I'm a utility cyclist and like to cycle in regular clothes that I will be wearing that day. I would like to use additional leg muscles when cycling but do not wish to wear special shoes. Am I right in my understanding that my options are toe straps/cages and "power grips"? Are there different types of power grips? How does the disengage mechanism work? Thanks in advance for any insight.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Pedal options for utility cyclist
(25 posts)- Started 12 years ago by seanspotatobusiness
- Latest reply from Darkerside
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Posted 12 years ago #
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Never heard of Powergrips. But I do know you can buy cycle shoes which look very similar to non cycle shoes. Sorry I can't help more.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hi. Thanks for your response but I would really like to be able to use my existing shoes.
These are power grips: http://www.mountainracingproducts.com/power-grips/
I don't want to restrict my clothing coordination based on my mode of travel which is almost always by bike and I also don't wish to carry an additional pair of shoes at all times.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I remember when Power Grips first came out and thought they might be a good idea for some people.
The main advantage was that they were easier to get out of than toes traps. (EDIT meant toe straps - though...)
They came along about the time SPDs did. These were more expense, required special shoes and had Shimano's marketing budget.
SPDs were much more 'walking friendly' than existing cleat systems and so became popular with racing cyclists.
I'm sure SPDs will be a bit more 'efficient' than Power Grips, but if (understandably) use of normal shoes is important, I suggest you buy some and let us know what you think.
Posted 12 years ago # -
P.s. I only realised that they still existed when I was talking to a bicycle polo person recently.
Bike polo is a sporting activity where almost anything goes in terms of bike/equipment. Some riders use SPDs and a few have Power Grips, others are 'unrestrained'.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I believe they were very popular with mountain bikers before cleats were available, knew someone who used them on his daily commute in the mid 90s (but with sport specific boot things, not cycle specific though). He seemed to like them. As mentioned above, I didn't know they were still available.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The solid cages are useless. I bought a pair on the grounds they would let me use all my footwear, since straps don't really work unless you have fairly pointy toed shoes, and they lasted about three days before being replaced by straps. The extra weight means they fall unpside down quicker and are thus harder to engage, and being solid they bump alarmingly on the ground when cornering, so making turns at a junction is not fun.
Nowadays I wear the narrow ones 90% of the time, but I absolutely have to wear broad shoes, I just take a bike with flat pedals.
The powergrip style looks more forgiving of shoe width and certainly more forgiving to leatehr uppers. My beloved fell-running shoes have warwounds on the same spot from the buckle scraping daily.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've got Zefal Mini Clips on a couple of bikes.
I'm not sure how much extra power they give compared to proper straps or cleats as I've never used straps or cleats. It certainly feels like you can pull up on the pedals to some degree if you want, although that's not generally my cycling style.
Their main use is to keep slidy soled work shoes in the correct place on the pedal.
The pedal will hang clip down when not engaged and I don't really find them difficult to get into. Sometimes I end up pulling away from a junction using the 'wrong' side and sort my feet out later.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm actually converting my MTB to flats, but just getting some DMR V8s which I used in the dim and distant past, as they're pretty grippy, and the MTB is becoming the 'to the shops Batman' bike that I can just jump on - never really going distances that I think straps would be of much benefit.
That said, if you get the power grips let us know how you get on. As Uberuce says, solid cages can be a pain in the proverbial (though the amount of people using them sugegsts many don't mind pedals flipping, metal scraping ont eh ground, etc).
Posted 12 years ago # -
I used power grips for a race a few years back assuming that they would allow me to not have to carry a spare pair of shoes while running (had to carry kid run, cycle etc) and I was pretty unimpressed. My feet went numb almost immediately and it was a bit of a nightmare. HOWEVER. My cousin-in-law commutes between clients in glasgow every day in suit/shoes and swears by them. I can lend you mine if you want to try them out?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Huge resurgence in powerstrap style straps due to all the fix-wheel nonsense going on everywhere. Look at Re-Strap and the various knockoffs of those. I'd quite like some for touring, to only need the one set of shoes.
Posted 12 years ago # -
They're not just for more power. Multiple chain rings can mean that the large one has no chain on it but lots of teeth waiting for your thigh. Having your feet attached to the pedal makes this a bit safer.
Rarely a problem here.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I have a pair of Powergrips. Mostly they sit on a shelf, with SPDs in their place on the bike. Powergrips when set just right are almost as good as SPD for retention and pulling power, but I found that unless I kept them loose, my knees hurt from the inward twist that keeps them tight when riding. But they'd be good for dress shoes, although on balance I would probably pick up a pair of toeclips instead, as they were good enough for me before I moved to clipless.
What I generally do for 'events' is wear brown trainery SPD bike shoes and (maybe not so ideal for the guys) mostly cover them with a pair of wide-legged dress trousers.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Toe clips. Could be plastic cages. Cheap as chips.
Yes, sometimes they drag on the ground if you are starting off and haven't engaged one foot yet, but usually only when cornering.
Or if you're not going very far/fast just flats.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I use toe clips and straps (loose -ish) as I find them less of a faff at junctions and also one pair of shoes only . msaw on the EBC site in the link road pedals with clips and straps. - presume they would need a retro cycling shoe?
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's not convenient for me to use SPDs because I use my bike to visit clients during the day and I can't be climbing in and out of people's baths or shifting furniture or demonstrating manual handling in cleats. So I use toeclips and straps.
Posted 12 years ago # -
climbing in and out of people's baths
Sounds most intriguing...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Kirst is a plumber. Transports everything with a bike trailer made out of a cast iron bath.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Sounds awesome and terrifying in equal measure. Presumably pretty heavy up hills...?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yeah a fibre-glass bath would be a lot lighter...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Powergrips are better and less faff than toeclips and an adjustable strap. They are intended to be adjustable (with spanners) to accomodate different size shoes, but I found that the screw/clamp system was less than ideal and ended up just punching a hole through the strap and bolting them directly into the pedal. This of course reduces the ability to mix between different shoe sizes. (i.e. a big wide Merrell trainer vis. something thin and small like a Converse)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Mr Cow, you are a very naughty boy. I think Darkerside believes you!
Posted 12 years ago # -
A slur upon my good name!
Posted 12 years ago # -
"A slur upon my good name!"
You should have thought of that before...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm blaming being half asleep at work for that acute attack of the gullibles...
Posted 12 years ago #
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