cleated (clipless) pedals
- Thread starter Chazmo
- Start date
harryS
Well-Known Member
Never had clips. In the 70's, our bikes used the metal straps on the pedals which took the toe of your shoes. You could always slip your shoes out, but I soon removed them.
We had a gal stop behind us six years ago and promptly fall over. I thought we had caused her to crash when we stopped our ebikes, but she said she forgot to unclip. That happens more than you think.
We had a gal stop behind us six years ago and promptly fall over. I thought we had caused her to crash when we stopped our ebikes, but she said she forgot to unclip. That happens more than you think.
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
I'm too much of a klutz to deal with being harnessed. I often need a quick foot dab down and I'm too old to deal with additional/unnecessary bruises or breaks. 
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
I probably shouldn't be clipped in for medical reasons, but I would like to try it someday. Problem is, trying these pedals and compatible shoes would cost me $420.
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stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I use Crank Brothers Candy and Specialized Comp MTB shoes. Plenty of float but I can ride them a short ways without riding shoes. The cleats are buried and do not mark the floors. I've been riding with cleats for so long, I'm not comfortable riding without them.
Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Ah, perhaps that’s what’s changed in the intervening years. The pedals I had, which were just bindings on a spindle, could not be used without the cleated biking shoes. I.e., they had no surrounding “platform” to allow pedaling with regular shoes. I think they made them that way for weight savings, but in retrospect it’s hard to imagine it being worth it, especially (obviously) on an e-bike.
Oh, and “Cb Mallet?” Is that a brand name, Base? I don’t see them on a web search. Just curious.
Hey, Harry… Just for the record I think those straps were known as "toe clips,” an unfortunate monicker… “toe straps” would’ve been better. But, anyway, I think that’s why cleated pedals are called “clipless” (as in no toe clips). This always jams me up too, but I think “clipless" = “cleated." Not sure, though, and I apologize in advance if I got any of the terminology wrong.
Best wishes!
Base
Bike nerd
- Region
- Europe
- City
- in the exact center of the Netherlands
Crankbrotihers Mallet
sorry, lbs shorts
www.crankbrothers.com
sorry, lbs shorts
Mallet Clip-In Pedals For Mountain Biking
Crankbrothers Mallet pedals are the ultimate MTB clip-in pedals for trail, enduro and downhill riding and racing. Developed in collaboration with world-class athletes, Mallet pedals feature an alloy platform to enhance stability while clipped-in, with multiple platform sizes optimized for each...
www.crankbrothers.com
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Clips were toe clips and straps were toe straps. They were used together, but you could use clips without the straps. These days, toe straps are a liability for shops, so they sell rigid plastic strapless clips for those that want to recreate that type of binding.
Crank Brothers Mallet are MTB pedals with huge platforms. The Candy are a road platform pedal that's much smaller. They both use the same type of spring cleat with float on the inside.
When I raced (mid to late 80s) the first Look cliplress pedals where just coming in. I didn't have a pair, was still on toeclips & straps but didn't mind having to reach down to flick open the strap. Only remember one fall (clipped in fall) where a dab of the foot might have saved me; when the bike skidded on gravel at a junction and I was down before I could unclip. But back then I was pretty good at track stands so didn't really think about my feet being strapped in. I remember trying out the first Adidas clipless pedal and shoes - it was a bit ironic, they had a little lever with a red knob down on the pedal that you had to flick open, like with a toeclip strap! But that shoe was really comfortable so I used them for a while. I've also been fine with no clips/toestraps as I'd come to road racing via BMX then mountain biking so platform pedals or clipped in was fine with me, horses for courses. Though I hated those bear trap like early MTB pedals, still have the scarred shins.
Today I see no point in clipless- for me. I'm not racing and outside of sprinting, tests have shown little difference in performance, especially since the 5 Ten style grippy shoe/ platform pins revolution. Almost impossible for your foot to disengage at the wrong time with these. Sure if you're super fit and in road competition marginal gains are everything. But I'm not and I can do long miles on platforms and not notice any performance loss.
