Classic & Vintage - Handmade pedal cages

Has anyone with too much time on their hands and the inability to sit still attempted to make their own pedal cages? I have a few sets of cages (one metal, way too small for me and the rest plastic that fit me but are way UGLY) sitting around. I've been looking at them and a light (a little dim) went on in my head, make my own out of stainless steel sheet metal. I don't think it would be too difficult w/ some patience and a few simple forms made out of wood. When/ if I get around to this I will post some pictures. If anyone has tried this, lets hear about it!

I believe it would have to be spring steel to work right.

[edit] Never mind that; I was thinking toe clips.

I was thinking of making them out of old spokes... but never got around to it. Somewhere I saw a photo of a really old pair that were clearly made from twisted wire, which is what gave me the idea.

I believe it would have to be spring steel to work right.

Why do you think so?

oak or ash?

Why do you think so?

Are we talking pedal cages or toe clips?

Scott

I'm lost.

I'm lost.

Me too.

Scott

I'm lost.


your in the bikeforums C and V section. ;0)

http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by due ruote http://www.bikeforums.net/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=11265341#post11265341)
I believe it would have to be spring steel to work right.



Why do you think so?

Toe clips yes, but the topic is pedal cages so .... thin alloy plate would be better. I'd like to see some of the earlier designs replicated. Someone with a cnc machine could have some fun with this,

I used to make cages for BMX pedals. At one point you could buy aftermarket cages for popular pedals.

your in the bikeforums C and V section. ;0)

That doesn't mean we're lost, we're merely contemplative. :)

That doesn't mean we're lost, we're merely contemplative. :)

Good idea, never thought of running a network cable into the bathroom.............guess I could go WIFI

That doesn't mean we're lost, we're merely contemplative. :)

Or retrospective.

your in the bikeforums C and V section. ;0)

Celebrity visiting old folk's home to resident - "Do you know who I am?"
Resident, "No, but you go and ask Matron dear, she'll help you back to your room."

Sorry, meandered a bit there - Pedal cages, that's it. How about some plain 3 or 4 mm thick 20mm wide aluminium bar? Drill holes for mounting to the axle frame, toe clip holes if you use them - then file teeth in the top of the front and back plates with a saw sharpening file, drill and cut patterns to your hearts content, polish them and bolt them on? Never even thought of trying it, but if I could get the right metal? Anyone done this?

OK, are we discussing toe clips? Or pedal plates? Sounds like toe clips in the OP's post.
If one's handy, I'm sure it could be done...especially for unobtainable models like the Shimano platform pedal clips.
Those in stainless steel would be wonderful.

OK, are we discussing toe clips? Or pedal plates?

Ha! Tried that already! I still don't know .. why would anyone make pedal cages? Clips, yes, but cages? OP, please help us out here!

Scott

By the keywords use in his post, the OP is definitely talking about toe clips.

Continue with your daily business, people. :D

The only thing I have to offer to the OP, being some one who works with his hands is, if you have a vision then go for it! I work in wood, can't imagine the difficulties of metal but obviously you are not afraid to take it on, so do it! :)

This is what I have in mind. I may have used the wrong word to describe what I had in mind.... I had Shimano 600 clips in mind when I thought of this but, they would also be nice to add to my Gippemme pedals too
http://www.yellowjersey.org/toeclips.jpg

This is what I have in mind. I may have used the wrong word to describe what I had in mind.... I had Shimano 600 clips in mind when I thought of this but, they would also be nice to add to my Gippemme pedals too
http://www.yellowjersey.org/toeclips.jpg

Well in that case, I'm going to go back to my earlier assertion that you need spring steel. Other metals will fatigue too quickly. I don't know if there's such a thing as stainless spring steel, or how you'd work it.

I trust someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe spring steel results from heat treatment done after the metal is formed into its final shape. Basically, you take the right kind of steel, bend it to the shape you want it to have, and then you apply the heat treatment. It's not rocket science, but you have to know what you're doing.

rhm......Bingo......If you want to use stainless wire I say go for it. They may not last for 50 years but without abuse I bet they would last at least 10 years. I bet some old stainless spokes would work great. I think it is a great idea. I may give it a whiz myself when it cools off a little. 104 here today.

Celebrity visiting old folk's home to resident - "Do you know who I am?"
Resident, "No, but you go and ask Matron dear, she'll help you back to your room."

Sorry, meandered a bit there - Pedal cages, that's it. How about some plain 3 or 4 mm thick 20mm wide aluminium bar? Drill holes for mounting to the axle frame, toe clip holes if you use them - then file teeth in the top of the front and back plates with a saw sharpening file, drill and cut patterns to your hearts content, polish them and bolt them on? Never even thought of trying it, but if I could get the right metal? Anyone done this?

Oh, toeclips, not pedal cages.

Much easier I would have thought, but they are cheap enough to buy NOS & fully chromed. If you want to make wire ones, Google pictures of the old "GB" models of the 1950's. They seem very simple and effective (and being made of round section wire, they don't cut into leather shoes).

Velobase has these, don't know much about them:

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=4F793BD1-F16C-42D6-A15E-8A21CD7CA52E&Enum=103&AbsPos=21