Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - metal vs plastic toeclips

currently using plastic toeclips with nylon straps but find that the straps loosen up while riding, prolly due to lifting toes when slowing down. what is your preference? what are the benefits/drawbacks of the two kinds. does the leather straps make a big difference?

on a side note, where can you find metal toe clips?

on a side note, where can you find metal toe clips?

Why eBay of course. :) There was a post recently where someone picked up some old Shimano 600 pedals with metal clips from eBay. You might also want to look at this older post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=1115). Or if you're lazy...

http://rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/pedals_clips_straps/14015.html

In Chicago you can get metal toeclips at Urban Bikes. Elsewhere, they're hard to find. I don't think they're being manufactured at the moment. I ride metal toe-clips. I like them. They don't snap (like the plastic ones did whilst embroiled in traffic).

In Chicago you can get metal toeclips at Urban Bikes. Elsewhere, they're hard to find. I don't think they're being manufactured at the moment. I ride metal toe-clips. I like them. They don't snap (like the plastic ones did whilst embroiled in traffic).

Ilike those pedals called "powerstraps" nashbar sells em


more secure than toeclips i think, anyone ever try them?

FXjohn

on a side note, where can you find metal toe clips?

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?c=Pedal&sc=Toe%20Clips&id=626804325776

Metal toe clips rule. Plastic sucks. I have broken two pair and quit replacing them. Granted, it was on a mountain bike, but they still shouldn't snap that easy.

I bought my metal clips from:

momovelo.com

Nice selection of goodies all around!

I had some plastic ones that were really good, hard wearing and they never snapped, they had no strap but were stiff enough that you didn't need them. This also made them easier to get into than the metal ones. For riding fixed though they felt too elastic, so I'd deffo recommend the metal ones in preference. Oh and leather straps too.

I couldn't stand the plastic clips I had. I echo Streners comment about the elasticity of plastic clips. I recently got some shimano 600 pedals, the old clip/strap aero ones. Compared to the track pedals with plastic clips I had, I feel cemented onto the pedals now.

tim

i've got some shimano 600 pedals with metal clips and nylon straps.

the only problem with metal clips is that they cut up your shoes more...

nothing that some electrical tape cant fix though.

fsnl
sparky
eo: blink 182 - what's my age again?

A week or so ago, I inherited my dad's old racing bike. Since I'm not financially sound enough to buy shoes to go in the look pedals the bike had, I used the shimano pedals (metal clips) that I had just gotten for my fix. This meant, of course, that I was back to using plastic clips for my daily ride. I moped around for a few days complaining about how crappy plastic clips were and then this thread pops up and finally inspires me to get another pair of metal clips. So I get them on e-bay and I'm feeling good, thinking that I can last another week with plastic. Well, on the way home last night the karma of dissing the plastic caught up to me and one of the clips broke as I was going down a hill toward a stop light. Nothing horrible happened, other than the misery of limping the rest of the way home with one clip. I can now assuredly say that I will never let plastic touch my pedals again.

Just my little story that I felt like sharing.
tim

what part of the clip breaks? the junction between the clips and the pedal? anyone's opinion on the leather straps?

anyone's opinion on the leather straps?

Make sure they are not 17 years old, cracked and dry.

Cause leather straps like that don't work to well.

I have nylon (plastic) clips and they are really not so great. Mostly they do not hold up to the few rotations it takes me to flip into them (they get torn up from scraping the ground). The ones I have now are really cheap now, and on one side the plastic has chipped/scraped away enough so that the strap is barely held into the clip. This doesn't worry me so much because I figure the strap will hold, but as soon as the strap breaks free I am going to replace them with some metal clips. Or maybe spds, since I already have spd shoes (I got these shimano "sport" shoes with the recessed cleat, I just leave the original plate screwed on and use with the clips/straps--better than my beat-up new balances).

I have nylon (plastic) clips and they are really not so great. Mostly they do not hold up to the few rotations it takes me to flip into them (they get torn up from scraping the ground). The ones I have now are really cheap now, and on one side the plastic has chipped/scraped away enough so that the strap is barely held into the clip. This doesn't worry me so much because I figure the strap will hold, but as soon as the strap breaks free I am going to replace them with some metal clips. Or maybe spds, since I already have spd shoes (I got these shimano "sport" shoes with the recessed cleat, I just leave the original plate screwed on and use with the clips/straps--better than my beat-up new balances).

:) Try these

no way... I definitely like clips and straps better.

no way... I definitely like clips and straps better.

Why? I can definitely pedal "up" better with the powerstraps

FXjohn

Why? I can definitely pedal "up" better with the powerstraps

Since I'm a clipless rider, maybe I have no room to speak here but... Given the choice between toeclips and PowerStraps, from a safety and usability standpoint, I would pick the PowerStraps. However, from an aesthetic standpoint, I would have to cast my vote for the toeclips... especially the metal ones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36138&item=3671954805&rd=1

not bad, but i wouldn't want to scratch them up...my clips hit the ground in the relaxed mode...

I have a couple of pairs of stainless clips still working from the early 90's. Stiffer than plastic, more weather resistant than chromed steel. Not beautifully finished and no obvious maker's name to share with you........

Always thought Binda straps work better than the cheap synthetic ones because the buckles dig into the leather in a really positive and reassuring way.
You need a good metal clip to hold it's shape, which helps you to locate your foot quickly. Tired old plastic clips can be a pain to get your foot into.
Rusty metal fastenings on your old straps are not an attractive look.......

Only use plastic clips on my winter/off road beater bikes now. Stainless clips are on pre-84 bikes, or when the knees are complaining.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36138&item=3672195874&rd=1

Tim - check clearance at Nashbar, Performance, etc - you can get clipless shoes for next to nothing sometimes. I got my Diadora shoes (which I love) for $18.95, about a third of what they usually go for.