capnjonny 

I fell off my bike yesterday.

Actually I didn't fall off, I fell over standing still while still on the bike.

This is the second time in a month this has happened.

This time I was stopped on the side of the road in a dirt parking lot. my left foot was on the ground and my right foot was loosely strapped in. For some reason I shifted my weight and when I tried to pull my right sneaker out of the strap it wouldn't come out, I lost my balance and fell over on my right side.

A month ago the same thing happened, same side.

Since the first incident I have been very careful trying to avoid another fall. I noticed that the shoes I was wearing has small fabric loops that the shoe laces went through for the first 2 laces closest to the toe. Apparently the toe strap would catch on the loop making it hard to pull the shoes back out of the toe clip.

Reasoning that this was the problem I cut off the first loop on the right hand shoe yesterday before my ride and re laced the shoe starting from the second strap which put my laces behind the clip and strap.

Obviously it didn't do any good, my right shoe got caught on the strap and over I went.

I have always ridden with toe clips and straps and until these two incidents have never had a problem before.

Has anyone else had this problem and how did you deal with it.

I don't really want to use clipless pedals or buy $100 + bicycle shoes. And let me say again, my straps are always pretty loose.

3alarmer 

.
...I usually ride in old Shimano SPD mountain bike shoes, which slide nicely in and out of clips/straps. That's all i ride in. I'd be afraid to try my various pedal and clip combinations in regular tennis shoes/jogging shoes for just this reason.

You can set up road pedals with MTB clips, which are wider and give you a little bit easier in and out because they spread the straps more.

Bikerider007

I sometimes ride with some comfy Nikes and almost fell, the sole tapered out near the front. I took a razor blade to each side at the widest part, you can't even tell but it helped.

rekmeyata

You said you were on the bike but standing still does that mean you were doing a track stand?

If you were doing a track stand falling over wasn't the fault of toe clips and straps since the same thing would have happened in clipless pedals, its the fault of your inability to do a track stand all the time. Practice makes perfect and that's the only way you're going to get at doing that. I use to do track stands when I was young but as I've gotten older my balance is not the same anymore so I don't bother, then you find out in reality you never should ever need to do a track stand it just looks cool.

gugie 

Get some platform pedals, get used to them. and don't look back. Wear any shoe you want.

bulldog1935

I ride 3 bikes, one with toe clips and straps - need narrow shoes (narrow toe box to get in the clips) with shanks to avoid straining arches

On the other two bikes I ride thin, spiked platform pedals - any shoes will do, and I like Merrells.
Especially on road bikes, the pedal width can be critical relative to the bottom bracket height to avoid pedal strikes.

On my CX bike with high BB clearance, I ride giant Raceface Atlas, 114mm long x 101mm wide

On my vintage Raleigh with low BB clearance, I ride narrow Blackspire El Gordo, 94mm long x 74mm wide

Clearance is no issue with these narrow things, but if you have a wide foot, may want to search a little more (my feet are ice skates).
They actually market the El Gordos as women's pedals.
I tried VP-001, 110mm wide, but had a hideous time with pedal strikes on the low Raleigh bb.


My buddy's daughter just finished building a road bike with AEST platform pedals from Toronto bike shop, and and they're great, nice and narrow, and very inexpensive as platform pedals go
- they have many other styles to choose
https://www.torontocycles.com/Selling/Pedals.html

Compared to caged pedals, the newer platforms are so thin you actually have to lower your saddle.

there are a lot of new and old options out there if you search platform pedals (though most of the newer tend to be wider and wider). Just think about the width thing relative to your frame style.

MKS Sneaker pedals have a fan club (these are thick pedals like normal cage pedals)

For a long time on my Raleigh, I was riding MKS Lambda. They have good clearance, but don't stick quite like the spiked platforms.
These are also thick pedals like normal cage pedals

lostarchitect 

It's just bad luck. Don't psych yourself out.

bulldog1935

other option is fancy touring shoes for the toe clips that are quick in and out
Back in the late 70s through 80s, Avocet made wonderful lightweight fabric shoes.

