Riding with clips

I bought a pair of pedals with clips 'n straps yesterday. I don't know if its just me, but its way harder than riding clipless! Maybe because i 'learnt' to ride fixed with SPD's I've developed all sorts of bad habits - like pulling backwards instead of upwards which obviously doesn't worth with clips.

Still there is something to be said about jumping off your bike in (semi)real shoes and not having to clump around in cycling shoes in Tesco's, so I'm going to try and stick with it for a while (even if I can't stop).

The tricky bit is finding the perfect balance of strap tightness. Too loose and you can pull out too easily, too tight and you can't get out when you need to, quality straps really do help alot. After that it's cake! (and the secret weapon of London's finer messengers on fixed...)

it took me a while to feel comfortable about my safety with clips and straps but now it feels like i know no different.
that said i'm going to be heading back to clipless soon...

¿Por qué?

i keep my straps quite loose - in london it's important to be able to come out quickly.
The only thing that pisses me off is the 3-4 seconds it takes to get in them off the traffic lights. I'm always muttering 'fucking stupid straps' to myself everytime i can't get in one.

i used to do it, but it's a pain if you don't wear the same shoes, had my feet stuck once at traffic lights next to a bus in the schools out time, much to many kids amusement, so.......went clipless

size 11s I had to bodge the toeclips to fit more outboard on the pedals and have the straps almost as loose as they will go.

I can usually get in on the second or third pedal stroke, when I started using them it sometimes took miles!

Hmm I'm thinking wearing the right shoes may help as well. Converse aren't the right shoes.

i put a set on the other day and could skid leaning in, but not in the saddle i didnt think it they were strong enough, but i havent had problems on other clip and strap pedals

Ah, i just ride on flats and love the simplicity...

RPM size 11s I had to bodge the toeclips to fit more outboard on the pedals and have the straps almost as loose as they will go.

I can usually get in on the second or third pedal stroke, when I started using them it sometimes took miles!

This was my bodge for the same problem. Long bolts and copper pipe from central heating system.

http://thomasbrickell.googlepages.com/26-11-06_1129.jpg/26-11-06_1129-full.jpg

The shoe makes a big difference. I ran clips and straps for a while but my shoe of choice are skate shoes which are big and puffy and getcaught up, not nice.

ChrisW Ah, i just ride on flats and love the simplicity...

I never understand how anyone can do this!

nice bit of engineering Brick.

......i've given up trying to go fixed in town. never thought of trying simple flats tho......

simple flats are not a good idea on fixed in my opinion, you need to be secured to the bike, theres a guy who rides a dolan, brakeless on flat pedals, nutter

he probably uses burgtecs and 5-10's or something similar, still a nutter though

it can't be that bad, you don't usually slip pedals with Vans waffle soles and decent pinned pedals..can't really see any advantage to it though, might as well have clips n' straps

but brakeless?

skills

saw a guy with flats wearing flipflops this morning (LowerRichmond Road junction Putney Bridge)
I kept well out of his way!

you can get clipless sandles, lol

I"ve been running clipless for about a year, but I want to start wearing trendy shoes again. I bought some toe clips, fitted em and cased at a set of lights. I can trackstand, its all good. How do you deal with them? just trackstand and unclip at the final destination.

Don't run the clips too tight. Thats all really.

You can buy some shoe inserts from me that slide into your 'trendy shoes™' and allow you to attach cleats to them (after you have cut the correct size hole in the bottom of the shoe).

Don't run the clips too tight. Thats all really.

What he said

+1 for running them lose till you get used to them. i have more of an issue putting the on then taking them off.

Aye that sounds like a good idea. Show me a picture. Maybe I could use the plate of my old shimanos..