Clipless Commute?

[jordanpattern]

I have yet another question for you experts!

I am getting work done to my bike, and one of the things I want to change is the pedals. Right now,they're just regular, non-clip, flat pedals, and I hate them. I know that I will need clipless pedals soon, since I'm training to ride a century, but I am unsure if I will need to have a non-clipless set for my commute. I have a lot of stops and starts on my route, and I often end up in at least a bit of traffic, so that's my main concern. I do see commuters riding clipless, but I'm still unsure.

Do any of you do your commute in clipless pedals? Do you deal with traffic?

Thank you again for all of your help to this clueless newbie!

[Melalvai]

My commuter bike is a little strange. I put only one toe cage on it, for my right foot, which is the foot I start with. That is so I can quickly pull that pedal up into the start position at every stop sign.

[Becky]

Yep, I use clipless pedals for commuting on mostly urban streets. I can't imagine riding without them, to be honest.

It takes some practice, especially at the beginning. I suggest a double-sided mountain-style pedal. They're easier to to clip in and out of IMO, and finding a double-sided pedal is easier in traffic. The other option is "campus-style" pedals, where one side is SPD clipless and the other side is flat.

[KnottedYet]

I commuted in traffic using Speedplay Frogs.

Super easy to get in and out, double sided, passive release, no moving parts to futz with.

http://speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

[Catrin]

I commuted in traffic using Speedplay Frogs.

Super easy to get in and out, double sided, passive release, no moving parts to futz with.

http://speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

What is passive release?

[lph]

I use clipless for everything. Commuted for years without, but once I tried it I never looked back. Which is not to say the switch didn't have it's, uh, "challenges". I did the classic clip-out-and-then-fall-over-to-the-other-side maneuver, embarrassing but didn't feel dangerous even in traffic because I clip out on my traffic side (therefore fell over to my safe side).

I started out with clipless on a road with very little traffic, and practiced clipping in and out over and over during the ride, pretending I was approaching an intersection. My first real rides in traffic I nervously clipped in and out a zillion times just to be sure, and for a long time I clipped out way way ahead of all intersections and pedalled or coasted the last bit with one foot loose on the pedal. Now it's so ingrained I come to almost a complete stop or even track stand before I clip out.

I find it more challenging to trail ride with clipless, actually. I never know exactly when I'll have to come to a full stop.

PS: I agree that double-sided mtb pedals are the easiest to clip in and out of. I've never tried flat/mtb-pedals, but I've tried single-sided and I was forever not finding the right side once I was ready to get going again. I haven't used single-sided roadie pedals enough for commuting to say what they're like.

[muddysmudge]

I too use clipless (spd) pedals on all my bikes, commuter, mtb and road. I currently have flat one side/spd the other on my commuter hardtail and they're driving me nuts because they keep flipping over when you've clipped out (say at traffic lights) and the spd side is always underneath when I want to get going again....

So I've just bought some mtb double sided spd pedals to swap them over. I use shimano 520's, they're great! And not too expensive either!

When I use the flat pedal side on my commuter pedals, I hate it, my feet forever feel like they're going to slip off. Like most people, it took a while to get used to spd's but once you've mastered it, they are so much better. And...really important...they are much more efficient on the bike as you use the whole cycle stroke, not just the downward one. You'll use muscles you never thought you had

I prefer them for mtb riding as well, but a couple of 'the boys' I ride with swear by flats, its what you're more comfortable with I guess. I had a nasty 'off' last year and twisted the ligaments in my ankle simply because I didn't get my feet out of the pedal quickly enough when I fell, the bike went one way and my ankle the other... But hey, I could have suffered a similar injury by sticking my foot out when I fell anyway!

All I would say is loosen them right off when you first use them (there is a little allen screw that adjusts the tension) and gradually tighten them up as you become more confident. They really are the best way forward I reckon...good luck!

[KnottedYet]

What is passive release?

They don't click in or out, they just kind of unscrew. (like the pedal is a jar and the cleat is the lid)

There is no tension involved, no tension to adjust. The cleats release passively by position only, with no pressure required.

When I demonstrate them to folks who are nervous about being clipped in, I click in my empty shoe then tap the heel outward with one finger. The shoe rotates and falls off the pedal.

It's a pretty cool demonstration and allays a lot of fears.

[divingbiker]

I agree that double-sided mtb pedals are the easiest to clip in and out of. I've never tried flat/mtb-pedals, but I've tried single-sided and I was forever not finding the right side once I was ready to get going again. I haven't used single-sided roadie pedals enough for commuting to say what they're like.

I have single sided pedals on my commuter and I hate them because i can't ever find the side to clip into. They're a good idea in theory, but they're a PITA in practice. I'm putting double sided clipless pedals on my new bike.

[alice]

I have the "campus-style" pedals, which are SPD on one side, flat on the other. I've found that they're weighted perfectly that you're never searching for the clip on side you clip out (it stays up for about one revolution from your stopping point), and you just need a second of patience to catch the flat side (although depending on your shoes, you can pedal the SPD side fine in street shoes).

I clip in on off-road (paved trail) rides and on the half of my commute that is lower/smarter traffic, but not when I'm in the downtown urban area near where I live (where bicyles are rare and drivers are... less intelligent).

[Crankin]

Hmm, my campus style pedals are forever annoying me because they are always on the flat side/flipped over when I go to start off. But, I don't ride that bike that often, so I deal with it.

[Geonz]

I wouldn't want to learn on the commute 'cause I make enough left turns so that even falling to the right would be rather undesirable...

[ZenBiker]

I put campus style pedals on my commuter bike too. Finding the right side sometimes takes a second or two, not a big deal.

My reasoning in choosing campus style was less about traffic (though that was part of it) than thinking I might want to go somewhere on my lunch hour, just a quick errand, and not want to switch into my bike shoes. Turns out I so prefer to be clipped in, now that i've gotten comfortable with it, that I never skip my bike shoes. I may put double sided pedals on the commuter bike one of these days because of that.

[Grog]

I also have campus style pedals on my commuter bike. I don't mind the extra two seconds it sometimes takes to find the right side to clip in. In the winter if it's around freezing point or colder I wear warm (wool!) winter boots on the bike (I have a 12 K commute) and they have no cleats. I don't want to have to swap pedals all the time. Also it's nice to be comfortable to use that bike with regular shoes to run errands, go places, etc.

[JennK13]

I have the "campus-style" pedals, which are SPD on one side, flat on the other. I've found that they're weighted perfectly that you're never searching for the clip on side you clip out (it stays up for about one revolution from your stopping point), and you just need a second of patience to catch the flat side (although depending on your shoes, you can pedal the SPD side fine in street shoes).

I also have campus pedals on my commuter and I love them. I've gotten used to flipping them over when I need to, and since I do ride that bike in regular shoes, it's nice to not have to switch out pedals.

To edit, one thing I do have a "problem" with when I ride this bike, is that I am used to being clipped in. Sometimes I forget that I'm not when I'm riding in regular shoes, and pull back too hard causing my foot to slip off the pedal (which isn't the problem). The pedal then flips around and smacks me in the shin :/ The pedals can leave a good bruise! That is my only issue, and it's more my fault than the pedal....