Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Is foot retention safe in a crash?

Forgive the most likely obvious question, but planning out my next bike I've come across this little dilemna and was hoping for some feedback on it. Basically, the bike I'm looking at (MASI speciale fixed most likely) comes with toe straps, and I'm wondering if this presents a safety hazard being basically stuck to the bike and having to take it down with you in a crash. My limitted experience with crashing has basically involved me getting clear of the bike (streetcar tracks) and letting it fend for itself while I negotiate the pavement, and this seemed alot safer rather than worrying about getting nailed by the handlebars/toptube/whatever during a tangleup.

Am I overthinking things? Has being attached to the bike had any effect during a crash for any of you guys? Are clipless pedals any different? The bike I'm looking at does come with brakes so the need for foot retention isn't quite so bad as with a brakeless setup and I'm contemplating platforms just to reassure myself that I'm not going to go down in a death grip with the bike...

i can get out my toe clips and straps pretty quickly, when practicing tricks sometimes i have to react quickly and put my feet down and it has never been a problem, adjust them so they keep your feet in place but not too tight where you cannot easily back out of the clip

riding with slip ons is helpful with this too since nothing gets snagged going in or out of the clips

the masi is a swell bike...i considered getting one while i was shopping around

Umm...I got hit by a car about a week and a half ago at fairly good speed.


I was clipped hard into a curb from the side at a hair under 20mph...No chance to slow or anything.


When I went down, both feet stayed in initially, but I don't think I incurred much more damage than I would have if I had come out.

Personally, I'd rather have more control over my bike with the foot retention; hopefully, this prevents a few crashes; without foot retention, what happens if your feet slip off the pedals and the bike gets away from you?

I went down at around 15mph on my roadbike with clipless pedals and I came out of it with some minor road rash. I figure the same would have happened with normal platform style pedals, it doesn't make much of a difference. If you have enough time to think about jumping/unclipping you have enough time to save yourself from the impending crash.

Personally, I'd rather have more control over my bike with the foot retention; hopefully, this prevents a few crashes; without foot retention, what happens if your feet slip off the pedals and the bike gets away from you?

you brake?


Your feet will come out in almost any crash especially since you won't be using cleats. If set up properly it should be hard to get your foot out normally though and this is where clipless is really an advantage.

...Am I overthinking things?...

yes you are

Foot retention will help prevent crashes too.

I use MKS pedals with clips and straps. I don't keep my straps very tight - just snug enough so my feet won't slip off the pedals - this is very important when riding fixed). By keeping them a little less snug they are extremely easy to get in and out of. I've used clipless (eggbeaters) and I prefer the "old school" clips and straps. Of course I've been using them for about 40 years because they do work so well.

OP, have you ridden a bicycle with toe clips? Clipless?

It sounds like you might want to spend some time on a bike with a freewheel using clips/clipless before you try it on a fixed gear, since the pedal movement does tend to complicate things.

Removing your foot from clips should become second nature in a matter of days. Crashing with clipless can be a bit rough, especially if you have your tension turned up high. Getting out of clipless also becomes second nature, but in a sudden crash (like a car running a light or a stop sign) you might find yourself on the ground and still clipped into your pedals, doing the "bug".

In my experience, in a crash getting free of the bike is your last concern, protecting your face and trying not to catch the ground with your hands (insta-collarbone breakage) are primary.

So, my advice is to ride faster to that you don't have to worry about getting free.

I went down at around 15mph on my roadbike with clipless pedals and I came out of it with some minor road rash. I figure the same would have happened with normal platform style pedals, it doesn't make much of a difference. If you have enough time to think about jumping/unclipping you have enough time to save yourself from the impending crash.


I use MKS pedals with clips and straps. I don't keep my straps very tight - just snug enough so my feet won't slip off the pedals - this is very important when riding fixed). By keeping them a little less snug they are extremely easy to get in and out of. I've used clipless (eggbeaters) and I prefer the "old school" clips and straps. Of course I've been using them for about 40 years because they do work so well.

Cool. I feel better about them with enough people saying they can go pretty loose so that they're pretty easy to get out of. I figure with enough experience getting in and out it should become pretty natural.


OP, have you ridden a bicycle with toe clips? Clipless?

It sounds like you might want to spend some time on a bike with a freewheel using clips/clipless before you try it on a fixed gear, since the pedal movement does tend to complicate things.

Removing your foot from clips should become second nature in a matter of days. Crashing with clipless can be a bit rough, especially if you have your tension turned up high. Getting out of clipless also becomes second nature, but in a sudden crash (like a car running a light or a stop sign) you might find yourself on the ground and still clipped into your pedals, doing the "bug".

My only experience is with platforms and geared bikes so I'll be taking it easy for the first little while when I get the MASI. It's got a flip flop hub so the first little while I plan on riding freewheel just to get used to the geometry and the clips before I start learning fixed. I think most of my concern seems to come from having no experience with clips and it seems like most people get along just fine.


