next.
I went to put the toe clips on the pedals for the next ride and found that they were solid plastic. So I drilled holes in the pedals and mounted them up. it took 10 minutes longer than I expected because I had to find my drill.

even loose the toe clips made a huge improvement because I had been positioning my foot too far forward. Now the ball of my foot was over the spindle (pedal axel) rode 6.5 miles and noe I didn't have to use my small front and my 34t rear to get up the stupid hills.

i didn't like that because i was going so slow that I was afraid i would fall over (4mph yuck) also I don't expect I will buy a mtb so it wont be geared so low. I am trying to stay completely out of the small front ring. any new bike will have a small front ring and I want to 'save' those gears for when I really need them.