Commuting - Toe Clips

Does anyone know of a brand of toe-clip that can accommodate a cyclist who wears big shoes. Now before we all start in with clown-shoe jokes, let me say that I'm talking about work shoes, brogans, or other types of shoe that aren't flat in the toe area.

My BF often rides his bike to work, and most toe-clips (even ones marked XL) tend to pinch down too much to allow him to get is toes completely into the clips.

Unfortunately, wearing smaller shoes is not an option...he has a hard enough time finding shoes in his width as it stands. :(

Suggestions?

Might have to make some of your own somehow.

I would recommend he wear a pair of sneakers or cycling shoes when riding, and change into his boots when he gets to work. I tried riding in my work boots once, and the knobby soles got caught in my toe clips when I stopped at a red light. You can guess what happened next.

Or try this: http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/boots.html

This guy mounted SPD's on a set of combat boots.

I have the same problem. I have double-e wide feet, and in winter I have to wear boots because I lost the tips of my toes to frostbite years ago. The only thing that comes close that I've found is PowerGrips. However, they are far from perfect. The stock straps are not really long enough; while you can buy replacement extra-long straps, they cost more than the original product did, and don't seem to fit all models.

I'm interested to hear what other solutions are available. Too-small toeclips are miserable.

Powergrips make an extra wide strap for their pedal system. It's not exactly a toe clip, but it works well. I have EE width feet and I use the standard size.

http://www.ekosport.com/pg_benefits.shtml

http://www.ekosport.com/images/pg_in_action1.jpg

Have him wear sneakers then change. I leave a pair of shoes at work and ride in with my cycling shoes. Saves weight of carrying the shoes back and forth.

Metal toe clips can be bent to accomodate big toe boxes.
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/pedals_clips_straps/

Thanks for the suggestions, fellow cyclists! My BF (whose shoe-size is 11.5 EEE) thanks you all as well.

Why, oh WHY does the BF want to commute with toe clips anyway? Platforms are safer, 99% as efficient, and allow cycling in ANY shoes! Work boots with toe clips is just foolish, IHMO.

Insert a rubber spacer between the front of the pedal and the toe clip.

I second the suggestion of power grips. Or go clipless...

do they make shoes that wide for clipless to begin with???

luckily I just got a new bike yesterday that came with the OG steel clips and christophe straps... that happen to fit me very well :B

Why, oh WHY does the BF want to commute with toe clips anyway? Platforms are safer, 99% as efficient, and allow cycling in ANY shoes! Work boots with toe clips is just foolish, IHMO.

99 % as efficient. Can you prove that?

Metal toe clips can be bent to accomodate big toe boxes.
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/pedals_clips_straps/
I like my metal toe clips.

Why, oh WHY does the BF want to commute with toe clips anyway? Platforms are safer, 99% as efficient, and allow cycling in ANY shoes! Work boots with toe clips is just foolish, IHMO.

I think you're talking clips and straps. If people scroll down to the bottom of the Rivendell link, there are toe clips there. They only go over the toe and part of the top of the shoe. If the foot is pulled back, there is nothing stopping it.

Why, oh WHY does the BF want to commute with toe clips anyway? Platforms are safer, 99% as efficient, and allow cycling in ANY shoes! Work boots with toe clips is just foolish, IHMO.
Grant P at Rivendell argues the same thing, and I've taken him up on the recommendation (to "try regular pedals on a good bike") and it doesn't work nearly as well for me. Which is to say, it's quite possible that most cyclists don't have an efficient pedal stroke, so using clipless is largely a waste for them. I apparently have a pretty efficient pedal stroke, with my feet pulling through circles for the most part, and can notice a significant drop in power/speed when riding without toeclips. However, it's really convenient to go without toeclips. I may go for power grips eventually...
where can you get the extra-long powergrips (I wear size 13)?

Grant P at Rivendell argues the same thing, and I've taken him up on the recommendation (to "try regular pedals on a good bike") and it doesn't work nearly as well for me. Which is to say, it's quite possible that most cyclists don't have an efficient pedal stroke, so using clipless is largely a waste for them. I apparently have a pretty efficient pedal stroke, with my feet pulling through circles for the most part, and can notice a significant drop in power/speed when riding without toeclips. However, it's really convenient to go without toeclips. I may go for power grips eventually...
where can you get the extra-long powergrips (I wear size 13)?

Any strap the same size as the Powergrip strap should work. Just get one longer.

Soon after your posts about the PowerGrips I happened to find a pair in the LBS. So I picked 'em up and gave 'em to the BF as an early Christmas stocking stuffer.

After having fun installing and adjusting them (no sarcasm here...the BF has always been a putterer/tinkerer), he was one happy cyclist again! You should've seen his grin on his face!

Thanks again, everyone!