Pedals?

Grolch said:

I am looking for those pedals with the attached staps that go across
diagonally. You just toe in to the strap and twist straight. Does anyone
remember what they're called and / or who makes em?

Grolsch

These, perhaps?

http://powergrips.com/

Best,

Dan

"Dan B." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Grolch said:

I am looking for those pedals with the attached staps that go across
diagonally. You just toe in to the strap and twist straight. Does anyone
remember what they're called and / or who makes em?

Grolsch

These, perhaps?

http://powergrips.com/

Best,

Dan

That's them! ANybody have any comments regarding these. I am currently using
bare cages and would like a bit more security now that the weathers getting
wetter.

Grolch said:

"Dan B." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Grolch said:

I am looking for those pedals with the attached staps that go across
diagonally. You just toe in to the strap and twist straight. Does anyone
remember what they're called and / or who makes em?

Grolsch

These, perhaps?

http://powergrips.com/

Best,

Dan

That's them! ANybody have any comments regarding these. I am currently using
bare cages and would like a bit more security now that the weathers getting
wetter.

I've only used SPDs and Eggbeater/Candy pedals in the last few years,
so can't provide any personal anecdotes. The PowerGrips strips are
pretty inexpensive (~$25USD) IIRC, and should work with many platform
pedals; it may be simplest to just buy a pair and see how it goes.

Best,

Dan

Dan B. said:

Grolch said:

"Dan B." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Grolch wrote:
> I am looking for those pedals with the attached staps that go across
> diagonally. You just toe in to the strap and twist straight. Does anyone
> remember what they're called and / or who makes em?
>
> Grolsch
These, perhaps?

http://powergrips.com/

Best,

Dan

That's them! ANybody have any comments regarding these. I am currently using
bare cages and would like a bit more security now that the weathers getting
wetter.

I've only used SPDs and Eggbeater/Candy pedals in the last few years,
so can't provide any personal anecdotes. The PowerGrips strips are
pretty inexpensive (~$25USD) IIRC, and should work with many platform
pedals; it may be simplest to just buy a pair and see how it goes.

Best,

Dan

One point with the Powergrips is that the sole of the shoe needs to be
rather smooth for them to work well. You need to be able to turn your
foot on the pedals, and the reason a lot of people are attracted to
Powergrips is so that they won't need to buy "special" shoes for
bicycle-riding--but most typical running/cross-training shoes now seem
to have soles that are rather chunky. You can't turn your foot well
because the tread blocks on the soles gets hung up on the edges of the
pedals. So you might end up wanting to go buy a cheap pair of
mall-walkers anyway. And then you're back to needing "special"
bike-riding shoes.....
-------
One thing that people don't realize until they get "real" clipless
pedals is that they are often worried about the cost of the shoes--but
since all you do is ride in them, the shoes can last a /long/ time;
several years at least unless you outgrow them. They won't wear out in
3-4 months like casual shoes do if worn every day. Regular shoes get
worn from being bent while walking and most of the time you wear riding
shoes, you aren't walking.

And clipless shoes aren't all expensive either, the pair I bought (3 yrs
ago) cost $30 + shipping, and they aren't showing ANY signs of wear yet.
~

Grolch ? said:

...
That's them! ANybody have any comments regarding these [Power Grips]. I am currently
using bare cages and would like a bit more security now that the weathers getting
wetter.

Power Grips versus platform pedals:

While a low BB recumbent may be ridden with platform pedals, there is
always the danger of having one's foot (or feet) fall off the pedals
and contact the ground, leading to a potentially serious (bone
fracture, ligament tears, etc.) "leg suck" injury. Foot retention
greatly reduces this risk, and has the added advantage of allowing a
more relaxing ride, since the rider does not consciously have to keep
his/her feet on the pedals. Foot retention is practically mandatory on
a bike with the BB higher than the seat.

Power Grips versus clips and straps:

When I want simplicity, low cost, and the ability to ride with
non-cycling specific shoes, I use pedals with Power Grips. Power Grips
hold the foot better than the combination of clips and straps WITHOUT
cleated cycling shoes, do not require reaching down to the pedals to
release one's foot, and are also much easier to get into.

Power Grips versus clipless:

Clipless pedals hold the foot with less play, and are better for riding
hard/fast. There is no strap compressing the foot, which some will find
more comfortable for longer rides.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman said:

wrote:

Foot retention is practically mandatory on a bike with the BB higher than the seat.

Power Grips versus clipless:

Clipless pedals hold the foot with less play, and are better for riding
hard/fast. There is no strap compressing the foot, which some will find
more comfortable for longer rides.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

High BB, low BB, doesn't matter on long rides. Foot retention is a real safety consideration. I dumped the powergrips after my first 30 mile ride - and that is not long but was long enough for me to very nearly experience leg suck. Very minor road wrinkle and one foot just dropped right off the pedal. The rest of the ride sucked because I was paying so much attention to making sure my feet did not come loose again.

If I had a strictly commuter bike, one ridden only in town with all the start/stop hassels, that would have powergrips. IMO that is the only use for them on a bent. Had I not been riding a high BB there is no way I could have avoided the leg suck situation. As it was, barely clipping the pavement with my heel almost knocked me off the bike.

Comparing my powergrip experience to my BeBop experience, the clipless sandal/pedal combination is clearly more efficient. A situation that would not matter to me in the "town only" scenario but becomes very important on rural rides.

As an aside, I do occasionally do in town chores on the bent. Wish I had a camera for the look I got the first time I pulled up to the window to pay the utility bill, ditto for drive thru bank clerk(s). Enjoyed being able to use the line, "It's a bicycle."

Charlie

Hull 697 said:

...
High BB, low BB, doesn't matter on long rides. Foot retention is a real
safety consideration. I dumped the powergrips after my first 30 mile
ride - and that is not long but was long enough for me to very nearly
experience leg suck. Very minor road wrinkle and one foot just dropped
right off the pedal. The rest of the ride sucked because I was paying
so much attention to making sure my feet did not come loose again.

If I had a strictly commuter bike, one ridden only in town with all the
start/stop hassels, that would have powergrips. IMO that is the only use
for them on a bent. Had I not been riding a high BB there is no way I
could have avoided the leg suck situation. As it was, barely clipping
the pavement with my heel almost knocked me off the bike....

Kent Peterson used to ride recumbents on long brevets (until catching
the fixie virus) with Power Grips (do a Google search of this group),
and never reported any problems. Proper fitting of the strap IS
important.

Another alternative are heel slings which should prevent leg suck, but
do little for pedaling efficiency.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!