Have you ever changed something in your routine out of necessity, only to find out you actually prefer the new way of doing it? That was my experience with bike pedals. I went from being a typical “platform only” bike rider to riding with the fancy cleat pedals once I started riding regularly. But because of hip issues a decade later, I was forced to go back to platform pedals only. However, I found I actually now prefer platform pedals to cleats, for a few different reasons.
If you’re wondering what in the hell “platform pedals” are, don’t feel bad. It’s one of the many ways cyclists try to demonstrate they are better than you by using fancy terminology. A platform pedal is just an ordinary flat pedal you place your foot on; there’s no attachment keeping your foot on the pedal. You don’t need special shoes (aka “cleats”) to use platform pedals.
Which brings me to reason number one why I like platform pedals. You can wear comfortable shoes while cycling. I have wide feet and the special cleat shoes needed for cleat pedals have never been comfortable for me. In fact, after 50 miles or so those cleat shoes tend to be downright agonizing. So it was a refreshing change to not have to wear them anymore.
Another thing about the special cleat shoes is they are made for pedaling, NOT for walking. If your long bike ride involves any kind of walking during your breaks (into the coffee shop, into the restroom, or just around to stretch your legs, for example) you run the risk of slipping, sliding, tripping and/or stumbling around as you resemble a duck wearing roller skates on those wildly unwalkable shoes.
Bicycle cleat shoes are not cheap, either. Same for the pedals that go with them. I have spent $350 on a set of nice road bike cleat shoes and pedals, that were considered “middle quality” at best. Compare that to a total of $100 spent on a set of good platform pedals and good, solid leather shoes to go with them.
Now, you might read all this and ask, “Aren’t cleat shoes and pedals needed to go fast or climb hills, though?” The truth about cleat pedals is, while they are more efficient at transferring your leg power to your bicycle, the improvement over platform pedals is minimal at best. This is especially true if you are using solid shoes with fairly stiff soles as your platform pedaling shoes. Sure, if you are racing in competitions, you will probably need to use cleat shoes and pedals (and you don’t read my blog). But for the vast majority of people who just want to ride for fun and health, one mile per hour (or less) faster or slower isn’t going to make or break the ride for you. So if you’re riding for fun, why not make the ride fun?
It’s normal as we get deeper and more involved in cycling that we want to emulate the pro cyclists we see on the Tour de France or in our favorite racing videos. But sometimes it’s best to do what suits your own purposes and comforts.
Bike Newbie 