Who else uses flat pedals?

[Deleted member 1258]

Popular thread!

I have been giving (too much) thought to this subject for my new bike (returning rider).

In the past I have always used toe clips and straps and been 100% happy with them as a recreational rider. I think I may stay that way too.

One thing that bothers me is the almost macho humour that surrounds the rite of passage of falling off the bike when first using clipless pedals - there are lots of short anecdotes on cycling forums about this.

I am not keen on emulating this. Two reasons; 1) a long time ago I came off of a mountain bike on black ice and it hurt - big time and 2) I would be truly *issed if my nice new bike was damaged in any way.

I

The clipless moment is treated as something trivial and a right of passage, but I have heard stories about people hurting themselves badly due to clipless moments, now this is anecdotal evidence and the only one that stuck in my mind was a broken hip, and I don't remember the details now. The thing I don't like about clipless is how securely you are attached to the bike, I'm 60 years old now and I don't bounce like I used to, going down still attached to the bike and hurting myself is something I don't need. I've been on clips and straps since the mid eighties and have them largely sussed out, I'm unlikely to have the equivalent moment to a clipless one with those, though I had one or two when I first used them, I was a lot younger then and wasn't bothered, I would be now though. On performance I have clips and straps on the fixed, the bike that gets the most use, and clipless on the geared bike, the bike that only comes out on sunny Sundays, and find I get no performance advantage with clipless, If I hadn't spent so much on shoes and pedals I would go back to clips and straps on the geared bike.

 

[asterix]

Contrary to the myth of clip-in (and clips and straps pedals before them) even pro cyclists struggle to 'lift' the rising pedal. The best that can be acheived in practice is a slight reduction in the weight of the rising leg, which gives the falling leg less to do. There is a slight benefit at the bottom of the stroke, an ability to claw the pedal back which allows for a longer power stroke. It's easier to 'pedal in circles', the stroke becomes less of an up/down treadle action. Clip-ins allow you to spin faster, and more spinny = more aerobic. The real benefit of clips and clip-in pedals is that they reduce the amount of energy required to keep the foot on the pedal, automatically align the foot in the optimal location and prevent the foot from slipping off.

The limit to the amount of power we can deliver to the pedals is limited by our ability to process oxygen. Even if we could pull up on the pedals at every stroke, it wouldn't be free energy. Clip-in pedals just allow us to be more efficient.

That can't be right! I can pull my foot off the clipless pedal on the up stroke if the pressure isn't done up tight enough. Happened half way round the 5 Dales sportive just after a rest station on a steep hill. Not being able to pull up was like being crippled.

 

[sparkyman]

I Like flats because I can adjust my footing when changing riding postion. if i was clipped in i would find it anoying not being able to move my feet on the peddle when i felt the need.

 

[Nebulous]

[QUOTE 1772985, member: 45"]I've never had a clipless moment.[/quote]

I had quite a few - just shy of double figures I would say. I learned to roll to minimise damage to the bike. I had one torn pair of longs and some road rash on one occasion, but fortunately that was the only injury. I think I probably made a bad beginner choice by going spd-sl and full road shoes. I've been commuting on an old MTB with work shoes and flats, and have now just started on an old steel bike also with flats. I couldn't imagine using my road bike with anything other than clipless though.

I suppose what that says is that humans are pretty adaptable!

 

[fossyant]

I Like flats because I can adjust my footing when changing riding postion. if i was clipped in i would find it anoying not being able to move my feet on the peddle when i felt the need.

Clipless have 'float' - i.e. you can rotate the heal in and out.- if you mean fore/aft then the best position for the foot is the 'ball' of your foot over the axel.

TBH I'd never be without clipless - even use them towing my daughter on the tag along. So easy to clip and unclip from MTB SPD's. On my road bikes I have the older Looks but both have very strong spring settings - the last thing I want attacking a hill or accellerating away from traffic lights is my foot to come out.

If you want more 'spirited' cycling, then clipless is the best way forward. I'd hate to ride flat out, out of the saddle sprinting without being properly retained. Disaster waiting to happen - Now if you aren't interested in riding fast and just want to pootle about, then the choice is yours.

As for not unclipping in a fall/crash, they do indeed come undone, and are slightly safer than straps if using cleated shoes as you don't always come out of them if the straps are done tight. Clipless just pings out as soon as you or the bike start to take a different direction.

 

[lulubel]

One thing that bothers me is the almost macho humour that surrounds the rite of passage of falling off the bike when first using clipless pedals - there are lots of short anecdotes on cycling forums about this.

I am not keen on emulating this. Two reasons; 1) a long time ago I came off of a mountain bike on black ice and it hurt - big time and 2) I would be truly *issed if my nice new bike was damaged in any way.

This is also a part of it for me, although there are some people (my OH, who is otherwise one of the clumsiest people in the world, being one of them) who seem to avoid that particular rite of passage.

