nayr497

I have been suffering from this problem for a long time and thinking about a solution for a while. I commute on my bicycle and ride with toe clips. I really don't like having to carry two sets of shoes, so like to ride in the shoes I need to wear to work, out, et cetera. The problem is that my shoes get destroyed by my pedals, clips and straps. Bottom of the shoe gets chewed up by pedal, sides get rubbed by strap and turned black, toes get imprints from pulling up hills and pulling to slow down.

So...does anyone have any good ideas of how to protect my shoes? I thought of those rubber covers BusinessMen slide on over their wingtips, but think a full slip is excessive. I was thinking of some sort of cover/slip that just goes on the toes/front of my shoe and covers that part going into the pedal. A knit toe cap? I don't know...

I'd love any ideas...and maybe we're onto some sort of new fixed product. You can have marketing rights as long as I get pristine shoes!

thanks.

531phile 

platforms

roscoenyc57

Can't you leave your work shoes at work?

dolface

leave work shoes at work, and get used to being outed as a bike nerd in the rest of your life?

dunno, i think i'd be nervous trusting a cover/slip that was easy to slide off my feet.

gregg

How about powergrips? Never used them, but it seems like a decent option

trons

something like mks gr-9 will help with the soles.

auroch

I'm with everyone else on having work shoes.
BUT...

if you wear black shoes they won't show
smudges as much & the MKS pedals I have
has only a little grip so they don't chew up
my soles as much*.

OR... do what I do and just wear your
sneakers & stick it to the man

edit: *see trons post above

ThaRiddla

I have these with clips and straps, and my shoes don't get too marred. But then, I work at a pretty casual place, so I'm not wearing dress shoes or anything.

redfooj

drive to work

nayr497

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I love sticking it to the man, so thank you for the encouragement. I do normally try and wear sneakers, but my riding pair are beat up as and I try to keep work sneakers in decent order.

Now, another question completely off this topic, but I didn't want to have to start two threads in twenty minutes.

Is the top on the seat post, the clamp piece-part, separate and detachable from the seat post tube? They seem to be two separate pieces and I'd like to switch one top clamp part to another seat post tube.

thanks again!

chicagoamdream

It's possible...some are (mostly older ones). But those old seat tubes came in an incredible variety of sizes, so that the chances that the clamp would be interchangeable are slim. Does the clamp have sentimental value to you? Why not just pick up a cheap Kalloy post with an integrated clamp for fifteen bucks or so.

screamingveg

I just put powergrips on my bike this afternoon. They are awesome, and there are absolutely no marks at all on my grey suede shoes.

gally99

i'm protective of my nikes...

clips: i cut a bandana in half and wrapped it around the actual clip... keeps the metal/occasional rust from actually marking the shoes... if you wrap it tight enough it'll keep the two strips of metal from making indentations... if it's still an issue try going up a size in clips...

straps: while leather straps are sexy, try getting the fabric straps... rough em up a little bit (rub the inside-part that touches yer shoe- on the sidewalk for a minute) and they'll treat yer feet nice...

pedal: the only shoes i have that would actually be effected by the pedal have leather soles, live in individual cloth bags inside the original box, and would never go anywhere near a bike...

sers

i rock mks sylvans, with mks toe clips (alloy - no rust) and nylon straps. I've never had a problem with this setup wearing on my sneakers. i keep the straps reasonably tight, so my foot isn't able to move around much. perhaps that makes the difference.

useless127

buy some skate shoes. black ones. i've been sporting my DVS's around with toe clips and i haven't seen much damage to them from the toe clips. my shoes get ****ed up b/c of the rain, snow, and salt.

or

quit your job.

FridgeRobot

well hell if your slick enough you could pull them off at the office....we used to do it at my old school (catholic h.s.) and never got caught....but then again it could be different in an office....so like i said...if your slick enough

mattface 

Plastic MTB toe clips fit street shoes much better than the metal road style clips.

abe1x

anyone have a source for the the leather covered metal clips? had a pair on my first fixie, real nice, look great too on the right bike.

12XU

LBS via EAI. They should be the same price as the regular MKS clips.

11.4

Ever tried riding with straps, no clips? Modern laminated toe straps tend to be a bit more self-supporting -- they don't get all floppy. The toe clip doesn't really do anything except hold the strap in place (other than cutting up your shoes, or cramping your toes, or clipping your front wheel, etc.). Many track riders are riding without toe clips because they're using SPD-R pedals or they can't find longer toe clips for PD-7400 pedals any longer, but they've found that they aren't missing anything. If the strap does get in the way, a quick hook with your finger gets it in place. If you ride a laminated double strap, you're pretty much guaranteed they'll stay upright so you can kick your toe in without a hassle anyway. This method also lets you choose to tighten the strap farther down your foot so it doesn't clamp down right on the upper arch of your foot or right over a shoe buckle if your shoes have them. Try it.

trons

if my flathead screwdriver wasnt ****ing broken and i hadn't left my adjustable wrench at a friend's house i would try to throw my straps on my pedals diagonally, powergrip style. it sounds like it would work, and my clips are way too small.

sers

I disagree. The clips help keep your feet in a stationary position over the pedals. I suspect if your clips actually fit, it keeps your foot positioned so the ball of your foot is over the pedal axle- and minimizes how much you're bending your foot at the toes when you pedal. I think this is along the lines of the snug fit and rigid soles of clipless shoes.

Matthew A Brown

I chuckled.

jamey

i noticed a huge difference when i switched from plastic toe clips to metal ones. it seemed like my feet were connected better with the pedal.

shants

i ride powergrips on gr-9 platform pedals. they are the jam.