Pedal Question re: my Trek 1000

**Bikingmomof3** · 07-31-2006, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by DirtDiva

Like, straps that go over your foot? Sounds like toeclips to me. I'm sure you could find a pair of bike shoes for under $100. They'd be better than running shoes anyway as the soles are stiffer. Plus, when you're ready to go clipless you'd already have the shoes to screw the cleats into.

Not really straps. The toe portion is molded. No adjusting. Does it make sense? I can try to photograph them. I think my battery is dead, but if I am not making sense to anyone, I will give it a try.

**mimitabby** · 07-31-2006, 08:10 AM

Sounds like toe clips without straps.
For my Toeclips, i found that a pair of merrill slip on shoes worked better than
the bike shoes i had for 2 years.
so try some of your other shoes.
the good news is if you buy bike shoes, you can always change them to whatever pedal system you end up if you decide to change from the clips.

**Bikingmomof3** · 07-31-2006, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by mimitabby

Sounds like toe clips without straps.
For my Toeclips, i found that a pair of merrill slip on shoes worked better than
the bike shoes i had for 2 years.
so try some of your other shoes.
the good news is if you buy bike shoes, you can always change them to whatever pedal system you end up if you decide to change from the clips.

I just put a phot of my pedal on. Please take a look when you get time. I am not a shoe person, so I only have running shoes and Birkenstocks. I will need shoes, I just do not want to spend a fortune on them, KWIM?

**Pedal Wench** · 07-31-2006, 08:30 AM

Until you're ready for clipless pedals (with cleats that attach the shoes to your pedals) you could get away with a cheap pair of tennis shoes - like the old Keds, or the knock-off that Target sells. However, I found a pair of Diadora shoes that worked best - they had a stiffer sole than the tennies, but still had a low profile that would fit, and the sole wasn't too slick, or too grippy. I'll see if I can find a pic.

**DebW** · 07-31-2006, 08:21 AM

If you have typical toe clips there will be a molder plastic cup-like piece that the front 1/3 of your shoe slides into and a strap that goes around the pedals and through a hole in the top front edge of the toe clip. The clips come in different sizes to match your shoe size. They may be steel, alloy, or plastic. Running shoes usually have such thick soles that they do not work well with toe clips. Look for a shoe with thin soles - sometimes tennis shoes are better. An ideal shoe for toe clips would have a stiffener in the ball of the foot area so you don't feel the pedal cage edges. There was a shoe called the Bata Biker sold in the late 70s that was designed like this. Now I don't know of any shoes made specifically for biking in toe clips (since clipless are so popular). BTW, clipless shoes without the clips would not be a good choice as the soles are too slick. You want a rubber sole that would grip the pedal but be moderately smooth. Big bumps or ridges in the sole would make it hard to extract your feet from the pedals, too smooth may not stay in the pedals well enough.

edit: The pic appeared after I posted. You have some sort of modern? unusual? toe clip that doesn't use straps. These will force your foot into the right position on the pedal but not produce much pedaling power or keep your feet from slipping sideways or backwards. My comments above still apply. But if I were you I'd swap them for real clips and straps.

**Bikingmomof3** · 07-31-2006, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by DebW

If you have typical toe clips there will be a molder plastic cup-like piece that the front 1/3 of your shoe slides into and a strap that goes around the pedals and through a hole in the top front edge of the toe clip. The clips come in different sizes to match your shoe size. They may be steel, alloy, or plastic. Running shoes usually have such thick soles that they do not work well with toe clips. Look for a shoe with thin soles - sometimes tennis shoes are better. An ideal shoe for toe clips would have a stiffener in the ball of the foot area so you don't feel the pedal cage edges. There was a shoe called the Bata Biker sold in the late 70s that was designed like this. Now I don't know of any shoes made specifically for biking in toe clips (since clipless are so popular). BTW, clipless shoes without the clips would not be a good choice as the soles are too slick. You want a rubber sole that would grip the pedal but be moderately smooth. Big bumps or ridges in the sole would make it hard to extract your feet from the pedals, too smooth may not stay in the pedals well enough.

Were you able to see the phot? It posted right before your postm but i am never certain if other can view the picture. I have the molded cup, but no strap.

