Quote Originally Posted by ZoneFive View Post
I'm still riding my Schwinn Hollywood, and riding happily. I'm riding 16-20 miles regularly and I've signed up for a 30-mile event at the end of September. (I'm in it for the jersey.) Have been looking at bikes and putting together a wish list. Have a day trip planned to go try out a Cross-Check and a Straggler in Grand Rapids in a few weeks. (Muirenn, you suggested the Surly bikes, and I have to admit the name alone unnerved me at first, and then intrigued me. Since then a few more people have suggested them, and now I'm very excited about the ride.)

I'm a little concerned about going to a very new bike when I'm used to a vintage one and starting with clipless pedals at the same time. My Schwinn of course has flat pedals. Would it make sense to swap out the flat pedals for clipless and start practicing on the bike I'm used to? All input gratefully accepted, please and thank you!
How about trying BMX pedals? I love mine, with sticky-soled Tevas. I'll never ride clipless as I've got three artificial parts that would react quite differently in a fall, so can't take the chance on falling, as I ride bumpy roads. Someone on TE sent me to The Flat-Pedal Revolution Manifesto and I won't apologize for flat pedals again!