mini toe clips

[kie_fujo]

does anyone here use these? i have straps and clips cause i have to many issues getting my foot in them. but in a sense i do like having something there. then i saw these mks mini toe clips. i got a pair and i need to put them on but just wondering if anyone else has tried them!

[Zen]

In case anyone is wondering, you can see them here
MKS Mini Toe Clips (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=205_241&products_id=473&zenid=f0b020eaa7fad9257b4d296a618b8a2b)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Those look nice. :)

I like 'minimal attachment' on my feet as well, and I use these:
http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/product.php?section=product

[OakLeaf]

Never seen such a thing - but do they require you to keep forward pressure on your toes, to stay in them? I wouldn't think that would be good.

[kie_fujo]

i haven't used them yet so i'll let you know. i did put them on last night and pedaled a little on the trainer and they seem nice. i like being able to move my foot around on my pedal and these allow me to. we'll see!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

i haven't used them yet so i'll let you know. i did put them on last night and pedaled a little on the trainer and they seem nice. i like being able to move my foot around on my pedal and these allow me to. we'll see!!

When I used to have nothing on my pedals, the only bad part was when my shoes or sneakers were wet from grass, and my feet would unexpectedly slid off the front of the pedal. My pedals and shoes all had plenty of tread and grip, but the wet would make it slippery nonetheless. So I imagine your mini clips would prevent that nicely.
Oakleaf- I don't think it's a matter of having to be 'in' them- it just keeps your foot from slipping forward off the pedal- I'd think that would be particularly useful when going up steep hills and standing- when you naturally tend to point your toes more.

[divingbiker]

I love these things. I've got them on my commuting bike and my Xtracycle, and they're a great alternative to clipless pedals, which scare me in traffic.

The mini toe clips are very easy to get in and out of, and are especially good when it's raining because they keep you from slipping off the pedals. You don't have to press your toes into them, so there's no numbness or anything.

The only problem I've found is that my sneakers and my big winter boots are a bit too tall to fit in them comfortably, but they still work.

[Angy]

Anyone who has these, will they work for a child feet? My son is not coordinated enough for clipless yet and the top clips we've found in our LBS are too big for his feet. I like both the systems that were shown here, but not sure if they'll be small enough for him. He's got size 5 youth shoes.

[kie_fujo]

I actually wear a girl's size 3.5. I have little feet. I'm planning a ride for tomorrow so I'll let you know how they feel!

[VeloVT]

I'd be curious to know how either the mini-clips or power straps work with sandals. I have an old Schwinn rigid mtb that my parents wanted to get rid of that I am planning to refurbish a bit and turn into a "riding into town" bike (this is different than a commute bike because my commute bike is actually fairly nice and I don't feel comfortable riding it into town and locking it up downtown for a few hours while I shop, have lunch, etc -- the idea is that my "riding into town" bike will not be attractive to thieves. And it will be sluggish enough that I won't feel compelled to wear bike clothes and bike shoes and get sweaty :o).

It has flat pedals on it right now and I definitely want to keep the option of wearing regular shoes, but I'd like something that grips my foot a little bit, and ideally I would love to be able to wear non-athletic, non-grippy shoes with no toe protection (flip flops, flat leather-soled sandals, etc).

Suggestions welcomed...

[fastdogs]

ok, I have a question- I got some of these today for my mtb. They came with no instructions, and I cannot figure out how they go on. They came with the plastic toe clips, two metal plates, and four bolts with nuts. Does anyone have a photo of some of these installed?
vickie

[wackyjacky1]

I would assume they go on like my toe clips do. If your pedals have reflectors, pop one off and use those holes to mount the clips. Don't know what the plates are for...I believe my toe clips came with them, but I didn't know which side they were supposed to go on (front or back?) so my solution was to not use them! :p

Front:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/IMG_0001_66-1-1.jpg

Back:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/IMG_0003_46-1-1.jpg

Hope this helps.

(I'm watching this thread with great interest. I may switch to some mini clips if they keep getting positive reviews. My current toe clips cause me some trouble when I wear my Keens, and I love cycling in my Keens.)