In my experience, in a crash getting free of the bike is your last concern, protecting your face and trying not to catch the ground with your hands (insta-collarbone breakage) are primary.

So, my advice is to ride faster to that you don't have to worry about getting free.

Hah, nice ;)

I wasn't so much implying that I was going to post up on the bike seat and leap to safety when a hazard presented itself when stopping seems like the first option to try. Rather I was thinking of my recent experience where the crash came suddenly and I ended up flying free of the bike, rather than jumping off it.

I reckon I'll be good though. Thanks alot everyone

just ride it fixed from the start, it wont take you long to get used to the clips

I wasn't so much implying that I was going to post up on the bike seat and leap to safety when a hazard presented itself

hahaha, awesome

Clips and straps used to be a huge cause of torn ligaments and other nasty stuff in people's feet. Clipless with the 'turn to disengage' was driven by that.

My sister (about seven years older than me) was a big roadie back in the day. She had to stop riding after a nasty leg injury from clips and straps from an otherwise minor crash. She knew a few other folks who had bad leg injuries too.

So, I'd worry less about the bike stuff and more about the potential for injury if you're tightly strapped in.

I'm personally never using clips and straps.

^ if this is true, she was probably using slotted cleats and road shoes, not just toe clips and sneakers, right?
A system that would require releasing the strap to disengage is different than what the op is asking about, and what most on here use.

I think staying with the bike is the best bet - normally you're feet will come out anyway. Like Aaron mentioned above, slamming and sliding with the bike, rolling, is often safer than sticking an arm out and breaking fingers, arms, collarbones.

When I crash, I stay with the bike, protecting it. Bodies heal. Bikes don't.

When I crash, I stay with the bike, protecting it. Bodies heal. Bikes don't.

:twitchy:

Clips and straps used to be a huge cause of torn ligaments and other nasty stuff in people's feet. Clipless with the 'turn to disengage' was driven by that.

My sister (about seven years older than me) was a big roadie back in the day. She had to stop riding after a nasty leg injury from clips and straps from an otherwise minor crash. She knew a few other folks who had bad leg injuries too.

So, I'd worry less about the bike stuff and more about the potential for injury if you're tightly strapped in.

I'm personally never using clips and straps.

+1

The tighter your straps are, the more likely you are to tear something. Definitely the main reason clipless pedals were developed.

just ride it fixed from the start, it wont take you long to get used to the clips

I agree with jpdesjar. Start off fixed and take a couple of hours getting used to getting in/out of the clips. You might fall a couple of times but thats part of the learning curve (LOL). Seriously, I'm sure you'll catch on quick. Best of luck to you my friend.

sometimes holding onto your bicycle during a crash will save your ass as the bike is likely to take the hit rather than your body or at least soften the blow. in that split second before flipping over handlebars, it is best to hold tight and not let go and let the bicycle take a measure of the impact. obviously, it's not an act that has time for decision - you have to train yourself to do this or have the instinct much like doing a "tuck & roll" during the event of a crash. I'd say that the same idea applies to foot retention. although, this might not be the case if you get caught underneath an auto and get dragged.

Clips and straps used to be a huge cause of torn ligaments and other nasty stuff in people's feet. Clipless with the 'turn to disengage' was driven by that.


To parphrase Wikipedia: Citation?

Why do people post such inaccurate / incorrect stuff.

When I crash, I stay with the bike, protecting it. Bodies heal. Bikes don't.

This response sucks. Bikes heal. You pour this magic stuff into them when they get hurt. It's called money.

i got hit last night from the back/side and was able to get out of regular clips and straps without thinking about it. once you're used to them they're not restrictive at all. if you're worried about it, ride on the tops of the pedals when you're near more dangerous situations.

practice makes perfect...when i practice wheelies sometimes i am in the clips and when the bike gets away from me my feet react pretty quickly, keep the straps snug but not too snug and make sure you are riding with shoes that can easily slip in and out

To parphrase Wikipedia: Citation?

Why do people post such inaccurate / incorrect stuff.

Having trouble finding anything to cite, but I know that clipless pedals were marketed by LOOK as a safety improvement.

It may not matter unless you're running cleats with clips and straps, but old school bike racers had some gnarly ankle injuries in crashes.

+1 on giving clipless a try. you will have a bit more control, and the pedals are designed to disengage upon disaster. i've crashed a few times with my eggbeaters and emerged unharmed. that said, my only injuries came from zero mph wrecks while trying to trackstand, and engaging in general tarck jackassery.

