Anyone Ride with Plain Ol' Platform Pedals, No Clips or Nothin'?

[kimikaw]

So glad for this thread. I've been struggling since Friday with my decision to remove the clipless pedals from my commuter. Thoughts of not being a real cyclists without being clicked in, trying to decide if I should impose a deadline to put them back on. All silly, ridiculous thoughts, really.

This thread plus today's commute on flat pedals made it all so clear. This is the right decision for me, on this bike, for this route. So nice to not be constantly worrying about my feet, or balancing one unclipped foot on a pedal. No problems with the hills - even where on Friday I stopped at one place and pushed bike up - mainly due to being afraid I'd lose momentum and tip over unable to get foot out while standing and mashing.

I'll continue to use the clipless on the road bike, and work towards them on the mountain bike. I know someday I will get more instinctual. But for my commute with lots of starts and stops, lots of traffic. I feel better in flats.

But am going to check out some of these recommended pedals. Was looking at BMX type - do the little spikes tear up soles of shoes? Seems like they would.

[Velocivixen]

@Kimikaw - here's my .02 cents worth. If you are riding a bike for any reason, then you are a "real cyclist". You're not on foot, not on roller skates, not in a car or on horseback. You're on a bike. I think, despite what you are riding for, it should be fun. You might be riding to work, or grocery shopping or whatever, but if it's not fun then I'm less likely to ride.
So, yes, you are a real cyclist pedals and all.

[wackyjacky1]

Wow, great input from everybody! Thank you so much.

I totally get the "Does this mean I'm not a real cyclist?" thing -- I was having a bit of a hang-up with that, myself. It's nice to see that so many of you ride platforms without problems (either physical or psychological, lol).

So many choices out there, too! I stopped at my LBS on the way home and had them slap on some inexpensive Wellgo platforms. I have to say, I really liked how it felt on the rest of my ride home. I may upgrade at a later date to a lighter weight version, but for now these'll do.

One thing I missed was, when at a stop, being able to raise the foot that is still clipped-in so that the pedal is in the "go" position when I'm ready to take off again. But I'm sure I'll get used to that.

Once again, thank you for all the excellent advice.

ETA: The inexpensive Wellgo pedals that I got (model B087) do not have replaceable pins. They are painted black, and the paint seemed to make the pins feel perhaps a little slick. That sorta worried me on my way home, wondering how they would be if they got wet. I just sanded the paint off the tops of the pins, and they seem more grippy now. Just fyi.

[Velocivixen]

@wackyjacky1 you said, "One thing I missed was, when at a stop, being able to raise the foot that is still clipped-in so that the pedal is in the "go" position when I'm ready to take off again. But I'm sure I'll get used to that."

So here's what I do with regular platform pedals. When I get to the stop light & am stopped I lean to my right with the weight on my right leg (I am left leg dominant and want that leg in the top "go" position), I use my left foot to backpedal the pedal & stop when my left foot is in the "Go" or top position. It's a quick, automatic loop that I make and I don't really even think about it. I hope that makes sense.

[Owlie]

@wackyjacky1 you said, "One thing I missed was, when at a stop, being able to raise the foot that is still clipped-in so that the pedal is in the "go" position when I'm ready to take off again. But I'm sure I'll get used to that."

So here's what I do with regular platform pedals. When I get to the stop light & am stopped I lean to my right with the weight on my right leg (I am left leg dominant and want that leg in the top "go" position), I use my left foot to backpedal the pedal & stop when my left foot is in the "Go" or top position. It's a quick, automatic loop that I make and I don't really even think about it. I hope that makes sense.

What I did when I was mentally transitioning myself toward clipless pedals (but still using platforms) was stop, then catch the left pedal (the one that I now keep clipped in) with my toe and bring it back up (basically backpedaling) to the "go" position. There was significantly less awkward hopping at stop signs, back then.

[Geonz]

I have toe clips without straps on my commuter. I *have* had my foot slip forward off the pedal, and gotten the front of my shoe stuck in my wheel, and had the wheel suck the shoe entirely off my foot (I was wearing it sandal-style), wrap itself around the fender and into the spokes and bring the bike to a halt and hurl me over the handlebars. The hard part was untangling fender and shoe and wheel... then I could ride away again. (The hardest part was standing in the road, on one foot 'cause theother foot was just socked, looking at this absurd entanglement, and having left my camera at home. I didn't even have witnesses; it was a quiet morning. It was April; I was wearing lots of layers, hardly even any road rash.)
Having just the clip part (they're the mountain bike kind) means there's something to hold my foot in but it is **really** easy to get my foot out.
Real cyclist? Splort! I am too busy being myself to define myself, thank you. By definition, according to some in my community, I'm not "real" if I'm commuting, not training or racing. There are others who think that the simpler things are, the closer one is to the ultimate definition of Real Cycling. Whatever. I just do it for the bliss.

[Owlie]

I have toe clips without straps on my commuter. I *have* had my foot slip forward off the pedal, and gotten the front of my shoe stuck in my wheel, and had the wheel suck the shoe entirely off my foot (I was wearing it sandal-style), wrap itself around the fender and into the spokes and bring the bike to a halt and hurl me over the handlebars. The hard part was untangling fender and shoe and wheel... then I could ride away again. (The hardest part was standing in the road, on one foot 'cause theother foot was just socked, looking at this absurd entanglement, and having left my camera at home. I didn't even have witnesses; it was a quiet morning. It was April; I was wearing lots of layers, hardly even any road rash.)
.

[sundial]

I *have* had my foot slip forward off the pedal, and gotten the front of my shoe stuck in my wheel, and had the wheel suck the shoe entirely off my foot (I was wearing it sandal-style), wrap itself around the fender and into the spokes and bring the bike to a halt and hurl me over the handlebars.

You win the shoe suck award!

[Velocivixen]

Yes, Owlie that's a better description of what I do. Just got back from a ride & paid attention to what I do with my left foot. No problems with my start ups at the light.

[Catrin]

One thing to be aware of with BMX pedals is something called pedal slap. Gotta love those pins, they keep your feet from sliding, but if the pedal should slam against your shin or calf when walking or stopping for some reason - it will draw blood. No ifs ands or buts about it - that being said I still prefer them much better than "regular" platform pedals because my feet do stay on them much better.

Just something to be aware of.

[sundial]

I'll continue to use the clipless on the road bike, and work towards them on the mountain bike. Was looking at BMX type - do the little spikes tear up soles of shoes? Seems like they would.

Cycling is sort of an evolution in itself. You go through several seasons refining what you like or dislike and you make changes accordingly. There's no pressure in the decisions you have to make today. It may not be on the radar by next season.

As for the BMX pedals and shoes--none of my soles have been affected by the pins on the pedals--whether it's cycling shoes or Keen sandals. If you want really super sticky soles that self heal so to speak, 5.10 shoes paired with BMX pedals are great together.