Is foot retention safe in a crash?
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 184
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It may not matter unless you're running cleats with clips and straps, but old school bike racers had some gnarly ankle injuries in crashes.
#27
:bear:
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: raleigh, N.C.
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+1 on giving clipless a try. you will have a bit more control, and the pedals are designed to disengage upon disaster. i've crashed a few times with my eggbeaters and emerged unharmed. that said, my only injuries came from zero mph wrecks while trying to trackstand, and engaging in general tarck jackassery.
#28
rawthentic menergy
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 184
Bikes: 2005 johnny coast cycles #4 track, 1971 peugeot px-10 road, gt performer 1986 PINK bmx, 1966 raleigh rodeo 3-speed STICK SHIFT 20", 1960s rollfast tandem, 1970s raleigh fixed
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
^ if [talk about injuries due to trad. clip/strap pedals] is true, [these racers were] probably using slotted cleats and road shoes, not just toe clips and sneakers, right?
A system that would require releasing the straps to disengage is different than what the op is asking about, and what most on here use.
A system that would require releasing the straps to disengage is different than what the op is asking about, and what most on here use.
slotted cleats and road shoes, you need to loosen straps to get out.
typical BFSSFG sneaker and clips user (dont know the rider, its just a g.i.s.)
see how the sneakers and clips don't have rearward retention like the slotted cleats? That the reason why some of these old pros had injuries, and why you are not hearing about modern day torn ligaments and whatever other injuries people are citing. when you crash in sneakers and clips, you feet will come out.
#29
Live without dead time
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,136
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks guys. I might be picking my bike up this afternoon depending on if they have it in or not. Not so worried about the foot retention anymore so I appreciate all the responses
#30
Raving looney
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 2,482
Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Having my feet attached to the bike is nowhere near my lists of concerns when crashing, though the only times I've had to do the unclip-on-ground thing are from 0-mph tipovers. I use SPD or eggbeater clipless on my bikes, I've never personally felt comfortable with clips and straps.
#31
lifewaster.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Georgia.
Posts: 980
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Sometimes, you will hurt yourself. Other times you will be glad your foot stayed in instead of doing the splits on asphalt. Sometimes you will do the splits on asphalt because you're strapped in. Keep them loose enough so when 'push comes to shove' you can still shove and push.
#32
Banned
Join Date: May 2005
Location: GA
Posts: 5,317
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
#34
Senior Member
I see what you're getting at, and you're right - there's much less potential for injury with sneakers/clips/straps than shoes with clips. Still, to get the same level of engagement as clipless, you'd have to get the tension pretty snug, which is still marginally more risky in a crash.
#37
waste
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 278
Bikes: work fix, play fix, dk 20", cruiser, ******* parts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
every crash i've had, i keep managing to fly away from the bike completely out of the straps.
#38
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 24
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
my buddy got his front wheel stuck in a grate and flew over the handlebars. his feet didn't come out of his clipless pedals and he flung the bike about 20 feet like a slingshot.
he also hit his nuts on the top tube.
he still rides with clipless pedals.
he also hit his nuts on the top tube.
he still rides with clipless pedals.
#39
newbie commuter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 154
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Being clipped into my bike (eggbeaters) was what saved me from eating asphalt one time when I was riding up a driveway and my back wheel got caught in a crack. The back of the bike slid out and my feet somehow pulled it back under me. I think if I had platform pedals, I would have slipped off and ate top-tube.
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,615
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Have you crashed much? From racing, I have both been in, and witnessed seemingly horrific crashes resulting in maybe a scratched pedal, seat cover, and bar tape. Frames surprisingly seldom make any contact with the ground. Anything that bolts on can be easily replaced.
#41
Live without dead time
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,136
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, I've only had one actual crash under my belt (ie moving at decent speed) which involved getting caught in street car tracks because I had to dodge a car that pulled out during my turn. I went right clear of the bike which seemed IMO to make hitting the ground alot more simple and straightforward than having to worry about having limbs caught or torqued around a bike frame.
Like I said, it seems I'm just overthinking things. The bike comes with toe clips but I'll be switching those out for clipless pedals in the near future.
Like I said, it seems I'm just overthinking things. The bike comes with toe clips but I'll be switching those out for clipless pedals in the near future.
#42
#$*&
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne, Aus
Posts: 411
Bikes: Bates (of Coburg) track bike(60s/70s?), Malvern Star Ladies coronation (1953), SuperElliots pathracer (60s?), Repco pathracer (1964), Holland Ladies (50s?), Moa (50s?), Hillman Ladies (40s?), Batavia? (40s?), Malvern Star 2 star ladies (50s?)...etc.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, I've only had one actual crash under my belt (ie moving at decent speed) which involved getting caught in street car tracks because I had to dodge a car that pulled out during my turn. I went right clear of the bike which seemed IMO to make hitting the ground alot more simple and straightforward than having to worry about having limbs caught or torqued around a bike frame.
Like I said, it seems I'm just overthinking things. The bike comes with toe clips but I'll be switching those out for clipless pedals in the near future.
Like I said, it seems I'm just overthinking things. The bike comes with toe clips but I'll be switching those out for clipless pedals in the near future.
Last year I was standing out the front of work when three guys on track bikes came tearing down the street. One guy drifted onto the street car tracks and when the tire went in he got launched over the handlebars like a monkey, and landed on his feet. Him, his friends, and me all burst into laughter. It was totally amazing! Yes, he was wearing toe clips. No, I can't guarantee that happens to everyone who drifts onto trolley tracks with toe clips.
#43
#$*&
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne, Aus
Posts: 411
Bikes: Bates (of Coburg) track bike(60s/70s?), Malvern Star Ladies coronation (1953), SuperElliots pathracer (60s?), Repco pathracer (1964), Holland Ladies (50s?), Moa (50s?), Hillman Ladies (40s?), Batavia? (40s?), Malvern Star 2 star ladies (50s?)...etc.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've been riding some similar cleats daily for the past six months or so and love them! To me it's like having the benfits of clipless (stiff soled shoes) with the option to wear regular shoes if you're going somewhere where you don't want to carry a second pair of shoes.
My only incident was one time getting out of the strap and going for a fastish dismount. I, apparently, only placed the plastic cleat on the ground 'cos my foot slipped out from under me causing me and the bike to end up on the ground in a busy-ish shopping strip. No injuries, plenty of embarassment.