Tandem Cycling - Toe Straps for Stoker Only?

My wife's feet slip off the rubber pedals whenever we hit a bump or shift gears too abrubtly. I have a set of toe strap pedals I can install for her. Is this a good idea? I plan to keep the platform pedals in the front for safety.

Thanks
Paul W.
Torrance, CA

Paul: Yes, it's a very good idea!
You can use toeclips and toestraps; or there is also a toeclip referred to as a 'half-clip' that keeps foot in place in a shorter toeclip but does not use a toestrap.
Or, there is Powergrips, a strap that runs diagonally across the pedal and works fine too.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Yes. My wife and I use clipless but both kids use toe clips. No prob.

My wife for years used campy toe clips on her bike, but on our first tandem I got her switched to clipless. We used one toe clip pedal and another pedal clipsless set on its lowest setting so that she could foot out easily.

Within two weeks she was riding clipless and now has clipless pedals on all her bikes and wonders why she never switched over sooner. And I agree

I plan to keep the platform pedals in the front for safety.



I'd suggest either toe straps or clipless pedals for front and back. There really isn't a safety problem. You just need to learn to get out of them before you come to a complete stop. As for a crash you're better off staying with the bike, so there is not a safety issue there. On the other hand if your foot flys off the pedal while you're turning a good cadence, and your stoker is still pushing, that is going to at least hurt and may be disruptive enough to cause a crash. On balance, I'd suggest that safety considertaions dictate both riders being securely connected to the pedals.