[kie_fujo]

well i rode for the first time in them today. i have to say i like them much better than full clips and straps. much easier to get into. only problem i had was that i had to make sure my big toe was in the middle of the opening or it kinda hurt my toe, but i also had my running shoes on which are kinda soft/mesh on the top so that probably didn't help. overall i think i will like them just fine.

edit: the pain in my toe may have been because i stubbed it this morning!!! i totally forgot about it. we'll see next time!

[wackyjacky1]

Awright, I'm convinced. I just ordered a set from the link Zen provided. ;)

[mary9761]

those look interesting to me as well. Right now I have full toe straps/cages


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mary9761/misc%20pics/toeclipsstraps-01.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mary9761/misc%20pics/toeclipsstraps-02.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mary9761/misc%20pics/toeclipsstraps-03.jpg
and I have a wide and pretty big foot. I've noticed since I got back on the bike after my herniated disc surgery and sciatica that I do have leg/foot numbness in the right which is the foot I keep in the cage when I stop. It's not every time and it's not constant, but I wonder if it's because my foot has limited movement from the full cage? Hmmmm I've never worn cleats so I wear the equivalent of a walking shoe (full support and all that) and I may soon be wearing more of a diabetic shoe after I see the podiatrist next month for plantar fascitis/heel spurs?

[kie_fujo]

well, i did a 28mi ride yesterday and no toe pain. so i think it was just from my toe being stubbed! yay! i really do like them!

[fastdogs]

I think mine are going back to the store; I cannot find any way to put them on my pedals. I appreciate the photos, and tried after seeing them. I took the reflector off a pedal, and it looked like it should fit, but the holes don't line up at all. i don't know what the plate is for, but trying all different configurations I can't see any way to put them on. My pedals are the stock pedals that came with the gary fisher wahoo- sort of wide pedals that are not flat on the sides- each side is kind of offset from the other (my trek hybrid pedals are the same way). I've searched the internet for any instructions, but no luck. Mine are inline mini mtb toe clips.
vickie

[wackyjacky1]

fastdogs, maybe the store you purchased them from would install them for you?

I'm hoping mine come in the mail today.

[fastdogs]

good idea- I think I'll take them in with my bike for it's first free tune up and have the shop where I bought it install them, if it's possible. The store where I bought the toe clips is a small shop specializing in recumbents, and from overhearing conversations they are NOT fond of anything trek. My bike is a gary fisher.
vickie

[kie_fujo]

let me know if you like yours wackyjacky!! i hope they can get them on for you fastdogs!

[wackyjacky1]

I'm not too sure what I think about the mini clips.

On the plus side -- and it's a very big plus -- they're super easy to get your foot into. My pedals don't have the little tabs that pedals used to have that made it easy to flip the pedal right-side-up and slide your foot in. With the mini clips, it is effortless to flip the pedal into position, even without those tabs.

On the negative side -- and this is a big one, too -- they smoosh my toes! They gap is so narrow that I kind of have to jam my shoe in there. That's good for holding my feet in position, but it's really uncomfortable on my big toes. And if it's hard for me to jam my running shoe in there, I guarantee my chunky ol' Keens aren't going to fit. :(

I might give 'em one more day of riding before I make a final decision.

[danadear]

I just bought some of these too. I had my DH install them but only rode around the neighborhood a little because I had to take my bike to the LBS for some repairs. I think I will like them a lot though. I couldn't deal with clipless or even straps...freaks me out. This is a nice alternative for me. I just have to have total control of my feet. :o

I'd also like to try some BMX style platform pedals with the pins. I hear they work great for grip. I bought these first because they were cheap.

[wackyjacky1]

OK, after having used them for a few days now, I'm beginning to really like them. Yes, they can be toe-smooshers, but I found that it's pretty easy to position my foot so that my big toe is in the gap and not directly under the metal "spring" part. They hold my feet very securely. And like I said before, they're so easy to get your feet into -- no fumbling around trying to flip the pedal and slide an oversized shoe into a cage and strap.

Bonus: Keens actually work quite well with them. The big bumper toe on Keens keep the clips from smooshing down too hard on my toes.

So...two thumbs up for the mini toe clips!