**KSH** · 07-31-2006, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by DebW

. Look for a shoe with thin soles - sometimes tennis shoes are better. An ideal shoe for toe clips would have a stiffener in the ball of the foot area so you don't feel the pedal cage edges.

Uuuummm... better yet with BM3 with your NEW Trek 1000... go out and buy some proper shoes and clipless pedals... *evil grin*

... they are safer in the long run... AND you will go faster!

**Bikingmomof3** · 07-31-2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by KSH

Uuuummm... better yet with BM3 with your NEW Trek 1000... go out and buy some proper shoes and clipless pedals... *evil grin*

... they are safer in the long run... AND you will go faster!

Any suggestions on clipless pedals and shoe brands? I am still learning.

**Pedal Wench** · 07-31-2006, 08:33 AM

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17948

**Bikingmomof3** · 07-31-2006, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17948

Thank You.

I did not know metric shoes came in a 39 or 39.5. Augh, more decisions. LOL

**KSH** · 07-31-2006, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3

Any suggestions on clipless pedals and shoe brands? I am still learning.

I LOVE my Speedplays (pedals). Very easy to get in and out of! The float is really nice too.

Downside? You have to get road shoes...versus mountain biking shoes... road shoes are hard to walk in.

**Kano** · 07-31-2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3

Any suggestions on clipless pedals and shoe brands? I am still learning.

Bikingmom --

I have Specialized Taho shoes, like the cheapest I could find out there that felt good on my feet -- and they were coincidentally, the cheapest on the LBS rack that day, at about $69 (check REI if you have them nearby, since they're starting to have end of season clearance sales!) I bought those last year -- shoes that fit in the toe clips on my old bike made my feet unhappy while pedaling. The hard soles ARE better!

I just bought the pedals a couple of days ago (Saturday!) and they're Shimano M520. They were about $55. I think that was about the cheapest set they had -- He found them in the back, when he was checking inventory back there to make sure he had a pair of the ones I'd chosen. These look the same as the pair he said were like 80 in the case, and they work the same, but who am I to complain about saving some $$, eh? There's a screw type adjustment for the "tension" for getting in/out of them, and the LBS set them for very easy. I'm pretty pleased with how they work!

DH's set was a more expensive, but his are a different style with the hardware on only one side, and a bit of a platform -- not exactly that campus style (he changed his mind on those when I asked him what the heck would he want to wear his birks on his bike for ever again?, but then bought something similar but smaller) His shoes cost more too -- he's got VERY wide feet, and had trouble finding something that fit!

I'm no expert, but I think I got a great deal on starter shoes and pedals -- maybe you can too!

Karen in Boise

**Bad JuJu** · 07-31-2006, 11:08 AM

They used to call those things "half-clips"--sort of a toeclip without the strap--meant, I think, to be used by people who were a little hesitant to go the whole clips-and-straps route, and I think they were also popular with roadies moving over to MTBs back when clipless pedals weren't so well-known/mainly used by the pros.

Anyway, I still use toeclips, and I find that my feet are happier with what used to be called a touring shoe--not sure what they call it now. It has a stiffer sole than your average sneaker or running shoe, and that stiff sole transmits more of the power from your legs into the pedal = stronger pedaling. A bonus of many such shoes is that they can be converted to shoes for clipless pedals simply by adding a cleat on the bottom of the outsole. Look for shoes that are advertised as "SPD compatible." I'm contemplating making the move to clipless any day now--well, at least when I get my new bike out of layaway.

**Bad JuJu** · 07-31-2006, 11:11 AM

By the way, I have Diadora Caymano cycling shoes. Some say Diadoras aren't very durable, but they're the ones that fit me best and their durability seems fine. Currently on sale at campmor.com:
Caymano

**kjay** · 07-31-2006, 07:16 PM

BM3, I sure do like your toe clips! Looks like there's plenty of room for the toe of the shoe. Wish my Trek would have come with toe clips like that. I removed my straps so that my clips look more like yours now, but they don't have the room in the toe that yours has. I do like them, though, as they are easy to get in and out of and so I'll use them a while longer before switching to clipless.

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