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My clip-in pedals almost got me killed in traffic last Tuesday - switched to flats and it's a whole new world
I used to think clip-in pedals made me faster, but during a rush hour commute on Broadway in Denver I couldn't unclip at a red light and nearly ate a bus bumper. Swapped to flat pedals with good grip pins (like the RaceFace Chesters for $50) and now I can put a foot down instantly in any situation. No more panicking at stop signs or worrying about falling over with a car behind me. Has anyone else made the switch back to flats after a close call?
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alicea264d agoProlific Poster
Ngl, I gotta push back a little on the RaceFace Chesters thing. Those are actually $50, but you can get the same grip from brands like Fivetens or DMR for like $30 and they'll last just as long. But yeah, I totally get the panic. I had a similar moment on a steep hill in Seattle traffic where my knee locked up trying to unclip. Swapped to flats with some cheap DMR V8s and honestly, not having that fear is worth more than any marginal speed gain. The bus bumper story is terrifying though, glad you're okay.
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Man, that bus bumper thing is exactly why I don't run clipless anymore. I had a similar moment on a wet morning in Austin where I couldn't get my left foot out and nearly went into a SUV's side mirror. Now I run flats with some cheap $20 VP pedals from the bike shop and they grip my old skate shoes just fine. The key is just getting pedals with real metal pins that actually bite into your soles, not those plastic ones that slip when it's damp. I also stopped caring about looking fast at stoplights. Putting your foot down without a thought is way better than trying to shave two seconds off a sprint.
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