Powergrips...ripoff?
 

I'm reposting this from the SS/FG forum for a different perspective:

I currently ride SPDs, but I'm thinking about switching to Power Grips because I feel like I'm losing efficiency with the fixed fore/aft foot positioning of SPDs...plus studies show that "pulling" really only unweights the foot and that should be easier if you can get the foot 1-2mm off the pedal with a looser retention mechanism (b/c you can't have inefficient upstroke pressure if your foot isn't touching and your foot doesn't need to touch if you have some retention to keep it close).

Now as far as Power Grips go, I could understand why people would pay to have all the hardware and such already worked out, but what I'm having some difficulty understanding why anyone would spend the $20+ on Powergrips when it seems like every cage pedal already includes all the hardware needed to mount any old $1 nylon straps.

The new Power Grip fixie straps especially illustrate the apparent superfluousness of the Power Grip system:
http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/images/fixie_strap_sm.jpg
See how the mounting bolts go through those holes in the straps? Why not save 50 grams and just use the bolts which already mount the cage to the pedal body?
http://www.universalcycles.com/image...edium/7038.jpg

Seems like a no brainer and that potential customers would at least just buy the $12 spare straps (although if anything I hear their quality/durability is lacking). Am I missing something here?

It's probably has to do with liability issue. There is a chance the OEM screw of the pedal will be too short to accomondate the extra thickness of the strap. Also there is no way of telling what is the condition of the OEM threads. It can be badly tapped and slip through QC. If the screw strip out and personal injuries resulted, the manufactor of Power Grip may have to admit flaws in their installation of their products. Safer for them to provide proper hardware.

On the other hand, if you the end user decide to mount it differently, then the fault will not be theirs.

sorry but none of that makes sense to me. Relaxing/unweighting the foot is a technique issue that doesn't require actually lifting the shoe off the pedal, besides that means you have to waste time putting it back down, but the fixed foot enables you to pull back at the bottom of the stroke in high rpms. Powergrips are simply a means to allow some foot/pedal retention with ANY shoe.

haven't read other responses, but i love Power Grips. they haven't worn out yet and i can use them with any shoe i want, though i have them adjusted for a particular shoe.

at first i thought $30 bucks was too much to spend on them, but i don't think so now. sometimes i think the simpler ideas are the more brilliant ones. :D

(I only wish i'd invented them!)

EDIT: oops, i reread the OP and i see it's a question of using only the strap. sorry...

The mounting screws for those pedals you've shown in pic #2 are flush head screws. They've got a "V" shaped taper at the head, and the screws would pull through the strap. You can't use a washer with those screws, and that's why they supply for mounting the PowerGrips straps.
Additionally, you're not replacing those screws with what PG supplies for you. Those flush heads attach the cage to the pedal body. The attachment hardware for the straps goes through the set of holes used for mounting clips; that's why there's a nylock nut on the backside... To keep everything tight and in place even with all the pressure being exerted on it from twisting and pedaling. If you just used the cage mount screws, chances are they'd work themselves out and you'd be left with not only a loose strap, but also a loose pedal cage.

Powergrips rule. For 20 bucks you get security of clipless and eas of dismounting of no straps. If you can consider something that good is a ripoff at 20 dollars then your butt sqeaks and your brain has a bad fungi.

+1. Also - the market for power grips compared to ANY clipless pedal has to be zilch, so I doubt you've stumbled upon a conspiracy for power grips to steal a cold $8 (or whatever) from customers.

Using your same logic, I could argue that Surly is ripping me off because they put 2 sets of eyelets on my touring frame when one set would mount both fenders and a rear rack -- because they have a secret deal worked out with hardware manufacturers to get people to purchase an extra set of metric bolts for $0.45 ea.

While it is true that in theory one doesn't have to lift the foot to unweight the pedal, studies show that even the best top level athletes still apply a little downward pressure on the upstroke. Physically separating the foot from the pedal, on the other hand, guarantees there will be zero pressure on the upstroke (even for untrained riders) and if you can retain the foot a few mm above the pedal then you won't waste any time putting it back down.

I have absolutely no problem pulling back at the bottom of the stroke with normal platform pedals with the "wipe the dog poo of the shoe" technique. If I switch to Power Grips I also plan to use the same SPD compatible shoes w/o cleats installed as I do on my platform pedal bikes b/c I like the stiff soles.

The main problem I'm trying to solve is that with SPDs I can't use the arch of my foot for hammering and the ball of my foot for spinning.

Good point, although I've never heard of a cage coming loose, they don't experience twisting directly on the bolt and the nylock nuts probably make a big difference with that.

You've convinced me...now I wonder if I'd prefer Power Grips or loose toe straps?

