My flat pedal experiment

Thanks for posting it was an interesting read.

I started with flat shoes a year ago, and won't be going back to them now I have SPD's. That said for faffing about bunny hop or wheelie practising flats are good!

I slipped when mounting my bike with similar Pumas in the damp, ironically SPD-SL pedals, landed on the bike, bent the derailleur hanger   I've since gone totally back to flat pedals as I was never wearing footwear to clip-in anyway but I now avoid "slick" soles.
I can kick most cyclists arses and I don't do any training on the bike, just a 1.5 mile commute to work and back. The main benefit I realised of clipping-in was being able to blast up very short hills, basically an increased maximum power for a very short period.

I race duathlons in trainers and Nukeproof Electron flat pedals but I'm usually in the top 3 on the bike leg, averaging ~23mph for over an hour after running 10km (also, I'm really not built for distance running or bike endurance!). I have to put up with triathletes (some who have represented GB) telling me SPDs would be faster but they seem oblivious to the fact that I was only ~30 seconds slower than them and my bike cost £2,000 less than theirs (did I mention I also don't do any training on the bike? ). I believe they are incorrect.

I can see how SPDs have some benefits, but flats seem the way to go for me, it's all just so much easier and convenient.

When I got my first road bike I used a set of Pumas similar to that (Drift Cat, if I remember rightly).  They're great... for about an hour.  They get a bit bendy after 60 miles.  Which makes your arches ache like hell.

Guarantee you can burn every tutting clipped in roadie off the lights too 

Never really got 100% happy with being clipped in. Cranks too long (175mm), cleats aren't right for sure, and the left perpetually squeaks. 

Might move to Speedplay but zzz, more money.. get in the queue..

I have flats on one bike that I use to pop to the shops, etc. Still gets ridden for 30km at a time on occasions so I get to notice the difference compared to my clipless road bike

The first thing I would say is that a good pair of flats make a huge difference over a bad pair. Something like a V8 (I have the Shimano Saint pedals) with is raised screws allows you to get a proper grip, and still push on the forward and back parts of the stroke. They have a wide base allowing the pressure to be put down without hot spots and also keep the foot stable. If you are using another type of flat pedal (e.g. the ones with a sort of serated edge) I would urge you to change.

I also have a knee that gets painful when cycling if the foot float is not cared for. I found the Look/Shimano clipless pedals weren't helping, until I chose cleats with so many degrees of play in them that it was hard to unclip. I changed to Speedplay and have never looked back. As my cycling has developed I have been able to use the float adjustment screws to keep the range of motion perfectly within what I need (it has changed over the last couple of years as my muscles have developed).

Using flats I actually go back to some of the knee problems I found with Look/Shimano Clipless - essentially the flats don't allow the type of float I need. The flex in the sole of the shoe on the pedal gives some, but not without resistance. My knee problems result from a degree of float necessary within a single pedal circle. According to my bike fitter, when my knee comes up to the top of the stroke, my heel goes inwards slightly and at the bottom of the stroke it is back parallel to the frame. If I have that small degree of unconstrained float from the speedplays then no knee problems at all.

I ride on flats on one bike (Brompton) for commuting although I have occasionally used SPDs on it for very hilly rides. My other commuter bike has old MKS pedals with SPD inners but metal platforms on the outside; mostly I use shoes with SPD cleats on that bike but love the fact I can ride in whatever I happen to be wearing just like on the Brompton. I find that my feet tend to be in just the same position with and without cleats and if descending quickly on unever surfaces I will plant my weight a little more firmly on the pedals when using flats.

My commuting solution is half-clips. These are flats with toe-clips minus the straps.

They offer hardly any restriction when I need to get my foot down fast, but still give me enough security for most situations. The trouble is finding suitable shoes. I need something with a stiff, reasonably low-profile sole that doesn't look too ostentatious off the bike.

I've had a pair of Specialized Sonomas for years but they're starting to fall apart. I like the look of the new Shimano RT4/RT5, but I'm not sure if the sole would work on a flat pedal, and anyway I can't decide between velcro and laces.

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The only major downside to all this is being shunned by other roadies. I've literally had one guy look at my pedals and tut at me!

That's not a downside, they are ignorant people that you don't need in your life.

Good to know you've tried flats and found what works for you. And thanks for sharing it - you've prompted me to consider fitting my old rat-trap pedals and walking boots for commuting over the winter.

The major difference I found when going from trainers to SPDs was I could descend faster - my feet weren't bouncing off the pedals. Later, I also discovered the SPDs were safer in wet weather (see below).

My advice for newbie cyclists is not to hurry about getting clipped in - acclimatise to the handling, braking, and changing gear first, before you have to worry about your feet.

Injury-wise, I'm currently experimenting with SPDs v trainers due to a f****d ankle, and I'd say the orthotics make most of the different. However, I have discovered the setup of the two bikes I'm using is more responsible for aggravation. Not sure if it's saddle height or setback though.

(Btw, never, ever use plastic pedals and slick bottomed trainers. Recipe for disaster. I still have a lump on my forehead to prove it.)

Ah flats, as someone else suggested on another thread, is this so you can easily dismount and clobber errant taxi drivers?

Nice to see the return of the Puma Mostro.