^ if [talk about injuries due to trad. clip/strap pedals] is true, [these racers were] probably using slotted cleats and road shoes, not just toe clips and sneakers, right?
A system that would require releasing the straps to disengage is different than what the op is asking about, and what most on here use.


quoting myself since no one touched upon it besides maxwell above.
slotted cleats and road shoes, you need to loosen straps to get out.
http://www.businesscycles.com/graphics/103soles.JPG
http://www.businesscycles.com/graphics/7021cleat.JPG

typical BFSSFG sneaker and clips user (dont know the rider, its just a g.i.s.)
http://fixedgearworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/fixie-rider.jpg

see how the sneakers and clips don't have rearward retention like the slotted cleats? That the reason why some of these old pros had injuries, and why you are not hearing about modern day torn ligaments and whatever other injuries people are citing. when you crash in sneakers and clips, you feet will come out.

Thanks guys. I might be picking my bike up this afternoon depending on if they have it in or not. Not so worried about the foot retention anymore so I appreciate all the responses

Having my feet attached to the bike is nowhere near my lists of concerns when crashing, though the only times I've had to do the unclip-on-ground thing are from 0-mph tipovers. I use SPD or eggbeater clipless on my bikes, I've never personally felt comfortable with clips and straps.

Sometimes, you will hurt yourself. Other times you will be glad your foot stayed in instead of doing the splits on asphalt. Sometimes you will do the splits on asphalt because you're strapped in. Keep them loose enough so when 'push comes to shove' you can still shove and push.

keep the straps snug but not too snug and make sure you are riding with shoes that can easily slip in and out

it defeats most of the purpose of straps.

it defeats most of the purpose of straps.

i disagree...i still benefit from having a cage to hold my feet in place
i think it just depends on the user

meh, maybe i don't need them at all

^ if this is true, she was probably using slotted cleats and road shoes, not just toe clips and sneakers, right?
She probably did.

I see what you're getting at, and you're right - there's much less potential for injury with sneakers/clips/straps than shoes with clips. Still, to get the same level of engagement as clipless, you'd have to get the tension pretty snug, which is still marginally more risky in a crash.


To parphrase Wikipedia: Citation?

Why do people post such inaccurate / incorrect stuff.
Here you go (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_sense)

you'll crash a lot more with straps..

http://www.businesscycles.com/graphics/103soles.JPG


So I got my first set of road cleats like the ones above a week after a broke my collar bone. I rode into my driveway without loosening the straps.....................................

every crash i've had, i keep managing to fly away from the bike completely out of the straps.

my buddy got his front wheel stuck in a grate and flew over the handlebars. his feet didn't come out of his clipless pedals and he flung the bike about 20 feet like a slingshot.

he also hit his nuts on the top tube.

he still rides with clipless pedals.

Being clipped into my bike (eggbeaters) was what saved me from eating asphalt one time when I was riding up a driveway and my back wheel got caught in a crack. The back of the bike slid out and my feet somehow pulled it back under me. I think if I had platform pedals, I would have slipped off and ate top-tube.

Have you crashed much? From racing, I have both been in, and witnessed seemingly horrific crashes resulting in maybe a scratched pedal, seat cover, and bar tape. Frames surprisingly seldom make any contact with the ground. Anything that bolts on can be easily replaced.

No, I've only had one actual crash under my belt (ie moving at decent speed) which involved getting caught in street car tracks because I had to dodge a car that pulled out during my turn. I went right clear of the bike which seemed IMO to make hitting the ground alot more simple and straightforward than having to worry about having limbs caught or torqued around a bike frame.

Like I said, it seems I'm just overthinking things. The bike comes with toe clips but I'll be switching those out for clipless pedals in the near future.

No, I've only had one actual crash under my belt (ie moving at decent speed) which involved getting caught in street car tracks because I had to dodge a car that pulled out during my turn. I went right clear of the bike which seemed IMO to make hitting the ground alot more simple and straightforward than having to worry about having limbs caught or torqued around a bike frame.

Like I said, it seems I'm just overthinking things. The bike comes with toe clips but I'll be switching those out for clipless pedals in the near future.



Last year I was standing out the front of work when three guys on track bikes came tearing down the street. One guy drifted onto the street car tracks and when the tire went in he got launched over the handlebars like a monkey, and landed on his feet. Him, his friends, and me all burst into laughter. It was totally amazing! Yes, he was wearing toe clips. No, I can't guarantee that happens to everyone who drifts onto trolley tracks with toe clips.

So I got my first set of road cleats like the ones above a week after a broke my collar bone. I rode into my driveway without loosening the straps.....................................



I've been riding some similar cleats daily for the past six months or so and love them! To me it's like having the benfits of clipless (stiff soled shoes) with the option to wear regular shoes if you're going somewhere where you don't want to carry a second pair of shoes.

My only incident was one time getting out of the strap and going for a fastish dismount. I, apparently, only placed the plastic cleat on the ground 'cos my foot slipped out from under me causing me and the bike to end up on the ground in a busy-ish shopping strip. No injuries, plenty of embarassment.