General Cycling Discussion - Toe clips: One size fits all?

So, what is the deal with toe clips? if you have really big or really little feet, doesn't that mean your foot will be improperly positioned? Toe clips I see for sale aren't adjustable, and it seems like that could be a problem.

They usually have at least two sizes to choose from. For instance, this one has three : Toe clips (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/PE401Z03-Shimano+Rx100105sc+Toe+Clips.aspx)

Yeah, alot of the time it's simply a S/M/L or S/L option.... with that said, I have no idea how you figure out what size you need, or if it's just a preference as far as where your feet are located on the pedal. Cheaper ones may not have a size listed.

I just bought some small Campy clips, and have my fingers crossed they are the right size.

hmmmmm.......maybe that explains why toe clips have been largely abandoned by cyclists in favor of "clipless". Clipless - One size fits all.

ummm.... the shoe itself has to be the right size. Clips sound alot more universal to me :D

When in doubt, just go for following:

SHOE_ToeClip
6-7 SM
7-9 MD
9-11 LG
11-14 XLG

Of course a lot of it depends upon the pedal you're using. Some pedals have larger platforms and you can use a smaller clip. Other pedals are smaller and require bigger toe-clips. You want the minimum size that barely fits when you're dialed in with KOPS and ball-of-feet over pedal-spindle. This will give you maximum clearance with the front-tyre.

ummm.... the shoe itself has to be the right size. Clips sound alot more universal to me :D
if your toe clips are too small, then your (properly-fitting) shoes won't fit into the toe clips. you can wear shoes that don't fit (too big or small) and they will fit your clipless pedals.

You can also shim the clips out from the pedals a little without much expertise. I wear size 15 shoes, and I use toe clips on my commuter so I don't have to ride in geek shoes. I put a piece of 3/8 square tubing between the clip and the pedal cage to move the clips forward.
For nearly everybody, though, the clips come in a wide enough range of sizes to do the job.

Geek shoes????

I use toe clips on my old Ross 10-speed. I prefer the metal (as opposed to nylon or other plastic) clips, and I have a set of Nashbar brand (MKS-forgeries) mounted on it's old original block pedals. I bought the largest clips they had, and they were still too short (I wear size 14 shoes!), so I went to Home Depot and bought four #10 x 3/4" spacers in the hardware dept, as well as longer bolts, to space them out. Work OK.

For my upcoming Surly Long Haul Trucker I found some MKS pedals at Harris Cyclery that were specifically made for toe clips, and I sourced some MKS toe clips from another web source. The clips came in XL size (actually marked "LL"). I bolted them to the pedals and "test fitted" them, and they look to be about right. I dropped the assembled pedals off to my LBS to await the LHT - hopefully next week.

I like riding in toe clips because I can ride in regular street shoes (and finding affordable clipless shoes in size 14 ain't easy). I normally ride in sneakers. Convenient, and I'm willing to trade off the lost efficiency for that convenience.

I'm not an "extreme" bicyclist - more a casual "riding for exercise" rider. I do about 10 hilly miles of so per day on average.

I use toe clips on my old Ross 10-speed. I prefer the metal (as opposed to nylon or other plastic) clips, and I have a set of Nashbar brand (MKS-forgeries) mounted on it's old original block pedals. I bought the largest clips they had, and they were still too short (I wear size 14 shoes!), so I went to Home Depot and bought four #10 x 3/4" spacers in the hardware dept, as well as longer bolts, to space them out. Work OK.Are you sure you're positioning the ball of your foot over the pedal-spindle? A lot of people ride with the arch of their feet over the spindle and that's not the most effective positioning.

if you've got big feet your out of luck, and be careful, pedaling with too much toe is begging for knee problems, been there , done that