anyone ever do this? I broke both of my clips this week. Am I too rough on them? Maybe I should tighten the straps a bit more so there is less leeway.

I had a set of aluminum MKS clips that recently tried to de-toe me. About a block from home, I pulled the right pedal up through its rotation using the clip, and the dang thing snapped in two at the point in the middle where the two arms join together. Then the sliver of aluminum still attached to the strap wedges itself against the top of my shoe, intent on trying to cut my toe off with its jagged edge.

The next week, I broke off the flip-in tab on the back of my MKS pedal (also aluminum) in a slight mishap with a fire hydrant.

Oh, how I hate element 13 on the periodic table. It's good for nothing but containing crappy beer and making crappy bike parts.

my clips are aluminum cinelli's. next pair will be steel. they still make steel toe clips right?

While not so disdainful of aluminum in general, I agree that it makes for a crappy toe clip. The fatigue properties of aluminum are particularly ill-suited for toe clips and you really don't save any appreciable weight.

MKS still makes steel toe clips.

in a pinch i had to throw on some toss-away aluminum ones and broke two in the same week. granted the second time was when an SUV pulled out of his parking spot and into me but...

STEEL STEEL STEEL -- always. they hold up for street riding & are usually cheaper. also, i think they create a better counter-weight and help pedal flippage when you are clipping in.

How strange this all is. I have busted a leather strap, but never a clip.

plastic clips will take plenty of abuse.

Plastic is not fantastic.

in what regard?

plastic is not fantastic. steel is real.

i guess

aluminum?
I'm thruwith'em

I've got news for you boys, steel breaks too, I've broken numerous pairs of steel clips. Still probably a better bet than aluminum or plastic though.

and that's all i'm looking for. unless......anyone making titanium clips?

How about Carbon........Newest goodie for the retro grouch weight weenie

...custom molded to his sambas.

how'd you know i (used to) wear sambas?

and when you're molding them, keep in mind that i wear a size 11. thanks.

Bob Gordon is making some, 'cept they're only clips, no strap provisions. They look real nice...nice and impractical.

I use SPD clipless. I have had no pedal issues. I am not sure what I am missing with the clips. Is it just a retro thing or is there a specific reason fixed guys use clips?

of course I can only speak for myself, but I ride my bike around campus and town, locking up and walking around five to 10 times daily.

I don't know a lot about clipless systems. Are there comfortable clipless shoes that will let me do this? and cost no more than $70?

I can't speak to what comfortable shoes would cost you but I think mine were $50 or so and another $25 for the pedals.

I just find the clipless so much easier.

I don't understand no clips either (platforms). I seem to need to pull both while going forward and braking.

I am new to fixed. I am not really trying to give the indication I know best. I am just trying to learn what works for other people.

Many of us like to cruise around and then have sneakers on when we get to point B, me include. Also, a lot of folks are concerned about pulling free from clipless pedals coming off the line. It's not unheard of.

And then there's the retrogrouch factor, not to be underestimated.

As in all things, ride whatcha like.

OK, those reasons all make sense. I have wondered what I would do if my foot disengaged when going down a hill. I do have a front brake though. (what can I say, I am a beginner). And my free foot can either rub the tire or the classic Fred Flintstone stop. That is the plan anyway, I am hoping I don't have to find out.

Ryan
Need I remind you that this is a BIKE forum, not a BONDAGE forum. And how did you bust the strap without breaking a tooth?
HA ha

I can turn anything into a bondage forum.
I'm not sure if the part about breaking a tooth was part of the joke (I usually don't play that rough), or you are asking how i didn't eat asphalt.
I didn't wipe out, but I rolled out into an intersection with my nuts on the top tube, my left leg being carried in circles by the pedals, and my right leg flailing somewhere off to the side. Probably pretty comical if you didn't happen to be me.