Cleats - again.

[ayceejay]

No problem here since the wheel has been invented, if you prefer pushing a sledge I have no problem with that - shove on.

 

[S-Express]

The one position fits all seems to me to be a bit of a compromise.

Which is why you should definitely remain on flats. There's nothing wrong with that - other than the fact that the majority of regular/sport/competitive/elite/pro cyclists happen to disagree with you.

 

[Brandane]

Which is why you should definitely remain on flats. There's nothing wrong with that - other than the fact that the majority of regular/sport/competitive/elite/pro cyclists happen to disagree with you.

That's ok then; because with the possible exception of "regular", I don't fit in to any of those categories! But I will continue to use the SPD's purely because they have put a stop to my achilles problem, which was putting me off doing longer rides.

 

[Profpointy]

That's ok then; because with the possible exception of "regular", I don't fit in to any of those categories! But I will continue to use the SPD's purely because they have put a stop to my achilles problem, which was putting me off doing longer rides.

Teasing aside it's perfectly fair and reasonable for you to not like them, or can't be arsed with needing special shoes, but it's a bit extreme for you claim they have no value for others

 

[Brandane]

but it's a bit extreme for you claim they have no value for others

But .... I chose my words carefully; as one must on this forum .
What I said was that they provide SFA performance advantage to your average cyclist. I would still claim that is not far off the mark. Of course it doesn't apply to most on here, who are probably more enthusiastic about cycling than your average cyclist; otherwise they wouldn't be on this forum (although the number of cycle fantasist members of CC seems to be on the up ).

 

[Profpointy]

But .... I chose my words carefully; as one must on this forum .
What I said was that they provide SFA performance advantage to your average cyclist. I would still claim that is not far off the mark. Of course it doesn't apply to most on here, who are probably more enthusiastic about cycling than your average cyclist; otherwise they wouldn't be on this forum (although the number of cycle fantasist members of CC seems to be on the up ).

Nicely nuanced! I hereby downgrade my objection to merely disagreeing.

 

[S-Express]

What I said was that they provide SFA performance advantage to your average cyclist.

As I said before, they provide no performance advantage to any cyclist. This knowledge appears to be new to you though. But it doesn't make it any less unremarkable.

 

[steveindenmark]

The alternative is to buy the pedals with flats on one side and clips on the other and a pair of touring shoes with recessed spds. You can then mix and match however the fancy takes you.

 

[Profpointy]

The alternative is to buy the pedals with flats on one side and clips on the other and a pair of touring shoes with recessed spds. You can then mix and match however the fancy takes you.

Trouble with those is if you use the clip in sides, the toe clips on the flat side tend to catch on the ground round corners

 

[steveindenmark]

Trouble with those is if you use the clip in sides, the toe clips on the flat side tend to catch on the ground round corners

I dont mean cages. You can get pedals which are flat on one side and clips on the other.

 

[Profpointy]

I dont mean cages. You can get pedals which are flat on one side and clips on the other.

Yebbut you'd want toe clips and straps on the flat side for when you're wearing normal shoes. That's what I wanted but gave up on the idea

 

[smutchin]

Yes, toe straps have been around for years and must therefore convey some advantage, but Brandane can't see one for any form of attaching one's feet to one's bicycle.

I don't think the fact that cyclists have been doing it for years is particularly good evidence for any supposed performance benefits (see also: leg shaving). That said, the safety benefits of toeclips/clipless for racing (track or road) are pretty self-evident.

I always use clipless for Sunday club rides, audaxes etc, but never for just popping down to the shops. I don't know if I get any performance benefit from using them but I know I prefer to ride with them than without. I've always hated toeclips though, never got on with them at all.

There's one well-known audaxer who has racked up astonishing mileage riding in flexible-soled desert boots on flat pedals. She doesn't wear a helmet either.

 

[smutchin]

I'm sorry, when I used the word 'advantage' I completely forgot that some people only see that word in terms of performance advantages like beating previous Strava times. I just meant that, for me and loads of other people, it makes the bike easier and more comfortable to ride.

Context is everything. @Brandane referred specifically to performance advantages in his original post, hence I thought that's what we were talking about:
"I stand by my belief that they offer SFA performance advantage to your average cyclist"

The whole point of his original post was him admitting that there other types of advantage.

 

[guitarpete247]

I bought some SPD/flat pedals with the idea of possibly using normal shoes occasionally but never did. So I changed them to M520's on MTB. The M520's had been on road bike but got R540's for road bike.
I'd always used for clips and straps from the mid 70's so I've always been used to having my feet in fixed position.

 

[jowwy]

I'm.pretty sure that track cyclists when putting 2500watts through the cranks, get a huge performance advantage from using clipless pedals and straps......trying doing that with flat pedals and trainers