To cleat or not to cleat?

[gocard]

I have been road cycling around 5 months and only just made the switch to clipless shoes. While it was my first road bike, I felt that I adjusted to it pretty easily and I believe part of that reason is because I wore running shoes instead of going straight to clipless. I knew that I'd be able to put my feet on the ground in an instant if I needed to, and that left me free to concentrate on getting used to the bike first.

I have the Shimano A530 pedals because at the time, I wasn't comfortable with the idea of being clipped in and it was nice to use the platform side first and not have to get new pedals if I ever decided to switch.

I actually like the A530s a lot - I got fairly used to being able to switch to the platform side without having to look down (when I was wearing running shoes). For me, I think I was better off having waited until I truly felt comfortable enough on the bike before moving to clipless shoes. Just go at your own pace and wait until you feel like you want to make the switch, if at all.

[Jolt]

Another platform pedal user here...I just don't like the idea of being attached to the pedals in a way that will make it hard to do an emergency stop without it turning into a crash. Have thought about putting on a set of mini toe clips, just to prevent inadvertently coming off the pedals on trails or rough roads, but haven't done it yet. My other reason for not going clipless is the need for special shoes that aren't always so good for walking in, as opposed to being able to just go for a ride in regular sneakers/sandals. Why overcomplicate things?

[Over50Newbie]

Another senior biker who does not clip in and I definitely consider myself a "real bicyclist."

I do have straps on my pedals to help me "pull" on hills, but I keep them really loose so I will never have trouble getting my feet out in an emergency.

Here is a pic of what I have.

http://bicycling.about.com/od/allabo...e_pedals_3.htm

Lynette

[Crankin]

I started riding on a mountain bike with slick tires. I very quickly went from sneakers to a pair of mountain bike shoes without the cleats installed. I quickly learned that I needed the stiff sole of a cycling shoe. After awhile, I had the cleats installed, to use in spin class. I am not sure how/why, but I continued to use these shoes with my flat pedals. I guess the recessed cleat didn't interfere. I am pretty sure I didn't have a second pair of shoes. After about a year and a half, I bought a road bike, with spd pedals. I was already used to clipping in and out from spin class, and although I was scared and went slowly (I spent 3 weeks riding on flat streets, with one foot clipped out), I never crashed.
I guess the message is I took this in stages and I was ready in each stage. Although I was not as much as of a beginner as the OP, I was 47 years old, and I am not particularly coordinated.
Some people like using Power Straps, which give you the same ability to "pull" as clipless pedals, but are attached to flat pedals. You use the same motion to get out of these straps as getting out of cleats, so it is a good intermediate step for a lot of people. They are more intuitive than the old fashioned cages.

[lph]

What they all said. While all elite riders use cleats, because they add a little more power to your pedal stroke, there are many many experienced, veteran, long-distance riders who don't, for various reasons. I commuted without cleats for many years. Everyone blathered on about how I should have them so I tried, and to tell you the truth I still don't think the added power is particularly noticeable. But I quickly got used to the ease of being attached and not being able to slide off, it's relaxing in a different way, believe it or not. So now I use them all the time, and feel very unsafe without, like I'm about to pop off my pedals any moment!

Once you want to try them you'll need a while to engrain the muscle memory, and once you do it's second nature. But there certainly are advantages to cycling without too, like wearing regular shoes.

[tealtreak]

Please never allow "the rules" (lol thinking velominati) about gear, expense of bike, clothes, speed or any other variable to keep you from loving to ride! (: Seeking advice/mentoring is wise and this forum is great for that......but it is easy to get sucked into thinking "I am not a "real" cyclist because.......

[Owlie]

I love my clipless pedals and stiff-soled cycling shoes, but I certainly would never recommend them to someone who is just (re)learning how to ride. I usually just tell people to leave the flat pedals on, or if it's a bike that doesn't come with pedals, to get a basic pair of platforms until you've got control of the bike down and can start and stop without issue. I'd also never put a pair of clipless pedals on a mountain or commuter bike, if I were doing a lot of riding in built-up areas. I'd stick a pair of BMX pedals on there and call it good...and learn to watch out for my shins!

[JasonM]

At first I've been using flat pedals. But most of my friends are shifting into clipless pedals. They suggest that i should change too since its more efficient especially on long rides and uphills. they i get used to it a couple of tries then im confident enough for long rides with clipless pedals.

[Trek420]

Thanks for the bump.

All 10 (yikes. How did that happen?) of our bikes are platform pedals, various and sundry brands and kinds. I had to give up on clipless because of a foot injury. My road bike shoe days are over.

I don't miss it. All of our platform pedals are grippy, steady, can even stand on a hill or to accelerate. The only time I miss clipless a teeny tiny bit is on descents. With clipless there's little to no risk of loss of contact with the pedal when you hit a bump. I really felt connected with the bike. That can happen with platform but has not yet.

OTOH or foot, OTOF with platforms I can just grab a bike and go. I never even have to change shoes though sometimes do for footwear that's a little stiffer and or more grippy.

[ny biker]

Hi Trek!

I put platform pedals on my mountain bike after I hurt my ankle so I could do short rides around my neighborhood without having to twist my foot to clip in and out. I found it very hard to get started, especially on a hill, after using clipless pedals for years. Did you have a similar problem when you switched back to platforms?

I don't ride the mountain bike much and since my ankle is better I'm back to riding my road bike which has clipless pedals. But I might be getting another bike and am considering putting platform pedals on that, for a few reasons.

The clipless pedals do help me when riding up steep hills, because that's when I am consciously pulling up through the pedal stroke. Other than that I really don't know how much difference they make. I'm an average-speed rider, not trying to race or anything.

I have had trouble finding road shoes that are comfortable, and in cold weather those cold metal cleats make my feet cold. Also I have to be careful when walking on unpaved surfaces in them to avoid getting dirt in the cleats. I've done a few century rides lately that required walking in grass, dirt and mud in my bike shoes, which was not fun.

[Crankin]

I absolutely hate riding on flat pedals! I can barely get started, let a lone on a hill! I wish I didn't get the dual sided pedals for the Ariel. It comes down to just not feeling safe on the flat pedals.