Strapless toe-clips

Fred Hall

Strapless toe-clips

"gusmeister" <gusmeister_NOSPAM_@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:QA0Ic.55445$JG5.1597808@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Does anyone have any experience with strapless toe-clips?
> How do they compare to regular toe-clips (with straps)?
>

I got a set from Nashbar for my Gary Fisher hybrid. They
work OK, but being strapless they are "tighter" than clips
with straps. I have size 11 sneakers that I use to ride with
(which is good since I have size 11 feet) and the first time
I tried to wedge them in I thought I was going to break the
clips, but they stretch more than they look like they would.
They work fairly well on smoother terrain to improve your
efficiency, but on bumpy areas your feet will tend to come
out of them (but they will come out of strap-type clips too
if the straps aren't real tight). They're cheap enough where
I'd say give them a try and if you don't like them, you're
not out very much.

Bernie

Strapless toe-clips

gusmeister wrote:

>Does anyone have any experience with strapless toe-clips?
>How do they compare to regular toe-clips (with straps)?
>
>
>
>
Yes, I do. I ride with either mtn bike toe clips less
straps, or (my fave) Mt. Zefal toe cups. I use the toe clip
straps as very handy parking brakes on the front brake
lever. Keeps your bike stable while you load the rack or
panniers. Strapless toe clips or good toe cups like Mt
Zefal's are far better than plain pedals. They cost dirt:
$7.95 CAD at most, fit most pedals, give your toe a place to
get positioned quickly, improve power pedaling, and make you
a better hill climber. I've had lots of controversy with
riders on this newsgroup who are committed and booked on
their clip in pedal/shoe combinations. I guess I am a more
casual kind of rider, and want to mount up in whatever
clothes/shoes I am wearing and be set to go. Toe cups and
toe clips work for me. Also, note: I do not like to use
straps. They freak me out. I feel much better knowing I can
bail easily from my strapless clips or cups. Each one to his
own taste. I don't know why more riders don't use these
methods. Especially commuters.

For about $8.00, I say try it. Best regards, Bernie

Bernie

Strapless toe-clips

Ken wrote:

>"gusmeister" <gusmeister_NOSPAM_@sympatico.ca> wrote in
>news:QA0Ic.55445 $JG5.1597808@news20.bellglobal.com:
>
>>Does anyone have any experience with strapless toe-clips?
>>How do they compare to regular toe-clips (with straps)?
>>
>
>There are mini toe clips, which are just half-length toe
>clips. They are better than nothing, but not as good as
>using regular toe clips. If you don't like the straps,
>regular toe clips with the straps removed are still better
>than mini toe clips.
>
In my experience you statement is not true. Toe cups work
great. I use them every day on my road bike. Bernie

Bernie

Strapless toe-clips

Fred Hall wrote:

>"gusmeister" <gusmeister_NOSPAM_@sympatico.ca> wrote in
>message
>news:QA0Ic.55445$JG5.1597808@news20.bellglobal.com...
>
>>Does anyone have any experience with strapless toe-clips?
>>How do they compare to regular toe-clips (with straps)?
>>
>
>I got a set from Nashbar for my Gary Fisher hybrid. They
>work OK, but being strapless they are "tighter" than clips
>with straps. I have size 11 sneakers that I use to ride
>with (which is good since I have size 11 feet) and the
>first time I tried to wedge them in I thought I was going
>to break the clips, but they stretch more than they look
>like they would. They work fairly well on smoother terrain
>to improve your efficiency, but on bumpy areas your feet
>will tend to come out of them (but they will come out of
>strap-type clips too if the straps aren't real tight).
>They're cheap enough where I'd say give them a try and if
>you don't like them, you're not out very much.
>
>
Fred, Mebbe you got a small set. What brand were they? You
should be able to get toe cups to fit your not so huge feet.
I wear 10's or 11's shoes , depending on country of origin.
My Mt Zefal's are marked "L" so I guess they are large.
OTOH, when I bought my Fuji Touring this spring, the shop
gave me a pair of toe clips because I did not like the ulta
light toe clips they provided as stock items.

