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

[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.

[wackyjacky1]

One thing to be aware of with BMX pedals is something called pedal slap.

Ha ha, years ago I had a mtb with those bear-trap style pedals that are kinda serrated on both sides. I was riding in the street and decided to try hopping up the curb and onto the sidewalk (I had just come back from a visit to The Netherlands and saw folks do this a million times, it looked so effortless and easy). I totally flubbed it, my left foot slipped off its pedal, and with all my weight on the right pedal, the crank arm swung around and the left pedal smacked me full-force in the shin. It opened up a series of 2- to 3-inch long scrapes on my shin that went down to the bone. Hurt like a mother!!! It looked like I had been mauled by a wild animal, lol.

(I got back on my bike and made my way to a bar called Duddley's Draw -- this happened in College Station, TX -- and ordered a pitcher of beer. I sat on the front porch of Duddley's, propped my bloody leg up on a chair, and drank that whole pitcher.)