[Closed] Toe clips???

I wouldn't use toe clips - many folk ride on flat pedals ( but shinpads are good if you do). Some folk - myself included prefer spds but toeclips are the worst of both worlds.

some big grippy platform pedals might help

Cheers...the pedals seem grippy enough so I will stick with em.....the shinpads sound like a good idea though

Toeclips? <<shudder>> No thanks - As TJ says, worst of both worlds.

If you don't want to go clipless, then get some decent, grippy flat pedals (DMR V8s are a good budget option), and use them with a skate shoe type trainer - Vans with a waffle sole is the usual choice, or upgrade to 5:10s when budget allows.

i, and many many many other people rode off-road for years with clips-and-straps without too much bother before SPDs came along

getting your foot in is merely a matter of practise, and it actually helps *not* to look at the pedal while you're doing it, but if you're getting on fine without them then that's ok too

i, and many many many other people rode off-road for years with clips-and-straps without too much bother before SPDs came along

Indded we did! I spent a few years on them, then flats, then SPD. Sure, toe clips aren't the best thing, especially for technical stuff, but they're fine for XC riding. 🙂

My friend's just bought a new MTB and put his old beartraps with toeclips on it.

I tried to explain that everyone used flats now, but he wasn't having any of it - and he did make me wonder whether we're missing a trick.

Toeclips are better than SPDs for technical riding IMO, but then I use Time clipless, which can be awkward to disengage sometimes.

I rode toeclips for years and I could have my foot down instantly if I needed to. Some people say the same about SPDs but I'm not sure I believe them.

Toeclips

Judder - oooh errr - Horrrriiibbbble on a MTB let alone a road bike 🙂

Either go flatty with decent grippy shoes like Five-Tens or go for clipless 🙂

They were Ok on flattish trails but I fell off twice on slower technical bits due to not getting my foot out of them quick enough so I ditched em. I'm sure if I practised more with them they would become like second nature but just wondered if it was worth it. I havent fell off since I removed them so thats an improvement 😀

I have zero issue in getting my foot out of spds. I have ridden many a mile in toeclips but nowadays prefer spds

Clips were invented for the road some years ago - I don't think they were intended for technical off road but made their way there anyway when XC was fairly tame. Now with more technical XC and "all mountain" riding clipless pedals are so much easier to get your feet out when dabbing or crashing etc. I would NEVER recommend toe clips to anyone 🙂 Although clipless pedals do take time to get used to 🙂

Cheers everyone......decision made....ditched for good

Toe clips were fine for me for years, including plenty of technical terrain, jumps etc.
However, spds are better (and easier to get your feet in and out) if you want to be clipped in. Nothing wrong with riding flats though if that's your boat.

Sad to admit I'm using toe clips at the mo

I feel a right $%&^% but it works

I can't do flats as my feet only like rigid shoes. I will try spds again but I don't relish the set up and I find toe clips very easy to use (after 20 years practice)

The bike also has some of these bar ends and I'm not sure what there for.

[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29893 ]Bar ends[/url]

I am about to take these off as well....does anyone use em? can't live without em etc?

I used toeclips for years ... until spds got good enough then I changed .... then I discovered how good flatties can be with the right shoes

I still use toeclips on the road for commuting and touring and 90% spds for mtb with the flatties coming out for uplift days or when I'm way out of my comfort zone

Bar ends are usually fitted onto mountain bikes with straight handlebars. They allow the rider to vary the type of grip and posture that they use during a ride. They are especially effective when climbing out of the saddle, because they increase leverage. Bar ends can also improve comfort for the rider due to the neutral position of the hands (palms inward) which places marginally less stress upon the musculature, and by providing more than one place to rest hands on a long journey.

Isn't the point about toeclips on a mountain bike that they are about as useless as 'teets on a bull' (bonus point if you can name the film that line comes from).

Toe clips and straps were a way of securing the foot to the pedal so you could claw and pull on the pedal to make your pedalling more efficient. They did this by using a cleat on the bottom of the shoe that slotted over the rear plate of the pedal cage. Then by pulling the straps tight, the shoe was firmly secured to the pedal.

Before we had SPDs I used to use a pair of Sidi cyclocross shoes with a cleat on the sole and clips and straps. The cleat was slightly worn so that even with the straps pulled tight, if you twisted your foot it came away from the pedal. It was a meagre benefit and frankly more dangerous than beneficial. You come to a stop in clips and straps and if they are performing as designed, you should have to reach down and undo them. On a mountain bike that was always suicide.

So clips and straps still knock about, but unless you're using cleated shoes, which I very much doubt you are as I don't even think you can buy them anymore, they are utterly useless. You may as well use flats.

An example of 'utterly useless clips and straps' with a soft sole shoe. Circa 1990

[img] [/img]

Steve G (possibly of these parts) rides a blinging Orange 5, with a pair of 10 quid a pair toe clips pedals.

It make baby jesus cry 😉