cleated (clipless) pedals

[Chazmo]

Are clipless pedals out of style or is it an ebike thing? I don’t see many (any?) of us using them.

I was never much of a fan, but I did use them for a while back in the late 1990s and early oughts.

 

[harryS]

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.

 

[DaveMatthews]

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.

 

[Base]

Cb Mallet. Enough float and with the correct shoes you can actually walk with the cleats. Also enough platform to ride not clipped in.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Cb Mallet. Enough float and with the correct shoes you can actually walk with the cleats. Also enough platform to ride not clipped in.

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.

 

[stompandgo]

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]

Cb Mallet. Enough float and with the correct shoes you can actually walk with the cleats. Also enough platform to ride not clipped in.

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.

Never had clips. In the 70's, our bikes used the metal straps on the pedals which took the toe of your shoes.

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]

Crankbrotihers Mallet

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]

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!

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.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

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.

www.cyclingabout.com

 

[Chazmo]

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.

Gocha’… Yeah, I’ve seen those. Thanks!