mapleleafs-13 

It seems that NOS Alfredo Binda straps are almost as much as gold. they seem to fetch some crazy prices for just a bunch of straps. can anybody tell me why all the hype?

Chombi

It's the laminated version (Extra) iwth the nylon middle layer and leather on the both sides, that sells for a lot of money. It's because they do not stretch and lasts a lot longer than the single ply all leather version. I had Binda Extras on my pedals before I switched over to clipless in 85 and they performed as advertised and they do not delaminate like those Silva/Cinelli straps do.. IIRC, they were around 40 bucks back then. Pity that they costs so much now that they are beyond most C&Ver's pedal strap budgets.

Chombi

Drillium Dude 

The leather also seems very high-quality on the Extras - and wow, does it ever smell good

DD

gridplan

Also, the older Bindas had metal rollers and embossed lettering. These often fetch the most at auction. Not that it's a big deal, but the straps on the aforementioned Paramount look, at least to me, somewhat newer than the frame.

Metal roller:


Embossed lettering:

ftwelder

I started keeping the Binda straps that came through the shop because they worked great and hold their shape. Only later I learned he was a great champion, cycling coach and team captain.

Use caution and lube them up when trying remove them from pedals.

Road Fan

They have to be the classics of classics, the best interpretation of "toestrap."

I have the set that came on my 1980 Masi GC, and have left them on that bike. The only practical benefit I've found, compared to regular Bindas or even modern webbing Christophe or MKS, is that the stiffener makes them hold their shape better. I get into the toeclip more easily, sometimes.

clubman 

They're expensive because they were the preferred choice in the peleton and get consumed quicker than many components. What do they get now...$75?

rootboy 

They were the best, back in the day, with a lot of Italian cache. Still are. And there is something about the leather. Even on the "regular" version.
We should add some Binda pics here.

rootboy 

rootboy 

Been a long time since I've a nice older pair like that, with that very neat type face embossing. Very nice.

Italuminium

new desktop picture!

rootboy 

I like that one too, ItalU. I've since moved the cream colored straps to the Frejus, and put some black ones on the orange bike. Always liked the cream colored straps.

Citoyen du Monde

I know that I am far from alone in refusing to use the laminated version. They are uncomfortablely stiff and dig into your shoes when pulled snug for sprinting. Indeed, apart from the hipsters, I know very few people who would take the laminated version over the regular ones. Another point is that they delaminate just as much as the Cinelli ones as they are in fact identical to the Cinelli ones (Cinelli owned the Binda brand and manufacturing company). It is not rare to see Cinelli buckles on late production Binda straps and vice versa.

Citoyen du Monde

This photo shows how you the Fred way to use the straps. To be able to use the straps as they were truly intended, you should never feed the leather through the loop. This prevents you from being able to quickly tighten and loosen the straps as required. The strap should also go inboard of the peg on the pedal close to the crank, not on the outside.

This photo shows how the straps should be used. All you need to do is pull on the end of the strap and it automatically tightens and firmly grabs onto your foot. To loosen, all ou need do is push with your thumb on the rounded tip of the buckle (near the "i" in Binda of the strap in the photo)

rootboy 

BTW, I recently refurbished a set of old buckles, adding new leather to a set of Binda buckles. I was only moderately successful. They work but though I used heavy, 8 ounce black leather, it stretches more than that used on the original straps. Not sure what leather they used back then, or where it was cut from on the hide, but it was good stuff.
Also, in order to avoid the dreaded abrasion of the edges of the straps while inserting, I usually "relieve" the sharp edges of the casting/forging on my pedals with a Dremel.

dbakl

They were the best. Plastic laminated between 2 pieces of leather so they didn't stretch or break. Still have the originals on my '84 Cinelli.

dbakl

Right on my brother! It amazes me most people don't know how to do this anymore!

rootboy 

We're just old enough farts, Dbakl, to still be familiar with this method, I guess. However, I don't see how they'd work any other way. On my most recent build I actually mis-threaded the straps and couldn't figure out what the heck, until I got off the bike and looked. Had the strap placed UNDER the roller. Oops.

JohnDThompson 

They last forever. I've had these for over 25 years:

Chombi

I dunno where you might have encountered Bindas that delaminated easy, cause I never had that problem with the ones I had back in the 80's. Used them pretty much every day on my long early morning rides (40+ miles) before school and aside from the leather getting a bit mangy on them from road dirt and rain, I never had them fail/delaminate on me in any way in the three or four years I was using them. Never found them uncomfortable too. unless I happen to cinch them down way too tight. I think that also has to do with the design of the instep on your cycling shoes. I wore Diadora mesh shoes with velcro strapping, which seems to have been more comfortable on the instep when pressed down by toe clip straps. Maybe laced shoes are less comfortable with laminated straps.

Chombi

cyclotoine

Didn't the huge strap find from a few years back have the same buckle? Or am I wrong... I recall something about Dino on the strap and you could get them in black or white. Everyone, mass ordered them...

callig

I have a set that delaminated is there a glue that you could relaminate them with?

DiabloScott

Classy. Twist in the bottom reveals true cognoscienti. Would score higher for Binda Extra and a Campagnolo button thingy on the end.

Chombi

I tried to repair a delaminated set of Silva straps I had fall apart on me recently and I could not find a glue that would stick on to the nylon center layer. I tried "Goop" which is supposed to stick to pretty much anything, specially to leather and synthetic materials as it's supposed to work for repairing sole and upper damage on shoes,.......but the Silva straps still delaminated again immediately even with Goop and clamping down with weights. I suspect that the glues they used was combined with heat to really try to bond the leather on to the nylon surface, and in the case of these delaminating straps, something was not done correctly during manufacturing (not enough heat applied maybe?)....
Only other solution is to apply stitching through the layers on the whole length of the strap with strong upholstery string.

Chombi

clubman 

3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive is well respected for jobs like this. It's held the rubber tank pads on my Beemer for years. There's a range of related products from 3M bearing similar names. The product number I used is 80010 as opposed to the 08001 shown in the auction. YMMV

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-08001-SUP...-/120721192657