tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post6956994374572840095..comments2023-12-28T21:22:10.935-07:00Comments on Jill Outside: My clipless platformJill Homerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-40475740330195703272009-09-24T23:24:32.805-06:002009-09-24T23:24:32.805-06:00Here's why I hate clipless pedals:
1. Your f...Here's why I hate clipless pedals:<br /><br />1. Your foot seldom slips out of a clipless pedal, but when it DOES slip out, it often results in a wreck.<br /><br />2. Not being able to reposition your feet on the pedals is a tremendous strain on your knees and ankles. <br /><br />3. Studies indicate that nobody (not even the elite cyclists) actually "pull up" on the reverse side. <br /><br />4. I hate having to think about stopping before I actually do.<br /><br />5. Struggling with the pedal everytime I take off from a stoplight is a drag.<br /><br />6. I hated those stupid stiff shoes.<br /><br />I never actually fell over with my clipless pedals, but I did truly despise them. About a year ago, I took them off all my bikes and replaced them with either old track pedals or bmx hex-shaped pedals (depending on the bike). My foot has never "slipped off" either style, and I will never go back. "Riding free" is a joy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-10370276981749388052008-06-09T14:10:00.000-06:002008-06-09T14:10:00.000-06:00Jill - believe it or not, folks may *think* they p...Jill - believe it or not, folks may *think* they pull up on the resting leg but studies in cycling biomechanics show quite the opposite - it's dead weight even with clipless pedals. Power still increases with clipless though. There's no "slop" at the pedal/foot interface.<BR/><BR/>Your conditions are something else though. I'd be using flat pedals if I lived in Juneau too...Dave Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199180181304602551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-44089950871435216452008-06-08T00:39:00.000-06:002008-06-08T00:39:00.000-06:00And who likes changing pedals over all the time? W...And who likes changing pedals over all the time? What a hassle. Sticking with whats easiest is what happens. <BR/><BR/>I think if you lived in a warm dry climate you'd look more favourably at SPDs and notice your knees were also a lot happier (mine don't like the cold months). I have never had issues with my clipless pedals malfunctioning and have crashed many times with successful detachment - seems its mainly a paranoia problem. I recon platforms will suit me for the short commute rides since any old crappy shoes can do the trick.Shoeless Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06539649649441701801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-62072891612724046192008-06-06T22:03:00.000-06:002008-06-06T22:03:00.000-06:00But that's just it. Since you are resting your leg...But that's just it. Since you are resting your leg on the upstroke, you aren't using all the power you have at your disposal. Yes, it would require you to retrain yourself, but it isn't as hard as you might think. Try one-legged intervals (with clipless pedals and shoes of course) on a trainer or rollers just once or twice a week for maybe twenty minutes. Pedal with left leg one minute, both legs for a couple of minutes, then right leg one minute. You aren't pedaling HARD (low resistance on the trainer) or trying to keep a super high cadence. You are just training your muscles to work more efficiently. I suppose you could do this out on the road, if you had an area that was smooth and relatively flat.<BR/><BR/>Also, on number 9, if your foot is slipping out of the cleat, even on wet days, SOMETHING is not adjusted properly.<BR/><BR/>But, again, maybe you don't need to worry about any of this. As I mentioned in my earlier message, having to carry extra shoes is probably reason enough to use platforms. Clipless maybe just isn't convenient for commuting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-45051070735554430802008-06-06T11:59:00.000-06:002008-06-06T11:59:00.000-06:00About point No. 8 ... the dispute of this point se...About point No. 8 ... the dispute of this point seems to be universally accepted fact, but what if clipless pedals don't work for me, specifically? To gain any power from the upstroke, you have to actually pull on the upstroke, and years of platform conditioning have me essentially resting my opposite leg on every upstroke, even clipped in. (I realize how extreme this habit is every time I try to pedal one-legged.) I think I may have to relearn how to pedal in order to gain any advantage.