cleated (clipless) pedals

[edobici_forza]

There are quite a few variables that come into play when chosing the type of pedal:
Type of surface (pavement, gravel, or trail)
Type of ride (casual vs. intense workout)
Physical ability
Duration of ride
Type of e-bike

I have Shimano SPD MTB pedals on my Creo and the same on my gravel bike which I use primarily for road rides. I have two Full Suspension MTBs, that I cannot ride confidently with those same pedals. I ride many narrow Singletrack trails with along steep dropoff slopes…I am not comfortable being clipped in, so I use platform pedals with metal pins. Yes, the grip with the right shoes and pedal combination is amazing. Raceface Atlas pedals. That said my shins are scarred a decent amount. Oh well.

I recently bought new bike shoes and wanted to try the Shimano SH56 cleat version which has more release directions compared to the standard SH51 model which I have used for years. With MTB/Gravel shoes, the cleat is higher than the outsole so very easy to walk around.

I rarely do out of saddle pushes, but due to the steep inclines in my area, it does happen. Being clipped in is an advantage here, for me. I do not race, I do not group ride so I am not trying to keep a pace.

I saw that GCN video already and the power output is the marked difference, with clipless.

I recall having more issues with the old toe clip with strap versions, for both inserting and removing my shoes. And I think I probably fell only 2 times in the 30+ years due to not unclipping my shoe from SPD pedals, started on hardtail MTB.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That said my shins are scarred a decent amount. Oh well.

I've learned not to hurt my shins or calves, Ed Practice makes perfect as they say

Yes, there is a clear preference of the clipless among gravel cyclists. It is a matter of the style, among others.

I see what bad clipless can do to a person with a disability. Today, we rode out from a gravel path onto the main road and the adjacent bike path with my friend Tommy, who has impaired hearing but uses clipless pedals. "Caution!" I yelled but he didn't hear me. As he rode onto the road, he tried to switch to the bike path, everything deep covered with dead leaves. He obviously rode onto the curb and spilled. Not for the first or last time. Had he been using platform pedals, I can bet he would be able to support himself with a leg at that minimal speed! The issue with my friend is he has made some wrong choices, and it is mentally difficult to him to correct his ways. He should have never used the clipless in the first place. Also, his aero bars... One day, he will impale me on them!

 

[stompandgo]

My opinion is that old people on ebikes shouldn't be locked on their pedals, and, as such, I ride unclipped. YMMV.

Define old.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

One way to look at pedal choice
Cycling's full of sensations from head to toe — some good, some not. Could be that some riders just like the clip-in sensations more than the platform sensations, or vice versa.

In the GCN video, Connor described lots of sensations on his test rides — in his case, mostly in favor of the clip-ins he's used to. No previous experience on platforms.

Since avaliable data doesn't seem to point to a clear winner on the performance front, a non-racer's then free to pick the pedals that just feel better, for whatever reason — including familiarity and safety — subject to change with experience.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Define old.

Different for everyone I suppose... for me it's a look in the mirror...

 

[stompandgo]

Nobody road races without cleats. Plenty of people ride without them. Different strokes.

For me, it's about power and suplesse. I pedal cleaner and more efficiently when clipped it.

 

[stompandgo]

Different for everyone I suppose... for me it's a look in the mirror...

Except you made a general statement, not just about you.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Except you made a general statement, not just about you.

Indeed... different for everyone...