Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Toe clips

Which clip/cage style pedals are the best in your opinion?

Soma quad gates with Toshi doubles.

Plastic clips I find to be flimsy and weak, single straps get the job done, but a nice metal clip designed for doubles and a double strap setup is the most secure next to clipless.

Personally I think the straps matter more than the clips. I find my plastic double clips + MKS Fit-Alpha double straps are far sturdier than my Soma Fourgates with two sets of Christophe singles. Besides, the plastic ones can surely take a beating, and you won't cry over high cost when/if they scratch or break.

Quad gates are nice, but they tend to dig into your feet if you were thin shoes (like vans or chucks). With a good set of double straps I don't see a huge difference between clips.

Cleanupinaisle3, what plastic double clips are you using?

Ditch the clips and straps and get some Holdfasts. Expensive for what they are but competitive to good doubles and clips. The wide strap feels like it transfers much more power to the pedals to me then all but the tightest doubles and you get easy adjustability and a bit of added clearance without the clips. Only drawback is that they are made for platform BMX pedals. To me this is a plus. I love my Haro Smallblocks and they are light and cost $8.

Ditch the clips and straps and get some Holdfasts. Expensive for what they are but competitive to good doubles and clips. The wide strap feels like it transfers much more power to the pedals to me then all but the tightest doubles and you get easy adjustability and a bit of added clearance without the clips. Only drawback is that they are made for platform BMX pedals. To me this is a plus. I love my Haro Smallblocks and they are light and cost $8.

This is what i wanted to hear.

I have tried all clips and straps, and while some clips and straps are better than others. clipless is by far the best you can experience.

But if it has to be clips and straps, MKS silvian pedals with MKS clips feel great. I have used cheap straps with them and expensive double straps, they felt very similar.

BUT THAT was the best clip strap combo I have had. Maybe toshi doubles would add to it, but as being as you can get a clipless setup the same price as a a pair of toshi's, I wouldn't recommend it.

Ditch the clips and straps and get some Holdfasts. Expensive for what they are but competitive to good doubles and clips. The wide strap feels like it transfers much more power to the pedals to me then all but the tightest doubles and you get easy adjustability and a bit of added clearance without the clips. Only drawback is that they are made for platform BMX pedals. To me this is a plus. I love my Haro Smallblocks and they are light and cost $8.

my hold fasts are no where near as secure as my wabi cycles straps and plastic clips.

Holdfast look comfy, but how do you get them tight on your feet with a set and forget method?

Holdfast is one big strap. How is that going to be more secure with a toe clip and a single/double strap?
There's still going to be more in and out movement in the former set up, no matter how much you tighten them.

Tricksters use them because they're easier to come out of and stronger for the pulling-up motion.

I have tried all clips and straps, and while some clips and straps are better than others. clipless is by far the best you can experience.

But if it has to be clips and straps, MKS silvian pedals with MKS clips feel great. I have used cheap straps with them and expensive double straps, they felt very similar.

BUT THAT was the best clip strap combo I have had. Maybe toshi doubles would add to it, but as being as you can get a clipless setup the same price as a a pair of toshi's, I wouldn't recommend it.

I affirm this all 100%. I had MKS sylvans and clips, and some Soma doubles (the best the LBS had), and I can say the setup was "good enough". Its limitations were almost entirely inherent to a clip/strap system itself, which I have now fully realized since going clipless. (Shimano M520 SPDs can be gotten for like $25 online then you just need to get some MTB shoes. I always wore the same shoes riding anyway, so now I just always wear my shimano M076s)

I gotta give a thumbs down to plastic cages, I can't imagine a universe where I would prefer those, give me the rigidity of metal please. (maybe if I wanted to ride in dress shoes?)

holdfasts suck

Quad gates are nice, but they tend to dig into your feet if you were thin shoes (like vans or chucks). With a good set of double straps I don't see a huge difference between clips.

Cleanupinaisle3, what plastic double clips are you using?

I got them off a friend for $5. I'm honestly not sure what they are.

They're actually far less flimsy than my Soma Fourgates/Quadgates. it's a lot easier to compress the metal ones than it is the plastic ones. The plastic is really stiff and thick.

The toe clip is just a framework for the strap, all the actual holding comes from the strap. The force against the pedals is down and up (if you pull the pedals on your upstroke) so the clip doesn't add to the holding power. Think about clipless pedals, the point of contact is under the ball of the foot.

Holdfasts hold my feet over the pedal more securely than the Wabi doubles and plastic clips I had with less play and easier in and out. They just feel more secure and convey more power to the drive train. It could have to do with the concave pedals I use with it are wider and more grippy than the GR-9s I ran with the doubles but that's just how it feels to me. If you ride regular sneakers they work great.

