Leather toe straps not rigid anymore
 

I purchased some christophe leather straps about a year ago and now they are pretty flimsy. The leather seems to be kind of on the thin side. I'm thinking of riveting in my own leather that would stay more rigid and I can choose my own thickness if I can find any around somewhere. I read about using shellac to stiffen leather but haven't tried it yet. I did try the water and white glue trick but it was short lived. Which brands of toe straps had thick leather?

i think back then leather straps were kind of like shoe laces. replace frequently. Alfredo binda and campagnolo c-record straps had a layer of steel sandwiched between leather to eliminate stretch. Most pros road binda.

Christophe were pretty much the standard back in the 70s. We usually used them until one broke. What's the problem with it not being rigid? The Bindas were nicer and can still be found on ebay. They had a piece of thin plastic laminated between 2 pieces of leather.

Thanks for the replies. I was just looking at the binda's on ebay. The plastic is nylon. I might be able to find some nylon cheap somewhere.

Performance leather straps -- $12

Plus shipping.

Leather straps were not frequently replaced nor show pieces, I lived that era and I still have and use leather straps. If you haven't lived in that era don't say something stupid as if you know. I've had leather straps last 5 to 8 years of constant daily riding and racing. The better the leather strap the longer it lasted, the best were some sort of laminated leather strap. Nylon will last about 8 years as well but their slippery and will actually loosen up as you ride so you have to keep snugging them up.

Currently Christophe and MKS makes the best I think, Zefal also isn't bad but probably slightly below the other two brands. There is the only laminated one I could find sold at Velo Orange called the Grand Cru Laminated Leather toe strap, I've never used that brand but I have used laminated straps and they last longer then straight leather. http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...toe-staps.html

Bindas are the way to go. There were multiple models, the regular which was much better than everybody else and the Extras with the plastic layer laminated between. One could wear them out, but it takes decades. They also made a later upmarket strap, the Super. Nylon mesh on the working side, they should last a long time too.

None of the Bindas are very cheap on ebay today. For price/performance the current production straps should work. But, I think the stitching will fail first as the strap teeth erode the threads at the closure point.

I have clip shoes and a clip system, but I never get around to employing them on any of my bikes. I've been using straps since I was a kid — back when we thought the Cold War, Strontium 90 in our milk, and the threat of nuclear annihilation was a normal state of affairs. Yes, they do get a little floppy — very quickly — Christophe and MKS as I have always used. Tried nylon for a few years. Gave up. With leather I just set the pedal and strap up with a really long tongue. I mean that I buy the longest strap that I can find. And at least here in Nippon they come in varying lengths. When I get out of traffic and into open road, when I want to 'lift and spin', I reach down and give the tongue a big yank. That gets me in pretty tight.

I can find some very nice leather here in a crafts store, and I have considered making my own using new rivets and MKS hardware. But ... so much riding to do, so little time. Most of my straps are MKS.

If you want the ultimate in straps, you can go to the clips and straps used in Japanese keirin racing. NOT CHEAP! It's pro gear. But there are TWO straps on each toe-clip, and they are pretty substantial. I've never used them, but they sure look good and they must be effective.

I've also used single straps and the usual MKS toe clip with pista track cleats. They have a slot that runs into the pedal frame. WOW! You really are anchored in that way! I stopped using them after I turned turtle in the middle of a highway crossing with my feet still in the clips.

I'd stay with the leather. You can swab them with leather dye when they become grotty.

I soaked one of my straps with an old bottle of tandy "leather glue" and a tiny bit of hot water sponged on. Its better but I'm going to check the "horse" store and craft place and see what the good leather looks like. If a Brooks saddle can last a lifetime, then straps should also too.

I've been using these laminated Binda straps for about 30 years now. They may look like hell, but they still work fine:

http://wwwos2.dhs.org/~john/binda-strap.jpg

I get several years of use from a pair of straps.

