Platform pedals

[sandra]

After my fall from my bike yesterday, I want to go to platform pedals for a while. I need to become more skilled at riding and get used to the bike before I consider clipless. These pedals with straps have got to go!

Are all platform pedals basically alike? Can someone give me a link to a good recommendation?

My LBS is closed on Monday, but I'm going in tomorrow. Trying to get ideas before I go.

[Pedal Wench]

There's not much to platforms. Your shop probably only has one brand, and that will be fine - you'll only be on them for a month or two There are some that are designed for downhilling, with spikes to keep your feet from slipping, but I don't think you need anything like that. Just get the basic ones to get you through this time until you're back on the clipless.

Edit! Just read that you have pedals with straps. You can just take the straps off! Easy!

[sandra]

I can't find how to get the straps off! I thought they would come off, but they have reflectors and there must be screws under the reflectors that hold the straps on. I can't figure out how to get to the reflectors off to get to the screws. I can't see any screw heads.

(can you tell I'm a new rider? But, I'm pumped and having so much fun!!)

[Pedal Wench]

I had the same problem. I think the reflectors popped off, or slid to one side to reveal the screws. I'll look at mine tonight and see if I can recall how to do it. They do come right off, once you figure out the secret/

[sandra]

Thank you. I'll keep trying too!

[VeloVT]

Would it help to just loosen the straps up a lot so it's really easy to slide your foot into/out of the toeclips?

The last time I was test riding bikes (granted, this was after almost a year with clipless pedals) I rode some with platforms and some with clips/straps, and found that while I really missed my clipless pedals either way, the toeclips were much nicer than the platforms for going up hills -- they made it much easier. For me the biggest pain was having to turn them over (in order to slide my foot in) each time I got started at a stoplight.

Also when I bought my commute bike last winter, they had to order shoes for me (took a super long time for them to come in for some reason), so I left the test pedals with toeclips on for a month, until the shoes came in (I had bought eggbeaters, which are not very easy to ride on with normal shoes). I just left the straps pretty loose and it was ok. Especially in the winter, I preferred them to platforms, both for the added security even a loose strap provides, and because they really help on hills, for the same reasons clipless pedals help (though to a lesser extent).

[sandra]

For me the biggest pain was having to turn them over (in order to slide my foot in) each time I got started at a stoplight.

I had them pretty loose. I'll try it them again, but I was having a big problem with this as well.

The first time I fell, I was just not paying attention. I was test riding the bike, checking out the shifting, the breaks, etc and forgot about being strapped in and was not fast enough.

The second time I was trying to get my left foot in the strap!@!

[dex]

I have Shimano pedals on my commuter/city bike that are platform on one side and SPD on the other. I have SPD on my road bike, so these were a good option for me to ride either clipless, or to just jump on and go if I wanted to do a quick run to meet up with friends and not have to fuss with taking extra shoes to change into.

Just an option to think about. It would let you have the platform that you want for now, but give you a chance to ease into clipless as you got more comfortable.

I think these are the ones I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Road-M.../dp/B0000C83XY

[indysteel]

I have Shimano pedals on my commuter/city bike that are platform on one side and SPD on the other. I have SPD on my road bike, so these were a good option for me to ride either clipless, or to just jump on and go if I wanted to do a quick run to meet up with friends and not have to fuss with taking extra shoes to change into.

Just an option to think about. It would let you have the platform that you want for now, but give you a chance to ease into clipless as you got more comfortable.

I think these are the ones I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Road-M.../dp/B0000C83XY

I second this suggestion. I set my first bike up with these and got the general feel for riding clipless. It didn't take long before I started using the SPD side over the platform. I still had a bit of a learning curve when I bought a road bike with a different pedal system, but it only took a few days to get used to those pedals.

[sandra]

Which shoes go with these pedals? When I'm ready, that is.

[Pedal Wench]

Sandra, I'll give you my usual 'new to clipless' advice. Even while using your platform pedals, pretend you're clipped in. Every time you stop, click out your heel, as if you were unclipping (use the one that you normally put down first when you stop). This way, that motion becomes automatic, so you won't have to think about it. For me, as soon as I grab the brakes, my heel automatically clicks out.

[dex]

Which shoes go with these pedals? When I'm ready, that is.

I use mountain bike shoes--mine are the Specialized Riata. You should be fine with any mountain shoe, though. Someone will come along and correct me if I'm wrong. I am not a pedal expert--or an anything to do with cycling expert--so I'm just relating my own stuff.

[Velobambina]

My bikes have the Shimano pedals that Indy and Dex mention, and I love them. I use the w/mountain shoes (summer) or boots (winter) and SPD cleats.

[VeloVT]

Sandra, I'll give you my usual 'new to clipless' advice. Even while using your platform pedals, pretend you're clipped in. Every time you stop, click out your heel, as if you were unclipping (use the one that you normally put down first when you stop). This way, that motion becomes automatic, so you won't have to think about it. For me, as soon as I grab the brakes, my heel automatically clicks out.

Wow, this is an excellent idea.

Up in the beginning riders section I've read a few threads lately from people who've just gotten clipless pedals and apparently didn't need any time to adjust to them. Not so with me! It probably took me at least a month after putting the pedals on that I reached my previous comfort level on the bike again. I was extremely nervous when I first got clipless pedals. Really, looking back, I should have waited until I was more comfortable on the bike generally. I was a nervous nelly when I first got my bike for some reason, my balance wasn't very good yet and all sorts of things freaked me out -- riding on dirt/gravel, having to take any kind of evasive action quickly, etc., and I got clipless pedals just a few weeks after getting the bike because it seemed the thing to do, which just compounded my problems.

Luckily it all worked out in the end !

[sandra]

This is an excellent idea. I'm much like Liza and can tell I need time to adjust to the bike, but this is something I can practice in the meantime. Thank you so much for that suggestion!