john_and_off

back in september, i picked up a pair of these:



THREE MONTHS LATER, this is happening:



i ride brakeless, so i'm considerably concerned about it and don't want to let it get worse if i have to. first of all, am i wrong to worry about these? the rivets seem like they're in ok shape, but i'd rather not chance it and have them split or something in a hectic situation.

so if i do, in fact, decide to replace them, i'm torn on what to replace 'em with.

i like the feel of laminated straps, but i'd also like to try doubles. the price is right for the somas, but on the other extreme, toshis are some serious $$$. is there any happy medium?

i'd be happy with some nice single straps if they were laminated and reliable... the toshi singles looked like they might fit the bill until i noticed they're going for $60 in most places... what gives? i think i remember seeing a thread where eddibrannan said he got a pair for $40... someone want to make a suggestion?

chip thunder

I use nylon ones and make ghetto doubles by criss crossing them through plastic atb clips. I'll try to dig up a camera and get a shot of them. Works wonders for me and it's super duper cheap.

ryand

that sucks.

i broke a nylon strap a couple weeks ago, luckily it was during a polo game. i would wish it upon nobody that a strap breaks while riding on the street. that could get really scary.

good luck, and let us[me] know what you find, i'm looking into moving to leather once i put on these steel cinelli clips that my friend grabbed for me NIB out of somebody's trash in rochester.

I Like Peeing

I have MKS Sylvan pedals and straps...and I've been wondering if anyone else had a HELL of a time getting the straps through the cut-outs in the pedals. My straps looked like that the day I put them through the pedals. It took a needlenose pliers and a lot of force to get them going. But, I've had them day in and day out and I never think of them breaking.

queerpunk

i really enjoy the feel of my silvas, but they split a lot. i've nad non-permanent success krazygluing them back together, but have nylon straps in the front holes for bootleg doubles/backup. but i'm getting errebi's soon. they're a happy medium. laminated, leather, cheaper than toshi or mks, and probably not as stellar.

mattface 

It's my understanding that the Soma Doubles are laminated.

queerpunk

i saw 'em. they're not.

mattface 

Sheldon says they are so neener neener

Shiznaz

I had a few pairs of laminated silvas self destruct at dangerous times (going towards intersections, blowing an advance green etc.) I just gave up and went to clipless.

Landgolier

AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGG listen people, leather straps WEAR OUT AND BREAK. ALWAYS. Doesn't matter HOW MUCH YOU SPEND or whether they're LAMINATED or TREATED or IMPREGNATED or any other crap. There is no leather strap in the universe that is designed for the kinds of abuse dished out by riding brakeless on the street. Think about how little stress is put on them with a road bike, and think about how much less than that track straps are meant to take (less time on the bike, never get wet). If you want to ride brakeless on the street in all kinds of weather, either plan on chewing through a bunch of leather straps, or suck it up and run nylon ones. I know that's not cool, I know that NJS Somanellipistatoshi laminated double cream puffs for $100 a pop are the jizzy jam and everyone will think you're cool and you will get mad play from all the hot ladies that like guys with arcane expensive bike parts (I have confirmed this with both of them) and blah blah woof woof. Come on, do you guys ride in patent leather shoes and silk pants and then complain about your nice shoes getting scuffed and the breeze in your crotch? Everybody and their dog kicks down big bucks for deep V's because they're "way gnar for the street, dude," but then insists on riding around strapped in with the girth off a My Little Pony saddle and wonders why it wears out and breaks. AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!

ok, I'm done. OP, this rant really isn't directed at you

john_and_off

haha, no offense taken... i'm just not into nylon straps... they flop around too much... and i'm not feeling clipless... i'm on and off the bike too often, and i'm not keen on carrying a second pair of shoes with me at all times.

i know that leather straps wear out... i'm prepared to replace them now and then, but THREE MONTHS is absolutely ridiculous... some good ideas so far... thanks to everyone who's responded.

and shiznaz, thanks for the warning about the silvas... i don't want to chance it with any strap known to have catastrophic random failures

mattface 

heheh. I mostly run the nylon straps. they wear out to, but they cost 5 bucks a pop. I am seriously considering the Somas because they look like they could hold my foot better, but I sure don't expect em to last forever.

Landgolier

Right, the nylon ones aren't perfect, but they last a lot longer, aren't subject to weather, you can tell when they're about to go, and if they do go you can tie them in place to get home.

teiaperigosa

went into bicycle works on ridge st. to scope the straps they had...they had some expensive laminated ones (single) that looked real nice ,but they were like $100...

I think I'll buy 10 pair of the cheap single MKS from IRO before I drop the paper for those...

and when I do finally get them (cause they look tight and seem comfortable), they better work real well and last

Shiznaz

The first pair died in about 3 weeks, the second pair in about a week. I personally know of 3 people who have had the same problem, and I have heard this problem elswhere on the net.

Silva laminated straps are simply defective. They are not made properly. They should not be bought, and they are dangerous. Stay away from them. Please.

sfcrossrider

Tooooo funny.

queerpunk

mine split almost immediately. i krazy glued them back together, ride with backups on my pedals, and use a front brake. that said, it's been seven months and they still feel good. they could break at any time, but i've got insurance for if that happens.

so, i agree that they're pretty defective - or at least, do not stand up to the rigors of tightening/loosening repeatedly, day in day out. i also agree that they shouldn't be bought, but if you stumble across a free pair (thanks monkey!), ride 'em till they're trashed, and be safe.

jonb

awesome: Somanellipistatoshi

666pack

seriously, you rode hard for three months and they're starting to wear out. tough luck, gotta buy some more. it's not gonna last forever.

skovsen

The OP is not *****ing, he's just asking for a qualified guess as to the safety of the condition of his straps.
In other words - another 3 months - another 3 years - or change them now...

Nims

I can't tell you how long they will last, so I made you these cookies instead.

john_and_off

so much better than anything... they look delicious...

looks like my options are the somas or to suck it up and get some toshis (or nice mks ones)... i've heard too many stories about errebis falling apart to drop that much money on them. i know onetwentyeight has had a good experience from reading old threads, but others have had the opposite...

wildturkey

Clipless pedals, people. May I recommend Candy SLs and, for shoes, Sidi Dominators?

Momentum

Clipless pedals were designed as a solution to a problem and they work very well. Get mountain bike shoes and you can hop, skip and jump around all day on and off the bike. Otherwise keep riding the cool looking old stuff and deal with the the inherent faults.

andypants

I have some neon green tioga (i think) nylon straps that are great. They are really stiff and have lasted a good 6 months with no stretch. After breaking two leather straps after 2 months, i never went back.

Then I went clipless...