Clipless or Platform Pedals?

[Ralph]

I am breaking in my new Izip E3 Dash. Fantastic bike. Just need to figure out how to keep my sitting bones from aching, but that is another thread.

The pedals are Wellgo. I know that Court favors these pedals and they are ok, but seem a bit small to me. I was wondering which of the platform pedals any of you think is the best for mostly urban riding on the road or paved bike paths. I mostly ride with running shoes and have a 10 1/2 foot. It is confusing when you start looking at various pedals online although you get the idea with relative dimensions.

I wonder why there is never any discussion about clipless pedals. Even though electric bikes make you feel bionic, wouldn't you improve your performance with clipping in to the pedals? Maybe the answer is cost or you just don't need them with pedal assist or with twist and go where you would rarely pedal the bike. Just wondering if anyone else has addressed this issue and what the best platform pedal you suggest.

 

[Dave]

I actually upgraded my Neo Carbon to the Wellgo MG1 platform pedals. I think for the money, they are hard to beat. I had clip type pedals on a Trek and really didn't like fumbling with them.

 

[Ralph]

Thanks Dave. I will check out the MG1's.

 

[Admin]

Hey Ralph, yeah... I'm a fan of Wellgo pedals but that's just because they come in fun colors, are affordable and offer light weight Magnesium alloys with actual set screws for elevated traction. If you do go with clipless check out LOOK and also these new ones called Infinity Pedals on Kickstarter.

 

[Aushiker]

I wonder why there is never any discussion about clipless pedals. Even though electric bikes make you feel bionic, wouldn't you improve your performance with clipping in to the pedals?

To me its a no brainer, well at least with a pedelec. I don't think I could even ride a bike with platforms more than a kilometre or two now days. As soon as I start pedalling I am pulling my foot off the pedals on the upwards stroke.

I just cannot see why one would forgo the benefits of a clipless pedal, more so when you can buy good pedals for around the $30 mark.

Andrew

 

[Electric Bike Specialists]

I wonder why there is never any discussion about clipless pedals.

Huh. I guess because ebikes are usually thought of in a commuting capacity, clipless pedals aren't brought up very often. People don't want to have to change shoes at their destination. They would certainly make sense for exercise rides/mountain biking.

I would imagine you could go CRAZY fast using them.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

I think clipless are the way to go if you are a fit rider aiming for efficiency and longer rides.
Otherwise flats are good for city/errands/commuting etc, a good pair of flats would be better because it allows you to take your feet off at any point of time much more easily than clipless (frequent traffic signs etc)

As EBS mentioned, for commuting purpose (<5 miles) flats are good and you don't have to carry extra pair of shoes. Good flats + a nice pair of five ten shoes are perfect because you can also use five tens for casual purpose.

Also, I am still keeping my knobby tires on even though it may reduce rolling efficiency by a tiny bit. I guess one advantage of ebikes is that we can overcome small limitations like rolling efficiency, pedaling efficiency with more power.

 

[James]

I use spd pedals on my road bike, and platforms on my Stromer. Clipless pedals are total overkill for an ebike imo, the shoe thing is for sure a pain.

I ride my bike an average of 300km per week, and the platforms (Straitline DeFacto) are more than enough comfortable and efficient.

 

[Ralph]

I think since it is early days for me on the Dash, I will stick with platform pedals. I took Dave's advice on the MG1'a and Court's on the cool colors and went with a gold set that matches the accents on the Dash. It is a bigger pedal than the Wellgo's that are on the bike now and fairly inexpensive so worth trying out.

 

[Dave]

Ralph, good choice! I have about 25 miles on mine, and really like them.

 

[TSW]

Just going to throw out another "compromise" option here -- you can get pedals that are both platform one one side and has a clip on the other. That's what I currently have on my (non-electric) commuter bike, and that's what I'm planning on putting on my ebike if and when I get one. Here's an example of this kind of pedal from Shimano.

I have been using clips for long enough now that biking without actually feels a little strange and squirrely to me. Extra shoes isn't really a big deal IMO, I keep an extra pair of shoes at work and that takes care of that -- but it is nice to have the option of not using the bike shoes.

 

[Ralph]

Interesting. I didn't know of the two way option. I will check it out.

 

[Chris Nolte]

I think for some pedal assist bikes it makes sense to go clipless. We just go a Bosch bike in as a demo and it seems to me the first ebike I would consider riding with clipless pedals. I actually felt the pedals getting away from me a bit on the highest level of assist.

 

[Admin]

I think for some pedal assist bikes it makes sense to go clipless. We just go a Bosch bike in as a demo and it seems to me the first ebike I would consider riding with clipless pedals. I actually felt the pedals getting away from me a bit on the highest level of assist.

Hey Chris, I'm confused. If the pedals were getting away from you with the Bosch pedal assist bike, wouldn't clips help keep it under control?

[edit] it appears that clipless pedals actually do connect with your shoe and may be a type of clip-in? I did a Google search and found a few different images that show platform, clipless and cages (posted below).



Clipless pedals are defined as: a system comprised of special pedals and cleats, devices included with the pedals that attach to the soles of clipless cycling shoes. This means that you'll need to select pedals and shoes in order to upgrade to a clipless system.

Clip-in pedals are defined as: Pedals that require clip-in shoes. These do not have cages because the shoes clip into the pedals from the bottom. (seems a lot like clipless to me?)

So is clipless just another way of saying clip-in or is there something special about this style of "shoes that attach to pedals"

 

[Chris Nolte]

Yes, that's it Court. I know it's a bit misleading, the image on the right has toe clips (or cages) and accomplish a similar result as the middle ones which are clipless (without toe clips). Clipless is the same as clip-in, REI published a great article on this topic here.

 

[EddieJ]

Up until now I've been using Shimano M530 SPD Trail MTB Pedals on the BH. They are dual sided and offer a reasonable standard of performance when using the flat side, provided that they are dry.

The slightest bit of wet mud on them, and you risk slipping and shinning yourself. I have ended up on my backside just too many times now when clipped in off road, and I'm just about to install platforms instead. It's kind of a shame though as I really like to feel connected to the bike, which is obviously the feeling that you get from clipless designs.

The pedals won't be wasted though, as I shall put them on the Haibike.

 

[Ralph]

Ralph, good choice! I have about 25 miles on mine, and really like them.

Dave, I finally got the MG1's on my Dash. It makes a huge difference. Thanks for your help. I really like them and have been enjoying the Dash as well.

 

[Dave]

Ralph, great to hear you like the Dash. The Mg1's are a great value and I love mine as well.

 

[JoePah]

I have spd look pedals on my single speed racer. For ebikes a MBA platform or wellego peda is just fine. I guess u could try toe clips but it doesn't seem useful on an ebike.

Ps. If you stop and start a lot avoid spds! Fallen over twice this week and it's only Monday. Lol