Last night
 

I saw a cool brakeless fixie parked outside of Cora in Norfolk. I took a closer look: flat bars, lugged Trek frame, fairly spiffy wheels.

Then I realized something.

The thing had platform pedals.

I ride Primo BMX platforms in the winter without straps. It actually feels safer on the ice...

Oh my god, the humanity of it all!

I wont use clipless in winter, unless its just road. I tried it a few days ago, was riding in the snow, it was the fluffy kind and i totally lost control at one point and couldnt bail out in time. Maybe its still me getting used to clipless but im with platforms for now, maybe i will give "powergrips" a try.

I've sort of been entertaining the idea of those powergrips, too. I've never ridden anything but platforms only, and I'm actually riding those *gasp* cheap resin pedals, despite the fact that I've dumped hundreds into my bike. Hey, I like 'em!

The thing about the powergrips I'm wondering, is that I ride with my tippy-toes, and wonder if they'd work. Toe clips have always been too deep for me. Hmm.

It also would have something to do with the specific clipless pedals. Some ice up a lot more easily than others. I wouldn't ride spuds in the winter. Eggbeaters sure, but I'd be wary of most others outside of maybe the Time MTB pedals.

newbie questions, galore:

by platform pedals, you all mean just regular pedals, without straps.. right?
do most people use clips i.e. pedals with straps -- as opposed to clipless -- on their fixies?
and what are powergrips?

If you'd quit googling my mom and just google, you'd know the answer to two of those questions...

Regarding question 2, it's all personal preference. Some people switch according to the season, so it varies. I prefer clipless, but won't use them when it's really slick out.

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...3&category=388

http://www.monkamoo.com/catalog/Prod...hinburger.html

=D

i just got some powergrips and im having a hell of a time getting used to them, so far they seem to me to work better around the tip of toes as when i get my whole foot in there and pull up nice and hard my feet come off the pedals... im sure tighter straps will work better, but if i tighten them i wont get my foot in, is this a break-in issue or do others have these issues with powergrips?

I've been reading a book on the history of bicycles, and I've gleaned that back in the day when all bikes were fixies, a whole lot of people rode brakeless on platform pedals. I don't know what this proves, except that it can't be that terrible so long as you proceed with caution. (Then again, in those days it was also common for workers operating heavy machinery to drink bourbon at lunch.)

Recovering from a serious broken leg here and riding fixed on big BMX platform pedals is good rehab.

Can't twist out of clipless for a while. But NO problems on platforms at all...

My road/track bikes with the slicks have toeclips. They're fine for non-icy days. When it's snowy, icey, or slushy out I bring out the mtb with the super mean trials pedals for greater shin damage.

I've gone down (or over!) enough times in the snow to know that I don't want to be attached to my pedals on those days. I'm probably not going fast enough for it to be worthwhile anyhow.

I usually just keep the straps really loose. That way my feet won't slide forward off the pedal in slippery conditions, but I can still eject prior to impact (in theory, anyway).

There seem to be 2 types of powergrips. One has a series of holes in the strap to provide adjustment, while the other has a vise-like clamp, with no holes. I've tried both in the past and were surprised how well they worked. The clamp type allow very fine adjustment but the hole type feel more secure.

I must admit that I thought they were a gimmick but they do work well. I still prefer toeclips and straps but my friend Al uses powergrips exclusively. My only complaint with them was that the metal piece that forms the forward attachment point for the strap was too weak. After a good climb I had to bend them back into position.

You aren't trying to slip your foot straight into them like a toe clip are you? They're designed to be entered/exited with the toes in toward the bike and heel out. It's when the foot is brought into line with the bike that the straps tighten around the foot. Sorry if that's overstating the obvious.

Take care

Jim

a bunch of guys here ride the fast clips, ie, no strap, just a spring toe clip,
i just ride clips in the winter with combat boots, or clipless SPDs when theres not to much snow, i've tried the fast clips and their nice, but i still like my 105's

manboy: that's my friend Gary's bike. if you see a blue Cannondale locked up at Cogan's, Fair Grounds or the Taphouse, that's mine.

HEY manboy! That's my baby! I work at Cora. I use platforms because I just like them better. I have eggbeaters, but it's the shoe thing. I like my steet kicks!

gary! good to see you on here, man...

Cora has some good french toast. My friend Jimi lives down there and rides a steamroller. Norfolk is a cool place to ride but the only hill is the bridge.

thanks jimv, ive been enteing like you said, but i still cant get them to be loose enogh to get into but tight enough to really lift up in with out pullinb my foot off the pedal. when i lift and my foot comes off, it ends up rotating too, not cool... thanks for the reply though!