Fifty Plus (50+) - Why's it called "clipless"?

Forgive me, I'm new, but I don't understand why it's called "clipless" when it seems to me there are clips involved, both on the pedals and the shoes. And there is plenty of clipping going on--clipping in and clipping out.

Forgive me, I'm new, but I don't understand why it's called "clipless" when it seems to me there are clips involved, both on the pedals and the shoes. And there is plenty of clipping going on--clipping in and clipping out.

From a history of pedals site:

Clipless pedals: A bit of a misnomer, clipless pedals actually have a clip on them that allows a cycling shoe to clip in to it (clipless originally meant without a toe clip and the term stuck). This system allows the rider to push down and pull up during the pedal stroke to add additional power. Clipless pedals are for experienced bikers because of the potential danger of being attached to the pedal, and they typically are used only on aggressive hybrid or racing bikes.

hehe. you're right,of course.
the term "clipless" was coined to mean no toe-clip . Prior to the introduction of "clipless" pedal designs, one's usual options were to ride with no foot retention at all or to ride with "clips" (ie- toe clip and straps).

And here I thought it was a derivative of "clueless." Shows what I know. :D

Heh... I used to have a set of clips. There was a whole system. First there was the cage and strap that were on the pedals, which were often improperly referred to as the 'toe clips.' Then there was the actual clip, which was a piece that bolted to the bottom of the shoe, much the way a cleat does nowadays. Its purpose was to 'clip' onto the flat metal of the pedal cage, sort of like an old-fashioned clothes clip except much shorter. Once the shoe was 'clipped' onto the pedal, the strap was tightened to prevent the shoe from being pulled up off the pedal, and the clip functioned as a catch so you couldn't pull back out of it. You disengaged by rolling your foot to the outside. Or loosened the strap.

nevermind

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s269/caterham1700/bikes007.jpg

Great history lesson...................with pics..:)

Ah! Duegis. My heart swells nostalgically :)

They are called clipless because it doesn't make any sense. The sole purpose of cycling terminology is to create confusion within the great unwashed. This is also why the derailleur was invented, so the true believers could be differenciated from those weak willed enough to be seduced by that evil artifice.

Richard
fixed gear and lovin' it

You disengaged by rolling your foot to the outside. Or loosened the strap.


Or by detaching your ankle from your leg.

From a history of pedals site:

Clipless pedals: A bit of a misnomer, clipless pedals actually have a clip on them that allows a cycling shoe to clip in to it (clipless originally meant without a toe clip and the term stuck). This system allows the rider to push down and pull up during the pedal stroke to add additional power. Clipless pedals are for experienced bikers because of the potential danger of being attached to the pedal, and they typically are used only on aggressive hybrid or racing bikes.

Oh yeah, don't I know it!! :eek::D

Heh... I used to have a set of clips. There was a whole system. First there was the cage and strap that were on the pedals, which were often improperly referred to as the 'toe clips.' Then there was the actual clip, which was a piece that bolted to the bottom of the shoe, much the way a cleat does nowadays. Its purpose was to 'clip' onto the flat metal of the pedal cage, sort of like an old-fashioned clothes clip except much shorter. Once the shoe was 'clipped' onto the pedal, the strap was tightened to prevent the shoe from being pulled up off the pedal, and the clip functioned as a catch so you couldn't pull back out of it. You disengaged by rolling your foot to the outside. Or loosened the strap.

Hi,

I still have toe clips and straps on one of my bikes and I beg to differ -- slightly -- with your explanation. The metal (aluminum or steel) "cage" that attaches to the front of the pedal cage is called a toe clip. The pedal cage is the black part in the photo below:

http://www.pbase.com/cleavel/image/84859798/original.jpg

In the photo, the toe clip is the aluminum part bolted to the black pedal cage.

The part that got bolted on, screwed on, or nailed on to the bottom of the shoe was and still is called a cleat. In the old days, the cleat had a slot that fit over the back of the pedal cage. The combination of the toe clip, cleat, and strap held your foot to the pedal. When you started riding you put your foot into the clip and strap and tightened the strap by pulling on the end. Essentially, your foot was locked to the pedal at this point.

When you needed to stop, you reached down and flipped the lever on the buckle on the strap to release the strap so that you could remove your foot. Coming to a sudden stop was always a bit sketchy with this setup. :eek: However, I don't think that I fell over any more frequently than with today's "clipless" pedals.

So the term clipless meant that the pedal didn't have the clip that bolted to the front of the pedal cage. BTW, toe clips broke regularly -- not frequently, but regularly -- at the various 90 degree bends. That was always fun when you were out on the road.

Hope this helps.

When you needed to stop, you reached down and flipped the lever on the buckle on the strap to release the strap so that you could remove your foot.

Try doing that on a fixed gear bike - the strap keeps ducking out of the way :eek: ('tis why my fixie has clipless :rolleyes:)

Richard

..

This is truly fascinating! Who knew?

And in the photo, the little tab protruding to the right of the cage is for kicking at with your foot to try and get the pedal upright so you can slide your foot in. Sometimes you could pedal upside down, but the clip would drag on the ground.
Oh, yeah, try to find clips deep enough for size 49 shoes.