The reality, I know, is that the vast majority of clipless falls are slow topples sideways, and you can just put your arm out and catch yourself. I experienced a fall like this when I first raised my saddle above the point where I could get both feet firmly on the floor, and my only injuries were some rather nasty stings from the big patch of nettles that broke my fall! After a big crash recently, and finding I'm still here to tell the tale, I find worrying about the prospect of a slow topple rather silly, but I still do it. But the first scratch on my shiny new bike will definitely be a cause for much distress.

In any case, I've ordered myself some lightweight flat pedals now, and also some Zefal strapless toeclips to try. I may even find I like them.

 

[ianrauk]

[QUOTE 1772985, member: 45"]I've never had a clipless moment.[/quote]


You and me both..

 

[buddha]

I mainly use 2 bikes.

One, gets used only on country lanes and never in ice and snow - its has SPD-SL's.

The other gets used for everything else, including shopping - and has flat DX-30 pedals. I used to use SPD's on that but after almost landing on my backside walking down stairs, use flats and Specialized Samona shoes. Sometimes my foot does slip a little, or is not aligned perfectly on the pedal, but I can live with that.

Also, in my quest to make this bike look even more ugly (as it gets locked outside a south London Lidl on occasion) I've been able to fit pedal reflectors to the flats.

 

[Brandane]

This is probably worth reading too.

The information in that link makes a lot of sense to me, and echoes my thoughts on the use of clipless pedals.

 

[tyred]

I overtook a group of weekend warrior types a few weeks ago on a pretty serious climb which lasts for about 5 miles. They had all the gear and fancy carbon bikes. I was riding an ancient steel Peugeot touring bike, in tracksuit bottoms, trainers and flat pedals.

The reason? They had to get of and walk. I had taken the trouble to equip my bike with a range of gears which allow me, a 15 stone slob, to climb steep hills. The sight of them trying to push their bikes while wearing road cleats on a damp, greasy road surface was hilarious. I couldn't resist shouting "nice day for a walk!" while I passed them.

Obviously clipless pedals make little difference if you don't know how to choose your gear ratios for the terrain you're going to ride.

 

[abo]

I'm 100% clipless just because I only have one bike. When I get my second bike I'll have flats on one and SPD's on the other. Oddly I'm not sure which one to put the SPD's on because there are arguements for both bikes being on flats, and both bikes being on SPD's if you get me? I'll probably put the flats back on my current bike and swap the SPD's to the new one I guess

 

[VamP]

Jesus uses flats.

The internet says so...

Yeah, but he also wears a helmet...


As for the flats discussion - my beloved and I keep 1 bike between us that has flats on. Call it a convenience bike, if you like. The thought of riding it like that any more than about 5 miles brings tears to my eyes. In fact I have been know to put eggbeaters on when circumstances dictated that I had to go somewhere more distant.

 

[MacB]

As for the flats discussion - my beloved and I keep 1 bike between us that has flats on. Call it a convenience bike, if you like. The thought of riding it like that any more than about 5 miles brings tears to my eyes. In fact I have been know to put eggbeaters on when circumstances dictated that I had to go somewhere more distant.

Really, do you think you'd actually cry or just tear up a bit?

Sorry Vam but this is the sort of garbage that gets posted around pedal choices...I've managed plenty of long rides and suffered various types of ride induced discomfort and pain, the latter being related to saddle position novice errors...but my feet have never been a problem.

 

[VamP]

Really, do you think you'd actually cry or just tear up a bit?

Sorry Vam but this is the sort of garbage that gets posted around pedal choices...I've managed plenty of long rides and suffered various types of ride induced discomfort and pain, the latter being related to saddle position novice errors...but my feet have never been a problem.

I wouldn't probably truly cry. But I would (and have) change the pedals. I am not really sure why that should be considered garbage. I am not forcing my choices on you.

Flats do feel very inefficient to me. You may have a different experience.

But so far that's just a feeling. Nothing much to separate our differing opinions.


Last year I was training for a duathlon. For various reasons, mainly to do with not wanting to invest in a pair of tri cycling shoes, I decided to do the whole race in trainers and fitted flats (with clips) to my road bike. I have a 10 mile route that I use as my benchmark, which I was training on, with both kind of pedals. I have direct comparisons of the same route on same day, same bike, same weather, clipless and flat. About 1 mph difference. Enough to annoy the hell out of me.

I also race cyclocross. I have tried flats, but found them very insecure AND slower. No one else races flats, despite the obvious advantage they confer on dismounts.

Again, specialist choices. For me clipless are better. You can do what you like... ...you won't catch me describing your choice as garbage.

 

[Herzog]

[QUOTE 1776753, member: 45"]I cycled from London to Amsterdam on flats. I'd have preferred spds, but the flats did me no harm.[/quote]

Yep, I've done Brighton - Brussels on flats, no problems. However, this means very little when extrapolated to the general population as we have vastly different muscular structures, fitness levels, bike positions etc.

I'm pretty sure there's no universal maxim regarding flats vs SPDs...