You can argue aesthetics and price but I think most of the people here dissing them haven't actually used them. I 'm not sure where you are getting the "in and out movement". Once you jam your feet in, they feel really tight. You need a little pivot to the side to get your feet out. The power on the upstroke is noticeable.


Holdfast is one big strap. How is that going to be more secure with a toe clip and a single/double strap?
There's still going to be more in and out movement in the former set up, no matter how much you tighten them.

Tricksters use them because they're easier to come out of and stronger for the pulling-up motion.

The toe clip is just a framework for the strap, all the actual holding comes from the strap. The force against the pedals is down and up (if you pull the pedals on your upstroke) so the clip doesn't add to the holding power. Think about clipless pedals, the point of contact is under the ball of the foot.

You're ignoring forward foot forces. A properly-sized metal toe clip resists forward pressure by the foot. So instead of just strictly Up or Down force, it's more of a 180°(+) arc where you can apply pressure. And with clipless it's 360°.

You're ignoring forward foot forces. A properly-sized metal toe clip resists forward pressure by the foot. So instead of just strictly Up or Down force, it's more of a 180°(+) arc where you can apply pressure. And with clipless it's 360°.

I disagree. Toe clips were designed to work with cycling shoes with slotted cleats and caged pedals, such that once the straps were pulled tight, the cleat will resist all front to back forces. Furthermore, it's the strap that resists upwards forces and the pedal that resists downward forces. The sole purpose of the clip is to resist twisting movements of the foot and to help keep the strap located on top of the foot.

Right but the since the strap grabs around the widest part of your foot, your foot doesn't go any more forward with the Holdfasts either so you have the same resistance. You can push forward against them, just like clips but I think the feeling is more akin to clipless since it is translated by the strap directly to the pedals rather than by the clip which has flex in it or at least that's how it feels. The more you push forward, the tighter the strap grips you foot which goes directly to the pedal. The feeling is very direct.

Also again having a wide, concave BMX pedal, your foot has a lot more tension against the pedal to start with. It sits in the concave more than on a flat platform or a cage.



You're ignoring forward foot forces. A properly-sized metal toe clip resists forward pressure by the foot. So instead of just strictly Up or Down force, it's more of a 180°(+) arc where you can apply pressure. And with clipless it's 360°.

I disagree. Toe clips were designed to work with cycling shoes with slotted cleats and caged pedals, such that once the straps were pulled tight, the cleat will resist all front to back forces.

Yeah they may have been designed that way for use with slotted cleats, but they're not like that anymore. I'm saying when I had toe clips, my foot went all the way into them, and the cage resisted my forward pressure at the toe. You don't agree that a metal clip can resist forward pressure? Perhaps you've only used too-large of clips or too tall of shoes or something.


Furthermore, it's the strap that resists upwards forces and the pedal that resists downward forces.
I wasn't suggesting otherwise.


The sole purpose of the clip is to resist twisting movements of the foot and to help keep the strap located on top of the foot.
I don't really understand how a toe clip can resist twisting foot movements. Are you thinking of the slotted cleat again? Does anyone still use those?

Right but the since the strap grabs around the widest part of your foot, your foot doesn't go any more forward with the Holdfasts either so you have the same resistance. You can push forward against them, just like clips but I think the feeling is more akin to clipless since it is translated by the strap directly to the pedals rather than by the clip which has flex in it or at least that's how it feels. The more you push forward, the tighter the strap grips you foot which goes directly to the pedal. The feeling is very direct.

Also again having a wide, concave BMX pedal, your foot has a lot more tension against the pedal to start with. It sits in the concave more than on a flat platform or a cage.

I wasn't really talking about Holdfasts, I'm not familiar with them myself. i was just countering what you were saying about clips/straps allowing only strictly up/down forces

You don't agree that a metal clip can resist forward foot forces? Maybe you've only used too-large of clips?

Perhaps a tiny bit of force, but once you apply any significant force, the clip will just flex. Once this happens the top of the clip will rotate up until the strap restrains it. When combined with a tight strap, a clip can thus resist forward foot forces, but it's still really the strap and not the clip that is doing the real work here.

Hold fasts are the closest thing I have found to clipless. They can be a bit tricky to get into with BMX pedals but once you get a feel they are great. I never get the feeling that my foot is backing out of the strap as I'm trying to stop like I always did with various types of clips.

MKS Slyvan pedals w/ All-City metal clips and double straps. I like them very much.

