same exact thing happened to me last week, (except sober) on my way to work, except went over the right. nice bruise on my hip though.

How are powergrips in comparison to clipless?

How secure to they feel?

Thanks :)

+1 on the ATACs. I definitely feel the pressure increasing just before they release, which makes accidental releases pretty unlikely. And even if they do release, you'll know a split-second beforehand because you'll feel the increasing tension - that's probably all the time you'll need to get your balance.

I'm using Frogs now, and as an earlier post mentioned, you won't feel it until you've already released. I haven't released accidentally yet, but if I were really worried about this, I would use the ATACs. No way am I ever going back to clips - they're either too inefficient (loose straps) or too dangerous (tight straps).

Most do, but then most coasters do the same, I think. The proportion is obviously higher among the fixed crowd. Some fixers do the loosen/tighten ritual, though. It's not that hard to do, and you don't have to loosen until you arrive at your destination. Trackstand practice with a special motivation factor!

I like my mtb SPD's, I just switched from the cheap cage and strap that came with the bike. I keep a pair of shoes at work and throw a pair in my bag if going someplace else (that isn't a quick run), I don't mind clacking around if I'm only at the super market.

I've clipped out while pulling too hard from a stop, I'm thinking I need new clips and need to tighten everything down...but I haven't fallen over or had too much trouble getting out of the clips on purpose.

Out of curiosity, what was your clipless setup? Also, what type of SPD cleat were you using?

so yeah, i started out with clipless (beaters) but hated switching shoes. then i went to a pair of casual clipless which might as well be normal clipless because they are hard as h3ll. then i went to clips and straps cuz i figured i could get a pair of normal looking wide sized american made sneakers (i have a lot of requirements) and non-sweatshop country clips and straps. now i realize that the only pair of wide sized nice looking american made sneakers are new balance trail runners which suck in clips. so now i think imma go back.

i had eggbeaters and must have unclipped at least once a month. i am pretty aggresive and toting around a 200+ lbs body probably doesnt help, but are all the myths true? are atacs really that good that i will never (or almost never) unclip, and be able to live out hte rest of my days clipless and breakless withouth having to buy anything made by tawanese prepubescent girls?

i'm sorry but i don't understand how you'll are accidentally unclipping so much. i've ridden eggbeaters and spds for a couple years now on road bike and fixed gear and never once unclipped. i think it's technique kids.

Also, different SPD cleat types have different disengagement points.

I use SM51 cleats and my pedals are more or less at the lowest tension and I've never unclipped when I didn't want to.

I see a couple people mentioning MKS Sylvans...I've had mine going on 4 months, they do the job but I'm curious about trying clipless. I rock a front brake, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there's a lot of vulnerability with clips. As mentioned, the position between 9 and 3 oclock is somewhat awkward but I'm working on "skidding switch" with pulling back my left foot. I've noticed over the few months that the cages have gotten "baggier", or weaker, kind of like after you bend a paperclip back and forth enough times. Scraping them on the ground drives me nuts, but for the hundreds of times that's happened (or so it seems), they're still shinier than you could imagine. So I guess what I'm saying is that I support the MKS Sylvan setup, but I'm curious if I can improve my safety with better stopping ability and Time ATACs.

in spd style pedals in my experience your foot never "just pulls out"

what happens is; while your pedalling hard your foots heel goes to far over to the side and unclips.

i think for the most part random unclipping just means your using sloppy pedalling technique.

but then clips and straps will accept your sloppy technique with no danger.

On the road bike I use clipless, but in town on the fixed gear etc... I use straps.

I have to agree. You can crank down the tightening bolt and they are sure fire good.

Don't think for a second that you are safer with clips and straps. I've had a leather strap brake on me and it was quite a surprise.

I use spd-sl's now and they are rock solid. They also are a platform type pedal so it's not to to bad riding in sandles for a few blocks anyway.

I have been thinking of going back to my clipless though because of the shoe thing.

i've been kinda curious about trying clips/straps and i think i'll have an opportunity soon since i'm building up a crappy weather bike and don't feel like spending another 100+ on another set of speedplays. so i was thinking cliips and straps. a couple people have said new balance shoes don't hold up so well (flexy, get torn apart) and that's all i wear. so what kind of shoes do you guys wear riding these that are reasonably stiff soled?

Hold onto your handlebars when you ride. :rolleyes: Sheesh.


Just kidding, of course. I had this happen but managed to hold on while looking like a monkey riding a mechanical bull. It helped to increase the tension of the pedals. I suspect that; like someone mentioned earlier, it has a lot to do with sloppy foot positioning. I have unclipped from SPD's a lot when slowing quickly. I nearly became bus ornamentation.

