Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Are plastic toe clips really that bad?

Search
Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Are plastic toe clips really that bad?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-07-08, 11:19 AM
  #1  
Molished Bikes
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 91

Bikes: '05 Electra Townie - '06 Specialized RockHopper Comp Disc - '08 Surly Steamroller

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Are plastic toe clips really that bad?

Thoughts?

Last edited by DaHowie; 08-07-08 at 11:19 AM. Reason: added an 's'.
DaHowie is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 11:20 AM
  #2  
FNG
 
Jabba Degrassi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,313

Bikes: 2008 IRO Angus, 2008 Jamis Exile 29er

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Some people seem to prefer them as they are wider and, apparently, less apt to snapping.
Jabba Degrassi is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 11:21 AM
  #3  
Team Sohoku
 
SingleSpeeDemon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Not where I want to be.
Posts: 2,003

Bikes: BMC, Cannondale, '87 Nishiki Modulus, 3Rensho Keirin

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I use them on my commuter. No problems whatsoever.
SingleSpeeDemon is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 11:22 AM
  #4  
jpdesjar
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
i like mine, the only thing i am noticing is that at the top where the strap goes through is wearing down from dragging on the ground...meh
 
Old 08-07-08, 11:46 AM
  #5  
Get Down In The Up Town
 
Cash_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
yeah i snapped 3 pairs of alloy tow clips in a few months from riding around where i live (from going on and off curbs due to bad drivers and bad roads) and now i just use plastic ones and haven't snapped one yet although alloy ones are much more comfortable
Cash_ is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 11:51 AM
  #6  
Ketchup
 
middy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 464
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 2 Posts
Steel or plastic work. Aluminum just ain't tough enough.
middy is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 11:52 AM
  #7  
On-On!
 
Dr.PooLittle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 181
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My plastic ones were more comfy than my steel ones, but the plastic ones broke @ the screw holes, something that metal would never do.
Why doesn't anybody make wide metal ones?
Dr.PooLittle is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 11:56 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
patrickgh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Towson, MD
Posts: 361

Bikes: Windsor "The Hour"

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My clips must have been smashed down for a while, because they open side seems to rest very close to the pedal (if that makes sense.. think of it as "closed"). That made it entirely too difficult to get my feet in while moving I have steel clips that hold their shape now, and it's exponentially easier to get my foot in
patrickgh is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 12:15 PM
  #9  
FNG
 
Jabba Degrassi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,313

Bikes: 2008 IRO Angus, 2008 Jamis Exile 29er

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Dr.PooLittle
My plastic ones were more comfy than my steel ones, but the plastic ones broke @ the screw holes, something that metal would never do.
Why doesn't anybody make wide metal ones?
Soma does.
Jabba Degrassi is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:16 PM
  #10  
Fissato Italiano
 
Aldone's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Torino, Italy
Posts: 300

Bikes: Fixed Gear & Single Speed Only

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
they're ugly but they're really good
Aldone is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:27 PM
  #11  
Molished Bikes
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 91

Bikes: '05 Electra Townie - '06 Specialized RockHopper Comp Disc - '08 Surly Steamroller

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aldone
they're ugly but they're really good
Reminds me of the movie 'Crazy People' and their Volvo commercial slogan, "Volvo, They're Boxy, But They're Good."
DaHowie is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:34 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
2wheelsgood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 646

Bikes: '08 Marinoni Pista, '05 specialized langster(RIP), '06 norco kokanee(RIP), '05 norco charger(RIP),'08 surly steamroller, surly big dummy coming soon!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
i rode plastic clips for 2 years and loved them. and they're cheap!
2wheelsgood is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:45 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
iamtim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054

Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
This is not a problem for me... I use PowerGrips.

*GD&R*
iamtim is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:52 PM
  #14  
Baka dakara
 
supercub's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Honolulu
Posts: 394
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
my powergrips broke
supercub is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 03:00 PM
  #15  
aka Phil Jungels
 
Wanderer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Aurora, IL
Posts: 8,234

Bikes: 08 Specialized Crosstrail Sport, 05 Sirrus Comp

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 202 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times in 60 Posts
Overpowered 'em????
Wanderer is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 03:09 PM
  #16  
not aristotle
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 113
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Wanderer
Overpowered 'em????
lulls
awristawful is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 03:12 PM
  #17  
Tri Fixed Road
 
eMwolB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 507

Bikes: Litespeed, Kestrel, KHS, Pinarello, GT, Mustang, Giant

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Aldone
they're ugly but they're really good
yeah, so are.............never mind
eMwolB is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 04:54 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 128
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've seen some plastic ones that stay open and hold their shape, which I imagine would be fine, but my stock plastic ones were super floppy and would never stay open, so it was a b*tch to get my foot into when I rode fixed. Switched to steel MKS and have to say its way better.
sential is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 05:53 PM
  #19  
On-On!
 
Dr.PooLittle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 181
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jabba Degrassi
Soma does.
Hey, they look nice, I'll have to get me some:

Dr.PooLittle is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 05:58 PM
  #20  
sammich.
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
steel is real
Fragglerock is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 06:05 PM
  #21  
Ths Hipstr Kills Masheenz
 
cc700's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: seattle
Posts: 8,542

Bikes: tirove

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
i switched from plastic, to steel, but also at the same time i put on spd's on a road bike.

i think plastic is better for cost... steel isn't nice enough of an upgrade to be worth the extra seven bucks.
cc700 is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 08:43 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 54

Bikes: 1986 Bridgestone Mile 112, space violet

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
plastic good
nestablifted is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 01:39 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
04jtb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: West Dorset, UK
Posts: 908

Bikes: 1983 Dawes Galaxy, 2006 Raleigh Airlite, 1982 Sun Solo (fixed)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
No problems with mine
__________________
Originally Posted by cc700
i jam my thumbs up and back into the tubes. this way i can point my fingers straight out in front to split the wind and attain an even more aero profile, and the usual fixed gear - zen - connectedness feeling through the drivetrain is multiplied ten fold because my thumbs become one with the tubing.
A group for all Dawes Galaxy owners to give and recieve information about them
https://flickr.com/groups/dawes_galaxy/
04jtb is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 02:04 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
cyclezealot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France
Posts: 13,230

Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1485 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times in 64 Posts
I spend too much time looking down at strap systems and ignore the road. It can take a lot of time to get your feet into the things . Power grips are a little less awkard. It takes so long fumbling about and ignoring the road, i'd thought I'd crash. It clipless for me. I never have to take a glance, its like automatic.
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living










^ Since January 1, 2012
cyclezealot is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 02:08 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
cizzlak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 280

Bikes: 1994 Trek 1200, 1984 Raleigh Prestige, 1980 Motobecane Grand Jubile, custom 531 track, and a bunch of tinker bikes of all type

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I got to be fairly automatic in grabbing that little V shaped bit on the pedal and rolling it back, sliding my foot in and nestling it side to side in my clips/straps just the same... To each their own
cizzlak is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.