j.walker

hi,

just got a fixed gear bike for commuting/ freeriding. it had clipless pedals, but they were low quality and i dont have those shoes. so i put toe clip pedals on.

is there a trick to starting from a stop with these pedals on a fixie? gravity always points them upside down, and as soon as the bike is rolling, it gets tough to slip my 2nd foot into the pedal.

thanks

dayvan cowboy

Practice. What kind of pedals are you using? Some have a little tab to help you flip the pedal and slide into the clip.

Also, a helpful skill to learn is trackstanding so you won't have to worry about getting into your clips after every time you stop

Jabba Degrassi

Practice practice practice.

You just have to get used to flipping the pedal quickly. If you have a bike that coasts you can practice on, that might be a good place to start if you're having a lot of trouble.

Also, pedals with those little metal pieces that stick out a bit help too, like the GR-9:

speedycat

+ 1

All of that is good, number one being practice. I learned how to do clips on a single speed, which makes it easier to get used to flipping the pedal, and you can transfer learning that to your fixie pretty easy. And the metal tabs make it much easier to flip the pedal; definitely worth it if you don't mind buying some new pedals.

Jabba Degrassi

Dayvan is right about trackstanding being a good skill to practice too. It especially helps at those lights where you'll only be sitting there for a few seconds.

aMull

I also had difficulty slipping my other leg into the pedal, but in time you'll do it fast and easy and without looking down. Trackstanding helps, though i lose it if the light is too long.

Doohickie

I'm not riding a fixie yet (although I'm working on it), but I use toe clips without straps on virtually everything else I ride. Like everyone else said: practice.

fuzz2050

WTB made a nifty little thing called 'toe-flips' back in the day. They were just a larger tab that bolted on to your pedal and made it easier to slip in.

Those aside, if your having trouble getting in, especially if your riding brakeless, take some time to practice with a freewheel. If you can't get both feet in within one revolution, practice some more.

JohnDThompson 

For sure, practice. And some pedals have bigger tabs than others, so shop around:

Duellist

All of the above, plus flexible shoes. If your soles are too thick/stiff, it's harder to feel which part of the pedal you're on.
I usually hook one toe in, get going, and clip in the other on the second stroke, while still going slow.
Practice, man. It'll feel like nothing in no time.

j.walker

thanks for the advice. i already got pedals (wellgos) they dont have tabs, but i bet with more practice it will get easier! i was starting to get the hang of trackstanding, but then i figured out that my crank was tweaked. i got some new/used ones, but they arent installed yet. the old sprocket is really stuck on. any tricks to getting it off?

i am starting to think i should have saved a little more for a nice bike, but upgrading to how i want it is part of the fun right?!

p.s. i will post pics whenever i get it back in one piece. thanks again for the help!

p.s.s. is it safe to take the straps off and just use the toe clips? i think someone posted something along those lines above. seems like it would be easier

blankgen

From what I remember, it is easiest to flip the pedal and kick in as it approaches the bottom of the pedal stroke. I had trouble at first because I was trying to get into the pedal as it came up/toward me. Then again, over thinking it might be bad so YMMV.

And clips without straps won't accomplish anything plus you'll likely snap them as soon as you pull up.

kyselad

Soft soles suck for riding if you plan to spend much time on the bike, though for quick rides it's not such a big deal.

The rest is good advice, and with enough practice, it's pretty easy even with stiff shoes, especially once you've learned to get in on the first couple of revolutions and before you're spinning too fast.

dayvan cowboy

I ride with GR9's in this pair of Asics running(i think) shoes that have a pretty stiff sole without much traction. They are perfect for riding, but sometimes when it's wet I have a bit of difficulty flipping the pedal around when I first start my ride(I live at the highest point in my town so the start of any ride for me is down/spinning fast from the get go).

Also i should add that the straps do more for keeping your feet secured to the pedals than the clips do, at least if you tighten them like you're supposed to.

deep_puddle

p.s.s. is it safe to take the straps off and just use the toe clips? i think someone posted something along those lines above. seems like it would be easier


no.

elTwitcho

Even more helpful is when you come to a stop just put an arm out on a light pole/newspaper box/cabbie so that you can rest your legs while remaining upright.

JohnDThompson 

They do make special clips intended to be used this way, but with a fixed gear you really want good foot retention. If your foot comes off the pedal when you're tearing down a hill going 140RPM, you're just not going to get it back on again until the bike stops moving, and good luck with that if you're riding brakeless. Keep the straps and learn to use them.

j.walker

ok, will for sure keep the straps on! guess i misunderstood someones post.

still looking for tips on how to get the jammed sprocket off...

Eastspur

I switched from pedals without tabs to ones with tabs and I really don't think the tabs help at all. You still have to pop the pedal around.

Flimflam

I use clipless. I used to use platform/SPD pedals (Forte Campus) but later switched to using Crank Brothers Eggbeaters - these have 4 sided entry, so I just have to mash down in the right position and I'll clip in. Occasionally I have to look down to see what the complication is (usually my foot is just way out of positioning to get the cleat in) but most of the time they allow me completely thought-free clipping in/clipping out.

Good luck!

chase.

once you get the positioning of everything right, it's not too hard to let the pedal catch your foot near the top of the rotation. it's hard to describe because i'm not looking at my foot when it happens, but a slightly toe-up angle on a shoe with some tread will catch the tab near the ball of your foot, and then flip the clip over your toe. cinch on the next rotation (or don't) and you're good.

kyselad

Not sure from your previous post what you mean by the jammed sprocket. You mentioned switching cranks, so does that mean your can't get the chainring off your cranks? If so, exactly what is stuck? Or perhaps you're referring to the cog on the rear hub?

dayvan cowboy

Next upgrade I'm getting myself is probably a set of eggbeaters.

Mistawes

I've gotta get me some straps, and change my fugly pedals! I suggest soaking some WD40 into the bolts that hold the chainring on, they're the only thing gripping it in place, once they're out there should be no reson for it being stuck.. Incase you're thinking of using it on your new crank, make sure they're the same BCD (spacing between the bolts) I recently found out the hard way how much it can cost buying cranks/rings and bolts seperately.. Worth upgrading the drivetrain though, make it a solid ride!

j.walker

got a nice new chainring with the new cranks. the bolts are out, but chainring is still stuck on. even tried a hammer...