I tossed the store's toe clips and bought a pair of Mt. Z's
in about 2 days, as the flimsy things they gave me were
crap. Believe it or not, I do not work for Mt Zefal!!!

Bernie

Fred Hall

Strapless toe-clips

They are Nashbar "Mini Toe Clips"
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=8044&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

According to the description they have "Plenty of room for
larger shoes."... but they were only $4.95, and for that
price they work well enough.

"Bernie" <bmcilvan@mouse-potato.com> wrote in message news:40F0B2D0.3040301@mouse-
potato.com...
> Fred Hall wrote:
>
> >"gusmeister" <gusmeister_NOSPAM_@sympatico.ca> wrote in
> >message
> >news:QA0Ic.55445$JG5.1597808@news20.bellglobal.com...
> >
> >>Does anyone have any experience with strapless toe-
> >>clips? How do they compare to regular toe-clips (with
> >>straps)?
> >>
> >
> >I got a set from Nashbar for my Gary Fisher hybrid. They
> >work OK, but
being
> >strapless they are "tighter" than clips with straps. I
> >have size 11 sneakers that I use to ride with (which is
> >good since I have size 11
feet)
> >and the first time I tried to wedge them in I thought I
> >was going to
break
> >the clips, but they stretch more than they look like they
> >would. They
work
> >fairly well on smoother terrain to improve your
> >efficiency, but on bumpy areas your feet will tend to
> >come out of them (but they will come out of strap-type
> >clips too if the straps aren't real tight). They're cheap
enough
> >where I'd say give them a try and if you don't like them,
> >you're not out very much.
> >
> >
> Fred, Mebbe you got a small set. What brand were they?
> You should be able to get toe cups to fit your not so
> huge feet. I wear 10's or 11's shoes , depending on
> country of origin. My Mt Zefal's are marked "L" so I
> guess they are large. OTOH, when I bought my Fuji Touring
> this spring, the shop gave me a pair of toe clips because
> I did not like the ulta light toe clips they provided as
> stock items.
>
> I tossed the store's toe clips and bought a pair of Mt.
> Z's in about 2 days, as the flimsy things they gave me
> were crap. Believe it or not, I do not work for Mt
> Zefal!!!
>
> Bernie

Bernie

Strapless toe-clips

Fred Hall wrote:

>They are Nashbar "Mini Toe Clips" http://www.nashbar.com/p-
>rofile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=8044&storetyp-
>e=&estoreid=&pagename=
>
>According to the description they have "Plenty of room for
>larger shoes."... but they were only $4.95, and for that
>price they work well enough.
>
Those look like mine. Simple and durable. Easy to get in n
out of them, and a vast improvement over bare pedals. USD
price is comparable to CAD $7.95 or so too. They can be
fitted sidewise a little too, to guide your foot inboard or
outboard, as required. Have a great ride! Bernie

Badger_south

Strapless toe-clips

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 10:32:27 -0700, Bernie <bmcilvan@mouse-potato.com>
wrote:

>Fred Hall wrote:
>
>>They are Nashbar "Mini Toe Clips" http://www.nashbar.com/-
>>profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=8044&storet-
>>ype=&estoreid=&pagename=
>>
>>According to the description they have "Plenty of room for
>>larger shoes."... but they were only $4.95, and for that
>>price they work well enough.
>>
>Those look like mine. Simple and durable. Easy to get in n
>out of them, and a vast improvement over bare pedals. USD
>price is comparable to CAD $7.95 or so too. They can be
>fitted sidewise a little too, to guide your foot inboard or
>outboard, as required. Have a great ride! Bernie

Interesting. How do they line up your ball of foot and pedal
fore and aft? Is the placement good for a shoe size 9 1/2?

