Pedals.

Cyclists choose their pedals quite subjectively. Anyone saying you must have a particular model or type is out on a limb. For some people they make a decision about shoes and than determines to an extent what pedals or type of pedals they have. For others it is just a matter of what came on the bike. But there are a lot of bikes supplied with no pedals in anticipation that the owner will already have pedals that they want to use, most likely the ones on their last bike.

We do supply pedals on our bikes so can not avoid the issue.  

Years ago cyclists doing distances all used toe clips and straps. There were very few that did not as being able to locate the ball of the foot on the pedal axle meant less energy was used than if the foot was in any other position. The really serious ones used slotted plates that were nailed onto the sole of the shoe. To get out you needed to bend down and release the toestraps. By comparison today it is easy to get out of clipless pedals.

So called "clipless pedals", although invented in the late 1800s and further developed by Cinelli in the 1970s, did not become common until LOOK, a company with patents on ski shoe fastening (binding) systems, developed their product in 1984. The LOOK system is still popular today.

Next on the scene was Shimano who created its SPD system. This used a smaller cleat that was able to fit into a recess in the shoe which in turn meant that shoes were able to be both cycling specific and ok for walking.

People often have a moment of fear when they first use clipless pedals. They might worry they will get stuck to the pedals and fall off. In fact it is extremely easy to disengage and people that talk about there being a problem are likely to not be speaking from direct experience. True, there have been a few falls. But most cyclists just brush the issue aside.

Cyclists like the added safety afforded by the clipless system. When they are standing up and turning to look behind there is no chance of their food slipping off the pedal. In the cities, unless the you confine yourself to bike paths, you are going to ride with traffic to some extent. As you filter into and across lanes, you need to turn around as you are about to make your move. Being secure on your pedals is something you really want.

There are several models of SPD pedals that Shimano makes. Many years ago we settled on the M-505s (438gms without platforms or reflectors) pictured here. We use them on drop-bar bikes. They can be used as double-sided clipless.

The M-505s on the left have done 23,000km and probably will last another 100,000km at least. We like their ruggedness and reliability. They are not expensive. A bit heavy perhaps but we don't want to sacrifice any durability.

When we began producing our trekking bar model we thought it may be less likely for the rider to want the option of double sided clipless so we opted for the A-530 model to the right. These weigh 381gms. 

Many cyclists alternate between the clipped side and the unclipped side. For example, as they approach traffic lights they might (mostly unconsciously)  unclip.