IGX

I honestly don't think they ad that much. My commute is about the same as yours; same distance but hilly. I'm the same speed whether I ride a bike with clipless pedals or one with regular flat pedals.

The wife and I are talking about doing some touring, and I'll be riding either Chuck Taylors or Sambas on the touring bike.

Here's my favorite retro-grouch, Grant Petersen of Rivendel, talking about the subject:
http://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?ID=45

Turdacious wrote:I've begun biking to and from work. Doesn't add much to the commute (maybe 20 minutes total) and gives me a bit more free time. Ride is about 9 miles each way, pretty flat, with a decent hill at the end of the return. Are clipless petals beneficial? FWIW I ride a full sized folding bike weighing about 27 lbs.

My commute is roughly the same as yours and I see no need to use them though I do see other people doing it. The only way that I would think they would be beneficial is if you are able to turn the return ride into something longer a few days each week.

Thanks fellas. Great article.

I do both. On my MTBike I use platforms, on my cross bike I clip in. I use the cross bike to commute to work, and for long rides. I do like the feeling on being attached.

That Grant Peterson article was good. I love the platforms on the MTBike for climbing, as they let me move my feet around the pedal and redistribute the woe on long slogs. No problems with the feet coming off on descents, but I have to have an awareness on climbs of keeping my feet on. I have these. The pins are replaceable. Surprisingly, they worked great with my Nike Minimus when I forgot my other shoes one time. It feels like you can curl your toes around the pedals. Flip-flops to dress shoes work great too.



Get some BMX platforms, they are lighter than stock and with better grip.

Alfred_E._Neuman wrote:
Here's my favorite retro-grouch, Grant Petersen of Rivendel, talking about the subject:
http://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?ID=45

That guy is epic-old man yells clouds. The Andy of the cycling world. I've been tuned in to him for a few years now.

As to the clips-I have them on my road bike. For 50+ miles, I'd argue it might make a difference. But for your mileage, you don't need them. And it's a pain in the ass to walk around with those shoes.

Turdacious wrote:I've begun biking to and from work. Doesn't add much to the commute (maybe 20 minutes total) and gives me a bit more free time. Ride is about 9 miles each way, pretty flat, with a decent hill at the end of the return.

Hit any sweet jumps on the commute?

Love me some Grant Peterson but his retrogrouchyness has grown stale and gotten excessively twee....special riding flannel shirts? fuck this noise.

I've ridden and raced on both. Most of the time I'd prefer to be clipped. Control is better, speed is better. Like a belt helps teach you to get tight in a squat, clips can help you developed leg speed. Yeah they are a pain in the ass if you have crummy shoes or shitty pedals but the only reason I'd commute not clipped is avoiding the burden of extra shoes.

Blaidd Drwg wrote:special riding flannel shirts?

They're practically required if you ride a fixie in your area aren't they?

Blaidd Drwg wrote:I've ridden and raced on both. Most of the time I'd prefer to be clipped. Control is better, speed is better. Like a belt helps teach you to get tight in a squat, clips can help you developed leg speed. Yeah they are a pain in the ass if you have crummy shoes or shitty pedals but the only reason I'd commute not clipped is avoiding the burden of extra shoes.

This is interesting and something I'd like to develop. Still relatively new to this, so I still gear down at portions of the ride, but something I want to work on once the commute becomes too easy. There's a few mile stretch with no traffic.

On a short commute, that's a challenge but a little bit everyday trumps a lot of thrashing on the weekends.

I'm not saying you're pedal stroke won't turn into miraculously glossy circles (the strongest cyclist roadies and trackies don't turn circles anyway, they mash and relax, only MTB'er really have need of a smooth stroke) but I think that the tech is cheap enough and the benefits good enough to warrant a try. To be fair, I think the same benefits are available is true of old school clip and straps which I still have one one of my bikes. Most people are uncomfortable with how locked in you are.



As an alternate, I have used these a number of times, only once or twice racing DH. The most freaky distance guy I have ever met swears by these somewhat counter-intuitive jobbies that were widely panned but have developed a cult following in the randonneuring community. They also work quit nicely with a form fitting shoe and a stiff sole. Set up can be finicky but befits are best of both worlds, strapped in or flat pedal with the flick of your ankle.

Blaidd Drwg wrote:On a short commute, that's a challenge but a little bit everyday trumps a lot of thrashing on the weekends.

Those Power Grips sound like what I'm looking for. Thanks.

I'll leave training specific questions for a separate thread later. I'm liking this bike commuting thing, and would like to integrate it into my broader training goals after a couple of weeks of adjustment or so.

Just a couple of commuting specific questions:
What do you consider a short commute on the bike? Why?
How much rain is too much to ride in realistically? Both from a perspective of not wiping out and sharing the road.

My views on commutes are skewed..in general I think if it's less than 45 minutes, it's short because most people around Seattle take a 45 min bus ride and anything less than 30min of cycling is kind of still warming up. That said, depending on traffic/hills etc....30-45min twice a day..that's some legit bonus cardio that will have more than a little health protective benefit...so..maybe that's a pretty good length? Not enough to leave you wiped out..kind of the minimum effective dose.