Try doing that on a fixed gear bike - the strap keeps ducking out of the way :eek: ('tis why my fixie has clipless :rolleyes:)

Richard

It can be done. Many track racers continue to ride with slotted cleats and toe clips. It's sort of a cultural imperitive.

BTW, toe clips broke regularly -- not frequently, but regularly -- at the various 90 degree bends. That was always fun when you were out on the road.

That's why you always carried a spare, just like people do with tubes today. I always had a spare strap wrapped around the rails of my seat. The straps never seemed to last more than a few months.

Ted

I run these on my Surly Long Haul Trucker:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/mks-gr9-platform.jpg

And here's what they look like installed:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT007.jpg

The pedals are by MKS, and according to Harris Cyclery are the only ones still manufactured specifically for toe clips. The toe clips are also MKS, and are size XL (or as MKS marks 'em - 'LL') for my size 14 feet. I like 'em. Don't have to fool with expensive or specialized shoes - I usually ride in sneakers. I don't bother with pulling the straps down tight - I leave 'em just loose enough that I can stuff my shoe into the strap, which still gives me a firm enough attachment to push across the top of the pedal stroke and to pull on the upstroke. I really only worry about pedaling in 'circles' when I'm in granny low spinning up a hill.

those are honest platform pedals. Modern update of the Lyotard Marcel Berthet pedals I used a long time ago. Platform pedals, as I recall, couldn't be used with cleats. No problem. I went thru several pairs of Bata Bikers, cheap canvas (later polypro) cycling shoes.

My stoker and I used to ride our tandem, for over 10 years, with 'traditional' toe clips and straps. She would stay with her feet strapped in when we had to stop for traffic lights, I'd get my foot or feet out to support the bike when we came to a stop.
Setting off again was always a bit irritating, as I'd have to concentrate hard on rotating the pedal to the right way up, scootching my feet into the clips or cages, and fastening the straps - a bit too much to think about in traffic. So I bought 'clipless' shoes and pedals, and all was just peachy, and so it remains. The first pedal pressure on setting off from a stop 'clips' the shoe into the pedal.
Although, on just one occasion, it wasn't so foolproof (described in a previous thread called, if I recollect correctly, 'just say nothing at all') - yup, for a combination of reasons, we took a tumble when the tandem had stopped.
But in that particular circumstance, we would have tumbled no matter what system we were using.

Those MKS pedals look great. I used the Christophe clips marked "LL", but was told they weren't made anymore. I had to bend them so they didn't squash my toes. A downside to the straps is they cut off circulation and my feet would get numb in cold weather.

Those MKS pedals look great. I used the Christophe clips marked "LL", but was told they weren't made anymore. I had to bend them so they didn't squash my toes. A downside to the straps is they cut off circulation and my feet would get numb in cold weather.

Hi John,

Now when is it actually cold in SoCal. ;)

Hi,


When you needed to stop, you reached down and flipped the lever on the buckle on the strap to release the strap so that you could remove your foot. Coming to a sudden stop was always a bit sketchy with this setup. :eek: However, I don't think that I fell over any more frequently than with today's "clipless" pedals.


Hope this helps.

Early days and I used Clips on Platform pedals. Only problem I had was trying to remember to loosen the straps when coming up for a stop. I had to have those straps tight to stop the feet coming out of the pedals. Went clipless and barring the odd fall-which still happens- do not have a problem with them

However- Down at the gym- The spinning bikes have clips and straps. Back to really tightening those straps and on occasions I have done them so tight that the foot goes numb. Worst out of the lot though is falling off a spinning bike that does not topple over when you do. I have the straps tight and when getting off the bike- I release the straps take one foot off- swing it over the saddle and just as its gets to the ground- Release the other foot. The number of times I have found myself lying on my back with the foot that did not release still tied to the pedal. And as the bike does not fall over with me- I can't get up to release the Foot that is still trapped and the young girls that do the class, cannot do anything to help me get released- They are rolling about the floor in agony with their laughing.

It can be done. Many track racers continue to ride with slotted cleats and toe clips. It's sort of a cultural imperitive.

Saw a track race a couple of years ago and they used Clips and straps- Clipless with cleats and then taped the feet to the pedals with Duct tape. No way would the feet come out of the pedals- But broken pedals were frequent.

Hi John,

Now when is it actually cold in SoCal. ;)
Hey, it gets chilly here! Actually, I have done a bit of riding in the snow at elevation.
When I went cross country I used clips and straps with Asics touring shoes. These had a hard rubber strip on the top of the shoe to protect your foot from the strap.

Clipless pedals and shoes are not without their quirks either... I was riding one day in a rather old pair of Look shoes. When I pulled up on the pedal to take off when the light turned green, my foot came up but the pedal did not. The upper had come unglued from the sole which was still attached to the pedal :mad:

Most track straps are double laminated (a layer of nylon sandwiched between leather) to reduce breakage and cost considerably more than your 9 buck Christophes.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_506_508&products_id=655&zenid=43a6469eaa2c8bea60aba6bf7d7108f9

Check out the Cutters on Breaking Away.