My toe clips are standard Trek med frame size, and is a
pretty good line up of the foot and pedal and I wear size
11s. ( I'm thinking of the utility of the clips for my
brother who is a 9 1/2, and not quite ready to get toe clips
- he rides a hard tail no suspension MTB style Ross from the
80s (cromoly).

-B

-B

Bernie

Strapless toe-clips

Badger_South wrote:

>On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 10:32:27 -0700, Bernie <bmcilvan@mouse-
>potato.com> wrote:
>
>>Fred Hall wrote:
>>
>>>They are Nashbar "Mini Toe Clips" http://www.nashbar.com- (http://www.nashbar.com-/)
>>>/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=8044&stor-
>>>etype=&estoreid=&pagename=
>>>
>>>According to the description they have "Plenty of room
>>>for larger shoes."... but they were only $4.95, and for
>>>that price they work well enough.
>>>
>>Those look like mine. Simple and durable. Easy to get in n
>>out of them, and a vast improvement over bare pedals. USD
>>price is comparable to CAD $7.95 or so too. They can be
>>fitted sidewise a little too, to guide your foot inboard
>>or outboard, as required. Have a great ride! Bernie
>>
>
>Interesting. How do they line up your ball of foot and
>pedal fore and aft? Is the placement good for a shoe
>size 9 1/2?
>
They do nothing fore and aft except I think you can order
sizes. I base this assumption only on the fact that mine
have the letter "L" on them. The only adjustments I have
done is moving inboard or outbard. Not fore and aft. I wear
about a US 10n a half and they work for me.

>
>
>My toe clips are standard Trek med frame size, and is a
>pretty good line up of the foot and pedal and I wear size
>11s. ( I'm thinking of the utility of the clips for my
>brother who is a 9 1/2, and not quite ready to get toe
>clips - he rides a hard tail no suspension MTB style Ross
>from the 80s (cromoly).
>
>-B
>
My mtn bike is like that too, steel frame , no suspension,
26 inch wheels. A great utility bike. I lament their passing
from the scene. I ride mine with plastic or maybe rubber?
toe clips less the straps. I use the straps as previously
mentioned, as parking brakes. My guess is he will get into
toe clips without straps with a short learning curve. I
don't know about sizing these things, but for the small
layout, they are worth the try. My personal preference is
for toe cups not clips as stated afore. A no brainer in mho.

Please post how you made out with your own
experiments. Bernie

Badger_south

Strapless toe-clips

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:50:08 -0700, Bernie <bmcilvan@mouse-potato.com>
wrote:

>My mtn bike is like that too, steel frame , no suspension,
>26 inch wheels. A great utility bike. I lament their
>passing from the scene. I ride mine with plastic or maybe
>rubber? toe clips less the straps. I use the straps as
>previously mentioned, as parking brakes. My guess is he
>will get into toe clips without straps with a short
>learning curve. I don't know about sizing these things, but
>for the small layout, they are worth the try.

Thx BM, to get the toe clips w/ or w/o straps, as you know
requires a pedal retrofit, which is not expensive, typically
around $15 for the pedals and the same for the toeclips
(I've seen $10), IIRC. I presume the toe cups fit a standard
MTB pedal with some accomp. hardware?

I've wondered about riding the toe clips w/o straps, but
isn't that a bit flimsy, since there's little supporting
the 'C' of the clips, but thinking about it, I'm riding
mine with the straps loose, and (duh) that's really the
same as no straps. Since I'm riding a different kind of
terrain for a few weeks on vacation, I've tightened up the
toe clips just a little (more street, flat, straightaway,
low/no traffic).

He isn't convinced how different the pedalling is with just
the clips (over a regular pedal). He's mashing mostly now,
with a bit of the "scrape off mud" emphasis that Lemond
touted, but I reminded him that being 'attached' to the
pedal gave the 'motor' a lot more efficiency, less slippage,
and a well-defined placement of the foot. For me it was like
the difference between night&day to pedal with clips vs
mashing a plain pedal in tennis shoes. I tried to explain
the solidarity of the platform and how the next step would
be cyclng shoes with rigid foot support, then clips and
cleats, each a step up in efficiency and soforth (the big
one being no clips to clips), but he's skeptical.

