The Shoes Ruse?

[Peter Cairns]

http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=376&subjectId=11

Hi, I discovered the Cyclerama website from a recent thread on here, and found a lot of cycling related content, obviously as the name suggests.
I am not sure if this topic has been discussed before now, apologies if it has.
I have only recently gone over to using spd's and dual purpose pedals with a flat side. This suits my style of cycling. The above article has now made me question on whether or not being clipped to the bike is all its cracked up to be, what is the opinion of the forum?

Pete.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I don't agree with the article. Being clipped in stabilises your ankles and helps minimise Achilles tendon injuries, or at least that is my experience. I had a strained Achilles tendon after many years of riding with platform pedals, then switched to SPDs and the tendon pain vanished almost immediately. I haven't had any ankle issues since, and I do large distances annually.

 

[smokeysmoo]

what is the opinion of the forum?

Do whatever makes you happy, it's that simple

FWIW I don't like riding on flat pedals myself, but others don't like being clipped in, it's horses for courses innit

I've never looked at the whole site TBH, but I'd suggest the most important thing to take from the entire site is the art of MICKLING, learn it, use it and pass it on

 

[Roadrider48]

Being clipped in is preferable.
But saying that, it can be a right pain in the butt in London.
As Smokey says, do what you gotta do to enjoy your ride.

 

[MikeW-71]

For any ride where I won't be stopping for a bit, I prefer clipless. My feet stay in place and I don't have to worry about it. If I get into stop-start traffic or commuting, they can be a PITA, which is why I've switched the commuter to dual-purpose pedals with a flat side.

The MTB is on pinned flat pedals though. If I slip off-road, I want to be able to get my feet down sharpish

 

[slowmotion]

I'm a big fan of SPDs. When I started three or four years ago I fell off a few times but it didn't hurt much. I commute on them through central London and have never felt the need to adopt flat/clip pedals. Shimano M520s are cheap and work and your foot stays in place. What more is there to ask for?

 

[raleighnut]

Another American fad starter "oh clipless pedals and cleats, so last year" and like Mort says he's probably never tried SPD.

 

[winjim]

You have to remember that the cyclorama website is written with the idea in mind of the bicycle as a utilitarian mode of transport rather than a niche sport, and is therefore trying to encourage people to just hop on a bike and use it rather than feel they have to get dolled up in all sorts of expensive kit.

That's my own interpretation anyway, maybe @mickle could give us his?

 

[Peter Cairns]

Thanks for all your replies. Having re-read the article I reckon that this is just one persons opinion and I feel that I am siding with the forum on this one and will stick to my spd's.

 

[tyred]

Of course there are advantages but I doubt they apply very much to leisure or utility riders which is what most cyclsts are.

I use flat pedals on everything except my fixed wheelers, I have never found an issue with feet slipping off the pedals if you use decent pedals and not the poundshop specials that come on new bikes.

On this and other cycling forums, the questions about cleat set up and the pain caused by incorrect alignment seems to crop up regularly. I can't be bothered with all of that. I just want to be able to step on my bike and ride. If someone is riding faster than me and passes me, it's not because they have clipless pedals or a lighter bike than me - it's because they're fitter.

 

[swansonj]

You have to remember that the cyclorama website is written with the idea in mind of the bicycle as a utilitarian mode of transport rather than a niche sport, and is therefore trying to encourage people to just hop on a bike and use it rather than feel they have to get dolled up in all sorts of expensive kit.

That's my own interpretation anyway, maybe @mickle could give us his?

Agreed - and there's a tension, isn't there. Many of us here are ardent, some would say strident, advocates of the bicycle as a perfectly normal, every day, transport solution - just as easy and normal as walking - do it in whatever you happen to be wearing with no special equipment or precautions required. That's one of the reasons why many of us oppose advocacy of helmets and hi-viz. Yet many of us (including me) also recognise the benefits of cycle-specific clothing made from technical fabrics, and many of us (not, as it happens, including me) recognise the benefits of clipless.

If you need special clothes to do it, it's a sport not an every day transport solution.....

 

[Gravity Aided]

Actually, I've read the entire book, and Grant Petersen makes a lot of sense in it. Grant Petersen worked for Bridgestone in the 1980's, when they still were in the bicycle market in the US, and was involved with the XO series of bicycles. I don't follow everything he believes, but the fellow is more than just a fad or a uninformed newbie trying to write a book. He is a bit of a lightning rod over here as well. He fits in well with Cyclorama's philosophy, as @swansonj suggests. Look at his Cycle Website for his products, and you may be surprised at the workmanship and design.

http://www.rivbike.com

 

[Garethgas]

I have more respect for the views of a highly experienced and respected expert than forum members who swallow every advertisement as if they were presenting facts.
Having said that, I don't ride fast or competitively, so clipless pedals and dressing up are not something I'd remotely consider even if the hype was true.
Of my cyclist friends, only one uses flats like me. I keep out of discussions down the pub about cleat bolts and float and all the associated 'problems'.
I have never used clipless pedals so I can't compare them, just pointing out that I regularly ride 40, 50 or 60 mile routes in my everyday trainers without any problem, which is why I'd question their need.

 

[morrisman]

I have more respect for the views of a highly experienced and respected expert than forum members who swallow every advertisement as if they were presenting facts.
Having said that, I don't ride fast or competitively, so clipless pedals and dressing up are not something I'd remotely consider even if the hype was true.
Of my cyclist friends, only one uses flats like me. I keep out of discussions down the pub about cleat bolts and float and all the associated 'problems'.
I have never used clipless pedals so I can't compare them, just pointing out that I regularly ride 40, 50 or 60 mile routes in my everyday trainers without any problem, which is why I'd question their need.

I use clipless because I like them not because I am a "forum members who swallow every advertisement as if they were presenting facts".
Of my cycling friends two don't use clipless so 'I keep out of discussions down the pub about slipping off pedals and all the associated 'problems'.
I have flats on my folder so I can compare the experience which is why I can state a preference rather than 'I have never used clipless pedals so I can't compare them'.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I've used both, I think it is a matter of horses for courses. My thought is that, if you do a lot of riding with long periods of pedaling, clip less may be fine. Other conditions not so much.