Alfred can chime in but I'm of the mind that once you have fenders, and you have already committed to having to change clothes, the weather doesn't really matter in terms of danger, it's the route and the other guys. For the PNW you know the drill, fenders, lights, a jacket at least that makes you visible. Ice is trixy of course but I ride my motorcycle year round, regardless and apply the same parameters I did as when on a push bike.

Good to know. I'd prefer the ability to be wiped out, but will have to figure out how to use the route to my advantage. Thanks.

Damn! A 45 minute commute around here is 50 miles.

There's really no such thing as *too* much rain to ride in for me. I've been doing it so long that surfing traffic is second nature to me and I can handle a bike in nearly any condition.

Fenders and room for 32mm tires are a must on any bike for me to consider commuting with. My current rig is a single speed Surly Cross Check. I'm going to Employee Purchase a Trek 520 touring bike soon so I can use some gears when I want. I've used a backpack and rack/paniers and they both work fine for me for carrying clothes and food.

In the summer I just get wet because it's too hot to bother putting on rain gear. In the winter I have a water proof helmet cover, jacket, pants, and shoe covers that keep me pretty well dry. There's a fine line on the temp at which it's worth putting on my gear, though. Too warm and I'll be wetter from sweating than if I just got wet from the rain. Too cool without the gear and I'm freezing in short order.

I have both a helmet mounted headlight for night time MTB riding and a handlebar mounted light that I use depending on the time of year. I like the helmet light because I can aim it where I need it and I can shine it right at people so I know they see me. Tail light is the brightest I can find and only in steady state mode. Supposedly flashing tail lights trigger target fixation and can actually cause people to hit you.

Commuting when we lived in Bellingham, WA was easier than Atlanta for obvious reasons. People in cars were much more considerate. Weather was milder in general. Even the winter rain wasn't as bad as the torrential downpours we get in the southeast.

All things considered, I much prefer getting to work by bike than by car. For getting across Atlanta it can be a good bit quicker.

My big commuting tip, don't put your shampoo in the same part of your bag as your clothes. I went for it on a long stretch of ice, didn't make it and had a nasty mess in my saddlebag. :-)

Alfred_E._Neuman wrote:I have both a helmet mounted headlight for night time MTB riding and a handlebar mounted light that I use depending on the time of year. I like the helmet light because I can aim it where I need it and I can shine it right at people so I know they see me. Tail light is the brightest I can find and only in steady state mode. Supposedly flashing tail lights trigger target fixation and can actually cause people to hit you.

I have head and tail lights, but would honestly never have thought about the rest-- will have to change how I use them. The helmet light sounds like a must have investment.

I already have the 32mm tires (the stock ones were too small for the rims on the bike I guess), and the bike rides much better. Why do you prefer them? I'm getting convinced that most bike shop employees in my area don't know much more than I do, which is pretty sad.

I have the clip and straps on my main commuter bike and should have stated that in my earlier reply.

Not sure of the question for a short commute - it really depends on traffic conditions if riding in a city of any size. Generally, I would say less than 30-45 minutes is short. I don't know that much physical benefit from the ride though it's fun and 90 minutes per day on your bike is better than nearly that long in your car.

I shower and change clothes when I arrive in the office so don't worry about getting wet. The primary concern in rain is other drivers who may not be paying attention or may not alter their behavior as much as they need to. If it's pouring, I will occasionally look to sidewalk areas, which are typically deserted in such conditions, or less traveled paths. I have ridden in near typhoon conditions - the wind is a far greater concern than the rain.

You need to personalize things as much as possible. What works for one commuter frequently is uncomfortable for another. I would say that each thing in my bag and routine has a purpose but generally arose from trying things out, finding something that I didn't like then coming up with a better way.

Power Grips are awesome for general committing. Once you get sizing right it feels damn near like you are clipped in.

Turdacious wrote: I already have the 32mm tires (the stock ones were too small for the rims on the bike I guess), and the bike rides much better. Why do you prefer them? I'm getting convinced that most bike shop employees in my area don't know much more than I do, which is pretty sad.

I like larger tires because they protect the rim much better due to larger air volume than skinny "road" 23mm tires. Much less chance of pinch flatting when you hit some unavoidable pot hole. Can also find some pretty good puncture protected tires in larger sizes.

Most bike shop employees are trying to push the most expensive and easiest to sell products they can. Which is light weight and high tech race stuff.

Alfred_E._Neuman wrote:

Turdacious wrote: I already have the 32mm tires (the stock ones were too small for the rims on the bike I guess), and the bike rides much better. Why do you prefer them? I'm getting convinced that most bike shop employees in my area don't know much more than I do, which is pretty sad.

I like larger tires because they protect the rim much better due to larger air volume than skinny "road" 23mm tires. Much less chance of pinch flatting when you hit some unavoidable pot hole. Can also find some pretty good puncture protected tires in larger sizes.

That makes sense. Thanks.