<BR/><BR/>On No. 10, I obviously don't have any medical proof to back up this theory. For all I know, it's all in my head. But even if it's placebo effect, it seems to be working. When sharp pains start to hit my knee, I just move my foot and they go away.Jill Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-67556951792035521972008-06-05T20:16:00.000-06:002008-06-05T20:16:00.000-06:00You've made some very interesting points. I comple...You've made some very interesting points. I completely disagree with you on #8, and I'm dubious about #10, but everything else you brought up seems to outweigh those two anyway. Who wants to lug around extra shoes? Yuck.<BR/><BR/>Have you ever thought about just using toe straps? I admit they are more difficult to get out of than clipless pedals, so maybe not good for all situations.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if your problems with clipless pedals is simply an adjustment issue. A proper and PROFESSIONAL fit/adjustment is essential. This applies to everything: saddle position, handlebars, pedals, and the cleat position on the shoe. It all works together. If one thing is off it can make you hurt in surprising places. It also sounds like your shoe is too small. Mine will accomodate two pairs of wool socks plus a chemical toe warmer in the winter, but still cinch up tight enough on one pair of thin socks in summer.<BR/><BR/>Love your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-69508236203296854832008-06-05T19:53:00.000-06:002008-06-05T19:53:00.000-06:00I rode with clips and straps for many years and wa...I rode with clips and straps for many years and was always bothered by numbness in my toes, no matter how I adjusted the straps. So I asked the shop manager of my LBS about going clipless. He asked me what my shoe size was. When I told him that I wore 10 1/2 EEEE, he just laughed.<BR/><BR/>I gave up on the notion of clipliess and removed the clips and straps. I have ridden for several years on platform pedals and my feet feel great. Oh, and my knees stopped aching, too. I don't think I will go back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-31866187240297281322008-06-05T18:13:00.000-06:002008-06-05T18:13:00.000-06:00I was right there with ya till I read #8 ;)I was right there with ya till I read #8 ;)Dave Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199180181304602551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-59397322844119034992008-06-05T13:54:00.000-06:002008-06-05T13:54:00.000-06:00I have a time trial bike with old-school Look clea...I have a time trial bike with old-school Look cleats that I use if I'm trying to set some kind of speed PR. I also will put SPD pedals on a bike if the entire outing involves climbing nonstop for hours. But 99% of my riding is with toe straps or Power Grips. All of your reasons are dead on right. My personal pet peeve is getting mud packed in the cleat making them useless. I once did a little tour in Baja MX and I figured that clipless would be ok since it's a desert (no mud). Wrong. It did rain and I spent tons of time picking mud out. When I did more race training than any other riding, I used clipless all the time, but I changed back to platform pedals when I realized that for commuting to work, clipless necessitated that there be a hole cut in whatever kind of overshoe cover you wear. This means that when the weather is really crappy, your feet will get wet. With toe clips, I can wear rubber overboots (available at lab and safety suppliers) under gaitors and my feet are 100% dry as long as I need them to be. Toe clips also allow me to ride in boots which are needed in weather when anything that would take a cycling cleat would be disastrously cold. And a tip for people new to cycling, I find that a great enhancement is putting toe clips on normal pedals, but leave off the toe strap. Then new riders get used to good foot placement, get some benefit from different parts of their stroke, but with none of the liability when stopping too suddenly. I'd say start with that, then add the strap, then go to clipless, then choose what you think works for you.xedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08581680408791160181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-25312450923536113242008-06-05T11:24:00.000-06:002008-06-05T11:24:00.000-06:00I got a pair of big old platform pedals on my "eve...I got a pair of big old platform pedals on my "everything" bike. It's great to just hop on a bike & go with any old shoes. But if you are looking for speed, clipless is the ticket. I was a holdout until 1997.Roman Holidayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036520235135827813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-34093233919255596542008-06-05T08:41:00.000-06:002008-06-05T08:41:00.000-06:00and this is my last post (sorry), try to pedal a 1...and this is my last post (sorry), try to pedal a 150+ cadence with a platform pedal on a fixie... on second thought, no, please don't try it. But as a matter of fact, on a fixed gear bike you benefit a lot from clipless pedals both