Tom Bombadil

We had a thread several months ago about alternatives to clipless pedals. Particularly alternatives which would be very easy for one to extract their feet from. Plastic half-clips were mentioned and that piqued my attention. I picked up a pair 2-3 months ago and as today was my "get my bikes ready for lots of fall riding" day, I installed them on my Fuji.

They look a lot like the ones pictured below. No straps or anything that tangles one's feet.

Took them out on a short ride and kinda liked how they made it easy to put my foot into the right position and there was a bit of "sticktion" to them, holding my feet to the pedal.

I am afraid that I will get my foot stuck, fall, and still not even be eligible for Club Tombay.

djnzlab1

HI
my daughter tried to get me to try them she loved them and found them very easy to adjust to.
Doug

maddmaxx 

If you fall because of those.....................Club Tombay will announce an honary degree program.

10 Wheels

I have been using toe clips without the straps for 500 miles.
Have not had any problems.

Terrierman

Go ahead and fall and we will let you in. I promise.





But remember Flounder's error.

Tom Bombadil

I've heard of Flounder's Folly, but not Flounder's error.

And I can't make the connection between my half-clips and Flounder's Folly. So I'm in the dark (again).

Terrierman

Go watch Animal House again, I'm sure you'll get the connection. Ahh hell, that's too good of a hint, so I'll just remind you what Otter told him after the Delta's (all club Tombay members, I'm certain) finished trashing Flounder's big brother's Continental: "Hey, you f***ed up, you trusted us".

So. Like I said. Go ahead and fall, we'll let you in.

Tom Bombadil

Okay, I remember THAT Flounder. As I have not yet gone clipless, I have not yet trusted this group that much.

Terrierman

No problem. Those ones on the Fuji will get you in, no need to go too far with all this clipless madness. Trust me.

Mojo Slim

My wife uses these, or at least she did when she used to ride a bit. I have suggested them for a friend who suffers from Parkinson's and has difficulty starting and stopping (getting off his bike). He has fallen a number of times trying to get out of his straps. (I think he should switch to a bent.)

bmorey

I use the plastic half-clips too. They're good for a couple of reasons:

(1) They keep your feet in the 'approved' position -- ball of foot over pedal.

(2) They stop your feet slipping off if you fumble a gear change or brake hard when your pedals and runners are wet. This was the main reason I got them. I had a couple of heart-stopping moments when both feet slipped off my previous platform-pedals in the wet. I thought about the consequences of both feet coming off and slipping off the saddle as well. Doesn't bear thinking about. I feel a lot more secure with these half-clips.

Takes a week or so to get used to getting the 'support' foot into the clip on the move. Mine came as as set with new alloy pedals. I removed the straps -- didn't need lateral support and couldn't see a use for them. Also made them harder to get into.

BluesDawg

My son uses those on both his road bike and his MTB. They help him keep his feet in the right place and they offer a little help in spinning full circles. He wants to go clipless, but his Dad is just too cheap to spring for MTB shoes until his feet stop growing so fast.

Timtruro

I have used that kind for years. I find them very easy to get in and out of and they allow you to pull up as well as push down when you want to. And a lot less expensive than clipless with the shoes you can't walk in etc.

Yen

I'll keep those in mind for if (or when) I decide to give up clipless. I fell again yesterday -- I KNOW, I KNOW!!! everyone falls! -- and my bike has new scratches and torn bar tape to add to the damage done in the first fall.

Tom Bombadil

Very sorry to read about your fall, Yen. Hope you are okay.

Yen

Thanks Tom - I am okay, physically. More anxious than ever to replace the hybrid with a bike my size for these slower/frequent-stop recreational rides. 27 miles is still 27 miles, 2-1/2 hours of total riding. Keeping things in perspective, that's way beyond what most people do in a month, so it's nothing to complain about. I just want a bike more suitable for that type of ride.

TromboneAl

I have straps on my toe clips, but I don't tighten them up much. I'm guessing this is similar to the strapless concept.

George

Drop bars next.

Tom Bombadil

I don't advise betting on that. After all, I've completely given up on them.

gear

I have an awful problem with platform pedals. In an emergency I try to put my foot down on the ground but the pedal is in the way. I can't seem to remember that I have to move my foot out to the side first. I just panic and push straight down. Do you think I'll ever memorize that (foot out to the side) motion?

Tom Bombadil

Just take them off and ride without them.

BSLeVan

The neat things about cycling is that there is always room for more exploration around techniques, equipment, fitting, etc. A "serious" cyclist is never finished tinkering....

Tom Bombadil

Time for a ride report.

I've been out twice on the Fuji w/plastic clips. First ride, they bothered me a bit. It felt like my feet were too close to the crank arms. But on my second ride they felt much more natural. I have them on platform cage pedals.

I felt their best feature was in making it very easy to position my feet correctly on the pedal. Second best, there is a little tension holding my feet to the pedal that I felt when I rode harder & uphill. Doubt it gave me any real performance gain, but it was noticeable. Third, they were very easy to get my shoes out of, almost the same as when using just platforms & a bit easier than my pedals with PowerGrips attached.

Downside was that the weight of the clip always flips the pedal over when I take my foot off of it. However it was pretty easy to flip it back and slide my foot back into it. Much easier than on my PowerGrips, which can sometimes be a bit trying. And the adhesion of my foot to the pedal was decidedly less than with the PowerGrips.

For the time being, I'm going to keep them on. More upsides than downsides.

And I think I'm going to put a pair of Zefal Mountain Bike half-clips on my recumbent. I have Wellgo MG-1 mountain bike platforms with pins on it. It will be more difficult to slide my shoes on them and into a clip & as the Zefal's are shorter, that will shorten the distance of the slide. I think it's worth the $5 investment.

jiminos

just the other day i read a post (here or the clydesdale forum) about a rider who has a platform on one side and a clipless on the other.... says his other bike has a set almost exactly like them (just reversed.)

me, i use frogs and love 'em.

be well,

jim

leob1

Go clipless, don't fight it.