I said, well you can either ride my bike around the block,
or go withme to the LBS and test ride a couple bikes that
are fitted to you that use toe clips, and when you've
experienced it you'll be kicking yourself for not doing it
sooner. It added a big boost to my riding and speed
immediately. going to rigid sole shoes, and clips and cleats
is another significant step up, but not as huge a difference
from straight pedal mashing.

Tried to explain it in terms of rigidity and slippage
reduction and regularity of pedal stroke etc, but some have
to experience it to realize, heh. Best, -B

Fred Hall

Strapless toe-clips

"Badger_South" <Badger@South.net> wrote in message
news:gsd4f0pcvli8lg2h89ua0mgn9ngmtplunc@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:50:08 -0700, Bernie <bmcilvan@mouse-
> potato.com> wrote:
>
> >My mtn bike is like that too, steel frame , no
> >suspension, 26 inch wheels. A great utility bike. I
> >lament their passing from the scene. I ride mine with
> >plastic or maybe rubber? toe clips less the straps. I use
> >the straps as previously mentioned, as parking brakes. My
> >guess is he will get into toe clips without straps with a
> >short learning curve. I don't know about sizing these
> >things, but for the small layout, they are worth the try.
>
> Thx BM, to get the toe clips w/ or w/o straps, as you know
> requires a pedal retrofit, which is not expensive,
> typically around $15 for the pedals and the same for the
> toeclips (I've seen $10), IIRC. I presume the toe cups fit
> a standard MTB pedal with some accomp. hardware?
>
> I've wondered about riding the toe clips w/o straps, but
> isn't that a bit flimsy, since there's little supporting
> the 'C' of the clips, but thinking about it, I'm riding
> mine with the straps loose, and (duh) that's really the
> same as no straps. Since I'm riding a different kind of
> terrain for a few weeks on vacation, I've tightened up the
> toe clips just a little (more street, flat, straightaway,
> low/no traffic).
>
> He isn't convinced how different the pedalling is with
> just the clips (over a regular pedal). He's mashing mostly
> now, with a bit of the "scrape off mud" emphasis that
> Lemond touted, but I reminded him that being 'attached' to
> the pedal gave the 'motor' a lot more efficiency, less
> slippage, and a well-defined placement of the foot. For me
> it was like the difference between night&day to pedal with
> clips vs mashing a plain pedal in tennis shoes. I tried to
> explain the solidarity of the platform and how the next
> step would be cyclng shoes with rigid foot support, then
> clips and cleats, each a step up in efficiency and soforth
> (the big one being no clips to clips), but he's skeptical.
>
> I said, well you can either ride my bike around the block,
> or go withme to the LBS and test ride a couple bikes that
> are fitted to you that use toe clips, and when you've
> experienced it you'll be kicking yourself for not doing it
> sooner. It added a big boost to my riding and speed
> immediately. going to rigid sole shoes, and clips and
> cleats is another significant step up, but not as huge a
> difference from straight pedal mashing.
>
> Tried to explain it in terms of rigidity and slippage
> reduction and regularity of pedal stroke etc, but some
> have to experience it to realize, heh. Best, -B

As Bernie said in answer to your previous question, they
just kind of line up the ball of your foot over the
pedal...at least for my size 11's it's a pretty good fit. If
you had size 14 or size 7 feet, not sure how good it would
be. As far as mounting to the pedals, the platform pedals on
my hybrid had screw holes where reflectors were mounted on
both sides of the pedals, so I removed the reflector on one
side and put the toe clips in its place (had to buy some
longer screws at the hardware store than were provided with
the clips though. The clips also include a metal plate you
can use to add some offset and rigidity, depending on your
pedal structure I guess (there were no instructions with the
clip kit, so I'm guessing what the metal plates were for).