Toe cage use.
#51
Senior Member
I use toe clips for the simple reason that I HAVE toe clips! If I were to switch, I'd have to buy pedals, cleats, and shoes, and my unusual foot shape makes most shoes problematic to wear. I keep the toe clip straps loose, and it just works for me, so I'll continue just being too cheap and lazy to slip my feet into this new world (to me) of cliplessness.
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 594 Times
in
313 Posts
I use toe clips for the simple reason that I HAVE toe clips! If I were to switch, I'd have to buy pedals, cleats, and shoes, and my unusual foot shape makes most shoes problematic to wear. I keep the toe clip straps loose, and it just works for me, so I'll continue just being too cheap and lazy to slip my feet into this new world (to me) of cliplessness.
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,501
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5216 Post(s)
Liked 3,555 Times
in
2,325 Posts
tried cleated pedals & shoes earlier this week (not writing clipless cuz that's a dumb name for them) on a <2 hr ride. just for fun, cuz I'm bored this summer (& for the simple reason I had them). my initial reactions included: wutz all the fuss about? meaning, I don't see a big improvement over the 1/2 clips I've been using. in fact, it was more of a hassle to attach & remove my feet. I seem to remember (using 1/2 clips) removing a foot with the pedal in the up position. but with cleats, it seemed to make sense to uncleat in the down position. I did not fall down like ppl were warning, maybe I was too careful? started thinking I can add cleated pedals to the other 2 bikes I ride. but now, thinking I might be complicating my life to fight the boredom, rather than from a real & good reason. I still carry my toe clip straps tho. for changing tires
Last edited by rumrunn6; 07-13-18 at 09:54 AM.
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,382
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 851 Post(s)
Liked 2,192 Times
in
1,234 Posts
I like the old toe clips for the same reasons most of us north of fifty do, we grew up with them! I look for the narrow flat sneakers, like the skate shoes only narrow in the toe. I have found some at the Vans outlet store and at Target . Canvas is best as they breath. Also, I do NOT tighten the straps so I can bail out in a heart beat. I like being able to walk normally when I get off my bike. I will admit I have never worn cleats, on the bikes I own I don't think they would keep the tradition. Joe
#55
Senior Member
I use half-clips and clipless and am into the efficiency aspect. Roughly speaking, I think ~70% of your forward motion power comes from ~50% pedal rotation that a good grippy flat pedal can provide. Another 15% of your power can be added with the ~75% pedal rotation that half clips can provide. And another 15% of your power can be added with the 100% pedal rotation that full retention (full clips, clipless) can provide.
One very important efficiency aspect I didn't see mentioned much above, is the use of stiff/rigid soled shoes (since you can mix any type of shoes with clips). I think you will be more efficient with dedicated cycling shoes on flat pedals, than with sneakers in full clips.
#57
Senior Member
I use half-clips and clipless and am into the efficiency aspect. Roughly speaking, I think ~70% of your forward motion power comes from ~50% pedal rotation that a good grippy flat pedal can provide. Another 15% of your power can be added with the ~75% pedal rotation that half clips can provide. And another 15% of your power can be added with the 100% pedal rotation that full retention (full clips, clipless) can provide.
One very important efficiency aspect I didn't see mentioned much above, is the use of stiff/rigid soled shoes (since you can mix any type of shoes with clips). I think you will be more efficient with dedicated cycling shoes on flat pedals, than with sneakers in full clips.
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Middelbury, Vermont
Posts: 1,105
Bikes: Giant Escape 1
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 136 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
I like toe cages. They work well. I think the secret to them is the shoe. I happen to still have a pair of shoes made specifically for toe cages that I got in the 1980s. They have a slightly pointed toe (easier to slip into the cage), a smooth and stiff sole, and reinforced leather across the top of the toes. Find a shoe with these features and you'll like your toe cages more.
#59
Senior Member
Quite certain that if I raced myself up a hill, half clips would beat flat pedals, and full clips/clipless would beat half clips - but that's (just my opinion) ultimate efficiency at full power/max effort in a short sprint. However, this is not to say that over a long ride, that flat pedals are only 70% efficient as clipless - when cruising below maximum effort, the lack of power application on the 'up stroke' (for example), is energy saved and easily applied/transferred to the flat pedal down stroke, so overall ride efficiency will be close, maybe the same.
Below max effort, I really like foot retention for its ability to distribute work over different muscle groups, which helps with acute fatigue. So for example, assume I'm applying 85% of my max wattage with the three different pedal configs:
- flat pedals I'd apply 85% power over the 50% downstroke rotation
- half clips, I'd apply 70% power over the 50% downstroke rotation, and 15% power over the 25% topstroke rotation
- full clips/clipless, I'd apply 60% power over the downstroke rotation, 13% power over the topstroke rotation, and 12% power over the upstroke rotation.
All three might result in the same overall pace/distance, calories burned, and overall fatigue.... but maybe foot retention helps a bit with acute fatigue. Hope that clarifies it better.
#60
Senior Member
I cut my teeth on Christophe toe clips back in the 1970's but when I went clipless I never looked back. I ride SPD pedals now because they have a lot more float and don't make my knees hurt. I still have toe clips on my old Raleigh Wyoming though. The only issue for me with toe clips and cleats is they don't allow your feet to float and that can take a toll on some riders knees over the long-haul.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lungimsam
General Cycling Discussion
32
10-20-13 10:28 AM