Rat traps, toe clips, toe cages....!
- Thread starter MilkRace
- Start date
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Apollonius
Veteran
- Location
- South Staffordshire
I will admit to still having some on my older bikes, but for serious riding I tend to fit SLs. Just don't feel safe not cleated.
- Location
- Egham
Grew up using them, still have a few knocking about, but none on current bikes..
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
Only stopped using them about two years ago, using click R SPD's now, but I've still got toeclips on the bike on the turbo.
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Brought up on them, but switched to clipless soon after they were brought out. Liked toe clips, but I don't miss the effort trying to line up the shoe plates and fixing them with nails, or losing circulation in the feet when you tighten the straps up too much. Still got a few leather toe straps around and I use them to hold my tool kit/spare under the saddle.
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Oldfentiger
Veteran
- Location
- Pendle, Lancs
I use them on my old steel bikes, when riding in vintage events.
Rude not to, innit?
Besides, it’s a bugger trying to screw cleats to the soles of me brogues
Rude not to, innit?
Besides, it’s a bugger trying to screw cleats to the soles of me brogues
further
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
I have them on all all of my bikes.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Nope, not since the 90s.
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
Used them since I got my first 'real' MTB in 1997. Come to think of it I think they're the same cage, so not bad service for 20y.
The commuter has them too, but I'd have fitted them if if didn't. The 'new' 'tourer' currently being built will too.
Like @Oldfentiger I'd find it hard to put SPD's into my shoes, in my case steel soled work boots...
By 'rat trap' do you mean the luggage rack? I use those too.
The commuter has them too, but I'd have fitted them if if didn't. The 'new' 'tourer' currently being built will too.
Like @Oldfentiger I'd find it hard to put SPD's into my shoes, in my case steel soled work boots...
By 'rat trap' do you mean the luggage rack? I use those too.
I still use toe clips on both my old (1994) Dawes Mean Street XT and newer Thorn Sterling. I tried the SPD things but I kept falling off! 
I am sure I could have got used to them but my bunion-deformed feet make it impossible to find suitable shoes. I have rear racks on both bikes.
I am sure I could have got used to them but my bunion-deformed feet make it impossible to find suitable shoes. I have rear racks on both bikes.
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
I don't like the idea of either toeclips or cleats, I reckon they make accidents more likely to occur in the first place and more serious when they occur, than using flat pedals. I've only ever used toeclips once, set very loose and wearing normal footwear. That was on a Dawes Galaxy set up for touring that I was having a go on and the bike itself was lovely - but the toeclips weren't! Wasn't impressed at all by them.
I've witnessed several "offs" in London traffic where the cyclist was cleated and remained attached so they went down in a heap mixed up with the bike, whereas if they'd have been riding on flats they might have been able to bail out or get their feet down and avoid coming off at all. Unless you are racing hell for leather I see no advantage in mechanical attachment to the bike. For general recreational and utility cycling, being able to keep your feet on the pedals is simply a non-issue.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
I have the half toe clips on all my bikes including mtb.
My main reasons are: I have never had any problems with feet slipping off the pedals: I don't have any foot pain issues for my max four hour rides; I only occasionally go on any ride that doesn't include stops or walking; I do not like the daft look and sound of cyclists waddling and click-clacking on hard floors; I am too mean to lash out on expensive shoes and pedals; I do not race against other people so gaining perhaps a minute or two over a long ride is neither here nor there.
My main reasons are: I have never had any problems with feet slipping off the pedals: I don't have any foot pain issues for my max four hour rides; I only occasionally go on any ride that doesn't include stops or walking; I do not like the daft look and sound of cyclists waddling and click-clacking on hard floors; I am too mean to lash out on expensive shoes and pedals; I do not race against other people so gaining perhaps a minute or two over a long ride is neither here nor there.