I threw the clips and straps on last night, and gave it another go today with my old Axion skate shoes, which have a thick stiff grippy sole. they felt a lot better, but no epiphany yet. i still have to get the straps just right and then give them a thorough skid test

at first i started out with clips/straps, but then i started going to the track and got some LOOK pedals and sidis and it was the best thing ever. i felt that i had more "control" of the bike and climbing up hills was soo much easier (i live in a hilly area and my only way out into san fran is up and down some hills.) i tried switching back to clips/straps because of the ease of not having to carry shoes. rode fore 10 minutes and i felt i had no "control" of the bike and my shoes kept slipping out.

i think that powergrips are the perfect solution to the problems associated with clips and straps and have written about them several times here on bikeforums.

here is a rehash:

the biggest problem with clips and straps is that, unless you tighten and loosen every time you put your foot in or out, you will either have the straps too loose and less effective for pulling up or the straps too tight for easily getting in and out of (and more prone to obliterating your shoes). there is certainly a middle ground, but it's never ideal. with powergrips, you put your foot in (and take it out) at an angle. the strap is loose until you twist your foot to straighten it out, which then tightens. so long as you keep your foot facing forward, the strap will stay tight and effective for climbing and the like (though not as good as the best clipless setups). when you want to get off of the pedal, just twist your foot and remove. it's extremely easy to get out. i find them to be far more effective than a compromised (read: loosened so that you can get in and out of them easily) clip/strap setup. they also don't eat your shoes as quickly.

as for problems. the hardware that comes with powergrips isn't the best. if you weigh a lot, or have larger feet (which means that more of your foot hangs over the sides, putting more stress on the hardware), you may have problems with bending or breaking the hardware. i'm quite skinny (140lbs) with size 8.5-9 feet and haven't had issues. well, i bent a bracket in a crash, but that's to be expected.

in any case, i'm a big fan.

*

Its a three way battle of death that will never end. Clips vs. AtACS vs. Eggbeaters. With that said...

+ a 6 pack for ATACS

For goodness sakes don't use skate shoes with clips/straps. Wear a slender pair of shoes like a set of sambas or search the thrift stores for a old set of avocet cycling shoes.

Been riding measured 'loose' clips with mountain shoes for 2 years on my daily training bike (fuji track).
I generally ride with the roadies at the park and while my spin could (arguably) be a bit more efficient, my workout doesn't suffer.

Recently, switched to SPDs on my track bike. In agreement that my spin is alot smoother, easier to bring it up and around, less pressure on my knees, AND I'm a bit faster (could be cause I'm pushing a few more inches)--- less taxing, as well.

However, I just don't feel as secure clipless --especially side to side AND, more importantly, downhill; I have more control with clips ---feel I can stop it quicker, etc.

And, while I can very smoothly and quickly disengage a foot in a pressure situation with clips (and have on numerous occasions when I'd have crashed badly if riding clipless)
I'm uncoordinated as hell trying to get a foot out with clips. And I'll never get to the point where I can disengage as naturally or quickly. There's just something about the thing that's just not comfortable for me.

Tried the Powergrips for a little bit. Hate them. No where near as secure a feeling as from clips.

Riding a fixie with clips seems natural to me.

I was using a pair of New Balance XC running spikes. Since the toe was mostly mesh, It wasn't the most comfortable. Plus, running shoes are designed to flex right where I dont want them to,


I'm beginning to wonder if casual clipless shoes, like the specialized sonoma, with the mount cover left on might be a better solution than a bmx shoe.

Why not just run clipless at that point. Other then cycling specific shoes what are slender and stiff? Skate shoes or other wider stiff shoes work pretty well as long as you loosen the strap to get your foot in. They usually have a decent tread on them too.

Only if you don't use them...
The whole reason everyone switched in the first place is because they are easier and faster to get out of.

The entire reason for this board is to justify doing without technical advancements like gears. Of course there'll be all sorts of mental gymnastics to justify clips and straps.

PS - I love my fixed, but I can't imagine riding it without clipless.

for my 8 mile commute home, i tightened up the straps considerably to see how it felt during the 2 decent climbs i have. i still am somewhat put off by the sensation of the ball of my foot sinking between the cages, and feeling the rear cage push up against the back of my shoe. even with the straps tight, i found more lateral and vertical float at the middle of my foot than I would like - although i think that's probably due to the shape of my skate shoes. tomorrow ii'll try a different pair of kicks

however it seems to me that "racing" quill pedals, like mks track pedals, are designed to be used with slotted cleats and stiff shoes and not any old shoe. check out Speedplay's Toe Clip, Strap and Cleat History Picture timeline and their Pedal timeline

be that as it may, i'll still give it an honest going through