Clipless Pedals for Commuting

I'm just wondering if many people use clipless pedals for commuting? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages? Would you recommend it? I'm in the situation where I ride to work every day (it's an easy 7.5km ride one way) and ride on the weekends just for fun. I'm keen to make all the changes required to make the ride as enjoyable as possible. Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!

I won't be able to do this because the shoes required for going clipless violate my employer's dress code. You could leave your shoes at work though and get over this, but I don't have a permanent office yet to store them.

Other than that, there's absolutely no reason not to. Clipless is much more secure than platform or ratcage, and more comfy too.

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

Thank you, that's very reassuring. I've never used clipless so I don't know anything about them. I already keep two pairs of shoes at work along with bath towels and anything else I need to freshen up when I arrive at work so that part is sorted out.

Do the clipless pedals make it a faster journey once you're used to them?

I am car free, and I go everywhere on my carbon frame, Dura Ace road bike. I highly recommend upgrading to a cleated shoe for riding. It will improve your efficiency, increase your cadence and cycling pleasure and shorten your commute time. How cool is that?

I like Speed Play, but it all comes down to personal preference.
http://www.speedplay.com/
You will want to cache a pair of "work shoes" at work.

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Some people say the world is round, and others say the world is flat. But I say it is mostly uphill!

I've used clipless for only two rides so far, but the answer on whether they make you go faster is a definite yes. I practiced for an afternoon on my driveway before I rode on the road and I had no dramas, none of the "forgetting to unclip" falls that people talk about. I also have a feeling that one of my shoes may need to be adjusted for better fit first.

Still, I'm not going back!

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

Pointy, smooth-soled dress shoes seem to work particularly well in clips -and-straps or power grips! No, really. You can set the strap a lot tighter and still "unclip" fairly easily!

I too use clipless pedals and would not go back to flat pedals for my commute. The only real negative (IMHO) is unclipping; but once you get use to them it becomes automatic. On the positive, when you are at a set of lights and need to race off when the lights turn green you can be rest assured your feet don't slip off the pedals (except if you miss clipping in I suppose. This is where learning to track stand is useful )
I keep a spare pair of shoes at work to change into so I don't need to carry much.

So I've pretty much concluded that I should get some clipless pedals! Are the double sided ones more practical than the single sided ones?

Yes; get MTB pedals. Besides having double sided pedals, many of the MTB shoes like my Diadora Bike Patrols are easier to walk in though I can't for the life of me figure out why they didn't just make the sole 1/4" thicker so the cleats wouldn't touch the ground when you walk.

And unclip both feet at stops. One way to crash is when the bike starts to fall in the direction of your one clipped in foot and you lack the forward speed to lean it the other way by steering into the fall.

he he he....the only times I've really fallen over has been this way; twice I inadvertantly unclipped the foot opposite to the direction of my lean. Dumb .
Given a few pedestrians and other commuters something to giggle at on their commute home.

I've been reading about clipless pedals and it's really quite overwhelming! I'm coming to the conclusion that Crank Brothers Quattro or Candy and Speedplay Light Action or Frogs are the best options. I'm wondering what other people think is the most suitable for a regular but short commute on a hybrid bike? I like to buy all my biking gear from the one store and they don't have Crank Brothers - should that impact my decision?

Sometimes you have to turn for balance after unclipping the correct foot. Then when you're falling onto the clipped in foot, good luck unclipping with all your weight on it.

I now unclip both feet when slowing for a stop.

As for Nadom, I've only tried Nashbar.

Hi,

I have been commuting for a couple of months now and have struggled to find the right pedals. I have tried two different sets of mtb flats , two different sets of toe clips but nothing felt 'right' I then decided to try an old pair of spds. I adjusted them to their slackest seting and so far have had no problems. I take it nice and easy and make sure I keep a good eye out for trafic. The best thing I did I was fitting these.

Rich

Any of those pedals are fine. So are "regular" SPD pedals (Shimano and other brands). Don't worry about that- buy some that you like, from a shop you like, at a price you can afford. I sincerely don't believe there will be a meaningful functional difference.

I've ridden on SPD for about 10-12 years (shimano SPD single sided road pedals on road bike, Cheap-O Nashbar double sided pedals on the MTB, same MTB shoes and cleats for both). I happen to like the one sided road pedals, but two sided can be easier, and no reason not to use them. I'm perfectly happy with the SPD pedals, but when they wear out, I'll probably try Crank Bros eggbeaters and/or candy pedals just because (a) change of pace and (b) my favorite shop sells them for a good price.

I'm using Wellgo dual function pedals (clipless on one side and platform on the other) with Lake MX101 shoes. That way I can use my clipless on my 15k commute and just jump on the bike with whatever I'm wearing to go to the corner for a litre of milk. Practice makes perfect. Keep the tension low and do pratice getting in and out of te clips in different situations. On my second ride with the clipless pedals on my new bike I had to make a panic stop and couldn't get my feet out of the flipping pedals. Good laugh for the pedestrians watching agape and a hell of a bruise on my hip. Having said all that I wouldn't go back to the traps I used before. Also, I keep a pair of shoes at work so I don't have to haul a pair back and forth.