Bushman

i've never flipped my foot under. I simply slow my cadence down well in advance of the lights (this actually requires you to pay attention to your surroundings) and by the time i'm at the red i'm stopped. I also dont run knee damaging waaaaay to high gearing in the city like most i see toooteling around.

Fixed gear bikes of old (1850's onwards did not have toe clips or straps. The riders of the day never had a problem stopping.

less is more.

LoRoK

I got my Allara straps (made by A.L.E. - Italian) a couple weeks ago. I ****ing love them. They are single, laminated straps with buttons (makes tightening so much easier) and a big leather buckle pad. The pad is one of the things I like about them, though initially I thought I wouldn't because it placed the buckle higher than I had on my old Christophe straps (which were fraying badly and very stretchy, I came out a couple times.) After fighting and saying "****" more times than I ever had before, I got them through the slots on my Sylvan pedals. Most of the red coating on the top scraped off, and that bummed me out but I'm over that now. With that buckle pad holding the side of my shoe it's soooo much more comfortable, like I imagine doubles would be. These straps absolutely do not slip (so far) and I feel a lot more confident in them, it's like I feel more "one with the bike." Another thing I love about them: $30 at velo orange.

On a side note, whenever I go to Sniks' house I drool over his Toshi straps... I want some baaaad.

n_w_a_31

Toshi singles last and last and last for city wear. Thats my vote for non clipless riding in the city.

Momentum

11.4 - your contributions contain the most consistently useful and interesting information to be found on this forum (and that's from someone who's a confirmed user of clipless pedals and shoes)

11.4

This morning I just got to see a pair of new version Kashimax doubles. If you are up to spending $160 a pair, they are the same as before except that they are finally the same length as the other doubles. Be sure if you choose to order them that you're getting the longer length. I ride a size 7-1/2 shoe and can't get the ends tucked into the buckle with the old-style Kashimax doubles.

akatsuki

I got Toshi doubles on my Anchor, they are tough as hell.

teiaperigosa

notice: this is what we call "G". aka...swag..aka...get gully...aka...no doze tato vato

I'm not gonna even try that...I'll be over there like, "but, ...but Hawk Wheels said I could get them for $40 !?! ...pleeease???"

bonechilling

Wow, I've read some stupid, hare-brained justifications for riding your bike like a ******bag on this forum, but that is probably the most far gone.

andre nickatina

No, less is not more in the case of toe straps / clips, or clipless pedals. Less is WAY less, and in this case could result in fatality or serious injury if/when a motorist isn't paying attention and drives into you. Besides, you get better power transfer with straps = less wasted energy.


________________________________________________________________________


I just got some Campy Record toe straps to replace my weathered cheapo MKS ones. I was gonna experiment with PowerGrips but eh... LBS was out and I didn't wanna wait. The Campy straps are real nice... came with buttons already, the leather is stiff and solid and the buckles are heavy duty. Definitely a noticeable difference from those unlaminated singles I had (although I'll still put my Toshi doubles over both). From what I've heard they last awhile as well.

Retem

actually if you develop proper technique you may find that straps are beneficial as you learn to use you upper leg muscles for seated power and relax your lower leg ankle and foot it becomes more efficient and you become faster relaxed muscles move faster than tense ones
the restraints will help to hold your foot and leg in a proper line to promote a healthy movement of the knee not running restraints actually prevents you from building certain strengths in cycling and in the knee you can't pull up for one and since your always mashing you never develop proper spin and form in said spin furthering knee injury

andre nickatina

^ ^ ^ Retem ftw.

Bushman

why dont we just step in the ring Bone Chilly? you seem to have issues with what i post.

