Why commuting on clipless (in the city)?

bikeboon

Appreciate if someone could enlighten me on the reasons (apart from not owning an alternative bike) for commuting clipless in the city. In the heavy traffic, in my mind, the least practical accessories, are the wide drop-handle bar, which often also limits the view or at least puts the strain on the back, and the clipless pedals. Also not sure how the narrow rims fare on numerous potholes these days properly covered with leaves.

In my understanding the road bike is destined for the open A- or B-road without standing traffic, pedestrians, lorries closing the gap between the lanes on seeing a biker in the mirrors and motorcyclists turning right into the main road without looking. Such conditions are rarely found in the city (while the opposite is often true). A few pro riders I knew who would do hundreds of miles per month on the road were commuting on a Brommie.

On top of that, overtaking a full-carbon bike with a low spoke count on a folder is a serious FCN offense, isn't it?

Any thoughts?

Blue Meanie

Personally, I find being clipped-in safer as I have more control of the bike and less chance of a footslip/pedal-back/shin moment,
Drops are normally slimmer than flat bars, and if it strains your back: raise your stem.

Indeed, being passed by a folder would be somewhat ignominious.

asprilla

Drops tend to be a lot narrower than flat bars and there is no reason why the hoods wouldn't be at the same height as a set of flat bars. The argument about visibility when using drops is complete balderdash; unless the cyclist is a fashionable idiot with no bar tape who actually uses the drops in the city.

Being clipped in presents no issues if you know how to use them and is probably safer.

iPete

Asprilla wrote:

Drops tend to be a lot narrower than flat bars and there is no reason why the hoods wouldn't be at the same height as a set of flat bars. The argument about visibility when using drops is complete balderdash; unless the cyclist is a fashionable idiot with no bar tape who actually uses the drops in the city.

Being clipped in presents no issues if you know how to use them and is probably safer.

What he said, especially on drops being generally narrower which is noticeable when filtering.

However if my commute was 6 miles or less, I'd not bother with most of the kit, bibs, spds etc etc.

The Rookie

I commute clipless, but I do use MTB SPD as the shoe is easier to walk on and they are a bit easier to clip in/out of than SPD SL.

I see a commuter with toe straps who's continually strapping in/out - clipless is easier than that!

Simon

Topaxci

Also commute through the city clipless, in fact just put SPD's on my MTB while road bike is out of action.
Makes a hell of difference to me, no risk of pedal slip and much better acceleration away from lights and junctions. I'm a high cadence rider so being able to get a decent spin going is key for me.
Clipping in and out is no problem.

Though really have notice how much wider the MTB with bar ends is than the drop bars on the road bike when trying to filter between traffic.

tiny_pens

Slipping off the pedals in the wet when powering away from the lights is my reason. I still have an eye-watering memory from the experience to remind me :oops:

Riding clipless isn't a problem in the city. Its an aid to looking ahead in the traffic a bit, a bit like the IAM use running commentry.

Anonymous

I ride clipless as I only have 1 bike.

If you wanna ride fast give yourself a proper 'training' workout (at least sprinting between the lights), even over a short distance, why not?

Only time I didn't need then was when I was working 2 miles up the road, so I cycled in in my suit with my trousers tucked into pedals.

thescouselander

I ride with SPDs on my bike - there are a lot of hills round here and I find being properly attached to the pedals helps a lot. Anyway, its no big deal unclipping - you don't even need to think about it after a while.

Aerozine50

I'd tend to agree here. I use MTB shimano clipless because they are cheap, commonly available, good also for the spinning class I go to and you can actually walk on them effectively compared to the larger Roadie SPD derivatives. Sure probably less efficient but so what?? I'm only going to work not to win the olympics!!!

The dual sided pedals (SPD on one side and bear traps on the other) are also good for that short hop to the newagents/local watering hole 300 yds up the road when not on your clogs.

The benefit also is massive compared to push stroke cycling only and many a motorist round my way will see you for being a "Serious cyclist" if wearing these and proper apparel as opposed to another "Hooded topped Yoof of today" on another BSO otherwise.

I'm Never going back to simple push stroke pedalling ever again............... 8)

Jcrossland

I use Look clipless in Manchester and its fine. Also on a single speed road bike and havent really had many problems with potholes etc (touches wood frantically). Only problem i find is if your a bit of a noob like me i miss the clipin at the lights sometimes as i get a tad nervous when hgv's are behind me at the lights!!

roger_merriman

The main reason is why not? SPD's are quite easy. and you'll need to buy some pedals as the ones that come on the bike are awful.

don't kid your self that they are faster or give more power or make you more attractive to the opposite sex though.

Pru

roger merriman wrote:

don't kid your self that they are faster or give more power

Yeh, you'll never see professionals using clipless.

roger_merriman

Pru wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

don't kid your self that they are faster or give more power

Yeh, you'll never see professionals using clipless.

they are going for marginals, and a even a good light flat is fairly heavy compared to clipless. and it's what they use, remember road racing is not something that embraces change.

Torvid

How do you pull up on the back stroke on flats?

roger_merriman

Torvid wrote:

How do you pull up on the back stroke on flats?

you don't as such, more try not to rest your foot down ie it's not about power on the upstroke more not loosing power.

higher power etc is often quoted normally just on forums and the like, what it is never is qualified.

ie it's just one of those things that are said.

gosport_commuter

I, with clips, find that I can spin a lot faster and easier when needing extra power by pulling up and forward with my off foot at the same time as pushing with my main foot, i thought this was a given?!

Until recently I rode flats, which at the time I thought were fine, but since switching I now know I will never switch back!

