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Flat bike pedals with leather sole dress shoes?

iroh

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Is there such thing as flat bike pedals? Maybe those who ride thier bikes can chime in. I currently have aluminum bike pedals, they have small protruding spikes for better grip. They don't play well with shoes with leather soles. The spikes will destroy them. What alternative bike pedals are there?
 

Hannes

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My bike pedals are flat, and slippery as hell with leather soled shoes on. Not recommended.
 

Makoto Chan

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Does anyone ever ride their bike in leather shoes? Do you use toeclips, or some kind of straps...?
 

zippyh

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Go to the bike shop and ask for the cheapest crappiest pedals they have, and they'll probably have something like you're asking about.
21AppM3ugQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 

Master Squirrel

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Originally Posted by iroh
Is there such thing as flat bike pedals? Maybe those who ride thier bikes can chime in. I currently have aluminum bike pedals, they have small protruding spikes for better grip. They don't play well with shoes with leather soles. What alternative bike pedals are there?
Find a set of old rubber bicycle pedals. Or get cheap plastic toe clips and glue felt on them. I use silver cloth which polishes my silver-tipped square-toed tassel loafers as I ride.
 

iroh

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Is riding my bike while wearing dress shoes not possible?
 

Harold falcon

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Originally Posted by zippyh
Go to the bike shop and ask for the cheapest crappiest pedals they have, and they'll probably have something like you're asking about.
21AppM3ugQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


This.

Or you could Topy the soles of your leather shoes, which will eliminate the slipperiness.
 

thebarsmydestination

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You want plastic platform pedals. "Platform pedals" is the magic word at the bike shop that you're looking for. Try to avoid anything with grips, and avoid foot retention. This means no clips or straps.

This is probably not a cause of concern for most of SForum's readers but this means you should have brakes.

This also may not be an issue but: If you're wearing a suit you should look into relaxed geometry and an upright posture-- like an old-school Schwinn or a Dutch utility bike. If you have a road or track bike and you wear a sportcoat or suit you will find that you stress the back seam of your jacket very easily.
 

stevent

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Get some plastic pedals. Some nice cruisers a while back used to have plastic pedals with a sort of griptape like surface. Not sure if they are still sold now but either wear a different pair of shoes while biking or maybe you can remove the things sticking up? Either way it's not safe to bike on pedals with no grip.
 

landshark

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I have ridden several different bikes with my leather dress shoes with leather soles. No problems and not as difficult as you would think.
 

academe

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Originally Posted by landshark
I have ridden several different bikes with my leather dress shoes with leather soles. No problems and not as difficult as you would think.

+1

I ride a bike to work for part of my commute and haven't had any problems with my leather soled-shoes. For reference, I have Trek hybrid/commuter bike, with aluminium pedals+toe clips. Provided your toe clips are loosened, they also shouldn't damage the toe of your shoes. I've occasionally picked up a few scuff marks, but nothing a good polish won't buff out. Suede may be another matter - I tend to only wear calf rather than suede just to lower this risk of scuffing the toes...
 

ramuman

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I've done this with the plastic clip on 'pedals' that Shimano SPDs come with. In retrospect, I have no idea why I'd ever want to be in a situation where I was wearing decent shoes and riding a bicycle as a (plausibly and as much as one that posts on a forum devoted to male vanity can be) straight man that lives in the US, but not in Portland or Seattle.
 

dsmolken

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Originally Posted by landshark
I have ridden several different bikes with my leather dress shoes with leather soles. No problems and not as difficult as you would think.
I tried a few times and gave up quickly. Even with the cheap plastic pedals it's a slippery pain, especially when it's wet outside. I just get any boots I plan to bike in topyd.
 

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