Flat pedals clip

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Okeydokey

Active Member
Hi, I would like to upgrade my current Raleigh flat pedals to something with a clip on type arrangement. I'm sure that pulling up as well as pushing down during any cadence has its benefits. So without buying special cycling shoes... is there a sensible upgrade that doesn't have me falling over at the roundabout while I phaff with my feet? I have seen a simple C shaped plastic thing that seems to screw/clip onto the front of a flat pedal. Looks very fragile to me.
The routine journey is mostly flat, one large junction, two roundabouts, and one short but steep hill. All in all about 8 miles return. Bike is worth about fifty quid real money, my valuation... it's priceless. My budget 30 quid.

Thanks in advance, Julie XXX

Edit: Please dont tell me it depends on what size thread my thingymabobs has!
 

shouldbeinbed

Rollin' along
Location
Manchester way
Your choice is toe clips of the sort you describe, you can get better ones than those with straps for better hold on your feet.

The alternative is Clipless pedals with proper cycling shoes & cleats. If you did go the clipless route, shop around, Aldi/Lidl (shoes) Decathlon or the second hand seller sites (both) and you should be able to get set up with a cheap but functional set of pedals and shoes for around £30-40 if you could stretch a few quid.

Edit: There's been quite a number of threads debating the merits of pull up as well as push down pedalling, you may get some technical answers with pros and cons to that one too and opinions on how much you'd really benefit for routine cycling.
 

rb58

Enigma
Location
Bexley, Kent
pulling up is over-rated
I'm not sure about that. When I ride a flat pedalled bike after years of being clipless, my foot quite often slips on the pedal because I'm pulling up without knowing it. I also experimented on the Watt bike and the 'pulling' phase definitely helps with keeping the power on through the entire rotation.

To the OP, clipless came about because the pedals make it easy to clip in and out, whereas with clips and straps it can be a bit if a faff, so don't discount clipless as an option for you. It very quickly becomes second nature.
 

vickster

Squire
For those pedals you need the shoes and cleats. The issue I personally finds with that sort of pedal (I have two bikes with similar) is that when wearing cleated shoes the clip side is always hanging down and you have to flip it over and when wearing trainers, the clip side is always up and the mechanism digs into your foot or is slippery and you have to flip the pedal over. All of this is fine if you aren't in a hurry to get up to speed and can safely look down at your feet

As said however, a reasonable pair of shoes will cost around £30 minimum and that's if you have non awkward feet that fit in the budget shoes
 
OP
OP
Okeydokey

Okeydokey

Active Member
Thanks guys for your input, at this point the most pressing issue is the spanner to take off ye-olde pedals? Is there a special tool that does this, or another trip to my LBS?

Edit: should really be... And another trip to the LBS! or what ever we call the guys who sell us half the answer.
 

MontyVeda

a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll

I think Jesus is proven (are you muddling him up with god?)... but you're missing the point... some people prefer clips or clipless and feel that they do get increased efficiency from being attached to their pedals. Whether it's a half percent increase, 5 percent or 20 percent is irrelevant.
 

youngoldbloke

The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
Not over rated when you are out of the saddle honking up a steep short hill. No way would your feet stay on the pedals. Diagonal pedal straps (others are available such as 'power grips') are worth considering too, good for touring if you don't want to wear 'special' shoes.
 
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