There’s a huge difference, because I occasionally ride other bikes without them. My feet slip off the pedals without the cleats. I wouldn’t ride seriously without them.
The idea behind clips is that you can pull up on the rising pedal instead of just following momentum from the other foot pushing down. It does work, but isn’t really necessary for commuter biking.
I got a used bike that had a hybrid pedal with a clip on one side and flats on the other. While the clip (heavy) side usually landed down, it didn’t always and it was weird to pedal with it. I just ride around on my bike, so I replaced them with cheap flat pedals and it’s fine.
Riding in a road race or crit, or even a time trial, is very different from a commute ride.
But even on commutes it’s really good, depending on how often you expect to be stopping at lights. It’s great in rainy weather where my flats often slip off the pedal, or climbing up the many hills on my commute that necessitate getting out of the saddle.
Chadus_Maximus@lemm.ee 1 day ago
Cleats are a solution in search of a problem. Nothing changes if you remove them.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 1 day ago
Tell me you’ve never cycled seriously without telling me you’ve never cycled seriously.
Chadus_Maximus@lemm.ee 1 day ago
I commute 14km to work every other day but if having placebos gives you peace of mind then you do you.
limelight79@lemm.ee 1 day ago
There’s a huge difference, because I occasionally ride other bikes without them. My feet slip off the pedals without the cleats. I wouldn’t ride seriously without them.
frezik@midwest.social 1 day ago
The idea behind clips is that you can pull up on the rising pedal instead of just following momentum from the other foot pushing down. It does work, but isn’t really necessary for commuter biking.
I got a used bike that had a hybrid pedal with a clip on one side and flats on the other. While the clip (heavy) side usually landed down, it didn’t always and it was weird to pedal with it. I just ride around on my bike, so I replaced them with cheap flat pedals and it’s fine.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 1 day ago
Riding in a road race or crit, or even a time trial, is very different from a commute ride.
But even on commutes it’s really good, depending on how often you expect to be stopping at lights. It’s great in rainy weather where my flats often slip off the pedal, or climbing up the many hills on my commute that necessitate getting out of the saddle.