Platform Pedals Vs Clipless Pedals?

I have a Trek 2100 road bike. Is it OK to have the LBS install those regular platform pedals instead of the clipless pedals? I'm used to my platform pedals on my mountain bike. I've also heard stories of people falling to their sides with their road bikes because they did not unclip fast enough. Do any of you have platform pedals on your road bikes? If so, what's your opinion on this issue?

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8 Comments »

Anonymous said:

Yes, it’s ok. Ride what you like!
Clipless pedals are awesome, and once you get used to them (EVERYONE falls over a couple times before they learn to quit doing that), it’ll become second-nature to start and stop with them. Their benefits far, far outweigh any drawbacks unless you’re into freestyle jumping and stunts. If you do anything more than casual riding, you’ll really come to appreciate the added power and control that clipless pedals can give you. They also make it easier on your muscles because you can apply pressure to different muscle groups to “take a break” once in awhile, especially on longer climbs.
You’d think that being clipped in on a mountain bike would be more dangerous, but I’ve actually found it to be much safer and it helps you to get through tough sections of trail more reliably. As long as you’re riding with some passion, being clipped in on the trails will help you apply power and control, and keep your feet on the pedals during sketchy drop-ins and downhills.
The only disadvantage to clipless pedals is that they have a pretty narrow platform, so they work best with a cycling shoe. Crank brothers has come out with a few models that make this a lot nicer, and I just recently started running their Quattro pedal on my road bike so that I’m never without the right shoe for a ride (I use eggbeaters and mallets on my mountain and urban bikes). If you want to ride with a casual shoe, there are several pedals on the market that are dual-sided, with a cage on one side and a clip on the other.
I say go clipless, but ride whatever makes you happy and safe.

# 21 February 2010 at 3:32 pm

Rusty Sanchez said:

I have ridden toe clips and straps, platform, clipless, and platforms with Power Grip straps, and I have to say that as far as efficient power transfer, clipless is the best. Everyone falls over at first. You’ll get used to it. Clipless has it’s limitations. You have to wear clipless shoes, which aren’t that great to walk in. I like to ride my bike places and do things when I get there, so clipless isn’t really an option for me these days. My ss mtn. bike has big magnesium platforms w/ traction pins, and on the cyclocross bike I just ordered, I plan on using bmx platforms with Power Grip straps. These work kinda like toe clips. If you’ve never seen them , they are basically stiff straps that run from the rear inside corner of your pedal to the front outside corner. You adjust them as tight/loose as you want them. The release movement is the same as clipless. Twist OUT. If you plan on incorporating other activities during your rides, go platform. If all your going to do is ride, go clipless. Argghh! All this talk about clipless ALMOST makes me want to put the never-before-used clipless pedals I have in the closet on my bike.

# 21 February 2010 at 5:00 pm

bikernoj said:

CLIPLESS ALL THE WAY!!!
Yes, people tip over when getting used to clipless pedals. EVERYONE does it at least once, and it’s a rite of passage for a cyclist. Bruises the pride more than anything, but if you’re going out in public wearing lycra, then personal embarassment is not an issue for you.
Clipless pedals are more efficient and allow you to have better bike control. Besides, when you get used to them, clipping in & out becomes an unconscious act. There are many reasons you don’t see road bikes with platform pedals; think about it.
Are you a cyclist, or just some guy with a bike?

# 21 February 2010 at 5:31 pm

Ronniebo said:

Nice bike.
I can only assume that since you have both a road and mountain bike that you are not just a casual rider. I too ride both road and mountain, and went from mountain biking with Crank Bros. Mallet C downhill platform clipless pedals (awesome pedals with or without clipless shoes), to road biking with clipless pedals. Since I was used to being clipped in, I only fell once on my road bike. That one time I fell was because it was my first climb with the bike, I had the gears way too high, and the ascent was approx 10-13 degrees. Other than that, no falls due to not clipping out quickly enough. Granted, I practiced clipping in and out to make sure I could do so quickly.
One thing you have to practice (clipless pedals, or platforms with toe straps) is looking far ahead, and evaluating the situation(s) that are developing.
I have a friend who just started road biking with me, and he has platforms with toe straps. He does ok, but he doesn’t get the full power through the entire pedal stroke as I do. This makes a big difference, as others have said, when it comes to power, muscle usage, and stability. If you decide to stand and crank hard (for whatever reason), you won’t have as much power or stability with platforms as someone riding with clipless.
As others said though, if you prefer platforms, stick with what’s most comfortable with you. If you get the chance though, see if you can try out some clipless pedals and shoes.

