Toeclips & straps

[biggs682]

clips and straps for me too

 

[GuyBoden]

Got the Zefal Toe clips in the post today they seem very good for the low price.
Thanks for the advice.

Update:
First impressions, I took them for a 25 mile test ride, they keep my feet firmly in place and seem easier to use than loose straps. Still perfecting spinning the pedal after stopping to get my foot back into them.

 

[sannesley]

I have toeclips on my current road bike. Tried clipless SPD's on my hybrid but don't feel confident in them to be honest.

 

[Profpointy]

I have toeclips on my current road bike. Tried clipless SPD's on my hybrid but don't feel confident in them to be honest.

I find clipless, at least MTB style ones, to be easier to unclip than clips and straps - which is why I changed, grudgingly, from the latter - sacrificing ordinary shoes in the process. Road clipless look a bit of a faff to me, and I want to be able to walk in the shoes, so wouldn't suit me at all, whatever their benefits.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I've still got a couple of pairs of Lyotard pedals in the shed, that I used to used for CX, back in the days before SPD were easily available
These also have the proper Chrisophe (?) double-clips, that don't squash if you stand on them

Seen here, with a pair of early 90's SPDs


In fact, somewhere, may in a box in the shed or garage, there's even a pair of Sidi CX shoes from the same time period, ie; the blue ones, with a black Velcro strap covering the laces & just drillings for shoe-plates!

 

[RichardB]

A lot of the benefit of clipless pedals comes from the stiffer sole of a dedicated cycling shoe. You can get a lot of the benefit by using cycling shoes with conventional pedals.

yebbutt the (only?) benefit of clips and straps is that you don't need the dreaded "special shoes"; once you've crossed the Rubicon and bought special shoes, might as well go clipless.

I still have a pair of 'cycling shoes' from earlier days, and I have brought them out of retirement. Made by Avocet, they are a trainer-style with a low ankle, made of suede with mesh panels and a stiffish sole. Stiff enough to make pedalling more effective, but still fine for walking round it, and they look fairly 'normal'. They slip in and out of the toeclips easily. Ideal compromise, and I have looked around to try to find a modern equivalent, but have drawn a blank so far.

 

[Smurfy]

Ideal compromise, and I have looked around to try to find a modern equivalent, but have drawn a blank so far.

What is the problem with those available? Quite a few cycling shoes have the cleat holes hidden until you remove the rubber cover, so I'd guess they are designed for both conventional and clipless pedals.

 

[RichardB]

What is the problem with those available? Quite a few cycling shoes have the cleat holes hidden until you remove the rubber cover, so I'd guess they are designed for both conventional and clipless pedals.

I haven't looked seriously, if I'm honest. The ones I have browsed on various websites seem to be divided between pure road shoes and rather clunky-looking MTB-type trainers. The Avocets I have you could easily wear to the pub and just look like suede trainers. I'm sure there is a lot more around, and when it's a priority I will look more closely.

 

[Smurfy]

I haven't looked seriously, if I'm honest. The ones I have browsed on various websites seem to be divided between pure road shoes and rather clunky-looking MTB-type trainers. The Avocets I have you could easily wear to the pub and just look like suede trainers. I'm sure there is a lot more around, and when it's a priority I will look more closely.

In my experience, shopping for cycling shoes is not something that works well online. There are a few shoes that are more leisure or touring orientated, but you really need to visit a shop.

 

[RichardB]

In my experience, shopping for cycling shoes is not something that works well online. There are a few shoes that are more leisure or touring orientated, but you really need to visit a shop.

Sure. I was just checking out the market really. I would never buy shoes online - I have done in the past (non-cycling) and always a disaster.

 

[simongt]

I went from toestraps to clipless about twelve years ago because after a thirty year break from toestraps, during which time when I was actually on a bike, I was just using whatever platform pedals the 'bike at the time' had. I tried going back to toestraps, but once again, couldn't master the knack of getting back into the straps quickly after moving off from lights etc.. Was persuaded by a LBC to try Shimano M515 SPDs and I must admit, I've never had any problems with them. I've fallen off twice, but always come out of the pedals in time before hitting the deck. I have 515s on three of my bikes including my daily commute tourer on which I take delight in wizzing past the logjammed traffic on frequent occasions - ! So for me, SPDs are a good thing.

 

[theloafer]

I have toeclips on all of my bikes tourer road bike and work(commuter) and these cycling shoes on my second pair as the first pair I had for 20 years(but resoled 4 times) and had to finally bin them got mine for £70 ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sidi-Scar...ather-Italy-/291552437086?hash=item43e1e1235e