RAF M

Is it really that dangerous to leave just one of my legs tied to a foot pedal tightly while the other one is free for making stops? I'm thinking of doing this with an extra shoelace for my one foot. Before I buy a set of strap pedals or invest in clipless pedal and clip shoes, I want to have a feel of 'this efficiency' that everyone is talking about. I have no problems with my current plastic stock pedals on my road hybrid. I never had my feet slip off and or fell into incorrect positioning. I can comfortably cycle at 65-80 cadence on flat platform pedals without the need for straps/clips — downhill or uphill doesn't make a difference to me. I know how to pedal efficiently myself, using a technique.

I was inspired by this one roadie I met on the street. He was wearing only a single strap while his other foot is free. FYI, I also do long city-wide commutes and rides that are approx 20~40 miles.

EDIT: Read some pretty great replies below. Thanks to everyone.

TimothyH

Tying one foot to a pedal will not give you an approximation of how clipless feels.

Plus it is dangerous.

Half toe clips are available for $7.

https://www.niagaracycle.com/categor...l-1-pair-black


-Tim-

manapua_man

Yes, that's kinda dangerous.

Do you know anyone you could just borrow a set of pedals and shoes from? 1st time I tried clipless I just asked the guys at a shop near my apartment if they had anything I could try out.

Also, if you're using them for commuting or touring I think MTB shoes are better for that purpose since they're a lot easier to walk around in.

f4rrest

Tie your hands to the bars while you're at it.

manapua_man

Are you supposed to pull the seat off the seat post when you do this too?

mcmoose

All kidding aside, TimothyH is right. Half-clips will get you, well, half way there. And if there's an REI near you, you can save $2:

https://www.rei.com/product/103247/x...mini-toe-clips

linberl

You can also go to a hardware store and buy a length of two sided velcro. Run it through your pedal and "make" a power grip strap (see power grips images on google). I used power grips for city riding and they work great, I just got tired of having to flip my pedals to slide in. I use Grip Kings now with my Tevas and they are perfect for city riding.

AlmostTrick

Duct tape. Do both.

79pmooney

I wouldn't say it is all that dangerous to tie your shoe to the pedal IF you are comfortable with occasionally falling over at very low speeds. Not all that different from tightly pulled toestraps. But, why, when there are so much easier ways to get the same effect. