Toe clips!!!

[stefan-west1]

Hi all. I'm new to cycling and in fact went out on my first ever ride on a road bike earlier today and I've found a problem!

When stopping at a junction I have to obviously take my foot off the one pedal to stop myself falling over. Common sense really haha.

But I'm struggling when I pull off to spin the the pedal back round and get my foot into the toe clips. How do I do this?

Sorry if I sound a bit of a noob. I've never really rode a bike haha. And I've realised how unfit I am!

 

[MattHB]

Clipless pedals are the way forward! Clips terrify me

 

[jim55]

its just practice ,with toeclips i found it easier not to look down when moving off ,now i use double sided spds and its a lot easier even on fixed ,i just move of and pedal as normal with what i feel is the ball of my foot over the pedal and when i push down it just clips in itself ,and yeah i find toe clips harder to get out of than spds even when toe clips are not done up tight ,you feel much better and connected with spds

 

[Berties]

A bit of practice you will do them with out looking,a quick spin with your trailing foot and you are off ,like most riders will tell you ,think about using cleats ,more power to the bike on every push an pull ,a bit of a worry at the beginning but it becomes part of riding quickly ,good luck

 

[compo]

I use toe clips as I can't be bothered unlearning over half a century of using them. Depending on the pedal and your shoes they can be a bit of a game in the wet if your foot slips on the pedal rather than spinning it to allow you to put your foot in. As Berties says though, a little bit of getting used to them and you wont give it a thought.

 

[stephen.rooke]

i got rid of my toe clips and bought some clipless pedals and shoes

 

[threefingerjoe]

Agree with Compo.

 

[sidevalve]

You don't HAVE to use 'em if you don't want to, there's no law about it and you can still make the wheels go round.

 

[youngoldbloke]

When stopping at a junction I have to obviously take my foot off the one pedal to stop myself falling over. Common sense really haha.
!

Not entirely true - develop your skills - checkout trackstand on Google . I found it difficult to get feet in/out clips and straps if wearing trainers with a ribbed sole. The ribs would catch on the pedal frame. Smooth soled shoes were much easier.

 

[numbnuts]

Some people use toe clips and swear by them
Some people that have used toe clips swear at them
Some people use clipless at it is the best way to go
The rest couldn't care a s... what they use

 

[youngoldbloke]

Some people use toe clips and swear by them
Some people that have used toe clips swear at them
Some people use clipless at it is the best way to go
The rest couldn't care a s... what they use

- but ...... it does seem to be a matter of concern to many, especially beginners. Only trying to be helpful. I use look Keo clipless myself now after 40+ years of clips and straps (and shoe plates), freewheel and fixed. Use what you like - doesn't bother me either .

 

[HLaB]

It just takes practice, steffan. They'll always hang down, its a case of scraping your foot backward across them to flip them up then slotting your foot in. I'd go clipless however, as I gave up faffing about with clips.

 

[hoopdriver]

again, practice. As the above poster said, it is just a knack of scraping your foot ackward over the oedal to flip them up. Once you acquire the knack it's like...well, riding a bicycle. You don't forget.

I much prefer flats, and toe clips, to going clipless. Never felt the need to change. I did give clipless a try, and had no troubles getting n or out, but I just didn't like them. With me it was mainl a matter of aesthetics - I like my bicycle pedals to look like bicycle pedals, not a piec of modern sculpture or a gadget or a ski binding. I aso like to be able go go out for a ride in whateve shoes I happen to be wearing.

 

[pepecat]

Yeah, i prefer flat shoes and toe clips to going clipless. I find flicking the pedal over to get my foot back in again easy as anything. Guess it's as easy as people just clipping their foot in and out. After a while it becomes automatic. Practice, is all.