summer; getting through snow is much easier when both muscle groups are working. By using both muscle groups my quads are not exhausted and sore at the end of a ride, because my hamstrings are sharing in the effort. And, of course, I ease off my quads (as mentioned in the linked article), because both muscle groups are working equally and the motion is fluid.

To me this is like swinging a sledgehammer; using one arm requires maximum effort while using both requiress less but shared effort. I would quickly tire with one arm but can last longer using two.

Permalink Reply by Paul Oppenheim on May 28, 2015 at 5:35am

This discussion has finally made full circle.  A couple days back I recommended Power Grips, as just echoed by Gene Tenner.  Try 'em, you'll like 'em.  They're cheap and you can use any shoes.

Permalink Reply by Jack London on May 28, 2015 at 6:43am

It's all about personal preference!! I have the two-sided SPD's, but I do get a lot of pedalstrike on my Fixedgear. Nice to jump on in street shoes though for getting around town!

Permalink Reply by william on May 30, 2015 at 5:28am

Shimano A530s. Do it. Business on one side, Party on the other. 

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