Power Grips? Seriously?
 

I recently picked up GR-9's for my fg and installed Power Grips. I'd read a few times that these were comparable/better than clips. I've ridden them for a few days now, and I wonder whether I'm using them incorrectly or they just plain suck as badly as I'm starting to think.

I've tried several strap adjustments, but no matter the setting, these things don't seem to hold nearly as well as clips. When I pull up, my foot easily lifts up off the pedal a bit, and if I have them set so that my foot is anywhere near where it belongs on the pedal, my foot even slides *out* of the strap. I've tightened them to the point that my shoe is actually twisting when I straighten out my foot, and even then, same effect. On top of all that, the hardware seems kinda cheap, and the little metal clamp on the adjustable end is so flimsy that it easily bends out of shape. The last straw came last night when one of the straps actually popped free in a quick skip. I'm a featherweight and I use my brake, so that seems like a serious defect, especially considering that I had the adjustment clamp cranked down very tight.

So is this just me? Am I doing something wrong? I had been riding with simple, single strap clips before this, and I don't even run those particularly tight. The Power Grips seem much, much worse when there's any upward pull.

I've had trouble with them too. My strap came out twice after tightening them down has much as i could. thats why i'm going clipless.

i've been using them for about a month now and i love em. they havent failed me (yet?) and they hold my feet wonderfully. i really dont know what could be the cause of your problems, but if it helps, im rather small (5'4", 130) so it could be that im putting much less strain on the hardware

I tried them for a while before I went clipless. I hated them. Give me a cage and straps over them anyday.

i think super ted rides them, pretty hard too

he does...but in pictures when he goes to skid there is probably 1" gap between his soles and the platform of the pedal.

For some reason, I always think:

http://buyfitnessonline.com/osc/imag...tness_5500.jpg


When I see them.

^haha same.

I have had them for about 6 months now, and haven't had any of these problems.
I had to get them adjusted right, which took a little fidgeting...
I like them tight enough that when you slide your foot in (at about a 30 to 40 degree angle--toes pointed in toward the frame), and straighten your foot on the pedal they clamp down good and tight.
I think they are a great product and alternative to clips.

you need them tighter. i also think smaller feet work better on them. i tried them with my wide feet and had the same problem you did. My wife uses them with her small feet and they work great.

I dunno -- I've tried them so tight that I can barely get in there when angling in, and this still didn't cut it. Even when it's ridiculously tight (and twisting the sole of my shoe), it's basically only tight until I pull up, and then they seem to kinda spit my foot out. I do wonder whether fans just want to keep their feet in place when spinning, in which case they seem to work fine. Does anybody skip/skid or otherwise apply serious back pressure on these things and still have success? Is there some other adjustment I should be making? If it's true that the previously mentioned guy riding hard on these things actually has his foot coming off the platform, then that just isn't going to cut it for me.

i have only used powergrips that i have made myself on MTB platforms. i used them on my fixed for a while until i discovered double straps. i still use them for XC as i only have spangly SPD road shoes, and powergrips are easier to pull out from when you hit the rough stuff offroad.

ive never had problems and really like them. i much prefer clips+doubles however, and clipless even more. but they still work great.


i think powergrips work alot better on a pedal with some grip to the surface. it stop your foot from slowly sliding horizontally out of the strap.

i always set the length to be about 5mm shorter, than fits over my foot when its on the pedal straight. the greater the angle you put your foot into the strap, the tighter it will be when straightened. after a while you get to know how to put them in, and as long as your strap material is strong enough, there is no way you shouldnt be glued to the pedal.

i think shoes also can affect the fit as laces can interfere with the strap. i tend to wear vans slip-ons so its not really a problem.

I used Power Grips exclusively for mountain biking back in the 90's, and I'm thinking of trying them again. I never had any problems with them, they always held my feet tight, but let me go every time I endo'd. I've never used them on a fixie so backpressure might not be something they do well. Also the shape of your shoe could be affecting it, make sure the ball of your foot is over the spindle so you're using the part of the shoe that is pretty much flat and not sloping. And ditto what was said above about having some grippy platform pedals. I think Power Grips are great because they have enough efficiency that some people race in them, but you can wear your street shoes too. Quality may have gone down in the last 15 years though I'm not sure.

I found Power Grips to be non-adjustable toestraps that work OK with hiking boots or other weird-shaped shoes but nowhere near as secure as Binda Extras (it was a while ago). I'll stick with toeclips or clipless.

powergrips vs. feetbelts

GO!

clipless are still best : / i use them and don't have any problems, but i do have the issue of my foot coming off the pedal, i feel like one day i'll pull up and see some of the hardware flying up to my eye height, and my foot will go flying above my head, straight on to morning, but as for now, they haven't failed, so they stay

I like my PowerGrips.

everyone should just get clips or clipless and be done with it. It's not that hard to clip in/out or tighten/loosen a strap.

Well, no. I ride clipless as well, and there's no comparison with clips or power grips. But for short rides and especially commutes, many people prefer the convenience of a regular shoe. I don't think many folks find it difficult to use a clipless system, but wearing incredibly stiff shoes off the bike can really suck. I'm trying power grips b/c I've read several times that they're just as good as clips, but I'm not getting that sense. I'm going to try the tweaks mentioned above and see if I can make them work.

You're saying you have issues coming off a clipless pedal? If so, you need to adjust or replace something, b/c that really shouldn't be happening.

i think the size of the pedal has a lot to do with how well power grips work. op, it sounds like your shoes are wider than the pedal body (GR-9s are really small) and the strap has to go 'around' your foot more than just holding it 'down'. they seem to work best with bmx style platform pedals.

I have the PowerGrips "deluxe" package which includes some nice PowerGrips branded pedals and the straps; I love 'em. I run clipless on my geared bike, and yeah, there's no comparison. But I use my fixed-gear bike for messing around and having fun and I don't want to change shoes to do so, and my feet never felt comfortable in regular clips. The PowerGrips are perfect for me and in nearly two years of using them the only problem I had was that I accidentally stripped the bolt that holds the strap in place. I contacted PowerGrips themselves and they sent me a pack of five bolts at no charge.

Works for me! :)

i think he was more comparing clips and powergrips.

I saw a guy walking his brakeless tarck bike today. Eggbeater pedals, but he didn't have the shoes. Aww, too bad...

you likely just witnessed a bike theft.