Road Bike, Now With Flat Pedals

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

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!

Good.

 

[vickster]

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!

Why did you post then? Was it not to obtain feedback? Or more a newsflash?

 

[Cuchilo]

You can get a pedal in the shin while clipping in you know . Trust me on this one

 

[andyfraser]

Why did you post then? Was it not to obtain feedback? Or more a newsflash?

Conversation. I don't have many people I can discuss bikes and cycling with and I'm interested in peoples' opinions even if they won't affect me. If I wasn't sure my decision was right for me I would've posted before changing the pedals and asked for advice.

 

[vickster]

Fair enough but that response was pretty defensive when people suggested alternatives from their own experiences I don't use clipless for commuting either but London is a rather different kettle of fish traffic wise...but I (my lower legs) still don't like flats, especially if wet (not least as I have the painful remnants of a very painful injury on my left shin )

 

[glenn forger]

Haven't read this thread but I'd like you to stay focused on me.

My toe clip strap broke, it's happened a couple of times and is annoying, anyone tried those plastic half clip pedals that have no strap?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

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.

If I keep banging my thumb with a lump hammer, its not really the hammer's fault

 

[buggi]

If I keep banging my thumb with a lump hammer, its not really the hammer's fault

I don't use the lump hammer very often, once a year maybe. I ride clipless all the time, that's why it takes a few miles to get used to keeping the pressure on.

 

[tommaguzzi]

Last summer I started ultralight weight touring. after 10 years following fashion I took the plunge and I saved almost a kilo by replacing my LOOK clip ons and cycle shoes with kids plastic flat petals (270g) and croc shoes (30g). I have completed 1000+ miles with no problems and I can walk normaly when I stop and there are no more dramas at busy juntions. Clip on pedals might give the boys on the track or in the peleton an extra 5% but in my experence, for normal people there are are only disadvantages using clip on pedals.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Last summer I started ultralight weight touring. after 10 years following fashion I took the plunge and I saved almost a kilo by replacing my LOOK clip ons and cycle shoes with kids plastic flat petals (270g) and croc shoes (30g). I have completed 1000+ miles with no problems and I can walk normaly when I stop and there are no more dramas at busy juntions. Clip on pedals might give the boys on the track or in the peleton an extra 5% but in my experence, for normal people there are are only disadvantages using clip on pedals.

It's nice to be able to lift the right pedal at a junction, without having to put your foot underneath it. That's the thing I miss the most whenever I'm on a bike with flats.

 

[tommaguzzi]

I bet you don't miss waddling about like a penguin at the cafe stop though. I forgot to mention I when its cold or wet i use normal overshoes on top of the Crocs, my feet are also much warmer than before.

 

[mjr]

It's nice to be able to lift the right pedal at a junction, without having to put your foot underneath it. That's the thing I miss the most whenever I'm on a bike with flats.

That's often said, but why don't you just push the other pedal back?

 

[Profpointy]

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.

Sorry, but that's just silly. I adopted toe clips and straps 30 odd years ago, and find pedalling easier and more secure - less work for more go as it were. There is a downside in that you have the mild hassle of flipping the pedal over and loosening straps. Clipless pedals get rid of most of the disadvantages but require the dreaded special shoes, albeit with mountain bike style ones you can walk perfectly OK in them - it is fair enough to say you can't be bothered, or the advantages are insufficient for you, perhaps on a pub bike but to say there's no benefit is frankly daft.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Sorry, but that's just silly. I adopted toe clips and straps 30 odd years ago, and find pedalling easier and more secure - less work for more go as it were. There is a downside in that you have the mild hassle of flipping the pedal over and loosening straps. Clipless pedals get rid of most of the disadvantages but require the dreaded special shoes, albeit with mountain bike style ones you can walk perfectly OK in them - it is fair enough to say you can't be bothered, or the advantages are insufficient for you, perhaps on a pub bike but to say there's no benefit is frankly daft.

Nonsense.

 

[G3CWI]

to say there's no benefit is frankly daft.

Any scientific evidence to support your assertion?