Flat Pedals and Shoes/Boots

[Arch]

I use the half clips a bit like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Zefal-Bicycle-Half-Clips-Black/dp/B000JDZQ0W

and find they suit me fine, and with any shoes. Even easier to get into than the ones with straps, and enough purchase to stop your foot slipping off forward and to give a bit of 'lift' on the upstroke too.

Although on my winter hack, I now have LEDALS, which don't take clips, and they work fine for me too - the only thing I had to get used to was bringing the pedal to the top of the stroke when I stopped, with a toe underneath.

 

[snorri]

How can you tell if they are compatible with the pedal snorri?

Radius has answered your question. I suppose the safest way is to buy them from a shop where you can match up clip and pedal to check before you buy.

 

[Radius]

Here's a pair of things that will work together:

Pedals: Wellgo V8, I've got these on my Ridgeback after initially buying them for my Storm and realising they'd look odd, so put them on there. They're great, nice and wide which makes commuter-type pedalling very easy, and gives a lot of platform for power. They've also (like many MTB flats, but at a cheaper price) have little metal studs sticking up to stop your feet slipping off, which is a nice touch. Nice.

Toe Clips: These might be cheaper elsewhere, but these are the first ones I found, and would work with the above pedals which have holes for screws like I mentioned.

 

[Cubist]

I have just treated my MTB to a pair of DMR V8s (that's the real thing that Wellgo have copied.) They are lighter, and have a grease port which allows you to inject grease into the axle. Shop around and you'll get them for £20. I rode 15 miles on New Years Day in sub-zero temperatures, on reasonable tracks, wearing a pair of skate trainers. They have a grippy sole, ideal for the spikes on the DMRs, but most importantly have a huge padded tongue and therefore kept all the cold wind off my feet. Mmmmm, toasty! Yesterday I rode wearing a pair of Karrimor walking trainers. Grippy and comfy. Both shoes available from Sportworld Direct for less than 20 quid. I still have the original "Fasten Alu" pedals with strapless nylon toeclips which can be swapped onto the bike for long rides on the road. Best of both worlds?

 

[Gotte]

I think it depends on your style. I've been cycling nigh on 35 years and have never got on with any type of clipless setup. I've toured, commuted, xcounty MTB'd, cargo-biked and road biked. I've never raced, though. That would be a different matter. I've never had a problem getting out of clipless pedals. My problem has always been getting back in. The amount of times I've faffed around trying to get that foot in as I wobble slowly forwards, trying not to slip off the pedal (Looks being the worst). I just lose patience with them.
Trouble is, after years riding without them, I find with them, I never pull up, anyway, and so there's little point.
I also don;t like the idea of being clipped in in the even of being hit. I know that they are supposed to come loose, but I've read of them not doing.
There is also the constant fear of falling in traffic - though, like I said, never had a problem getting out.
But back to my main point. I figure, if you aren;t racing, nor jumping, where I imagine, they're really effective, or Dhing, where, again, I imagine, they're invaluable, then there isn;t that much need for them.
At the minute I'm into vintage rides, and so don;t really consider them. But in my travels I did come across this, which you might find interesting, esp the bit about them not really doing any good, anyway.

http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

 

[Jim77]

Another newbie question to add to this:

Do all pedals fit all bikes?

 

[Radius]

Generally, yes.

 

[Cathryn]

If you want to use flat pedals, use flat pedals. If you want to use toe clips use those. If you want to use clipless use clipless. You can even get flat one side/SPD the other side!

I've just bought these - they're sat in my bedroom whilst I pluck up the courage to put them on my bike!! This weekend is likely to be DDay!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

If by Butterfly Bars you mean Trekking Bars such as

then IMO they are not uncool in the slightest. I use them!!!!

Following on from my faupax of 'butterfly' bars I felt I should continue to be uncool and seek advice on my new flat pedals and footwear combination.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Most new bikes with have a standard size male / female thread, however I fell into the trap of buying new SPD's for an old bike and had to replace the crank arms.

I have copied the following information form Sheldon Browns Website.

Standard-3-piece cranks9/16" (0.56") x 20 tpi14.28 x 1.27 mm

One-piece (American) Cranks1/2" (0.50") x 20 tpi12.7 x 1.27 mm

Old French14 mm x 1.25 mm0.55" 20.32 tpi

Another newbie question to add to this:

Do all pedals fit all bikes?

 

[Marsh]

Have ridden a road bike for more years than I care to admit, always with toeclips and straps. Recent experience on a hard tail fitted with Time Atac Alium peddles, non adjustable spring tension to cleats, has proved dangerous. A moment will always arise where the foot is required with a rapidity these pedals don't allow so I'm looking at flats and five ten shoes so as to avoid another broken wrist !

My off road experiences have led me to feel that flat peddles with the appropriate shoe is the best choice.
The choice of pedal is not a problem, but looking at five ten shoes I am scared off by the absence of a strap across the laces. My experience with trainers is that the laces get trapped between chain and ring which raises several questions. Do five tens, which apparently suit flats best, just have very short laces? If so why can't I find replacement laces specifically for these shoes? My biggest quandary with them is why, unlike all other shoes they appear to ignore the issue of a trapped lace?

 

[Psyclist]

I hope you're not riding a road bike with flats!! No matter what flats you use, you'll find it harder to pedal compared to clips and straps or clipless.

I'd at least get some Wellgo 964 pedals with Toe Clips if you don't like the straps and have insecurity of getting in and out of pedals easily.

 

[MontyVeda]

Pedals: Wellgo V8

Those are the style i have. Unlike my older beartraps*, I've never slipped off these, regardless of foot wear.

*my shins didn't like them!

 

[rollinstok]

I use the shimano combi flat/spd pedals on my hybrid which truly make the bike extremely versatile.
Some type of clip system is the way to go if you wish to cycle any sort of distance as they will optimise your input.
I have a hilly route option on my rides and the difference with/ without spd's is extremely noticeable.
My house overlooks Morecambe bay and there is a promenade right in front of me with links to cyclepaths that I use all the time. The flats come into their own here because of all the people and dog swerving/stopping. The combis give me an ideal solution.

 

[Marsh]

On a similar matter, I use plain pedals and ordinary footwear. I did experiment with toe clips on my mountain bike but have found it virtually impossible to get my foot into the thing without ending up falling of the bike. Any advice about getting moving while using toe clips and straps would be very welcome.

I suggest you find a wall to lean against and just practice the action required to get your foot in. From standstill, if you don't strike lucky even after some practice as suggested, get some momentum then try to again. You will be surprised how natural the action becomes after a little practice, even wonder why others aren't marveling at your expertise!

On rough ground leave the straps slack, only tighten up when you feel a foot on the ground is not a likely immediate necessity. Go for christophe straps or any make which has a real, as in genuine quick release, some such as brooks don't have a roller in the strap, the roller facilitates rapid foot release. Cleats in my experience are definitely not as quick to exit from as a slackened toe strap, even when fully tightened , with practice you are master of your own release, not the case with the Time Atac aliums which resulted in my broken wrist.

Consider the ground ahead of you, if it's rough stay slack, if in traffic likewise, always stay on the side of caution but go for max benefit by tightening up when the going is clear of need for a quick exit.