EricBikesFixed

What makes them so good, and what makes other double straps so bad?

erichsia

It's not that other double straps are so bad necessarily; it's just that despite the cost, Toshi's are clearly superior. I can't speak for MKS & Kashimax, but I would guess that they're just as good in quality. The suede is stronger than the leather used in most other straps, and the construction makes them pretty resistant to stretching and delaminating. You hear people having problems with every other kind of strap, but you never hear anything but "buy Toshi's" about Toshi straps.

Saberhead

i was wondering the same thing

Geordi Laforge

they last forever and do not stretch or slip.
others delaminate/stretch/slip.

If you're riding brakeless, a wise move would be to purchase quality straps, unless you have an excellent health and dental insurance. one might be fine with lesser straps, but it could be a gamble or a reoccurring expense ($30 somas purchased 3x = one life-long pair of toshis)

If you're riding with brakes, I think there's a bit more leeway in your strap selection, but durability is still a concern -- just not as urgent -- more of a value and ride-quality concern.

toshis are expensive, but it's not a frivolous expense. but then again, if you're dropping 25 bucks for gr9s, 15 for clips, and 100 for toshis, you might as well drop 50 for time atacs & 90 for a decent shoe.

Understanding

they better outlast the bike then

Geordi Laforge

I'd wager they'd last as long as a decently-maintained brooks saddle...30 years or so. I dont see why not - just as many vectors of failure or wear as a saddle. When I rode brakeless and had soma doubles a couple years ago, they only lasted about a year.

Adam G.

To me they are a waste of money and completely unnecessary for just street riding. I bought a pair of leather christophe straps for $15 at the LBS and they are great, no slippage (even in rain) and they maintain their adjustment when you make it.

Plus I ride brakeless so they get alot of pull up force without slippage.

Pennywize

I've had mine for 2 years, no stretching,ripping or any sign of weakness... no replacing these anytime soon. Seems very pricey but they're definitely worth it.

EricBikesFixed

I had the christophe strap too and its slipping, ive had them... 2 or 3 months. And as soon as i pull up they slip. Its almost as bad as riding with no retention.

devilshaircut

I have heard zero good things about Soma double straps. Just a month or so ago, a friend of mine recently got some and in just a couple of weeks they were already looking rugged (though functional). I would not be surprised if her straps were completely shredded by December. No one I know who has bought Soma double straps has given them any praise, which, in my book, makes me extremely suspicious of them.

Adam G.

That's a bummer, at least you didn't spend $200 on them.

clink83

They are "cool", just like Sugino 75s or any other overpriced upgrade that people "need"

devilshaircut

I don't think they are overpriced. Everyone I know who has them is happy they spent the money on them.

Do you *need* them? Of course not.

What's wrong with Sugino 75s?

jim-bob

My toshi singles were free and worth every penny.

EricBikesFixed

And what are the toshi buttons? What do they do?

erichsia

I try to buy the most reasonably priced parts that I can without sacrificing what I consider to be quality. The only time I have broken that rule was in purchasing a Brooks Swallow, which was still only $125 at the time from totalcycling, a Miche Advanced drivetrain also from totalcycling which was only $150 for crankset/chainring/chain/bb, and my Toshi doubles. The Toshi's I paid close to full retail, $82 after shipping off of Ebay. Expensive? Absolutely. Worth it? Every damn penny. 4 months ago I wouldn't have said that. The thought of paying $80-$100 for a pair of leather straps would've seemed ridiculous. Riding them now, I wish I had never d!cked around with anything else and just gone straight for them. Cool or not, expensive or not, they're worth it. And if your of the brakeless variety, they're crucial.

EricBikesFixed

I think I'm going to break down and get myself a pair. Anybody seen any good deals on them lately?

Geordi Laforge

smartbikeparts has the lowest price, I believe.
https://smartbikeparts.com/search.php...&man=Fujitoshi

HybridPilot

^^^ i bought mine from that website.

i bought toshis about three months ago. no slipping or any issues. hopefully i wont ever have to replace them.

my set up consists so mks sylvans, black toshi doubles and mks steel clips.

i do want to try clipless in the future.

jhaber

I ride generic double straps and have for over a year without a single problem. I must not be riding hard enough I don't skid that much though even though I ride brakeless. Core!

PluperfectArson

I tend to look at things as price per use.

If you purchase a pair of Toshi doubles at 100$, the cost goes down with every use. If you ride your bike every once-in-a-while, they may not seem worth it. If you are riding your bike hundreds of times, the Toshi doubles cost goes down to a fraction of a cent. Seeing as they last so long, they pay for themselves.

This is how I justify wearing 200$ jeans.

devilshaircut

The problem with $200 jeans though is that, yeah, you probably wear them a lot, but they also probably aren't manufactured to withstand the rigors of bike riding, meaning they wear out hella fast.

Yeah, I realize you were just using it as a figure of speech and probably don't wear $200 jeans on your bike. I'm just bitter coz I am sitting here at my office desk with two big holes in my jeans because they finally started coming apart due to bike wear and tear. They lasted a long time though! Levi's - I highly recommend them!

PluperfectArson

Haha, I cannot handle riding a bike in jeans. I did it a few times, but it was so uncomfortable after a while. It is always my khaki shorts, sweat pants (if it's a lazy day for me), usually with bike shorts underneath.

And holes in your jeans just show that you love them. <3 My jeans, from wearing them so much, have holes in the crotch and butt area. I pretty much wear jeans until they are destroyed, then switch over to another pair of pants until they are destroyed, haha. I own about four pairs of jeans in total, which I used to wear all the time, but shorts are preferred at the moment.

EDIT: Highly OT, but somewhat financially related in how I abuse pants for the price.

devilshaircut

Hah yeah ... basically I have 2 pairs of jeans I wear. My expensive ones I wear to nice places, and then the Levi's. $50, lasted me roughly 6 months of regular wear. Time to get new ones!

For the summer I also prefer wearing shorts. Cutoff jeans, usually.

Jeans I do think you are right about not being *that* great for cycling. At least my jeans. I think the tightness of them makes it more difficult for me to pedal. Could just be my imagination though, but I have had roadies come up next to me while I'm commuting and say stuff like "How do you ride in clothes like that?!?".

dddave

primato, not advanced.