Broke a strap today.
 

So I was out riding with the lady, to celebrate her new drive train (check for pics later), and this happened: http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...000_0033-1.jpghttp://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...000_0029-1.jpghttp://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...7/000_0030.jpg.

The pictures are kind of dark, but basically the strap snapped right at the grommet as I was pulling up on the toe clip. The weird thing is I wasn't going that fast, it was as I was almost stopped. Is this normal for laminated single straps? I ride clipless 99% of the time, so I don't know whether to be pissed or if it just comes with the territory.

i've broken laminiated straps before, but only when bailing, never in normal use, but but i can imagine its feasible just from regular wear and stress and what not...

congrats? stuff breaks and it sucks. get double straps.

+Toshi

Yeah that's the thing though. This bike pretty much just lives at my girlfriend's house as a part holder/bike that I ride when I need to pick up more beer or go to the park. I've ridden it a substantial amount maybe 10 times. It just seems like a premature failure.

agreed they are so great and comfy holding the foot very much better than singles. i had toshi singles that lasted 6mnths on me but would have gone longer if i hadn't moved them to a new pedal whose holes were very tight creating more wear on them.

maybe they got wet and then dried out too fast? there are tons of things that can lead to strap failure. laminated single leather straps arent designed to last forever. get nylon straps or get doubles. it wont happen again for a while.

it's not just you, man - those straps suck!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/3...eba0c8495b.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/114/3...8eb4a28048.jpg

i've since switched to toshi singles and i'm much happier. i'm contemplating doubles when these wear out, but the singles have been fantastic.

I bought a second pair of single straps and put them on because I was afraid of exactly that happening.

I hate breaking straps. it always happens at the worst time.

and you look really dumb when it happens too. Don't buy Silva laminated straps (snapped 2 different sets)

Straps do wear out, I've broken some of my binda leather straps skidding, on the foot that pulls up, but now I've perfected my skids so i don't really pull up anymore. Just check them for wear.

strap looks a little frayed. I feel more secure clipless.

That's what it boils down to.

So since we're on the subject, are there any good straps under say $20?

that's what you get for being 'vintage'
hahahah just kidding. seriously, nylon would have not broken as easily.

Not really, no.

How about these? http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...7089&category=

i have had those too

they are not bad, but they are certainly not great. they stretch very easily and never felt super secure. even though i tightened them every time i rode, i just never felt as connected as i do with my toshis

what it comes down to, i'm afraid, is that you get what you pay for...

just buy toshis and be done with it.
or you can just buy cheap ones have them break them buy another and another. with in the long run will cost way more than toshis

Why do you folks like nylon straps? They fray from rubbing the crank and it sketches me out. Plus, they look pretty crappy.

yeah, i've broken leather straps before, twice...the first was an old pair of christophes from the seventies, i replaced both, because the non-broken one was pretty worn too, and i didn't want mismatched straps...the second pair i think may have been cristophes as well, but they were new, and blue (didn't mean to rhyme there), and a lot less crusty looking...anyways, one of them still broke after several months of use...

then i got a pair of campagnolo nylon straps, white with a blue stripe...i think they look pretty decent, especially with the end buttons...they have frayed a little bit from rubbing the cranks, but so far they have outlasted either pair of leather straps i've owned...

do toshi doubles come in colors?

I've run Ale straps for a year and a half now with no problems.

Brakeless.

yeah, that's been known to happen.

now buy some new ones.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/pedals/
yes they do. go to the bottom to see