Im already eyeing up SPDs for easier mounting/starting and increased connectedness to the pedal.

Torvid

roger merriman wrote:

Torvid wrote:

How do you pull up on the back stroke on flats?

you don't as such, more try not to rest your foot down ie it's not about power on the upstroke more not loosing power.

higher power etc is often quoted normally just on forums and the like, what it is never is qualified.

ie it's just one of those things that are said.

I noticed about 4-5mph difference switching to the clips from flats but only a small difference going flats to toe straps you get a much more rounded stroke on clips

roger_merriman

Torvid wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

Torvid wrote:

How do you pull up on the back stroke on flats?

you don't as such, more try not to rest your foot down ie it's not about power on the upstroke more not loosing power.

higher power etc is often quoted normally just on forums and the like, what it is never is qualified.

ie it's just one of those things that are said.

I noticed about 4-5mph difference switching to the clips from flats but only a small difference going flats to toe straps you get a much more rounded stroke on clips

to get that jump in speed you'd need to double power, best of luck finding any science to back that up.

rolf_f

roger merriman wrote:

to get that jump in speed you'd need to double power, best of luck finding any science to back that up.

Quite - I didn't get that speed change going from a steel mountain bike to a carbon road bike

Torvid

you only need double the power if your getting the same transfer efficiency, if flats drop you by by 25% you you only need 50% more power and at 40% loss in efficiency your at the same power output.

bikeboon

All, many thanks for your responses.

Am glad to see such a strong demand for serious road bikes, this is good news for me. Cause I will be selling my supa-dupa-carbon-low-spoke-count-limited-edition-sought-after road bike. Only 700 miles on the clock. Fantastic for open roads, but I won't use it for commuting.


On the speed boost issue... For those believing switching to Looks yields additional 4-5mph - let them believe so.

Would I need such a boost? My folder goes pretty fast on a flat stretch, let's drop the specific numbers for once. But I am commuting in the city (of London). Where most of the time the traffic is stationary. During the day going more than about 20mph in a dedicated lane and more than 15mph when filtering is simply playing with fire (or pedestrians, buses and lorries). In the dark the numbers have to be dropped by 3-5mph. Would I want that speed boost?

I suggest you read this first before going that £$% mph in traffic...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15724907
http://map.itoworld.com/road-casualties-uk#

desweller

I use SPDs in town because:

The shoes are much more comfortable than my trainers for riding
It's easier to manipulate the crank into the right spot after stopping
I can use the same bike for long rides in the countryside without having to muck about changing pedals
I'm used to having them on my bikes
I've never encountered a good reason not to use them (the cheapest Shimano SPDs are <£20 so cost is not really a factor)

Wrath Rob

bikeboon wrote:

Would I need such a boost? My folder goes pretty fast on a flat stretch, let's drop the specific numbers for once. But I am commuting in the city (of London). Where most of the time the traffic is stationary. During the day going more than about 20mph in a dedicated lane and more than 15mph when filtering is simply playing with fire (or pedestrians, buses and lorries). In the dark the numbers have to be dropped by 3-5mph. Would I want that speed boost?

My concern is not about running into a stationary object, where obviously the faster you go the more it will hurt, but the relative speed of the much more common motorised traffic around me. Travelling at a faster speed means that the gaps between other vehicles (travelling in my direction) are larger in terms of time, which gives me more opportunities to safely manoeuvre.

For example, I'm heading down a road and I see a bus stationary at a bus stop (or a taxi, or parked cars etc). If I'm travelling at 10-12 mph, the gaps in traffic coming past me are much smaller and the speed differential between me and them much higher, making it harder to safely pull out and pass the bus than if I am doing 20-25mph.

This type of situation is much more common than pedestrians stepping off of the kerb and getting hit. Therefore I believe that being faster is safer when the traffic is free flowing. Filtering is obviously a different kettle of fish and at times 15mph would be a reckless speed.

Bi50N

I use SPD's (M40's) on my Pompetamine, which I use to commute between South Wimbledon and Surbiton (or further, sometimes all the way to Woking, depending on a few other factors). Route is either fast moving main roads, or quiet back roads - not exactly 'city' conditions - either way, I probably have to stop for junctions / lights between 10 - 15 times over the 6 mile route, and the benefits of clipless outweigh any disadvantages.

For some context - I've been riding clipless for nearly a year, feel pretty competent on them, and have yet to have a clipless moment (I know, I jinxed it - I'll let you know when it happens).

If I travel anywhere else within London, I take the District (single speed, belt drive), fitted with flats - DMR V8's. They are ridiculously grippy, and for the short distances you typically manage between lights / traffic obstacles in London, I find the advantages of being able put my foot down or re-engage the pedal instantly massively outweigh any performance disadvantage. The District gets up to speed fast, and can sustain 22 - 25mph for long enough before the inevitable lights stop me again.

If I was much more experienced on SPDs I might think again, but the DMRs mean I can wear ordinary shoes which is the deal clincher.

iPete

bikeboon congratulations on your realisation that you don't need a supa-dupa-carbon-low-spoke-count-limited-edition-sought-after road bike. Are you here to convert those who haven't seen the light?

bails87

There have been HUUUUUGE threads on the MTB forum about SPD vs flats.

The biggest benefit, from the research that was quoted and linked to, seemed to be that SPDs (or any clipless) means using specialist shoes. Which tend to have stiffer soles, which helped with power transfer. The studies that had been done found that pulling up on pedals is inefficient and that elite riders simply don't do it.

Just clip one foot in and try to pedal in 'smooth' circles......most people can't, it's a jerky motion, caused by how weak the 'pulling up' motion is.

I use SPDs, and I like them, BTW.