Here's a good discussion on platform pedals and how versatile they are.
www.cyclingabout.com
Today I see no point in clipless- for me. I'm not racing and outside of sprinting, tests have shown little difference in performance, especially since the 5 Ten style grippy shoe/ platform pins revolution. Almost impossible for your foot to disengage at the wrong time with these. Sure if you're super fit and in road competition marginal gains are everything. But I'm not and I can do long miles on platforms and not notice any performance loss.
Here's a good discussion on platform pedals and how versatile they are.
Why Flat Pedals Are Better Than Clip-In Pedals (For Most People) - CYCLINGABOUT.com
Trading my clip-in pedals for flat pedals is the most profound component change I've made.
www.cyclingabout.com
Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Gocha’… Yeah, I’ve seen those. Thanks!
Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Good article. I always thought people gained power on the upstroke with clipless, Ras.. Might’ve missed it, but didn’t think I saw it mentioned in the article. That might’ve been a factor at some point.When I raced (mid to late 80s) the first Look cliplress pedals where just coming in. I didn't have a pair, was still on toeclips & straps but didn't mind having to reach down to flick open the strap. Only remember one fall (clipped in fall) where a dab of the foot might have saved me; when the bike skidded on gravel at a junction and I was down before I could unclip. But back then I was pretty good at track stands so didn't really think about my feet being strapped in. I remember trying out the first Adidas clipless pedal and shoes - it was a bit ironic, they had a little lever with a red knob down on the pedal that you had to flick open, like with a toeclip strap! But that shoe was really comfortable so I used them for a while. I've also been fine with no clips/toestraps as I'd come to road racing via BMX then mountain biking so platform pedals or clipped in was fine with me, horses for courses. Though I hated those bear trap like early MTB pedals, still have the scarred shins.
Today I see no point in clipless- for me. I'm not racing and outside of sprinting, tests have shown little difference in performance, especially since the 5 Ten style grippy shoe/ platform pins revolution. Almost impossible for your foot to disengage at the wrong time with these. Sure if you're super fit and in road competition marginal gains are everything. But I'm not and I can do long miles on platforms and not notice any performance loss.
Here's a good discussion on platform pedals and how versatile they are.
Why Flat Pedals Are Better Than Clip-In Pedals (For Most People) - CYCLINGABOUT.com
Trading my clip-in pedals for flat pedals is the most profound component change I've made.
Anyway, very interesting, guys! I certainly agree that flat pedals seem fine to me. In fact, I ditched my clipless (I think it was an ATAC binding with a very forgiving / easy mechanism) in favor of flat a long time ago.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
It's there. If you're thinking of doing some sprinting on your fattie, there might be a marginal gain.
;^}
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
E-Bikes greatly negate the need for clipless pedals and cleated shoes. On the other hand, platform pedals are a way safer. It is guaranteed a cyclist wearing clipless will eventually crash just because he forgot to unclip in an unexpected situation. While the traction pin platform pedals with proper shoes hold almost as surely as the clipless.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
You don't have to forget to unclip to run afoul of toe clips. Once caught a red light at a very large intersection at rush hour. As always, freed up the left foot to touch down just before stopping.
But a sound to the right caught my attention just then, and I must've leaned ever so slightly in that direction as I looked to see. Knew instantly what was going to happen next but no way to stop it.
Must've been a good 200 witnesses.
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Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
FYI, I re-read it, Jeremy, and I still don’t see any mention about upstroke and rider power. I guess you mean that it’s implied by his comment about sprinting performance (and yours
) and his saying “efficiency” is pretty much a wash…? Regardless, makes sense to me, but then I’m not a “power” rider, if you will. I do recall at some point feeling that I was getting a stronger stroke with cleats.I think this point is arguable, Stefan. I think the “sliding off” potential without cleats is also a safety risk. Of course, in most cases you’ll just dab if you slide off (as opposed to crashing with the cleats), but I’ve come close to losing control of the bike on flat pedals because of slipping. As I recall, most of those situations were due to sliding on wet pedals.
Anyway, guys, thanks for all the feedback. Interesting discussion!