If you look at the history of fixed gear (NOT TRACK), you will see very limited use of toeclips for fixed gear bikes that are used for point A to point B. Most were simple flat pedals. Thats the way i like it (you dont have to like it, its not like im ramming it down your throat). I ride it just fine and have a great cadence. I seem to be consistentIy riding faster and farther every day, and often have to slow down and wait for the "toeclipper & strap" crowd. I've never had knee issues in 30 years of riding. YOUR MILAGE MIGHT VARY, as will others......i'm NOT them...everyone is different, everyone likes different setups. There is NO HARD AND FAST SET RULE to how one propels a bike. I ride my bike, every day, averaging 50 - 150 KM a day. There has never been an issue with not using toeclips. I have many pedals, some with clips, most without, some clipless, and wide variety of cycling shoes. My favorite cycling shoes are my handmade leather shoes.

sheesh

are ya'll upset becasue i dare to NOT do things like everyone elses and blow $100 on a freakign pair of toestraps?? if i do use toestraps i use the $2 ones that i always use. They last forever.

for $100 that these bling bling uber elite toestraps that wipe your butt and make you coffee, i could spend that $100 and get a WHOLE cowhide, and make about 2000 toe straps. But hey, you feel you need $100 toestraps, you go right ahead. I'm be spending my $98 bucks on other things, in the real world, where people think its just a weeee bit ridiculous to spend $100 bucks on toestraps that cost less than 4 bucks to make. oh was that an owie?

explody pup

piwonka

the answer is clear.












we need to have a BIKE FORUMS ROYAL RUUUUMMMMMMMMBBBBBLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

andre nickatina

Bushman, I think the issue is moreso you riding brakeless without straps/clips, if that is indeed the case like you implied. I (and probably the rest of the forum) could care less if you're riding with a brake and strapless, you're just missing out on the power transfer benefits.

bonechilling

I've not been targeting you, in fact I don't recall ever reading your name before, but maybe it seems like I have "issues" with you because you frequently say stupid things? Just a thought.

The fact is you compared a rider on a Penny Farthing (the fixed gear bike of 1850, after all) to a contemporary rider dealing with modern traffic. The argument that "they used to do it" during the time of the horse and buggy is absolutely bat**** crazy, and holds absolutely no weight at all, for a variety of reasons so obvious that it would be an insult to the reader to even point them out.

As for the toe straps, I don't recall anyone telling you to buy anything, and to divert the argument with an obvious strawman like this doesn't suite your case well at all. You came into this thread and made an audacious claim and the lack of necessity of both pedal retention systems and brakes, and you got called out - plain and simple.

acoldspoon

After reading such praise for the Toshi single straps on road ridden fixed gear track bikes, and being offered a great deal on some from 11.4 (Thanks!), I've decided to give them a whirl. I'm in need of a new pair of straps anyway, and the timing is perfect. So, we'll see what I think of Toshi singles.

Bushman

hate to break it to you, but i was NOT refering to a penny farthing. I was refering to the 1890 scorcher style french safety bikes with fixed gear. (mine is very similar to what is shown below)



btw, modern does not always = better.


and where, pray tell did i ever refer to riding brakeless? i have a front brake. I rarely use it, i don't need to, but its there IF i do. (this is for Andre Nicktina). all my fixie bikes have a front brake only, with the exception of my 1990 SS rocky mountain, which has a rear u brake.

`
anyways, not everyone rides with toestraps. Deal with it. we're not all clones.

oneredstar

Toshi is worth it. Come on, Toshi!

piwonka

well, i said:

and then you said....

right...you don't have a problem stopping because you have a brake on your bike
some people NEED a very secure and reliable foot retention system...and prefer not to have to wear cycling shoes around.

I Like Peeing

I don't believe this for an instant.

nateintokyo

....man, i tried to pull that joke a page ago (what a difference a link makes)

I Like Peeing

However, if you're riding a bike like the one pictured above, awesome.

Bushman

maybe the people i'm riding with are not as fit....ya ever consider that? no you jump to conclusions instead.

bite me.

Bushman

yes SOME people, NOT ALL. Lotsa flavours to choose from.

i did miss your post however (about being completely BRAKELESS) before i originally commented.