Bicycle Mechanics - one-piece cranks and clipless pedals

Are there any clipless pedals at all that fit the 1/2" thread in one piece cranks? I've been looking, but I can't seem to find any.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/pedals.html

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/pedals.html

More specifically, the adapter at the top of the page that takes 1/2" to 9/16"

I'd be worried about the increased Q factor with those pedal adapters, but aside from drilling and tapping for 9/16 (by a machine shop and probably not cheap) that's pretty much the only option.

Have you considered trying toe clips?

I would not worry too much about "the Q factor". If you are a top level competitor and need pedal adapters -- then you may have a problem. If you are a casual/beginner/youth/occational rider that wants his comfortable riding shoes to work on his 1 piece crank -- then get the adapters. You will not hurt anything or lose vast amounts of power.

I'd be worried about the increased Q factor with those pedal adapters, but aside from drilling and tapping for 9/16 (by a machine shop and probably not cheap) that's pretty much the only option.

Have you considered trying toe clips?

Most bikes with one piece cranks aren't really going to benefit from having clipless pedals put on. If you're going to go that route...

I, too, would prefer a different bike, but I couldn't say there's absolutely no benefit to clipless.

Airburst, you might be able to make some by taking the spindles from 1/2" pedal and putting them into clipless pedals. There's no telling which spindles would work.

I'd be worried about the increased Q factor with those pedal adapters, but aside from drilling and tapping for 9/16 (by a machine shop and probably not cheap) that's pretty much the only option.

Have you considered trying toe clips?

I think the toe clips and straps would make more sense.

Another option would be to take the clipless pedals to a machine shop and have the threaded spindles re-threaded to 1/2 inch. But if you do that take the cranks with you so that the shop knows exactly what you want. A good set of shoes to go with the clipless pedals will add a lot to the costs. With clips and straps you could wear just about any kind of shoe.

I think the toe clips would make more sense.
Another option would be to take the clipless pedals to a machine shop and have the threaded spindles re-threaded to 1/2 inch. But if you do that take the cranks with you so that the shop knows exactly what you want.

*seriously*

What kind of bike with one piece cranks is this actually worth doing for?

For the love of god, don't sully a pair of clipless pedals with a one-piece crank... it's just... wrong, somehow.

/shudders

*seriously*

What kind of bike with one piece cranks is this actually worth doing for?

That's up to the OP, who just wanted to hear what the options were.

Most of the department store platform pedals now come with those 9/16 to 1/2 adapters. They are $6 or so in the US. It's probably your cheapest option.

Rather than Jury rig something together, would it be possible to go with a new, inexpensive two or three piece crankset with a new bottom bracket?

Yes, and it would reduce weight by a lot. It would be quite costly, though. What kind of bike is it, anyway?

I put a pair if 1/2" pedals on my 3-speed PUCH - and installed toe-clips/straps. Works great. But I wouldn't even think to consider clipless. Whatever yanks your crank.

How about tubular tires?

Stretch em over 27" rims FTW : p

Most of the department store platform pedals now come with those 9/16 to 1/2 adapters. They are $6 or so in the US. It's probably your cheapest option.

I'd like to see these. I have a hard time believing a $45 piece of machined steel can be replaced by something that costs $6 at a department store. I have a hard time believing that a department store would even consider carrying at item that's very rarely carried at very eclectic albeit knowledgable bike shops.

You do understand that we're trying to put a 9/16" thread pedal into a 1/2" thread crank, don't you?

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/kneesavers.jpg

Are there any clipless pedals at all that fit the 1/2" thread in one piece cranks? I've been looking, but I can't seem to find any.

Years ago I thought I saw a Wellgo pedal with an add-on clipless thingy. The pedals were available with 1/2" thread, so it might have been possible. Now, I don't think so. The Kneesaver gadgets or switching to 3-piece cranks are probably the only way to make this happen now.

The $6 department store doodads go the other way, up to 9/16 from 1/2.

Another alternative is Powergrips; installed correctly, the foot retention/release is the same motion as a clipless. That's how I got familiar with clipless to start with.

There are also BMX wanna-be's available though the big-boxes that come with square-taper cranks; the LBS can order them, too. United Bicycle Supply carried them, last I knew -- used to have their catalog, as we were recognized as a bike retailer (W-M).

The 1-piece cranks with 9/16"are still available. Bikeworldusa list them instock. Debbie runs the place, call her to double check.
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_info.php/cPath/124_70_86/products_id/1665

The alternative route would be to put in a BB conversion kit. There are two different styles
First w/bearing setup similar to a one piece crank
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_info.php/cPath/124_70_80/products_id/942

or a set of threaded BB adapters
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_info.php/cPath/124_70_80/products_id/1037

Are there any clipless pedals at all that fit the 1/2" thread in one piece cranks? I've been looking, but I can't seem to find any.

There were some very rare bmx 1/2 clipless pedals made long ago, I picked up a pair once but have never seen another in several years.

In addition to the adapter mentioned, I have wondered about taking a platform from a 9/16 set, and assembling that clamp on a 1/2 pedal.

Most of the department store platform pedals now come with those 9/16 to 1/2 adapters. They are $6 or so in the US. It's probably your cheapest option.

Problem is those are 1/2 pedals with adapter to fit 9/16 cranks, the OP needs the opposite. The adapters on Harris' site is the direction he needs.

*seriously*

What kind of bike with one piece cranks is this actually worth doing for?

There are high end bmx 1 piece cranks out there.

The $6 department store doodads go the other way, up to 9/16 from 1/2.

Another alternative is Powergrips; installed correctly, the foot retention/release is the same motion as a clipless. That's how I got familiar with clipless to start with.

There are also BMX wanna-be's available though the big-boxes that come with square-taper cranks; the LBS can order them, too. United Bicycle Supply carried them, last I knew -- used to have their catalog, as we were recognized as a bike retailer (W-M).

Here they have both sets. They have a set with the 9/16 threads and 1/2 adapters, or a set with 1/2 threads and 9/16 adapters. Both are $5.99. Pretty clumsy, but they work.

I'd like to see these. I have a hard time believing a $45 piece of machined steel can be replaced by something that costs $6 at a department store.

Economies of scale, cheaper material (likely steel versus stainless), and produced in China. That's how they did it.