Toe Clips - options?
thelonerider
Posts: 8
I’d like to replace the Look cleat pedals on my winter/tourer with some toe clip pedals. But what modern/current options should I check out? I like the idea of something as unbulky as I can get. I’ve seen Raleigh do some slimline integrated ones in plastic or alloy. Wellgo seem to do some integrated alloy jobs in a sort of Shimano 600 style...any suggestions for robustness, low bulk and ease of use?
0
Posts
https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/toe-clips
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
By the way, unlike most people on this forum, I'm an old guy, I raced on toe clips and never had an issue, in fact I find them to be just as good as clipless, but when I was trying to tour with them thinking they would work great for touring I was unpleasantly surprised. For one I didn't have the proper cleat, yes there is a proper cleat that should be used with toe clips, all I was doing was slipping my Bontrager shoes onto the pedal and tighten the strap a bit, and the shoe was slipping around and coming out, and it just became even worse when it got wet. Now I can simply clip in and go without a worry about foot slipping around or out.
I think you hit the nail there... the problem is not much the toe clip system, but the fact that suitable shoes no longer exist, so one has to make do with either cycling shoes designed for modern cleats or trainers not designed for cycling.
You’ve actually reminded me that I have a little used set of similar two sided pedals...I think they’re the Wellgo version. Tried them and a pair of walkable SPD mountain bike shoes, but didn’t like them off road so went back to flats and non-cleat shoes on the MTB. Perhaps they’re just the ticket for this application instead? Since I’ve already got them I’ll give it a go. I did find the shoes a little slippy in the pedals though if you miss the cleat side when rapidly jumping in and out at busy junctions etc
http://www.yellowjersey.org/tocleat.html
Looks like a "one man and a dog" outfit but the idea seems sound. Not a lot to outlay if you want to take the risk
Depends how far you're walking though - I'd have thought SPDs would be a good option. I use Time Atac versions on my winter bike and walking is so much easier. Bin looks and get speedway.
Those were the ones, was hoping someone in the UK may have started making them!
These are what you need. I used them for three years before changing. In fact I did my best time up the Col Soller using them! They are made of conveyor belt type material so are robust. You will need a cage type pedal but they are cheap enough. You adjust them easily with an Allen key if needed on initial set up to get ball of foot in correct position. You put your foot in at a slight angle and twist similar to a cleat to make the fit as tight as you want. It soon becomes second nature. You can pull up on the pedal just like a cleated one. They hang down obviously when not in use but one flick of the pedal is all that is needed to get them on the top to put your foot in. I used them with a leather trainer type shoe with a fairly solid sole so no hot spots or anything. You will not be disappointed with them.
How far are you cycling though ? Flat pedals might be fine.
I reccommed https://www.wiggle.co.uk/mks-ct-lite-commuter-pedals/
MKS do a huge range of pedals/ toe clips/straps etc
Couldn't you use the bike like dandy horse iv'e done that a few times alot faster than walking apart from ther hills.
https://www.rufflander.co.uk/shop/herit ... ycle-shoe/
Very high saddle combined with very high BB of a CX frame...result, can't touch the ground... can't lower the saddle either, as the seatpost is seized in the frame...
As others have posted Yellow Jersey still makes the plastic cleat for toe clip cage style pedal, they did remake it so it can be attached to a Look compatible shoe, supposedly they also have the same cleat for SPD but I would contact them first to verify that since the website seemed a bit vague on that point. They even have the really old style of nail on cleats but I think those type of shoes would be very difficult to find. http://www.yellowjersey.org/tocleat.html By the way, whenever I get into a discussion about the issues with the old toe clips it's always with a younger person who never ever rode on them they way they were designed, they had no idea there was that cleat with the groove that slid into and attached itself to the rear of pedals with the cage design, the cage literally just snapped into the groove by simply sliding your foot forward and it would naturally fall into the groove, there was no need to cinch down the strap so tight your toes turned blue! Yet somehow that rumor got started that's what you had to endure while riding! LOL!! I use to race with those and never suffered from blue toes or toes that tingled from lack of proper circulation; can you imagine how many cyclists would want to ride knowing they can't feel their toes? It was a hysterical rumor probably conjured up by the people that invented the clipless system!! The leather straps also had enough stretch that while you locked onto your pedals by cinching down the strap (but not too tight) that if you pulled up hard enough you could disengage your foot from the pedal with about the same ease as clipless pedals. The other fallacy was feet coming out of the pedals, really? all one has to do is watch old footage of pros racing and you can see that was a rare event, in fact they have just as many issues today with a riders foot coming disengaged from clipless style! The only reason I prefer clipless style is simply due to the lack of the strap to fiddle with, power wise, disengagements, etc is darn near the same, but once you get use to a strap it really becomes sort of a non issue in the fiddling department, it only took a second to hit the release on the strap and bang your foot can come out easier if you like your straps tight. But with the toe strap style you did see more people doing track stands at traffic lights then you do today.
For touring bike you need a solid connection if you want to have more power when riding a heavily loaded bike, and those power straps someone mentioned would not be idea because again you can't get a solid connection, you're feet will slip side to side and come out, and the whole thing just gets worse when things get wet.