I can't remember the brand of laminated strap I used but they lasted about 12 to 15 years if I recall correctly, I never got 30 years out of a strap used every day. I think Binda no longer makes them either, though I did find some on E-Bay but their going for $70 plus shipping!! At that price their not cost effective.

I get several years out of a pair of shoes and their laces.

Does anyone here really think that a professional racer used a pair of leather straps for more than a season and for that matter they they didn't go through several a season?

Stupid? Come on!

I have ridden leather straps, they are the same today as they were 40 years ago. Yes... for DAILY use I might get a year out a set and then they are beat and dry and thin. Time to replace.

I bought a couple pair a few months ago, cause they looked good and the price was right. Figured that the chrome would start rusting fast, but hey, then they would look as old as the bike, right?

On the first ride the rivet holding the leather to the binder came loose on one side. Took it off, and kept riding, then the rivet on the other strap came loose as well. Made it home, oh well, I'm used to platforms with no strap anyway(though quills with stiff shoes and no strap on the clip kind of sucked)

SO I just re-riveted them when I got home with better hardware. The original rivet could not really be called that at all, more of a loose snap, I pulled the unused pair apart with my fingers it was so weak. Now they are pretty good, have a few hundred miles on them now.

For what its worth, I found a pair of Christophe straps at a thrift store, look to be from the eightys. They are much higher quality than the new Christophes that I bought a couple years ago. thicker leather, higher quality buckles. I have not used them, they are in the lightly to un-used parts stash.
Anymore I keep a spare strap around a bottle cage, it keeps the bottle in there firmly, and is a pretty usefull thing to have on a century, or even just a few miles from home.

I'm still using the original Bindas on my '84 Cinelli, my main bike all these years.

It appears Alfredo Binda has plenty of competition from other manufactures that make the same thing. They claim the nylon lamination is only needed if you ride/race in the rain.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...th=188_506_508

^^Sorry, Brooks, but I'm going to have to call BS on non-laminated toe straps that cost >$50.

I agree with Cyclotoine (I think he meant to say shoe laces, not show pieces as Rekmeyata interpreted). I would use Christophe toe straps as long as they worked well, then get new ones. Going limp wasn't a problem, I was younger then. The strap would start to slip and loosen after many tightening and loosening cycles. Then it was time to replace them. I doubt that pro racers used anything but brand new Binda straps each day of a big race back then. If they aren't working for you, get new ones.

When I use to race (Cat 3 is as high as I ever got) the straps did not last as long, but the laminated ones would last at least 3 years under those conditions and then I replaced them so I wouldn't have to worry about them breaking in race. The true leather straps if I recall correctly only lasted maybe a season.

Send em to me and I'll replace the leather with 8 ounce (1/8 thick) rigid chrome tanned leather. Any color you want, as long as it's black.

Keep in mind, that most people who race will ride their bikes about 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, so if a leather strap will only last a season of that kind of riding then in the real world where most only ride about 3,500 miles a year and put less stress on the straps, a leather strap will last at least 4 years, and the laminated ones much longer that's why your laminated ones could last 15 years.

Personally I would not buy the Brooks leather straps, I like their saddles and they will last far longer then regular saddles, but a leather strap is a leather strap and the Brooks $50 strap won't last any longer then a regular leather strap that cost $20. But the laminated ones like the one at Velo Orange should last a great deal longer.

You could also use this style of toe clip and not have to worry about straps sagging anymore.

http://store.somafab.com/sodetoecl2pa.html

Those are kind of cool. Wonder how comfortable it is to have two top pieces. Ever tried them, Fender1 ?

Place the straps in approximately 2 cups of warm water add 2 little blue pills with a V on them and let soak for 2 hours. Air dry and if the straps are too stiff to bend after 4 hours consult your bike doctor. - sorry couldn't resist after seeing the thread title.

Seriously - I've used Glycerin for soaking furniture caning and it will shrink and stiffen the cane after it dries but I don't know if it will have the same affect on leather. I can't speak for the VO laminated straps but I have a pair of their standard leather ones and they seem like they should hold up pretty well and are more comfortable than other straps I've used.