I'd say try them and see if you like them. If not then see if they can be returned or try to sell them. Someone also did a DIY job that looked pretty good.

I have Power Grips on 2 bikes and will be getting them for a third once finances are in order. However I am a commuter and have no experience with different techniques used to race or pedal. I just get on my bike and go.

Chuck, you are completley missing the point of PowerGrips. They are not simply loose toe straps. They are correctly tensioned toe-straps that allow for foot release when mandated by 'stuff'. You could leave your SPD shoe laces ultra slack and get 2mm of separation from the shoe sole if that was important. I don't think it is. You are way overthinking this. PowerGrips ROCK! Enough said. A few enlightened riders consider them a viable alternative to clipless. The general public has been seduced by the tech of clipless. More power to them. I have never, however, heard of someone advocating going back to straps and cages. No one that wasn't a BDSM devotee... fess up Chuck, what's really the game here?

H

I have Power Grips, and I quite like them. They are MUCH tougher and more durable than a plain nylon strap. A plain nylon strap would shred to oblivion in relatively short order.

Also, let's put things in perspective: You've already willingly spent, what, $300 dollars on clipless pedals and appropriate shoes? And you're objecting to $35 for Power Grips? Isn't that a little silly?

While I like them, I found that PowerGrips (at least like the one shown in OP's second pic) eat the soles of my shoes rather quickly.

A lot of people aren't into doing it themselves.

"studies show"... yea, that blind cite really helps to make your argument stick. :lol:

Experts agree that these studies aren't relevant to your riding. And telling you that I'm the "expert" I'm referring to doesn't change the validity of my statement one bit.

Ok, I ordered the "Power Grips High Performance Pedal Kit". I was gonna need new cage pedals and it only worked out to about $13 more to get the pedal/strap combo. Real Power Grips aren't known for their durability, so I'll have an opportunity to make my own when they wear out and by then I'll have the experience to say how "DIY Grips" stack up to the real deal.

I tried that...makes it almost impossible to unclip.

$300? I have three sets of clipless pedals which cost about $110 total.

And the shoes? Those I'm keeping to use with my Power Grips; Stiff soles is one thing I'm not willing to compromise on.

It's been rehashed 100 times. The bottom line is the only thing that's relevant to my riding is that I don't find pulling helps and I'm not gonna do it. So there. :p

That's true. Although not exactly the sole, but the sides and top of the shoe. The suede sneakers I got last summer are looking pretty chewed up by now. I still like them though, although I'm planning on moving to SPD as soon as I can find a good deal on shoes.

Craigslist.

Another point about the PowerGrips setup is that one end of the strap hooks into a compression fitting. It is not directly screwed into the pedal but is held by a metal retainer. Normally, you'd never know the difference, but if you flew off the bike for any reason, the straps should let go...

I love Power Grips. I've bought lots of accessories that I haven't liked, and plenty of accessories that I liked at first, but grew to dislike over time. And then there are the accessories that I like enough to keep on using, but wish they were just a little bit better.

The Power Grips fall into none of these categories. They just work. They're a total no-brainer for me. Whenever I buy another bike, I automatically buy another set of Power Grips. They're pretty durable. They hold they're shape well, which is a very big deal to me. They're very easy to get in and out of. They're easy to install. And duh, my feet never slip off of the pedals. What's not to love?

Something I noticed with my Chrome shoes. However, upon closer inspection, I found out it was actually me wriggling with power grip and pedal's uneven surfaces (the grip thing for pedal) that was causing it. I filed it off and it is fine now. You probably want to stick with pedals that has as flat top as possible with power grips. (2 things, easier to get in and out, and no more torn soles).

Not all versions of Power Grips are like this. The rugged fixie version I posted a pic of in the OP screws directly into the pedal.

Then why do the pedal kits sold by Power Grips include pedals with sharp serrated teeth? See, this is what gets me...MRP seems to jump through all sorts of hoops to arrive at inferior solutions.

One thing about Power Grips is that they fray too easily. Power Grip should reinforce the edges with kevlar or something beefy to prevent this.

And another thing I notice about them is that the part of the excess strap hangs out a little too much with my 8.5 size shoes. If I am not careful with a turn, I will scrape the ground with them which furthers exacerbates the fraying of the straps.

You think having your foot flopping up and down in a strap and sliding back and forth is going to be more efficient than riding with SPD pedals?

If you set the length of the straps right, it won't flop around, you have to set it just right though which means a lot of readjustments, but once you get it set, it's great. You get a good amount of power transfer. I never tried SPDs or clipless, so I don't know if Power Grips are more or less efficient. My guess would be that clipless is more efficient just for the fact that the pros ride them. How many pro cyclist do you see using Power Grips? But for the layman or laymanette, these are good alternatives to toe clips because it is more comfortable and more efficient.