Perhaps a tiny bit of force, but once you apply any significant force, the clip will just flex. Once this happens the top of the clip will rotate up until the strap restrains it. When combined with a tight strap, a clip can thus resist forward foot forces, but it's still really the strap and not the clip that is doing the real work here.

I kinda disagree. A quality metal cage doesn't flex much against the small amount of forward-facing pressure I'm talking about. It's just retention. I agree that a metal cage would flex if pulling up on it, but a strictly forward-facing pressure is indeed resisted at the toe, the cage can't flex in the forward direction, or the bottom half of it would have to be stretching. I don't want to have to draw a picture, this is all kind of a subtlety. Of course the vast majority of our pedal force is in the downward direction.

I kinda disagree. A quality metal cage doesn't flex much against the small amount of forward-facing pressure I'm talking about. It's just retention. I agree that a metal cage would flex if pulling up on it, but a strictly forward-facing pressure is indeed resisted at the toe, the cage can't flex in the forward direction, or the bottom half of it would have to be stretching. I don't want to have to draw a picture, this is all kind of a subtlety. Of course the vast majority of our pedal force is in the downward direction.

I believe what he was referring to is the pressure felt when stopping a fixed gear with your legs. The stiffest test of a any foot retention is going to be making a hard skip stop. In this case all the pressure is going to be at the top of the foot.

I don't really understand how a toe clip can resist twisting foot movements. Are you thinking of the slotted cleat again? Does anyone still use those?
Yup. I do.

I believe what he was referring to is the pressure felt when stopping a fixed gear with your legs. The stiffest test of a any foot retention is going to be making a hard skip stop. In this case all the pressure is going to be at the top of the foot.

I don't think TejanoTrackie does much skid stopping, I could be wrong though. And the subtopic was forward forces I thought

Hold fasts are the closest thing I have found to clipless. They can be a bit tricky to get into with BMX pedals but once you get a feel they are great. I never get the feeling that my foot is backing out of the strap as I'm trying to stop like I always did with various types of clips.

This is what I've read in various forums and blogs. I don't see how they can be as tight as a cranked down double strap but I have no experience with them. I need to find someone with them so I can give them a try. Haven't heard anything bad about them but $60 is a lot to experiment with especially when my setup works. Do you (or nightfly) know of any pedals that work with them that aren't too big? I currently use GR9s and they are perfect.

i like mks aluminum clips and cadence double straps, the hold great and feel secure, on mks gr-9s

I really like the Dura Ace 7400 Pedals with Fujita Straps:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4381654938_45e8410130.jpg

The pedals I use with them are pretty big (Haro Smallblocks) but I like them better than the GR 9s that I used for years previously. Mostly people use plastic BMX pedals, usually the Odyssey Twisted PCs. One of the cool things about the hold fast/plastic pedal combo is that the plastic pedals have more grip on your sneakers by themselves than metal platforms due to the big surface area, concave and plastic pins and texture. While you wouldn't really want to ride GR-9s without clips and straps, the plastic pedals were made that way so you have a lot more built in grip but not so much that you can't slide your feet out (like metal BMX pedals with sharp pins). You might be able to thread the holdfasts through GR-9s but it would be a pain in the ass. Also you can crank them down pretty tight if you like, but they don't need to be super tight to work because the area they cover is pretty big and they grab your shoes more. I think all in all you've got a lot more surface tension than clips and straps. With clips and straps you need to crank them down more because all the surfaces are somewhat slick (metal pedal surface, metal or smooth plastic clip surface, leather or suede strap surface, usually worn slick with use).


This is what I've read in various forums and blogs. I don't see how they can be as tight as a cranked down double strap but I have no experience with them. I need to find someone with them so I can give them a try. Haven't heard anything bad about them but $60 is a lot to experiment with especially when my setup works. Do you (or nightfly) know of any pedals that work with them that aren't too big? I currently use GR9s and they are perfect.

Look, of course clipless are going to work better, but a lot of people here use their bikes for short rides and can't be bothered to wear MTB or road shoes all the time.

The people arguing about Holdfast straps not resisting forward forces haven't used them. The straps are tapered such that when properly adjusted, you can get your foot in, but no farther. I have a pair of Holdfast straps, and I have never had an issue with my foot slipping forward through the strap or not providing enough resistance to usefully apply forward pressure. If you think Holdfast can't resist forward forces well enough to compare to cages and straps, please try a pair first before commenting. They are actually designed to resist forward forces. Whether this design is good enough for you or not is up to your own opinion, of course.

