so what are they for. i recently bought a set of cinelli straps with buttons. what are these things for. they cant just be to look good. also, how do you guys put the straps on the pedals? do you guys slip it through those side holes on the pedals. how do you guys put them on the buckle? these things should really come with instructions...

oh yeah, when i say guys, it also applys to gals.
and thanks

To make it easier to grab onto the strap and tighten it up. Here's the only web site I could find that has a picture: https://www.yellowjersey.org/tocleat.html

Make sure your shoes have the cleat on the bottom has shown in the above site; without the cleat your not going to have the power nor will your feet stay in well...which is ok if your not trying to train for racing and just want to be a casual rider.

It's been a long time since I've ridden with cleats and straps. I think that I would have had better luck if I'd just untied my shoe to pull my foot out. I wouldn't recommend using cleats to anyone.

Put a twist into your strap where it goes inside the pedal. This will prevent the strap moving around.
Dont cinch the straps tight, or use cleats. If you need that amount of efficiency, its safer to go clipless. These days toe clips are not for racing or athletic training, but are very useful for touring and Just Riding Along.

I guess I'm missing the point of the toe straps on my Trek 1000. If I make them tight enough so that I can actually use them going uphill I'll fall everytime I want to stop. If they're loose then what are they good for except to make sure the proper part of my shoe is on the pedal?

I've fallen once with my loose straps

is this right? here are some pictures. i cant get the straps through cause they're too wide. the pedals are mks sylvans, and the straps are cinelli.

https://www.xsawfishx.imunky.net/daniel/IMGA0116.JPG
https://www.xsawfishx.imunky.net/daniel/IMGA0117.JPG

Use the straps to locate the shoe on the pedal, remove the cleats. If you use ATB shoes with
a very thin rubbery layer on the sole, instead of road shoes, it works well. When I ATB I use
platform pedals and slightly loose straps and can pull out fast enough to dab when needed.
My shoes have leather soles though (premolded shoe era relics).

dwguy: as you imply the strap is supposed to go through the body of the pedal. If you can't
cram it through there, (pedals obviously noted designed for straps), then it depends on
whether the straps stay under the pedals. From the pix I suspect they will. One possibility
is a nylon zipty around the frame of the pedal and the strap underneath the pedal.
Steve

MKS Sylvians have a proper slot in the pedal cage. Feed the strap in through from the outer end. Put a complete twist into the strap, then feed it out of the pedal on the bike (inner) side.

Ive climbed big mountain and killer steep gradients using un-cinched straps. Some shoes don't work well in lose straps. My Specialized Sonoma cycling shoes can get no purchase on the pedals and slip out. Shimano leisure shoes have a better grip on the sole and work well.

No you need to get the strap through the slots in the pedal. I agree that cleats are not such a great idea for rec riding. ATB shoes do work well. And yes people still use this set up in racing. Esp track.

You can loosen the strap in an instant by pushing outwards on the top of the buckle with your fingertip

i forgot to ask, what are the buttons for. i am yet to get an answer. are they really just there?

just in case you guys arent sure what the buttons are, here's a picture of the straps and the buttons that came with them. i got them from ebay. and remember,the question is, what is the purpose for the buttons. thanks all

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...126056109&rd=1

If you are referring to the two small objects below the straps in the photo, those appear to be end caps for the straps. The purposes for those are to make the straps easier to grab when tightening them (especially with full finger / winter gloves), and to prevent the strap end from slipping back through the clasp mechanism when you just want to loosen the straps.

Thats right , the resone they arn't fitted on the strap is that you fit them on the strap after fitting the straps on the peddles otherwise you would,nt be able to thread the straps through the slots on the peddles, it also good to put a twist in the strap between the 2 slots in the peddle as this will ****** the tendacy for the strap to revolve round the foot/peddle when loosening & tightening the strap.