Power Grips? Love em or hate em?

[danadear]

Thanks for the replies. I know that I should try clipless again. I know it makes sense.

My boyfriend really wants me to try again because he cannot imagine riding without being clipped in. In fact we have a beach cruiser bike that I use to pull the grandson around in the trailer on a dirt road near our house. Bruce hopped on it yesterday to move it from the carport to the bike shed and he said it felt so strange being unclipped. He felt very unstable and insecure with his feet free. I told him I feel the same way when I am clipped in. Very nervous.

After reading reviews i think the power grips will be a nice compromise and a good next step to maybe one day trying clipless again. It seems to have been a stepping stone for a lot of folks who have reviewed them.

[Biciclista]

yes, it was a stepping stone for me too. There's no reason to go clipless before you are ready.
Bicycling should be fun.

[shootingstar]

After reading reviews i think the power grips will be a nice compromise and a good next step to maybe one day trying clipless again. It seems to have been a stepping stone for a lot of folks who have reviewed them.

Do what you need to do to feel confident again.
Like you I need to be clipped in (strapless toe clips)--I have rented bikes in the past where I was not clipped in, not even toe clips. It feels very insecure especially when cycling fast or descending. And going up hills, it's lack of power to pull the bike along. I guess maybe I'm weak: I couldn't enjoy cycling all over our city (with enough hills 5-10%) in a single speed on platform pedals. Great others are strong enough to do so (and even some fashionistas). More power to them.

I know several men, who have cycled long distance for several weeks on touring rides, with toe clips.

[TsPoet]

I have powergrips on my recumbent trike. I love them, I can put on whatever shoes (well actually only my VFFs , I shortened the straps so only "barefoot" shoes fit now), and go shopping or ride down to the park to photograph ducks or whatever.
On my 2-wheeled bents, I would not consider them - I find them very difficult to get out of!
I love my eggbeater (clipless) pedals for bikes that require quick in/out motions.
Someone on the bent forum recommended trying clipless pedals 1 at a time. If you usually put your left foot down at stops, then try just the right foot in a clipless pedal and use a platform on the left. Then switch after a few weeks. Then try both.
Don't know if that's a good idea or bad. I went cold-turkey myself.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I love love love my PowerGrip straps on both my bikes.
I love being able to wear any comfortable favorite boot or shoe for biking (especially in winter!). They hold my feet very securely and I can get in and out of them easily by simply turning my heel out and back, just like you do to get out of clipless.

[ciao_bella]

Like ShootingStar mentioned above, I recently purchased a pair of Zefal Mini-Clips.

http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=45

So far, I really like them, and they are easy to get in and out of, no straps involved. I considered the Power Grips, and found the reviews to be very favorable, but I thought I'd give the mini-clips a try first since they are only $6. I may try the Power Grips later.

I searched the internet for suggestions of what to use instead of going clipless. I'm just very afraid of the learning curve and falling, because of my age, and because I've already had two knee surgeries. I'm afraid of falling and re-injuring my knees again.

I also saw another product (alternative to going clipless) that looked interesting, called Hold Fast pedal straps. But they were even more expensive than the Power Grips.

Ciao