General Cycling Discussion - Anybody use Power Grips pedal straps?

Good Day All,

I am considering purchasing either Time ATAC pedals or Power Grip pedal straps. I hear almost all good things about the Times, and if it weren't for the need to buy shoes I would definitely buy them. I will be riding about 90% in the city and 10-15% on trails/singletrack. The straps are cheaper and work with most any shoe, but my question is do they work?? Can't find a whole lot of info on them out there, if anyone has experience with them and would like to help me out I would appreciate the advice.
-BT

I've used them, and, yes, they work; and no, I don't like them.

In fact they're sitting on the floor behind me right now, unless the cat ate them while I was out to the movie.

I found them hard to get into, uncomfortable on my feet, and dorky looking in the extreme. And though looks are not everything with me (which is a good thing!), they do count for something.

If you do a search in the Forums search box, you'll find posts about them from summer 2001.

I have some powerstraps..Love them. I don't use them a whole lot any more since I got clipless but I still like them. The way they go on the pedals it kinda gets you ready for the clicking out motion of clipless pedals, so that is a perk also. They aren't very expensive either.

I use Powergrips on one of my bikes. I like being able to use any shoe and still have some transfer of power on the upstroke and no foot 'slippage'. Obviously they are not going to be as efficient as clipless though.

I find the comfort level tolerable with my (soft-topped) sneakers.

I had them on my mountain bike for a while and didn't really like them, for one they were hard to get out of fast, sometimes when I rode trails on my bike I would hit soft dirt and have to ditch the bike, letting it skid under me (sometimes unavoidable) in these cases the straps would hold me not letting me get off of the bike in time.

I guess if you got use to them they are not bad, but they just weren't my thing

I just sent for a pair from Performance. I want to try them on my "beater bike" a Raleigh mixte frame - 12speed - to prep myself for clipless. If your riding a Road bike these will not satisfy you after you mastered them nor a MTB either. I would rather ease into clipless before I break my neck with clipless.My advice is to use them as a transition tool. Years ago every quality Road Racer came with toe clips! My how things change!

Hi Bigtime :D

Yeah, I tried these for a while when they first came out, and used them for about a year, before I got into clipless pedals.

My advice would probablystck to clips and straps, or go the clipless way....after using Power straps for a while, I wanted to scratch my eyes out with a blunt spoon....hmmm, maybe that says a bit more about me, then them however! :confused:

Rich

I confess I only gave them a few days of trial, but I really disliked them. I found them uncomfortable and extremely awkward to get into and out of, but maybe it was just because I've got wide size 12 feet.

I'm currently using Zefal mini-clips (short stubby clips without the straps) (note: if you've got feet shaped like a large pair of flippers, go for the large Zefal ones, the others I tried were too small). I'm quite happy with these for the time being - I can use any shoes, get my feet out quickly in traffic, my feet don't slip off the pedals and I've got something to push against on the hill climbs. They're also less than a third of the cost of Power Grips :D

Richard

Originally posted by Bigtime
Good Day All,

I am considering purchasing either Time ATAC pedals or Power Grip pedal straps
-BT

Why have you excluded good old fashioned toe clips from the decision. You get to use any shoes, and if you refrain from cinching them tight, then release is very quick. They are esp good in winter, used with light trail shoes or boots. Waterproof clipless footwear costs a fortune and seems to be built for extreme conditions only.

Originally posted by Road Warrior
My how things change!
If only it were for the better...

Thanks to all of you for your input, including those of you who will post after I submit this post. I have decided to forgo (forgoe?) the Power Grips for the time being and will try out the Zefals that Richard mentioned previously. I purchased some Times on Ebay for a good price, and if I don't like them I can always resell them and get some $$ back. I'm not looking forward to buying expensive clipless shoes but I don't think the bike shop will let me try them out first. Ce' La Vie:p

Michael, I excluded toe clips/straps because from what I understand they are a pain to get into and out of, whereas you have to look down at your feet to get them in to the cages properly. You also have to adjust the buckle somewhat depending on the shoes you are wearing. I tried them once on a test ride and I did not care for them. Probably because I was not used to them and I did not give them a chance, but first impressions are important. They obviously work for you, and I say if it ain't broke don't fix it:D

Thanks again, you guys (and girls) are top notch!!
-BT

When you get used to them, clips and straps are not hard to get in and out of, and you never have to look down. As for adjusting the strap, at most you'd have to do it once per ride, unless you just wanted it extra tight for more oomph on a stretch where you weren't going to have to stop often.

But as you say, first impressions are important--there is even a (surprisingly good!) book called, as I remember, Contact: The First Four Seconds that takes its name from the author's premise that the first four seconds of any meeting of two people are crucial to the tone of the meeting and any possible relationship that develops from it. It sounds so hokey, but actually the book was good.

Hope you enjoy the Look pedals--just remember not to talk like a duck when you wear those shoes, because you'll already be walking like one, and you know what they say.... :)

I have used Power Grips since the early 1990s on my mountain bike and have found them to be durable (they have never worn out). It is easy to get my shoes in and out of the straps with ease.

Wow! This thread had been asleep for seven years!

I used Power Grips for a year or so several years prior to 2002. Transition from toe clips to clipless/SPD.

I used powergrips for a while, but I found that they pinched too much. Started riding the new Hold Fast straps about two weeks ago, and I have to say that they are awesome. Totally solid clipped in feel, and they are adjustable for when I wear different shoes.

I tried my powergrips earlier this week but I hated them. I have wide duck feet and had a hard time keeping my foot in the pedals. It's just SPDs or platforms for me from now on.
Ernest

I've used Power Grips and loved them. I tried SPDs and love them more.

Wow this thread is old.
Someone must have wanted more info tho so...

I have tried PowerGrips and Toe Clips.
The powergrips are easier to get into than clips.

But what is even better than both of them, is to Modify your Toe Clips to run the strap diagonally *like* powergrips.
This makes it act like an improved powergrip, with the toe cage holding the strap open so its easier to get in.

I wish I'd come up with PowerGrips.

It's one of those amazingly expensive yet cheap to manufacture items that people unwittingly purchase, thinking it will solve problems that don't exist, then after using them for a while and realizing their folly are too embarrassed to return for a refund, instead moving on to more proven systems. Perfect product IMO.

I went from SPDs and dedicated shoes, (talk about dorky) , to Powergrips. Have them on four bikes, love them. I don't use them on MTBs, for fairly obvious reasons. Great for centuries and touring, but they're on my daily commuter as well.

Holy thread resurrection.

Clipless pedals and commensurate shoes are dorky in comparison to straps that look like they belong in a mistress' dungeon rather than on a bike? I think not.
There are some things that are dorky about cycling apparel, cycling shoes are not one of them.

I had clipless on my road bike, toeclips on my hybrid and platforms on my townie. I tried PowerGrips on my hybrid, my primary commuter bike, and now have them on all my bikes and my son's mountain bike. Been using them for years. I love'em.