Gaiamoon

Thanks for advice in advance. I just got my bike this past weekend (Gary Fisher Zebrano woman's hybrid), and here are the pedal specs:
Pedals Dual-density platform

After riding in my running shoes for 12 miles I decided that not only did I probably look ridiculous, I figure my feet are going to start hurting with more mileage. I really can't afford to change in my pedals and I don't want to do traditional toe clip straps, and clipless pedals scare me. I found the Nashbar mini toe clip, and it looks fairly easy. Can I attach these to the pedal I have now, and can I use these shoes with the pedal and clip? See pic. (Diadora RPM Multi Purpose Mountain Bike Shoe - Women). I picked the shoes because you can walk with them and they are cheap on Amazon, and it seems you can use them for road biking too.

linux_author

1. nice bike!

2. i have a pair of the Nashbar toeclips... used toeclips for years during the 70s and 80s, and the mini-clips are OK as they're inexpensive, and yes, will work with nearly any footfear (except bare feet?)

3. the main factor is the stiffness of the sole - i cannot say how stiff the sole is on the footwear you've chosen... what i did was buy a set of MTB shoes (sixsixones) and road shoes (Specialized Sonomas) that can be walked in, but also support use of cleats..

4. i'd be willing to bet you'll go clipless eventually; i was initially concerned about handling clipless riding, and like you, used the mini toeclips on my road bike (in fact, i still have 'em on my hybrid)... but clipless is nice and not that bad to learn - no biggie, really...

5. i miss Jersey beefsteak tomatoes and white corn! <sigh> should have married that gal from Hammonton 30 years ago!

:-)

staple

I used the Nashbar mini toeclips for about a month and a half before getting clipless pedals and shoes. No real complaints -- they give you the benefits of toeclips with minimal hassle (and expense). They're dead easy to get in and out of, and just about any shoes will work.

The major drawback for me (besides just not being as efficient as clipless) was that after about 7 or 8 miles, my toes started to go numb. You can't adjust the clips, so you're pretty much stuck. My feet are not terribly large (8.5 women's), but you might have less trouble if your feet are smaller.

My husband has the mini clips on his pedals now, and he also likes them okay, but is planning to upgrade to clipless as soon as the budget allows for the same reason -- toe numbness.

Don't know if your existing pedals will take the clips or not. I had the clips on a basic cage platform pedal (as does my husband). The metal outer "shell" of the pedal has holes in it to attach the clips. Take a look at the Nashbar cage pedal: that's the idea. Those pedals plus the mini clips will run you under twenty bucks, so it's still a pretty minor investment. Good luck.

qmsdc15

You might like Powergrips. They are easy to use, fit most pedals and shoes, hold your feet on the pedals better than mini clips and don't press on your toes.

jhota

i like Powergrips too - especially for town or casual bikes. better than bare platforms and easier to get in and out of than trad clips and straps. i used them for a couple years (early 90s) on my utility bike until i went SPD...

primaryreality

Another vote for Power Grips. I like mine. Most of the benefit of toe clips without the hassle, and you can use them with any shoes.

Gaiamoon

OK it looks like I will check out the powergrips more seriously now, and then maybe gradually move on to clipless pedals at some point. Thanks for the advice!