john@mddc.UUCP (John Pletikapich) (04/19/84)
.
Right now I'm just a weekend leisure cyclist, but I plan to increase my riding
habits significantly. Currently, my bike does not have toe-traps. I've
been on bikes with them, however, and have had some difficulty dismounting
in emergency situations. I believe I know the idea behind toe-traps (the foot
does not slip off the pedal and the (normally) passive leg is put to work
pulling the pedal up). My question - is effieciency increased markedly enough
to allow for decreased safety (especially in rush hour traffic on 2 lane
roads) ? Or do they just take some getting used to ?
If anyone has statistics on any of this, I'd also like to see it.
(I like numbers.)
1000 thanks in advance:
john
...{decvax, ihnp4, ucbvax, mhuxi, etc.}!cbosgd!qusavx!mddc!johnfish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (04/20/84)
(oo)
Toe clips provide a tremendous improvement in pedaling efficiency
and fatigue reduction, and should be added to your bike by all
means!
As to the problem with getting your foot out in emergencies, you
need to learn to pull your foot back rather than try to lift it
off. Also, it helps to get shoes with a reasonably smooth
surface that won't get caught horizontally.Some enthusiasts
wear special cycling shoes that *prevent* you from being able to
easily pull your foot out without loosening the straps, but I
haven't got the balls for them. My Nikes work just fine.
It's important to get the right clips for your foot. Properly installed
clips will position the ball of your foot right over or slightly
ahead of the pivot in the middle of the pedal. I installed mine by
placing several flat washers as shims between the clips and the pedals
to get the feel just right. Clips come in several sizes, though, so
you might not need to do this; my size 11 1/2 foot was just a bit too
big for the 'large' size, hence the washers.
I've learned to reach down and loosen the straps when I anticipate
a stop. I've also gotten real good at slipping my foot right into
the trap on the first stroke pulling away from a stop. This takes
some practice, but once you've ridden with clips for a while, you'll
wonder how you ever got by without them!
--
Bob Fishell
ihnp4!ihu1g!fishjas@drutx.UUCP (ShanklandJA) (04/22/84)
I've been on bikes with [toe-traps] ... and have had some
difficulty dismounting in emergency situations.... My
question - is efficiency increased markedly enough
to allow for decreased safety...?
I don't have figures for you, but I certainly disagree that toe-traps
decrease safety. The trick is to pull your foot straight back,
rather than up, when dismounting. If you cannot instantly free your
foot that way (after a little practice), the toe trap is too tight.
William Sanders, author of *Backcountry Bikepacking*, says:
Toe straps and clips greatly increase pedaling power and
efficiency, and reduce knee soreness, by holding the foot
in the same position all the way around the stroke. There
is also less chance of the foot coming off the pedal, *a
very good safety feature when the shoe or pedal are slippery
with rain or mud*. [emphasis added]
Jim Shankland
..!ihnp4!druxy!jaschuqui@nsc.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) (04/22/84)
Let me relate a couple of toe clip stories. First the bad news:
When I was in high school, I was out training. I was strapped in rather
securely, and tripping at a measured 18MPH (low gear, spinning at 145).
It was getting dark, and suddenly there was a rock between me and the
rest of the road. My front wheel hit the rock and stopped. I kept
going. My feet stayed in the clips, so the bike followed me over and
landed on top of me. This did wonderful things to my skin and clothes,
and not so wonderful things to one of my knees (it still hurts when the
weather changes... *sigh*). Here is a situation where I might have been
much better off without clips.
But on the other side:
I can think of at least half a dozen times in my riding career when the
clips saved my tail. When you are in a pack and something happens in
front of you, any port in a storm will do. One of the first tricks you
should learn is how to long jump your bike so that you can climb curbs
and get over speed bumps without touching them (it isn't as hard as it
sounds. you raise your tail and then lift your hands and feet
simultaneously.) This helped me get off the road and onto the sidewalk
a number of times when I needed to get out of the way of something.
The safety argument is like seat belts. Everyone can come up with special
cases where a person would have been better off if they didn't wear their
belts, but in the general case they enhance safety. Used properly, toe
clips can, too, and they make riding a lot less work as well.
--
From under the bar at Callahan's: Chuq Von Rospach
{amd70,fortune,hplabs,menlo70}!nsc!chuqui (408) 733-2600 x242
Never give your heart to a stranger, unless you are sure that you are dead.chris@grkermit.UUCP (Chris Hibbert) (04/23/84)
Toe clips are really not all that hard to get used to. When I got my first 12-speed a few years ago, I had the opportunity to try an emergency escape on my way home from the store. I was riding down Washington Street in Brighton, (part of Boston) and got my tires caught in the out-of-service trolley (street-car) tracks. I was still moving forward, but could no longer steer. I hopped out without any trouble, and haven't worried about the toe-clips since. They are very useful for hill-climbing; I would recommend them for anyone who does any touring.
bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys) (04/24/84)
> Something I've wondered about is the position of your foot on the > pedal. A toe-clip postions the center of the pedal under the ball > of your foot. Without toe-clips I tend to ride with the pedal > centered just in front of the heel. Does anyone have any thoughts > on which is better? The toe clip keeps your foot in the correct position. With the ball of your foot on the pedal, you can "ankle", that is, extend the toe near the bottom of the stroke and flex it near the top. This technique considerably increases the efficiency of the stroke. Look in any good bicycle book. (This is recommended anyhow since there are many non-obvious techniques that can considerably increase your biking pleasure). -- Bill Jefferys 8-% Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712 (USnail) {ihnp4,kpno,ctvax}!ut-sally!utastro!bill (uucp) utastro!bill@ut-ngp (ARPANET)
beisel@trwspp.UUCP (04/26/84)
Do not strap your feet in tight while riding on a busy street. Wait till you get to the back streets. - Bruce Beisel
manheimer@nbs-amrf.UUCP (04/28/84)
I'd like to emphasize the importance of toe-clip's keeping your feet securely
in place. It's generally acknowledged that a smooth, brisk pedalling cadence
is an important part of efficient, comfortable cycling. Toe-clips help keep
you steady at higher cadences, and so engender a (probably) better cycling
style.
I also find it uncomfortable to ride a ten-speed (i.e. in a crouching rather
than upright position) without toe-clips, and I'm fairly certain this is
because of increased difficulty keeping my feet steady at the cadences I
would otherwise favor.
Ken Manheimer UUCP: {seismo,allegra}!umcp-cs!nbs-amrf!manheimer
National Bureau of Standards ARPA: manheimer.nbs-amrf@maryland (maybe)
Metrology A127 Influence: and existence are the same
Washington, DC 20234 BELL: (301)921-2381