Pedals, clips, and straps
 

Just wondering what style of pedals everyone is running, primarily for brakeless fixed-gears, and whether your using clips, clipless pedals, straps, etc? I'm using half-toe clips right now and not really enjoying them as much as I thought; mainly because they protrude so far from the front of the pedal and I really have to keep an eye-out when doing any slow speed turns.

I wouldn't have thought that half clips would give you the support you need to pull up on a pedal like you need to when running brakeless - fine for locating the foot but not for restraining it.

I use either normal toe clips with a single strap or doubles like these
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=342058 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=342059 mated to a pair of MKS Urban pedalshttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=342060

I've got this setup on my Hillbrick and quite like it despite my broad old feet. It does look a bit heavy though, heavy visually, not weight wise.
The Europa's got your traditional single toe clip and strap and that looks less like some bloody great big clump bolted to the end of your crank. Both work fine. The double setup should be more comfortable and provide more support - can't say I've stopped to think about even though that's why I went this way.

Ol' Rusty's got plastic mtb pedals with those big, broad straps that just go over the top. They're driving me mad trying to get into them but it's early days yet, I'll give them a bit more use before giving them to some, poor, undeserving soul at a bus stop.

Trust me, they don't give you the support you need at all. I realized this after riding the bike for the first time today. They're better than nothing I suppose, but I need to swap them out for something better.

Has anyone ever used the XL Powergrips?

Powergrips suck for riding fixed.

Tru dat
(don't ask)

I run clipless road pedals. Foot retention is good

I have clipless pedals on a road bike and love them, but I would like to be able to wear my regular sneakers on this bike.

These double toe clips with straps are pretty reasonably priced.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=1670

Pedal straps would look nice, but I'm not sure how they would perform. I've seen quite a few people using them.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=1670

The Fyxation pedals and straps seem to be popular.

There are also companies making regular sneakers with spd compatibility:

http://www.dzrshoes.com/

http://www.chromeindustries.com/us/en/footwear/city-spd

Those are the same straps I've got on Ol' Rusty and I got them for the same reason, to be able to wear any shoes I just happen to have on, she's that sort of bike. I can't say I'm a fan yet but maybe they're a decent compromise.

If you have cheap mud stomppers they would work ok. I wouldn't put my Merrell Barefoots in the pair of clips and straps that I had, and I didn't have the real cheap stuff.

SPD, is the way I went.

If you like riding brakeless, why don't you "go for the gusto" and ride barefoot with platform pedals. It won't make any difference the one time Death wins.

i have road clipless pedals on my track bike

I use a variety of pedals on fixed gear bikes ranging from plastic BMX flats to Look Keos. There's no best setup...it depends on what you are doing. However, from a purely riding perspective, I don't think you can beat a good quality set of clipless + shoes. If you are getting on and off the bike, walking, or doing other stuff, then more basic systems will work better. My riding ranges from pedaling around the neighborhood with kids (BMX pedals on heavily modded fixed MTB), to singletrack (fixed MTB with SPDs) to fast road rides (Keo's on a track bike). I don't use clips and straps because they suck compared to clipless. If I plan on walking around I just use flats and normal shoes, or I just ride my BMX bike.

I have been using BMX platforms and Retrogression straps for a couple of years, they work well and I really have no complaints, that said I have been lusting for a set of GR10's and some double straps for a few months I will probably pick them up at somepoint.

most of the time:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JKa95-MiL.jpg

for commuting:
http://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfront.net...ages/41609.jpg
with craptastic $4 sunlite plastic clips and straps

These (Shimano PD-M520)

http://i.imgur.com/zvxgGLu.png

plus these (SIDI Dominator, in M-E-G-A-W-I-D-T-H for my senselessly wide feet)

http://i.imgur.com/P40JKKX.png

and some SM-SH56 multi-release cleats. (My duck feet naturally sit about 90º to one another, I can't twist far enough to unclip regular cleats.)

But, I have front & rear brakes. Still, clipless beats strap+cages if you can get away with it.

made my morning

I find platforms and straps the best set up for street. I've got some plastic Haro pedals and Holdfast straps and they rock. I've got a clipless setup that I run on my road bike with Shimano XTs and some Shimano shoes which I've had on my fixed gear but for riding around the city, I like the platforms and straps way better.

Think both the retention and convenience of platforms and straps is way better than clips and straps. Also you can wear whatever shoes you like, adjust quickly and not mark up the shoes with the clips (metal clips sometimes leave marks).

This is my preferred setup for riding fixed with regular soft soled shoes:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=342382

So would you guys say that having at least straps/toe clips is necessary for FG commuting? Getting my first FG soon and wondering if I should add on to the basic platforms. My concern is getting my foot stuck at every stop sign/traffic light.

Don't worry.

You probably won't fall more than a few times, and it's at a stop and you can get under the bike so as not to scratch it.

This is what was happening with me the first few weeks of having cages. I kept thinking I could just "escape" out of my pedals, nope. one time I fell in mud :(
Although I use mine on and off I use origin 8 propulsion pedals like the ones above just in yellow, soma single gate cages also yellow, and a salmo strap also yellow (there seems to be a theme).
Cages are nice for long rides or if you want to wear sneakers, but there are better options out there, to each and their own I guess try them out for a least a few months to get a feel for them don't let the first couple weeks deter you from using cages.

I should also add that if you a just starting to ride fixed you should ride slow, without clips and get used to the sensation of fixed gear riding, learn skids and track stands. Then When you get more comfortable add cages, If you don't know how to track stand on a fixed gear you are going to fall over at the first stop light you get to riding with cages. Learning to skid is not as detrimental to your riding if you ride with brakes and use them, but it is a very useful skill to have when riding fixed and can make it a much more enjoyable experience.

Thanks for the tip. I plan on having front and rear brakes, so I'll only be regulating my speed/doing track stands with the fixie, as opposed to skidding all the time. I can already sort of do a track stand from commuting on a geared bike, but I'm sure it will take some getting used to.

Another question: is there any real difference between straps and clips/cages? Would just straps be enough? Seems like it's all a matter of personal preference.

On a fixed gear you'll be regulating your speed with the pedals not the brakes.
as far as functionality between straps and cages, or clipless pedals, no they all keep your feet on the pedals as for performance yes there is a difference, If you already have platforms buy a set of Velcro straps they hold up well and you won't have to buy completely new pedals.

One of the reasons I prefer clipless pedals over straps/cages is because I do commute in a big city with lots of cars and lots of red lights and have to stop a lot and I think it's much easier to unclip out of my pedals then having to get out of straps/cages. But I do need to learn to track stand so I don't have to worry about that