Road Bike, Now With Flat Pedals

[andyfraser]

So I finally got round to putting flat pedals on my road bike. It did have toe clip pedals on but for commuting they were a pain.

I'm not ready for clipless yet. Clipless could work out to be an expensive mistake if I don't get on with them on my commute. Toe clips and clipless would be fine for long rides on back roads in the summer though so I'll wait.

 

[vickster]

Be sure to watch out for slipping in wet weather and battered shins/achilles/calves as a result

 

[buggi]

If you've worn toe clips I think you would find clipless way easier. There is no way I would use toe clips and I hate flat pedals. I didn't like clipless at first but I'd only ever had flat pedals so not used to being attached to my bike at all, but now I am used to it I find it really hard to ride flats. I think if I'd had toe clips before I went clipless I would have found it easier than toe clips

 

[threebikesmcginty]

You'll be fine, there's virtually zero advantage for a regular cyclist to have anything other than flat pedals, don't get clipless just because everyone else that's a 'serious' cyclist has them.

 

[buggi]

Be sure to watch out for slipping in wet weather and battered shins/achilles/calves as a result

This is what happens to me every time I go back to flats. Bruised cut shins

 

[threebikesmcginty]

This is what happens to me every time I go back to flats. Bruised cut shins

How? I've never had a bruised or cut shin using flat pedals.

 

[Colin_P]

Your not alone, I have flat pedals on all my bikes.

 

[Colin_P]

How? I've never had a bruised or cut shin using flat pedals.

Same, never had my feet slip off the pedals or had any shin damage.

 

[andyfraser]

Be sure to watch out for slipping in wet weather and battered shins/achilles/calves as a result

I got the same pedals that have been on my hybrid for 18 months so I know exactly what to expect from them.

 

[andyfraser]

If you've worn toe clips I think you would find clipless way easier. There is no way I would use toe clips and I hate flat pedals. I didn't like clipless at first but I'd only ever had flat pedals so not used to being attached to my bike at all, but now I am used to it I find it really hard to ride flats. I think if I'd had toe clips before I went clipless I would have found it easier than toe clips

You're right but I have flats on my hybrid so I'm used to commuting with flats. There's one advantage with flats: I can wear my waterproof Karrimor boots. They're warm and dry and feel rather good to ride in. I'll go clipless in the spring when I start going for proper rides.

 

[andyfraser]

You'll be fine, there's virtually zero advantage for a regular cyclist to have anything other than flat pedals, don't get clipless just because everyone else that's a 'serious' cyclist has them.

I can see some advantage to clipless for long leisure rides but I'm happy with for commuting.

 

[buggi]

How? I've never had a bruised or cut shin using flat pedals.

It's because I'm not used to having to keep pressure on the pedals on the upstroke, as I'm usually attached and pulling up, so on the upstroke my foot slips and i get a dig in the shin or the calf by those awful metal teeth. Takes a good 3 miles to learn again. Then when I stop I always try to twist out... Result is I don't put my foot down quick enough and, coz the pedal is wide, i get another scrape. Bloody hate them. Got them on my mountain bike.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

You're right but I have flats on my hybrid so I'm used to commuting with flats. There's one advantage with flats: I can wear my waterproof Karrimor boots. They're warm and dry and feel rather good to ride in. I'll go clipless in the spring when I start going for proper rides.

And you can wear your Birkies when you pop down the shops or the boozer, it's what the bicycle was invented for, get on it and go somewhere without thinking about all the clobber you may or may not need.

 

[andyfraser]

Same, never had my feet slip off the pedals or had any shin damage.

Me either. My choice of pedals and shoes/boots seem to compliment each other and have worked well for my commutes for 18 months. It's only when I started commuting on a road big a couple of months ago I used anything other than flats.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I can see some advantage to clipless for long leisure rides...

Erm...