Comments on: Bicyclist Evolution-Getting Back to Basics

By: David Hembrow

David Hembrow — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:16:56 +0000

I ride clipless and I ride on flat pedals. Clipless pedals are great (though I found yesterday that I seem to have worn out the cleats on my shoes again so they weren’t working so well as they ought to)

These days I do more distance on the flat pedals. Lots of short trips, but it adds up. Thus far I’ve failed to get into any trouble at all, as of course do the majority of the world’s cyclists in their helmet-less and flat pedal world. I wouldn’t consider using clipless pedals, or toe-clips, on a town bike.

My “like a kid” moment came a few years back when I first took a hire bike in this country. It was the first time since being a kid that I had a bike with a coaster brake (and only a coaster brake). Wonderful. They’re still tops for long skids.

By: RBK

RBK — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:23:15 +0000

Go back to basics is ok as long as your keep the safety rules in mind. I totally agree with Inger-Lis, you can get killed within a few feet of your home without a helmet. This is analogous to going a mile in a car without a safety belt and getting into an accident - it has been known to happen. Cliched but so true -accidents happen only once without warning

By: Inger-Lis

Inger-Lis — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:39:04 +0000

That is one funny picture, where did you find it? You do realize of course that you can get killed by a car even if you are only a mile from home. Just giving a you a reminder from my childhood…

By: Red

Red — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:33:01 +0000

I won’t deny that there aren’t advantages to clipless. Accleration being one. Riding up steep hills another. I wouldn’t want to give up my clipless entirely.

It just makes for a nice change of pace now and then.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:12:27 +0000

I tried flat pedals a couple of weeks ago. When accelerating away from a stop sign my foot slipped and I almost injuryed a part of me, which I think would be very painful.

However, slow riding without the computer and helmet almost feels wrong but fun. Sort of like riding farther from home than you were allowed when you were a kid.

If you listen to the advice of the so-called experts is makes me wonder, how did we ever survive as kids, riding bikes without helmets?