uphill and downhill. Actually, if you can get a Speedplay with free float you'll be shocked to find the pedal feel like it's _disappeared_ under your feet when pedaling high cadence. It's a kind of magic ;-]Gabor Kulcsarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07213230337310984227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-8172546455683335702008-06-05T08:21:00.000-06:002008-06-05T08:21:00.000-06:00btw. when you ride a singlespeed or a fixed gear b...btw. when you ride a singlespeed or a fixed gear bike clipless pedals and/or toe clips make all the difference when going uphill. Perhaps on a geared bike it doesn't make that much of a difference though.Gabor Kulcsarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07213230337310984227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-15068042693668743932008-06-05T08:15:00.000-06:002008-06-05T08:15:00.000-06:00I can't quite understand why you couldn't have bot...I can't quite understand why you couldn't have both clipless and platform at the same time - I use a pair of cheap Shimano 520s on my MTB with the platform attached to one side. I use it as clipless by default and when the going gets rough and technical downhill I unclip, turn the pedal and voila - platform it is.<BR/>I've ridden some 10 thousand miles with toe clips also, they are very cheap, and I quite like them. So many options...Gabor Kulcsarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07213230337310984227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-64955928932120251092008-06-05T01:38:00.000-06:002008-06-05T01:38:00.000-06:00You've opened up a can of worms here Jill!I like a...You've opened up a can of worms here Jill!<BR/><BR/>I like all pedals they all do the job but I use just spd's & mountain bike shoes on both mountain & road bike. I like the solid attached to bike feel & don't mind falling off every now & then.Highwaymunkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01189848587768316716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-78354406819862536432008-06-05T01:14:00.000-06:002008-06-05T01:14:00.000-06:00Saul, I thought for sure I was going to get lambas...Saul, I thought for sure I was going to get lambasted myself. I guess I've come across as overly sensitive in recent posts.<BR/><BR/>I'm not a platform pedal preacher. I'm all about different strokes for different folks. I'm more of a platform pedal apologist. I acknowledge that I may be losing out on certain advantages in favor of comfort. Sort of like flat bars on a road bike and rear suspension on a MTB (how I miss it.) But I do disagree that clipless pedals do all good things for everyone. I genuinely haven't been impressed with the ones I've used. I haven't seen my average MPH go up or felt any stronger on climbs and I've generally been less comfortable. Granted, I may just be a poor cyclist. I'll acknowledge that. <BR/><BR/>Doctor S. I'm actually looking into similar bikes for my dad right now. I think his price range is lower, but he's looking for a good MTB/comfort bike. I think your best bet is to go into a bike shop and tell them what you're interested in and what you have to spend. They'll definitely send you in the right direction. If you're looking to buy online, I'm also a big fan of the quality-vs.-price ratio of IBEX bikes. They have a few good hardtails in the $500-$800range. ibexbikes.com.<BR/><BR/>Craig ... the "trail" is just a series of simple wooden planks. They're used widely in Juneau to cross muskeg, areas where normal dirt trail would be swallowed by the bog in a matter of days. Juneau is a wet place, so pretty much any flat area is boggy muskeg. We have entire trails built of wooden planks, up to five miles long. I hate them. They're as slippery as oil-slicked ice when they're wet, but I realize it's either them or nothing. When they're dry, they make for great singletrack practice. <BR/><BR/>Jeff ... thanks for the info. I'm actually a regular user. It's an expensive habit.Jill Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-83900497843528607622008-06-04T22:13:00.000-06:002008-06-04T22:13:00.000-06:00Items 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,and 10: Right On!Item 8: n...Items 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,and 10: Right On!<BR/><BR/>Item 8: not so much...Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607259821954490651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-60778337263192496072008-06-04T20:47:00.000-06:002008-06-04T20:47:00.000-06:00Want to help those bad knees? A product called, Gl...Want to help those bad knees? A product called, Glucosamine. It's made by Wellesse. I don't know if you can get it in Canada, but in the USA its available at Costco. Get it in liquid form for best results. I never thought my knees could feel normal again until I used it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-36699088272413432472008-06-04T19:46:00.000-06:002008-06-04T19:46:00.000-06:00They don't make SPD compatible fuzzy bunny slipper...They don't make SPD compatible fuzzy bunny slippers....nuff said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-54420520871889678522008-06-04T19:29:00.000-06:002008-06-04T19:29:00.000-06:00I thought for sure you would be getting lambasted ...I thought for sure you would be getting lambasted by the clipless masses. I ride clipless - mountain pedals/shoes on both mountain and road bike - makes the "kitted out" folks squirm - but I have a stable of cruiser bikes with platforms. Just finished restoring a 1950s Schwinn in an original/modern set up - with bmx platforms, original one piece cranks with a really big gear and a coaster brake and it has become my new favorite bike to ride. I got the cowbells ringing for me when I was climbing a hill on the first leg of the Commerce Bank Lehigh Valley Classic yesterday (not competing obviously)- first year the first leg of Triple Crown started in Allentown and it rocked.<BR/><BR/>All I can say is - if taking off the pedals and tying your showlaces to the cranks makes you happy - let it roll.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00825985985024703812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-13621519796755071512008-06-04T19:08:00.000-06:002008-06-04T19:08:00.000-06:00flats for 5 yrs... Maybe I'll slower but I can rid...flats for 5 yrs... Maybe I'll slower but I can ride so much longer with flats.<BR/><BR/>Good stuffFixieDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685170404057881390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-82971372694059668092008-06-04T17:08:00.000-06:002008-06-04T17:08:00.000-06:00Submit and Obey! Go Clipless! Whatever, nobody her...Submit and Obey! Go Clipless! <BR/><BR/>Whatever, nobody here should post a dissenting opinion unless you can keep up with JJ (aka MC Jilly Jill.)<BR/><BR/>Personally I ride clipless so I look like a douchebag at the grocery store.Juanchohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01283672346601878803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-80292616526870704072008-06-04T15:30:00.000-06:002008-06-04T15:30:00.000-06:00Hi, I'm the guy who posted the initial question, a...Hi, I'm the guy who posted the initial question, and I want to say "thanks for the detailed response." I personally have a big butt, so I can leverage that part of my anatomy when clipped into my bike. Though I have to admit I haven't ridden without clips for quite some time, so I should give it a shot, eh?Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04178264757649483332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-63798741420646478842008-06-04T14:21:00.000-06:002008-06-04T14:21:00.000-06:00Still curious, what was that white line running th...Still curious, what was that white line running through the scraggle in your picture on the post, "The End of May". <BR/><BR/>Don't let that punctuation make you dizzy.Craig, The Flanders Fat Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07440903092957497625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-60434377189899238362008-06-04T13:49:00.000-06:002008-06-04T13:49:00.000-06:00Different strokes for different folks, right?There...Different strokes for different folks, right?<BR/><BR/>There are good and bad with both clipless and platform.<BR/><BR/>Platform does win hands down when it comes to simplicity and ease of use...any shoe (or even barefeet if you wanted) and you can ride any bike , any time. <BR/><BR/>Whether or not clipless helps in technical situations or not can be argued. Many DH'ers don't clip in, most Freeriders don't clip in, you never see a Trials rider clipped in, etc. All are riding in serious rough terrain.<BR/><BR/>I use clipless in warm weather on my mtb and road bikes. My snowbike always has platforms though. <BR/><BR/>In winter...get those heat sucking cleats off your feet though. Platforms all the way. It amazes me that folks will pay a few hundred bucks for winter cycling boots that will not keep your feet warm, without serious modification, oversizing, and the like. Anyone suffering from cold toes needs to try flat pedals as their first solution. Warmer, better fitting, more roomy shoes and no cleat is where it starts.<BR/><BR/>Way to stir up the pot Jill!Kid Riemerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07537691052881191365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-86996829971680427942008-06-04T11:53:00.000-06:002008-06-04T11:53:00.000-06:00thank you from another platform loser who has ridd...thank you from another platform loser who has ridden bikes for over 30 years.<BR/>God is good<BR/>jpuJohn Umlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06403644529498645914noreply@blogger.com