so i have a Dawes SST,my first fixed and ive been riding it fine without toe straps/cage and no brakes in the city(i ride VERY slow ha) and all of my friends told me i need pedals with straps if i want to take advantage of everything i can on my fixed,so i got them today and i guess my question is how far in should my foot go into the strap?most of it? half of my foot and my toes hang in the cage? its one strap with a toe cage at the end,how tight should they be and is it normal to have to get used to taking a second to get my foot in the strap? its taking me a few seconds to push the pedal up and get my foot it securely enough...thanks..

The ball of your foot should be over the pedal axle. The foot should naturally be at this position when you cram them in there, if you have the right size cages for your shoe size. The straps are meant to be tightened down every time. It takes a little practice to get used to flipping the pedal and inserting the toe, with the cranks spinning, without looking, and while looking cool. You only have to do it with one pedal though, put your other foot in while you're stopped.

Get a front brake and you can go fast!

What about the toe cage at the end? do i need it or can i just use a strap or does the cage help with something? im trying to learn how to skid as well so will the cage at the end help?

yes the cage provides most of the support when you push your foot forward, or up. The strap just tightens it down, holds you laterally, and stops it from bending

So what exactly do i need the straps and the cage for exactly?? haha i just know my friends said its easier to learn how to skid and i NEED them if i ride fixed?

No. but you NEED them if you ride brakeless

Well why though? im more nervous and having a harder time WITH the straps and toe cage than i was without them. are my toes supposed to hit the very end of the toe cage?

Straps and cages plus your legs are basically your back brakes, and you need some kind of a brake on your fixie, whether it be a front brake set, or your legs. Just take it from us, you need straps and cages (or go clipless, but that's a different thread) if you're gonna be riding fixed.

No i totally trust you,im not saying you guys are wrong im just making sure that im not doing something wrong in terms of not having my foot in enough or something like that,it just feels weird to be constrained to the pedals since i never have.

i guess i dont understand? before today to stop i would just lift up off the seat and use my leg strength to slow down my rotation using my body weight(not skidding) it works pretty well? i just dont see needing a cage/straps helping that any?

I really think it comes down to personal preference, but to answer your earlier question, your toes should be at the end of the cage. I like the ball of my foot to be right at the of edge (closer to the front wheel) of the pedal. Try out a few sized clips before you make your decision.

Just go for a few rides in them brakeless boy, you'll figure out why they're nice/necessary. Worry about skidding AFTER you get the pedals down. (and removing the brake(s) should have come AFTER all that, but hey). Yes your toes should go pretty much to the end, or close. Depends on your cages and shoes I guess, but mine do. Did the LBS help you or did you DIY? Hopefully you have metal cages and some laminated or leather straps.

Okay, thing is, if you're going to be riding brakeless, you'd better learn how to skid very soon. Without brakes, there's really no other better way to stop, and resisting is probably the most inefficient way to stop any short distance. The thing about straps is that it allows you to pull up with your rear leg as you push down with your front leg. Try this while climbing. You'll notice the difference immediately.

Oh and I strongly recommend that you get a front brake. Just do it.

Oh and about how your foot should be positioned in the cage. Well. The general rule of thumb is that the pedal spindle is directly under the ball of your foot, or very slightly behind. But I've been reading around and a lot of people recommend having the pedal spindle under the center of your foot, at least for clipless (don't worry about this yet). The thinking is that since your calves produce such a small amount of the force while you're riding, might as well put less stress on them. I've personally started putting the cleats in my shoes as far back as they'll go, and I've noticed better distribution of pressure on my foot and a slight improvement with power transfer. Hella toe overlap now but whatever I'm used to it. Apparently this position is not for everyone so I dunno.

For you I'd recommend keeping it under the ball of your foot though.

Alright thank you guys,i did them DIY and they are metal,got them from a friend,and ive been riding 10+ miles brakeless daily and without the cage/strap? i know its not along ways but i have been doing it in center city philadelphia and out to where i live and work so its not been an issue and i do not looking like a dunce when im trying to stop either or fall off my bike,i do agree i need a more safe method and a faster one,i just want all the info on the straps/cages i can get as in what they help with,like how do they help me stop faster than not having them?

straps are leather as well,just asked.

and also,the excess strap after ive tightend them hangs off a good 4-5 inches,where should i tuck it at?(thats what she said) but for real.

or should i cut some of the excessive strap? its ALOT ha like gets in the way of my foot when sliding in

You aren't supposed to tuck it anywhere. You'll want easy access to tightening/loosening them. They aren't when they're tucked. If it's too long you can just cut it if it's leather.

Ah alright,thank you. any other advice or info when using them? they are difficult as **** to get into quick ha

Practice. You'll get it pretty quickly.

Repetition. It's how muscle memory is established.

Yup, just keep practicing with it. Once you get used to it you're gonna wonder why it was ever hard to flip them in. It's gotten so easy for me, I can get'em both in at the same time.

And they will help me learn how to skid? only issue im having is my legs do not feel strong enough to stop the pedal rotation,should i learn forward alot more and throw my balls to the stem? someone told me its better to learn how to skid seated but im small, 5'6 140 pounds so they said i wont be able to do a seated skid without leaning forward alot?

Pretty much. Once you un-weight the saddle you'll feel the back tire lose traction. You're legs are plenty strong enough. It's leverage that does it, not strength. .

Alright,thanks guys! ill keep messing with it.