Best pedals for fixed gear?
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Conceptually, the "best" pedal is as thin as possible top to bottom, and as short as possible side to side, all else being equal (such as crank-arm length). Both of these attributes will reduce the catastrophic effects of a pedal strike.
Practically, the "best" pedal is whatever gets you out the door and on the bike [grin], because pedal strike is not that big an issue for most of us.
Practically, the "best" pedal is whatever gets you out the door and on the bike [grin], because pedal strike is not that big an issue for most of us.
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I don't know what's the "best" anything, really, but I really like my MKS GR 9 platforms with clips and straps. I like not having to put on different shoes just to go for a ride, and being able to wear regular shoes encourages me to run errands by bike. If you do go clipless, I recommend a mountain bike pedal because of the dual-sided entry. With road clipless (with the exception of Speedplays et al), flipping the pedal over adds complication when starting from a foot-down, dead stop. The MKS's have a large tab that lets you perform this manuever flawlessly. And at $30, they're darn economical.
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I hate toe clips!! It's eggbeaters for me
I rode with toe clips when I was a kid and while at the time I was pretty good at getting in and out of them I never liked them. I have eggbeaters on all my bikes now including a pair of the standard 4 sided SS ones on my fixie. They work real well for me, I get in easy, out easy, and they are reasonably cheap.
I rode with toe clips when I was a kid and while at the time I was pretty good at getting in and out of them I never liked them. I have eggbeaters on all my bikes now including a pair of the standard 4 sided SS ones on my fixie. They work real well for me, I get in easy, out easy, and they are reasonably cheap.
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Virtually every modern single sided clipless pedal is designed so you don't have to flip it over to clip in. It's easier to clip into a clipless pedal than it is to get into toe clips. I understand the desire to use street shoes, and platform pedals and straps are a good way to go for versatility. I solve the problem by having different bikes (one set up with clipless pedals and one with platforms, but no toe straps). It's more expensive but also more fun. You could also go with clipless pedals that have a platform. Time Z's are my choice on my SS mountain bike but there are several others.
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Seconded. Clips and straps are a learned skill that never seems perfect. Had generic spd's on for a while, switched to the Frogs when a component upgrade on another bike made them available. They might be my favorite pedal, though the cleats aren't great with road shoes, and the pedals aren't great with street shoes. I wear mtn shoes for riding fixed, so no big deal.michaeln said:
If you do want clips and straps, it's my opinion that track-style "quills" flip and enter better than mountain-style "beartraps."
When I was occasionally successful at getting my right foot into my MKS Sylvan Track pedals with MKS clips & straps, it was because I did NOT look at it while doing it. If I looked at it, my foot would chase that pedal around in a circle for blocks, flipping it over, oops too far, repeat.
I hated those things!
I hated those things!
I use performance comp mtb pedals with clips and straps. I can ride in any shoes on either side of the pedals. You can't do that with a road pedal with clips and straps. And if the toe clips scrape the pavement every now and then, who cares. This is a $5 item to replace. I am able to run errands and I am saving gasoline.
Anything 2-sided
With a fixie, there's no way to coast and flip over your pedal if it's upside down while clipping in. I use Speedplay Zeros for track (same as my road bike), but mtn pedals would work for a commuter, too. Zeros also have great clearance, as has been mentioned, since you'll be pedaling through corners.
Cheers,
Ari
With a fixie, there's no way to coast and flip over your pedal if it's upside down while clipping in. I use Speedplay Zeros for track (same as my road bike), but mtn pedals would work for a commuter, too. Zeros also have great clearance, as has been mentioned, since you'll be pedaling through corners.
Cheers,
Ari
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Shoes that are only good while on the bike are fine for nonstop fitness rides, but if you're a commuter, a student, or shopper who has to actually walk inside a building, clips & straps make more sense. I suppose you could carry some extra shoes in your bagpack, but I'm all about simplicity. That's why I ride a fixie in the first place. I really like not having to change my clothes just because I'm going by bike.
It sort of depends on how you intend to use the fixie. I get on mine and ride, and Look CX-7s (just like the main geared bike) suit me just fine. If I were hopping on and off the bike throughout the day (like a messenger, for instance), I might want Mtb pedals and shoes and, depending on the walking or on other priorities, I might want a platform. I'll never go back to toe clips on a road bike.Chainstay said:
Some folks seem to have terrible concerns about clipping in with one-sided pedals at lights, but frankly, I just don't get it. If you're accustomed to your pedals, by and large, it's just not hard at all.
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My Lemond road bike (now sold) came with Shimano SPD M515's which are a double sided SPD pedal. The cool thing for your application is that it came with a set of "platforms" clipped in on one side, so you could use your SPD cleats on one side or flip them over if wearing regular shoes.
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djg said:
It isn't that it's difficult, it's that the penalty for error is greater when the cranks can't be repositioned or held still for the second attempt. I used to ride a fixie with Campy Chorus pedals, and while I was able to clip in 99 times out of 100, the one time I wasn't (slight uphill, lots of fast-moving cross-traffic) was significant and memorable.
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