"With two areas of adjustability and a unique wedge-profile, your feet don't slide forward. "
http://holdfastordie.squarespace.com/testimonials/

That's not my testimonial, but I feel the same way.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CFOQn7QxHPU/Svz435TTJpI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/HCKJSw5oSms/s1600/MKSholdfast.jpg

Looks like they'll fit on track pedals. I guess that'll work. BMX pedals are just so big and my BB isn't very high to begin with. I also have narrow feet/sneakers that would probably float inside Holdfast w/ BMX pedals.

Anybody use 'Power Grips', I've only used them briefly and think they are pretty good once your feet are in and allow you to easily slip out when you need to without drama or concern, I just found them a bit of a pain to get my foot in in the first place. Perhaps I need more practice with em..

Looks like they'll fit on track pedals. I guess that'll work. BMX pedals are just so big and my BB isn't very high to begin with. I also have narrow feet/sneakers that would probably float inside Holdfast w/ BMX pedals.

They fit track pedals just fine, if you get the right track pedals. The Origin8 and All-City Standard Track Pedals are fantastic for Holdfast straps. Here are mine on a set of Origin8 Standard Track Pedals:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=9ec5704dbcf5492c312dbd5f2bdc5062558a6425bb8928830ac99885da44e881


Anybody use 'Power Grips', I've only used them briefly and think they are pretty good once your feet are in and allow you to easily slip out when you need to without drama or concern, I just found them a bit of a pain to get my foot in in the first place. Perhaps I need more practice with em..

Power Grips are awful. The diagonal pressure band is not conducive to the forces you should be applying to the pedal throughout the circle.

Not to mention they are cheaply made despite being overpriced...

I think the biggest test is a long hard whipskid on a big gear. I snap out of clipless with these every once in a while, and sometimes a clip/strap setup will barf my foot when it's a really strong stop.

Having both clipless and clips/straps, I am going to say with 100% certainty that clips/straps are more appropriate for skids, especially if you have a tendency to whip. My Atacs feel really floaty and sketchy when you're pulling up hard, and if you pull sideways for a whip, you have to be careful they don't accidentally release. Granted I've only put ab 100 miles on this setup, I'm still much more confident with a pair of straps.

While clipless in itself is pretty mindless once you have the motion, clips/straps are definitely more secure for hard fixed riding.

Whip skids are my favorite. Nothing sillier than destroying your tires carving down asphalt hills like a snowboard.

Anybody use 'Power Grips', I've only used them briefly and think they are pretty good once your feet are in and allow you to easily slip out when you need to without drama or concern, I just found them a bit of a pain to get my foot in in the first place. Perhaps I need more practice with em..
Same here, I'm also new to them. I've been using them for a few weeks now and indeed, the stepping in takes some getting used to. Just don't tighten the straps too much, and practise getting in and out every now and then, and you'll soon be a smooth 'stepper-in'. :)

As a postman I have to get on and off my bike a lot, which got me used to the straps quickly. I doubt I'll ever be able to step in without looking though; it's too 'complex' a move with the straps facing down.

Btw I had a small accident a few days ago, I bumped into a car with my bike, but when it happened I could free my feet from the straps quite easily (I rather flew out of them; might've actually had something to do with the rapid stop ^^') so I came out unhurt.



Power Grips are awful. The diagonal pressure band is not conducive to the forces you should be applying to the pedal throughout the circle.

Not to mention they are cheaply made despite being overpriced...I agree on the overpriced part. Can't judge the durability aspect of these things but I once read that some people have used them for many years without too much wear.

And the diagonal strap placement, does it really have a significant influence on power output / efficiency?

I think the biggest test is a long hard whipskid on a big gear. I snap out of clipless with these every once in a while, and sometimes a clip/strap setup will barf my foot when it's a really strong stop.

Having both clipless and clips/straps, I am going to say with 100% certainty that clips/straps are more appropriate for skids, especially if you have a tendency to whip. My Atacs feel really floaty and sketchy when you're pulling up hard, and if you pull sideways for a whip, you have to be careful they don't accidentally release. Granted I've only put ab 100 miles on this setup, I'm still much more confident with a pair of straps.

While clipless in itself is pretty mindless once you have the motion, clips/straps are definitely more secure for hard fixed riding.

anyone else have this experience? i can skip, whip and regular skid, and i've found whip skids to be the fastest way to stop. though the dude at the lbs assures me you're not actually putting twisting pressure on your foot in a whip, i find that hard to believe. Yo! -- when you've pulled out, what's happened? do you wreck or what?

