I use the time atac carbon clippless pedals on my baron. Would'nt use anything less than clippless.

http://wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/ra...rit/Racer3.jpg

I used clipless for a while on my df bike. While I found they really helped with power and fatigue issues, I also found that cause I walk with my feet pointed far more than the average person it caused me ankle pain. I now have a bent. What are power grips?

They are sort of like wide nylon bands that go diagonally accross your pedal. You put your foot in at a slight angle then straighten it up and they get tighter.

http://www.ekosport.com/pg_benefits.shtml

They seem to work well for me. I've never tried clipless so I don't know how they compare. I have used toe clips before, and I like the Power Grips much better.

GotBent

Ritz, and GotBent, Thanks for the info on the powergrips.

Clipless Pedals
 

Mike,

The problem is found in our American language. We park in the driveway, and drive in the parkway. The term "clipless" pedal actually refers to the fact that there are no "topclips" involved. There is a cleat installed on the bottom of the rider's shoes, and this cleat "clips" into the pedal. The rider's feet are locked in to the pedal in the proper position for maximum efficiency, etc. However, being locked in does not prevent rapid exit from the pedals in case of necessity. It is simply a matter of turning the heel of the foot outward/inward. The cleat will then release from the pedal.

I can't imagine riding without clipless pedals.

Michael

and hot water heaters don't need to heat water if it's already hot...
and fire sprinklers sprinkle water, don't they?
Some English descriptives can be confusing...

clipless pedals
 

Due to a neck injury several years ago I had to start riding recumbents. I have always used Look clipless pedals. They are much more effecient and easier to use

sprinkling
 

"and fire sprinklers sprinkle water, don't they?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!

now i get it! i always thought it was odd to sprinkle fire in an emergency. ;-)

Clip In Pedals
 

Zinn in his Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance says , "One the standard cage-type pedal with a toeclip and strap is the simplest and cheapest. The second, or 'clip-in' type retains the foot with spring-loaded clips......" . "Clip-in pedals are sometimes called 'clipless'. since they have no toeclip."
I personally have been using the term clipin for these modern pedals for as long as I have been aquainted with them.

Well I started out with SPD clipless and had the problems with numbness after 25 to 30 miles, even changed from swb recumbent high crank to Tour Easy long wheel base lower crank. Still had problems with numbness. Bought speedplay Frogs, had to shave my shoes to make them work, Now I have no problem with Numbness. I believe the ability to move the feet at more of an angle solved the problem. Larry

I started using Looks on my uprights in the mid-80s when they first hit the market. There weren't any shoes available at that time to accept Looks and we had to drill our shoes to mount them.

My wife and I changed to SPDs about 2001 after a couple of extended tours where we saw the need for walking type shoes with recessed cleats. We had held back because of the thought of changing pedals on 4 road bikes and two tandems. That's 8 sets of pedals to buy!

Then, this year, I started riding a bent after prostate surgery and began with the SPDs. I had a little trouble unclipping and a friend suggested I try his bent with Frogs. I was sold and immediately became a convert. I've since added Frogs to one of my tandems as well as a road bike.

I love the float of the Frogs and the ability to unclip without wrenching a knee is a plus. Also, I've noticed that cleat adjustment isn't very critical as long as you get the fore and aft set and the heel doesn't hit the crank. I've adjusted my Frog cleats in under a mile where I've carried tools to adjust other systems for days until my knees felt right.

Lastly, as far as numbness, I've never experienced it with Frogs where I did have a little with SPDs. BTW, I'm riding a VRex.

To me, the question isn't whether to use clipless or not, but which ones. I chose Frogs, but it's whatever a person feels comforable with. YMMV

Happy New Year!

-dennis

I used clipless on my wedgie. But it wasn't the most comfortable. My feet naturally point outward quite a bit. So right at this time I don't use clipless on my bent. If I put my foot in the center of the pedals they will hit the crank in a short time. I have to put my feet on the outer edge of the pedal so they don't hit the crank, so I'm still trying to figure what to do about that.

Pedal Extenders
 

Look on some of the websites for tandems and check out the pedal shortners or extenders. They will move your foot outward about 15mm each and let you shorten your pedal stroke too. I know when I used a set, I found that I could spin a lot faster than I could with the "standard" 175mm cranks that came on my Rex.
Try these two

http://www.gtgtandems.com/
http://www.tandemseast.com/

Rick

I bought my Rans Stratus almost two months ago, and bought STP clipless pedals with it. I have had no problems whatsoever, and would highly suggest them to you.

John

What did I say?
 

Did I say "STP clipless?" I think that's a motor oil! I meant SPD clipless pedals on the Stratus.

John :p

clipless
 

[FONT=Arial Black]

I don't know why either. They use a piece of metal that works with a spring connection . I would call that a clip but they are called clipless. It is a mystery?

toeclipless?
 

"Clipless" pedals refer, of course, to the fact that they are not toe clips, which themselves were really more like toe "cages" than clips as there wasn't any spring-loaded connection to the pedal (I've no idea how the "clip" moniker originated.) So toe clips never used clips at all but clipless pedals do use clips - albeit, on the ball of the foot. I suppose they could have been called "ball clips" but that might have projected a kind of kinky S&M imagery not helpful to marketing efforts. :-)

I used SPuDs with al three 'bents I used to own- a Vision CWB and V40 and a Rans V^2. My feeling was that foot problems came from *not* using some sort of clipless system when pedaling a high-bottom bracket bike. Doing that forces the rider to push on the pedals constantly to keep from slipping off. With a clipless system you can relax and even pull on the pedals if you like. Result: No pain.

I quit riding 'bents a few years ago, but I've been tempted lately to get one again just for touring.

To answer the question, I do. I haven't tried it any other way, so don't know what it is like. But I have heard that if you use the straps & clips your foot tends to fall out.

I just got a new V-Rex, and am using the same shoe/pedal combo I've used for years: Sidi Shoes, Speedplay Frogs pedals. It feels perfectly natural, not like I had to make any big adjustment.