Yeah, those shoes have terrible soles and terrible velcro straps for using clips and straps. You either need different shoes or different pedals. I'd probably just grab some M520s.

OK, I see. Prominent velcro straps on the shoes, plus toe clips with straps. No wonder. Have you tried riding with regular lace-up sneakers? Heck, even loafers or boat shoes might make a better combination.


Take a look at the bike they're on. They aren't the only thing you might think "have cease to be used."
Meanwhile, I didn't realize that the not-so-vintage-y straps without toe clips or toe clips without straps were as commonplace on newer bikes as they are until I started noticing what a lot of the more casual cyclist ride with. They actually come standard on some basic road bikes today.

Actually they are shoes that work for me.

I dont want normal shoes.

whats wrong with my bike or whats on it?

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In other news, i picked up the pedals- now to adjust and try them out.

There are several "cycling" shoes that would work better with clipsnstraps than those Specializeds. Moot point now that you've got the pedals of course, but Giro Rumble is one example:

I'd start out with low tension (turn the screw towards the "-"), then increase tension as you get used to clipping out. Turn it towards the "+" 'til you feel like you won't have unexpected clipout during sprints.

I have them loose to practice, then I'll tighten. Thanks for that tip.

I'm trying to get the strap pedals off but they are some weird plastic type nut screw and I can't get grip.

Got them on and rode around the block. It does take some getting used to.

So far so happy!

Ok, I don't think you're understanding. The shoes that you posted a picture above are:
- Meant to take a cleat and be used as clipless. If you used them this way, no problem.
- Because of this they make a bad shoe for riding without the clipless cleat - there's no material in the front middle of the shoe to grip the pedal at all, the material on the side is slick plastic that doesn't grip worth anything.

Those shoes are *only* meant to be used with a clipless system for riding on the bike, the reason why they're slipping around and awful is not a pedal problem, it's because those shoes are very poor for riding without a cleat - they're meant to be used with a cleat, with a clipless system. It's like taking a formula 1 racecar and driving up the side of a mountain with it - it's not that the car is "bad", it's just that it's not being used for what it's designed for.

You can get cleats and clipless for that shoe and it will likely work great. If you keep trying to use it with a flat pedal (with or without straps) it's going to continue to work very poorly, it's going to slip around on the pedal and not have any grip. If you want to do straps or flats you need a different shoe - that one is only designed to be used with a clipless system where the bottom cleat attaches to the pedal.

Those shoes now have cleat and my bike has clipless pedals.

When I was talking about not having grip, it was getting the pedal off, not while riding.

The issue and original question is VOID as I have clipless now.

Well, point was just that the shoes you have were part of the problem, but it sounds like you've got things worked out.
Nothing wrong with your bike or what's on it, but [MENTION=42883]surgeonstone[/MENTION] had said something about how your straps and toe clips were an old system he didn't think anyone but vintage enthusiasts used. Turns out, your bike is actually what some people have in mind when they talk "vintage," and the downtube shifters in particular have "ceased to be used" on new bikes. Again, nothing wrong with that.
Many of us enthusiasts live in a little world of riders like ourselves and forget or lose sight of the fact that not everyone has to have the newest, flashiest bike or the the coolest kit. But then there are times like on Saturday's big event ride in the city (full or metric century) when our eyes are opened, and we might even feel a little out of place, if not silly, riding around on a fancy bike in a team uniform while so many others are in t-shirts and loose shorts on some beat up old bike they've had for years. But at least we weren't riding around town on a TT bike with an aero helmet like one guy.

This bike came with normal pedals and when i had it worked on in the LBS, i asked them to add the toe straps. My 3 speed had normal pedals too. Thats the last time im going with normal ones!

The downtube shifters are old i guess.

I think you should keep riding your new fancy bike.

Go clipless man. Love them. Get some Mountain shoes/pedals. I have road personally but wish I went mountain. Easier to walk around in.

Toe straps are cumbersome. Only thing I don't like is having to switch out pedals when I casually want to bike somewhere or having to bring an extra set of shoes.

I guess that would make the dual platform ones a good option for you!

Not to mention, what appears to be a fairly aggressive tread on the shoe sole. This will make it difficult to slide the shoe forward into the toeclip. Bike shoes designed for toeclips and straps will have a smooth sole for easy engagement and rely on a slotted cleat to hold the shoe in position.

good to know if i ever go back to toeclip.