If you want something like that now, they're custom leather - for my birthday treat, I just bought some Mamnick touring shoes from the UK.

repechage

I fell over once. Within a month of first buying a bike with toe clips and straps.
You learn. Now 44 years on, I still reach down to undo a strap before a stop, its second nature, even when riding clipless.

My suggestion, all bikes in the stable should be the same.

Road Fan

My bikes all wear clips and straps, but I keep the strap very loose, and wear a shoe with a tapered shape and a smooth sole.

I like that Mamnick shoe! Gotta check those out!

bulldog1935

they're actually lighter weight than my Chrome Kursk sneaker-style and a lot easier in and out of the strap


what I don't particularly like about these is Keds-style thick rubber strap around the toe box - just in the wrong place to make it harder to get the shoes past straps. But these do have good shanks for heel and arch support

bikemig 

+ 1.

gomango

I really like this idea.

I used to ride with SPD-SL and SPD pedals.

Those days are in the rear view mirror.

I have converted most of my bikes to XT SPD pedals and I am a happy camper.

100% by next season.

Celloplus 

I had a lot of problems with the strap clip setup as of three weeks ago, same issues you are having with the same stupid Nike shoes that flared. I went out and bought some of the fly knit shoes that are slender and practiced near a fence post getting in a out of the clips and straps over and over. After a few weeks and a few 20 plus mile rides I really started to get a hang of it. It's not 100% there like some of the other pros here, but it's deff getting a lot better. Keep at it, you will get it soon enough!

vintagerando

any additional suggestions for modern shoe ( or re-purposed shoe) to use with toe clips/strap set up? I found most the shoes I tried did not have a firm sole, so they bend too much. So shoes for intended for mountain biking work?

vintagerando

You may laugh, but I am wondering if a pair of well made, old dress shoes would work with toe clips/old school pedals.

towndock

A video of such a maneuver would be instructional to eager forum members.

jfowler85

You need 2-hole SPDs with low tension.

bulldog1935

I've seen my buddy with SPDs fall over the exact same number of times (been preaching them at me for 30 years - I smile and listen)

BTW, it's his daughter that gave up on SPDs and just build the road bike with platforms

except for the platform pedal suggestions, I think we're all answering his question wrong, my $200 shoes, etc.

About the brogans, good toe-strap riding shoes have narrow pointy toe boxes and no liners to keep them light and cool. But otherwise, they're made the same way. I was very impressed when I received my Mamnicks last week - they'are as sexy as my Italian loafers

bradtx

capnjonny, To my way of thinking, if the straps are loose you aren't really using the pedals as intended. Buy some platform pedals, pinned would be best, IMHO.

I rode using toe clips for many years and was a late convert to clipless. With proper shoes the technique is to a) loosen the strap b) lift your foot c) pull your foot rearwards. A track stand is a very good thing to learn, don't do it on a motorcycle tho'.

Brad

Bikerider007

I picked these up not long ago. Skate shoes with a stiff sole. They are perforated and look the part as well. I may use a perm marker to black out some of the vans. logos.

I ride two types right now, clips and straps and Velcro on the fixed gear. One strap at a 45 degree on the pedal and it holds tight and simple to slip out of by twisting foot outward. I used to buy but realized I had industrial pack of Velcro and made my own.

I really like those you ordered bulldog. I could do those and would like to find an old school set as well.

skycomag

I use zefal toe clips, no straps needed. been using them over 5 yrs,now.
no problems getting out of them in a hurry.
long lasting and cheap.
https://www.amazon.com/Zefal-Cristop.../dp/B0048HWQKS

bulldog1935

Those shoes look good Tob, but my strange-shaped feet need full laces to shape the shoe properly.

rootboy 

Has anyone said this yet? I think the operative word in the first post is "sneaker".

Rubber doesn't slide out of these types of pedal setups like leather will. Plus, sneakers are wider.

I would invest in a nice set of dedicated cycling shoes, with hard soles.

I've fallen over. Twice. Once, back in the early 70's when I was getting used to toe clips and straps.
And once, years later, when I forgot to reach down and flip the strap buckle, loosening the strap.
You get used to them, as some have said.

cs1

Honestly there is nothing wrong Vans. That is if you can get past the fact Sean Penn wore them 😞