Commuting - Toe cage help...

I've got my fixie up and running as my main commuter so that I can lock and go no worries. I seem to be having some difficulties though with the toe straps. They don't fit the top of my foot right so when I start to slow down there is a little space that takes my foot off the pedal. How does one get it so it holds your shoe on there like it is clipped in? But at the same time it isn't so tight that you can't get your foot in at all?

Please advise...

Stuff your favorite commute shoes with newspaper to
simulate your foot being in them, put them in the
pedal/clips then tighten the straps.

you DEFINATELY do not want your feet coming out on a downhill :eek: :eek:

The problem with your toe straps is two fold; first you don't have the right shoes...or so it seems. The right shoe has a cleat with a slot that the edge of the quill cage clips into; when this shoe is clipped onto the cage it helps prevent the shoe and foot from coming out. Second your toe straps are not adjusted correctly; the straps should be tight enough that it should hold the foot in place yet still allow you to yank your foot out, but not so tight your foot goes numb or you can't get out of the pedals.

Back in the day a lot of riders snugged those straps real tight and just did track stands at stops or released the lever on one pedal to slacken the strap before they got to a stop then retighten once they got moving again, and some did both just in case they lost their balance doing the track stand. But all those guys had the shoes with the slotted cleats. When I ride mine without the cleated shoes, ie tennis shoes, I loosen the strap so they are not tight at all and have the kind of space your speaking of.

The space is a feature not a bug of a utility toe clip setup.
If you want a really snug, close fit + the abiliity to get out, then you will have to go clipless

Yep. For ideal performance, you have to cinch the strap tight after getting you foot in, while riding. Not exactly easy on a fix, but some peeps do it. Also, if you do it, learn to trackstand well and don't crash, cuz more than likely you won't be able to get your foot out quickly without loosening the strap...

Most people set the strap as tight as possible while still being able to pull out of it with relative ease. If you do that, your foot won't be really snug. As has been said, clips and straps are a compromise. Clipless is better, but more $$$ and special shoes. That's life...

(I hope you know how to thread in the strap correctly... Some people eff it up. Do it like this, but leave the end dangling freely, don't get it in the lower slot. If you pull at the strap end, it tightens, if you flick down the rounded top end of the buckle, it loosens. Doable even on a fix.)

http://i12.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/be/1c_1_b.JPG

If you want a really snug, close fit + the abiliity to get out, then you will have to go clipless

That statement is not entirely true, I've rode clips for over 30 years including 15 years of racing and never had an issue of not being to get out of the clips nor never had an issue of being unable to pull the pedal up. Nor do you have to set the strap as tight as possible unless your track racing, but with the proper shoe you don't have to cinch it down as tight.

Yeah, the straps shouldn't be as tight as possible. When your bike goes down, you really don't want to go with it. First, is the the clip the right size for your shoe size? And do three twists in the part of the strap that threads through the clips.

mueslix, 3 twists?

yep 3 twist of the strap that goes through the bottom of the pedal.

However going down with the bike is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact going down with your legs flying about can result in breaking bones, believe it or not your better off remaining in the clips.

3 twists. There's some long threads in the ss/fixed gear forum about why this works. It also leaves less of the toe strap sticking out.

Froze is right, there is a fine line between too loose and too tight. You'll know when you get it.