# 21 February 2010 at 10:48 pm

01234567 said:

PLEASE Try clipless my boy, she will engulf your very being and you will see the light

# 22 February 2010 at 5:22 am

onlyme Mr G said:

Once you’ve riden with a good stiff sole road shoe and clipless pedals you would not go back.
Big deal, falling sideways, I have done it once, in very slow moving traffic when the car in front braked, hey we’ve all done it atleast once. All you hurt is your pride, Onlookers came running over like I’d been hit by a train, all I wanted to do was hide under a small rock!! LOL.
I think the vast majority of answerer’s on these pages, use a clipless pedal. Just do it, It’s far safer than toe-clips.

# 22 February 2010 at 11:38 am

MtBikr said:

Depends on the type of rider you are. If you pedal slow (less than 80 rpm) platforms are fine. Once you get over 80 rpm it becomes harder to keep your feet in contact with the pedals at over 100rpm it is near impossible. The argument of power transfer is always a good one, unless you are an elite level rider, you can’t measure the difference in watts between platforms or clipless. The use of clipless on a mountain bike is a different issue due to the terrain you are riding on. As far as getting clipped in and out, you will find in a short time it becomes second nature, like riding a bike.

# 22 February 2010 at 6:27 pm

Scott D said:

I run Eggbeaters on all my road and mountain bikes. I have never had a single issue getting unclipped quickly. The Eggbeaters have a pretty large float area, but at the same time keep you clipped in when it is most important.
I never thought I would give up platforms on my SS mountain bikes, but once I tried the eggs I became a quicker, more agile, and more confident rider.

# 22 February 2010 at 7:36 pm

Platform Pedals Vs Clipless Pedals?

I have a Trek 2100 road bike. Is it OK to have the LBS install those regular platform pedals instead of the clipless pedals? I'm used to my platform pedals on my mountain bike. I've also heard stories of people falling to their sides with their road bikes because they did not unclip fast enough. Do any of you have platform pedals on your road bikes? If so, what's your opinion on this issue?

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

8 Comments »

Ride!Urb said:

Yes, it’s ok. Ride what you like!
Clipless pedals are awesome, and once you get used to them (EVERYONE falls over a couple times before they learn to quit doing that), it’ll become second-nature to start and stop with them. Their benefits far, far outweigh any drawbacks unless you’re into freestyle jumping and stunts. If you do anything more than casual riding, you’ll really come to appreciate the added power and control that clipless pedals can give you. They also make it easier on your muscles because you can apply pressure to different muscle groups to “take a break” once in awhile, especially on longer climbs.
You’d think that being clipped in on a mountain bike would be more dangerous, but I’ve actually found it to be much safer and it helps you to get through tough sections of trail more reliably. As long as you’re riding with some passion, being clipped in on the trails will help you apply power and control, and keep your feet on the pedals during sketchy drop-ins and downhills.
The only disadvantage to clipless pedals is that they have a pretty narrow platform, so they work best with a cycling shoe. Crank brothers has come out with a few models that make this a lot nicer, and I just recently started running their Quattro pedal on my road bike so that I’m never without the right shoe for a ride (I use eggbeaters and mallets on my mountain and urban bikes). If you want to ride with a casual shoe, there are several pedals on the market that are dual-sided, with a cage on one side and a clip on the other.
I say go clipless, but ride whatever makes you happy and safe.