Here are my powergrips.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/xavier853/Halo/0417001448a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/xavier853/Halo/0417001448.jpg

I don't really like them. I never knew hold fast grips worked on track pedals. I also dislike BMX pedals. I will give HF a try on my new bike.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CFOQn7QxHPU/Svz435TTJpI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/HCKJSw5oSms/s1600/MKSholdfast.jpg

Looks like they'll fit on track pedals. I guess that'll work. BMX pedals are just so big and my BB isn't very high to begin with. I also have narrow feet/sneakers that would probably float inside Holdfast w/ BMX pedals.


i cant remember the name but someone posted links to a known and good BMX company that started making FG/SS parts....and one of them was a BMX style peddle, BUT it was slimmed down and decreased in width, so essentially it was a BMX style peddle but the same size/width as a track peddle.

and about the hold fasts, obviously that pic shows they do work on track peddles, and just for extra confirmation before seeing this pic i emailed holdfast and they said they do in fact work on most standard track peddles, such as the run o the mill orign8s, but are obviously better suited for the BMX style peddles.

i bought a pair and are on their way....

i know allot of clip/strap enthusiasts think these holdfast type foot retention are inferior, but i would think they would be better because there is more surface area over where the foot contacts the peddle the most....im sure someone will argue that point lol but whatever, to each their own.

I've been riding BMX pedals (Odyssey Twisteds) and Hold Fasts now for at least 6 months now and am fully converted. Previously, I had ridden MKS track pedals and clips/straps with no problems, but that was due to not knowing how good something new could actually be. I do feel a bit Fred-ish at times since I'm not riding FFG, but then I remember how damn good it feels and forget about the haters (suck my balls). Recently, I picked up a set of MKS GR-9s on sale and thought I would go back... only lasted 1 day on them (using clips and doubles). To quote a friend on the metal clips, who also tried to go back recently, "It felt like they were made out of knives." Maybe if you're riding around in a fresh pair of wingtips, but most of us are wearing soft shoes. If you haven't tried this set-up, you don't know what you're missing. I usually only ride fast and longer rides. These things rule whether spinning at full cadence down a steep hill, climbing that hill out of the saddle, or just cruising around the flats. (We already know how good they are for FFG.) I'm telling you, these are NOT just for tricks. I shot a few pictures for you. You can see that they are designed to keep your foot from going past a certain point. They really don't have any issues. I did take me a few weeks to break them in and get used to the different feel of the pedals. I would like to know more about this company making slimmed down BMX style pedals. That could be interesting.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4529091496_2b7bf74786_o.jpg

I think these may be them. Look like they might be another good choice for Hold Fast straps.

SNAFU "Anorexic" Pedals.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snafubmx/3254299062/sizes/o/

I've been riding BMX pedals (Odyssey Twisteds) and Hold Fasts now for at least 6 months now and am fully converted. Previously, I had ridden MKS track pedals and clips/straps with no problems, but that was due to not knowing how good something new could actually be. I do feel a bit Fred-ish at times since I'm not riding FFG, but then I remember how damn good it feels and forget about the haters (suck my balls). Recently, I picked up a set of MKS GR-9s on sale and thought I would go back... only lasted 1 day on them (using clips and doubles). To quote a friend on the metal clips, who also tried to go back recently, "It felt like they were made out of knives." Maybe if you're riding around in a fresh pair of wingtips, but most of us are wearing soft shoes. If you haven't tried this set-up, you don't know what you're missing. I usually only ride fast and longer rides. These things rule whether spinning at full cadence down a steep hill, climbing that hill out of the saddle, or just cruising around the flats. (We already know how good they are for FFG.) I'm telling you, these are NOT just for tricks. I shot a few pictures for you. You can see that they are designed to keep your foot from going past a certain point. They really don't have any issues. I did take me a few weeks to break them in and get used to the different feel of the pedals. I would like to know more about this company making slimmed down BMX style pedals. That could be interesting.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4529091496_2b7bf74786_o.jpg

do they recommend BMX pedals bc of the pins?

you can cut the pins off if you don't want them. if you look in the photos, you can see I cut off two of the back pins. You don't need them at all, but I like the grip

you can cut the pins off if you don't want them. if you look in the photos, you can see I cut off two of the back pins. You don't need them at all, but I like the grip

actually it looks like, at least on those "anorexic" pedals you mentioned above, the pins screw in/out, which would great bc you could remove them from the side w/o the straps so you don't risk cutting up your legs.

i'm actually looking at going with a setup of the snafu anorexic + hold fasts for my creamroller. anyone else have experience with these?

MKS Touring Lites, MKS steel clips, nice single leather straps. Anything else would be uncivilized.

What would you guys recommend for a weight weenie?

& something under 80$

Clipless.