Road Bike, Now With Flat Pedals

[Accy cyclist]

Op. Why were toe clips a pain to you? I've had clips on one of my bikes for years,i find them a bit different to clipless spd's,more challenging some might say. I like the chrome and the leather straps for a change sometimes!

 

[andyfraser]

Op. Why were toe clips a pain to you? I've had clips on one of my bikes for years,i find them a bit different to clipless spd's,more challenging some might say. I like the chrome and the leather straps for a change sometimes!

I'd stop at a roundabout, for example, take my left foot out of the toe clip and move forward off of the saddle to keep upright. When I move off I need to be aware of what's going on so end up pedalling on the underside of the left pedal until I can concentrate on getting my foot in the toe clip.

I've practically stopped and on a couple of occasions drifted right further into the lane while slowing down concentrating on getting my foot back in the toe clip. I'm better than I was but after 2 months I can't get the hang of it. I don't feel I'm safe in traffic with them and if I spend time using them upside-down I might as well be on flats. I don't have a problem with them on long rides on quiet roads though.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I'd stop at a roundabout, for example, take my left foot out of the toe clip and move forward off of the saddle to keep upright. When I move off I need to be aware of what's going on so end up pedalling on the underside of the left pedal until I can concentrate on getting my foot in the toe clip.

I've practically stopped and on a couple of occasions drifted right further into the lane while slowing down concentrating on getting my foot back in the toe clip. I'm better than I was but after 2 months I can't get the hang of it. I don't feel I'm safe in traffic with them and if I spend time using them upside-down I might as well be on flats. I don't have a problem with them on long rides on quiet roads though.

Yes they take some practice when setting off,especially going uphill as you can't get enough speed up to fanny around with trying to get your foot in. Using them upside down is ok till you can flick them upright and put your foot in. It's not so bad with plastic ones as they have some give in them so floor contact isn't so bad but with chrome you can hear and feel that nice chrome being scratched to smithereens!

 

[andyfraser]

Yes they take some practice when setting off,especially going uphill as you can't get enough speed up to fanny around with trying to get your foot in. Using them upside down is ok till you can flick them upright and put your foot in. It's not so bad with plastic ones as they have some give in them so floor contact isn't so bad but with chrome you can hear and feel that nice chrome being scratched to smithereens!

Exactly that. I feel if I haven't got the knack by now and I don't feel safe it's time to change.

 

[Saluki]

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

Me too. I haven't had flats for decades. Before I went clipless a couple of years ago, I had the toe clip things, although I didn't do them up tight, for years and years. Since my early 20s I suppose.

 

[buggi]

Yes they take some practice when setting off,especially going uphill as you can't get enough speed up to fanny around with trying to get your foot in. Using them upside down is ok till you can flick them upright and put your foot in. It's not so bad with plastic ones as they have some give in them so floor contact isn't so bad but with chrome you can hear and feel that nice chrome being scratched to smithereens!

This is why I have SPuDs. Click in either side great for commuting.

 

[buggi]

I'd stop at a roundabout, for example, take my left foot out of the toe clip and move forward off of the saddle to keep upright. When I move off I need to be aware of what's going on so end up pedalling on the underside of the left pedal until I can concentrate on getting my foot in the toe clip.

I've practically stopped and on a couple of occasions drifted right further into the lane while slowing down concentrating on getting my foot back in the toe clip. I'm better than I was but after 2 months I can't get the hang of it. I don't feel I'm safe in traffic with them and if I spend time using them upside-down I might as well be on flats. I don't have a problem with them on long rides on quiet roads though.

This is why I could never user clips . Clipless is much more natural. You just put your for on the pedal and it goes in as you turn the crank. Getting out, you just twist your foot, and you can adjust the tension to make this easy peasy. The biggest battle with clipless is getting used to being attached to your bike, but you're already used to that.

 

[Racing roadkill]

If you're comfortable with flats, go with flats. If you're worried about how you'll get on with clipless, go for clipless / flat combi pedals at first. You can keep the foot you put down on the flat side, and clip in the other foot, when you're more confident, you can clip both in.

 

[andyfraser]

This is why I could never user clips . Clipless is much more natural. You just put your for on the pedal and it goes in as you turn the crank. Getting out, you just twist your foot, and you can adjust the tension to make this easy peasy. The biggest battle with clipless is getting used to being attached to your bike, but you're already used to that.

As I said, I will try clipless in the spring/summer. Thinking about it I probably should've got the SPD double-sided pedals (one side was flat) but I had to make a decision and I don't know how good those pedals were so went with what I know.

My ride in this morning was very nice. I didn't feel stressed stopping at junctions and was able to get going quickly without worrying.

 

[mjr]

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.

Get some flat pedals with decent rubber grips instead of slippy yet sole destroying teeth.

 

[andyfraser]

If you're comfortable with flats, go with flats. If you're worried about how you'll get on with clipless, go for clipless / flat combi pedals at first. You can keep the foot you put down on the flat side, and clip in the other foot, when you're more confident, you can clip both in.

I did think of doing that, or at least getting the combi pedals and worrying about shoes later but I didn't know how good they were and had to make my choice.

 

[andyfraser]

Get some flat pedals with decent rubber grips instead of slippy yet sole destroying teeth.

I happen to like them.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

As someone who will never be able to ride with clipless pedals, I say, sod the rest of the world and ride with what you are happy with. If anyone thinks the less of you for it, they are probably not worth knowing in the first place.

 

[andyfraser]

As someone who will never be able to ride with clipless pedals, I say, sod the rest of the world and ride with what you are happy with. If anyone thinks the less of you for it, they are probably not worth knowing in the first place.

Oh I don't give a stuff what anyone thinks. I've put the pedals on and am wearing my flat pedal badge with pride!

 

[Racing roadkill]

I did think of doing that, or at least getting the combi pedals and worrying about shoes later but I didn't know how good they were and had to make my choice.

They are very nice on a trail / mountain / hybrid, in my experience.