nz6666

I have been commuting in central London for couple of months so far on a pair of platform pedals. I know toe clips or clipless can improve efficiency a lot. I am little bit reluctant on clipless since it's London so a lot of stop and goes. I am also reluctant on toe clips with straps, which I feels more dangerous than clipless. So I found something called strapless toe clips or half toe clips,which is basically a toe clips without straps. This is less connected to pedals so less effective compared to clipless or toe clipless but also more safe IMHO. l got one pair yesterday and gave it a try. Fantastic. Pedal stokes are now more effective and comfortable.

Only concern is how to clip the pedal in when starting? I find my left foot is the one to unclip and clip. For now I have to look down so my left foot can get in and often my left foot need to flip the pedal because the clip is always on the other side because of gravity.

I am thinking putting another same clip on the other side of the left pedal so that there are clips on both sides of the left pedal and I can clip in without looking down and flipping the left pedal.

Anyone got similar experience or other suggestion? I know many people are using clipless just fine and I may one day move on but for now I am very happy with the improvement with this set up and just need a little tweak. Thanks.

downwinded

I use the half toe clips and really like them. I trust you are left handed from the way you describe starting. I am right handed so I lead with my left foot (weak side) starting in the clip. If I'm trying to get across a busy intersection, I just use the "bottom" of the pedal until I get to the other side and then put my strong side (right for me) foot in the clip. You say the pedal is upside down? Might want to check / lube your pedal bearings. At a stop the clip should hang down and the edge of the pedal is at the top. With some practice you'll get used to putting your foot on the top edge of the pedal and it will flip up in the correct position so that you can push your foot forward into the clip. You really won't even have to look.

AlmostTrick

With a clip on each side the bottom one will hit the ground when you lean. Practice is all you need here... it will become easy after a while.

Darth Lefty 

I run my clips without straps. This makes them pretty useless for security but it does help me place my foot correctly quickly.

If I wanted to be clipped in, I would use MTB-style clipless. (I love how jargon lets you write senseless sentences that are correct.)

BobbyG

My preference is toe clips with straps, but not too terribly tight. +1 on leaving one side flat so you can pedal without clipping for dicey terrain or quick stops and starts at busy intersections. (yes the clip will rub the ground, but for occasional slow getaways, no big deal. Besides, toe clips can be crazy inexpensive in case you wear 'em out. In time you will be able to flip the pedal clipside up and slide your foot in without looking.

wphamilton

I use them to, for about a year now. After a while I was just levering the pedal up with my toe (on the back of the pedal) and sliding in without really thinking about it. Just a matter of practice.

At first I even extended the back side of the pedal with a strip of aluminum, about two inches curved downward. My fumbling foot could more easily lever the pedal up with it, but it's really unnecessary after enough practice.

10 Wheels

Size 14 shoe

cyccommute 

The cure is worse than the disease. Putting two toeclips on the pedal decreases your clearance and makes the chances of hooking the toeclip on something much greater. Think of what happens when you don't flip the toeclip up and then think about doing that all the time.

Just go with a mountain bike clipless pedal with the tension set low. Clipping out becomes second nature after only a little while. With a low tension, I often find that I am unclipped before I even think about it. I've often crashed and found myself separated from the bicycle and not even realizing that I had unclipped. I can't even think of a time when I've crashed and not come unclipped.

As to clipless pedals causing a crash, you get proficient at using them very quickly and falling over while clipped in becomes a rare event. It's not something that happens while you are just riding along either. Most crashes from not being able to disengage the pedals happen at slow speeds and they are more embarrassing than dangerous.

If you don't want to unclip all the time, learn how to do trackstands. It's a very simple skill to learn and you don't have to be able to trackstand for all that long.

aggiegrads

That's not what they meant when they said that you should try riding with cleats.

Santaria

Just get practice in what you're using now and it will resolve itself.

noglider 

I agree with everything @cyccommute said above. My wife tried clipless and fell over at a stop sign and cracked her elbow. I feel bad about it, but truly, it's a rare thing. Clipless seem like a big investment, but they are generally easier to use than toe clips.

Then again, I really have nothing against half clips. If you like them, use them.

I recommend that if you are going to use toe clips, full or half, practice getting in them without looking.

scroca

Are you sure one clip would always be up in the ready position? At least with one strapless toe clip you know it will always be down, so you just need to get used to turning the pedal with your toe so you can slide your foot in. If it takes you a couple of pedal strokes to get it when you are taking off, so be it. I know I didn't always get my foot in right away when I used them.

If you have two toe clips on one pedal, isn't one of them always going to be slapping the ground? That will make you crazy, real fast. No telling what you'd do then.

ThermionicScott 

+1 to trying double-sided SPDs with the tension set low. The problem of finding the cages with your toes and tilting the pedals to get into them... gone. You just step on the pedal and it clips in. Kick your heel out a little, and you're free.

After watching some of @1nterceptor's videos, I picked up the habit of unclipping one foot, but keeping it on the pedal as I approached potential stops. You might try that while you build your confidence.

PaulRivers

Fyi, they've done studies on the subject and the answer is "no", it does not significantly improve efficiency. It's main purpose seems to be to more easily keep your feet solidly connected to the pedal - if you were spinning at 120rpm while racing, your foot coming off the pedal would be a disaster.

There has been a lot of debate on whether clipless has no efficiency improvement, or a little, and I don't care to wage into that, but I wish I had known that the difference was small at best before going through all the hassle of different shoes, fittings, etc.

Fyi, you can buy bikes shoes that are designed for biking but without the "clipless" part. Here's one example from Specialized, a lot of other brands sell them as well:
Specialized Bicycle Components

You can combine them with a good platform pedal with pins (again, this is the Specialized version, other brands make their own as well):
Specialized Bicycle Components

And get most of the same grip as with clipless that's a lot easier to use for commuting than clipless - or straps or hooks or anything else - is.

1nterceptor

I don't consciously pedal with my foot clipped out but still on the pedal. I guess I just got used to it.
I try to unclip early if I feel I might need to stop; light, stop sign, pedestrian, etc. Sometimes things
happen that will make me clip in again; light changed to green, pedestrian decided to stop for the
don't walk sign, etc. So I find myself with my foot resting on the pedal unclipped; deciding weather
I'm putting my foot down or clipping in again. So far has worked for me; haven't fallen because of
clipless pedals since I started with them about 7 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-rQ...IoDLA&index=15

nz6666

Thanks everyone for the inputs. I have realised toe clips on both side of the pedal is not doable. Also I practised clipping in without looking at home. Today have gone outside and it seemed working fine. I found it easier for starting to just pedal on the flat first to gain some speed and stability and I then just raise my left foot a little bit than put it down on the edge of the pedal than flip and slide in.

At current stage I am happy with this system as they hold my feet at correct position. My right foot used to be a little bit further outward and so left foot was working harder and always got tired first and also got lower back pain on the left sometimes. I do feel better connected to the bike especially after bumps.

That clipless in the video looks good. I may someday try some clipless eventually.
Thanks .

fietsbob

Practice.. before the SPuD pedals Cyclocross Racers jumped on their bikes after a Barrier Or Run Up

and flipped Both Toe clip Pedals at once, as soon as they were back on the Bike .

this style of pedal PEDALS ? White Industries has that flip tab on the back MKS makes some in that style too for Made in Asia Prices..

treadtread

I use "hybrid" pedals - flat on one side and MTB style on the other. If I don't clip in immediately when I start from a stop sign/traffic light, I just keep riding and clip in when I can. For my commutes, I don't see why I need to be able to clip in *now* - a small delay till I am across the intersection is not a big deal.