# 21 February 2010 at 12:06 pm

Rusty Sanchez said:

I have ridden toe clips and straps, platform, clipless, and platforms with Power Grip straps, and I have to say that as far as efficient power transfer, clipless is the best. Everyone falls over at first. You’ll get used to it. Clipless has it’s limitations. You have to wear clipless shoes, which aren’t that great to walk in. I like to ride my bike places and do things when I get there, so clipless isn’t really an option for me these days. My ss mtn. bike has big magnesium platforms w/ traction pins, and on the cyclocross bike I just ordered, I plan on using bmx platforms with Power Grip straps. These work kinda like toe clips. If you’ve never seen them , they are basically stiff straps that run from the rear inside corner of your pedal to the front outside corner. You adjust them as tight/loose as you want them. The release movement is the same as clipless. Twist OUT. If you plan on incorporating other activities during your rides, go platform. If all your going to do is ride, go clipless. Argghh! All this talk about clipless ALMOST makes me want to put the never-before-used clipless pedals I have in the closet on my bike.

# 21 February 2010 at 6:13 pm

bikernoj said:

CLIPLESS ALL THE WAY!!!
Yes, people tip over when getting used to clipless pedals. EVERYONE does it at least once, and it’s a rite of passage for a cyclist. Bruises the pride more than anything, but if you’re going out in public wearing lycra, then personal embarassment is not an issue for you.
Clipless pedals are more efficient and allow you to have better bike control. Besides, when you get used to them, clipping in & out becomes an unconscious act. There are many reasons you don’t see road bikes with platform pedals; think about it.
Are you a cyclist, or just some guy with a bike?

# 21 February 2010 at 8:25 pm

Ronniebo said:

Nice bike.
I can only assume that since you have both a road and mountain bike that you are not just a casual rider. I too ride both road and mountain, and went from mountain biking with Crank Bros. Mallet C downhill platform clipless pedals (awesome pedals with or without clipless shoes), to road biking with clipless pedals. Since I was used to being clipped in, I only fell once on my road bike. That one time I fell was because it was my first climb with the bike, I had the gears way too high, and the ascent was approx 10-13 degrees. Other than that, no falls due to not clipping out quickly enough. Granted, I practiced clipping in and out to make sure I could do so quickly.
One thing you have to practice (clipless pedals, or platforms with toe straps) is looking far ahead, and evaluating the situation(s) that are developing.
I have a friend who just started road biking with me, and he has platforms with toe straps. He does ok, but he doesn’t get the full power through the entire pedal stroke as I do. This makes a big difference, as others have said, when it comes to power, muscle usage, and stability. If you decide to stand and crank hard (for whatever reason), you won’t have as much power or stability with platforms as someone riding with clipless.
As others said though, if you prefer platforms, stick with what’s most comfortable with you. If you get the chance though, see if you can try out some clipless pedals and shoes.

# 21 February 2010 at 11:20 pm

01234567 said:

PLEASE Try clipless my boy, she will engulf your very being and you will see the light

# 22 February 2010 at 1:50 am

Anonymous said:

Once you’ve riden with a good stiff sole road shoe and clipless pedals you would not go back.
Big deal, falling sideways, I have done it once, in very slow moving traffic when the car in front braked, hey we’ve all done it atleast once. All you hurt is your pride, Onlookers came running over like I’d been hit by a train, all I wanted to do was hide under a small rock!! LOL.
I think the vast majority of answerer’s on these pages, use a clipless pedal. Just do it, It’s far safer than toe-clips.

# 22 February 2010 at 5:06 am

MtBikr said:

Depends on the type of rider you are. If you pedal slow (less than 80 rpm) platforms are fine. Once you get over 80 rpm it becomes harder to keep your feet in contact with the pedals at over 100rpm it is near impossible. The argument of power transfer is always a good one, unless you are an elite level rider, you can’t measure the difference in watts between platforms or clipless. The use of clipless on a mountain bike is a different issue due to the terrain you are riding on. As far as getting clipped in and out, you will find in a short time it becomes second nature, like riding a bike.

# 22 February 2010 at 7:05 am

Scott D said:

I run Eggbeaters on all my road and mountain bikes. I have never had a single issue getting unclipped quickly. The Eggbeaters have a pretty large float area, but at the same time keep you clipped in when it is most important.
I never thought I would give up platforms on my SS mountain bikes, but once I tried the eggs I became a quicker, more agile, and more confident rider.

# 22 February 2010 at 7:15 am