Clipless Commute?

[jordanpattern]

I have yet another question for you experts!

I am getting work done to my bike, and one of the things I want to change is the pedals. Right now,they're just regular, non-clip, flat pedals, and I hate them. I know that I will need clipless pedals soon, since I'm training to ride a century, but I am unsure if I will need to have a non-clipless set for my commute. I have a lot of stops and starts on my route, and I often end up in at least a bit of traffic, so that's my main concern. I do see commuters riding clipless, but I'm still unsure.

Do any of you do your commute in clipless pedals? Do you deal with traffic?

Thank you again for all of your help to this clueless newbie!

[Melalvai]

My commuter bike is a little strange. I put only one toe cage on it, for my right foot, which is the foot I start with. That is so I can quickly pull that pedal up into the start position at every stop sign.

[Becky]

Yep, I use clipless pedals for commuting on mostly urban streets. I can't imagine riding without them, to be honest.

It takes some practice, especially at the beginning. I suggest a double-sided mountain-style pedal. They're easier to to clip in and out of IMO, and finding a double-sided pedal is easier in traffic. The other option is "campus-style" pedals, where one side is SPD clipless and the other side is flat.

[KnottedYet]

I commuted in traffic using Speedplay Frogs.

Super easy to get in and out, double sided, passive release, no moving parts to futz with.

http://speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

[Catrin]

I commuted in traffic using Speedplay Frogs.

Super easy to get in and out, double sided, passive release, no moving parts to futz with.

http://speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

What is passive release?

[lph]

I use clipless for everything. Commuted for years without, but once I tried it I never looked back. Which is not to say the switch didn't have it's, uh, "challenges". I did the classic clip-out-and-then-fall-over-to-the-other-side maneuver, embarrassing but didn't feel dangerous even in traffic because I clip out on my traffic side (therefore fell over to my safe side).

I started out with clipless on a road with very little traffic, and practiced clipping in and out over and over during the ride, pretending I was approaching an intersection. My first real rides in traffic I nervously clipped in and out a zillion times just to be sure, and for a long time I clipped out way way ahead of all intersections and pedalled or coasted the last bit with one foot loose on the pedal. Now it's so ingrained I come to almost a complete stop or even track stand before I clip out.

I find it more challenging to trail ride with clipless, actually. I never know exactly when I'll have to come to a full stop.

PS: I agree that double-sided mtb pedals are the easiest to clip in and out of. I've never tried flat/mtb-pedals, but I've tried single-sided and I was forever not finding the right side once I was ready to get going again. I haven't used single-sided roadie pedals enough for commuting to say what they're like.

[KnottedYet]

What is passive release?

They don't click in or out, they just kind of unscrew. (like the pedal is a jar and the cleat is the lid)

There is no tension involved, no tension to adjust. The cleats release passively by position only, with no pressure required.

When I demonstrate them to folks who are nervous about being clipped in, I click in my empty shoe then tap the heel outward with one finger. The shoe rotates and falls off the pedal.

It's a pretty cool demonstration and allays a lot of fears.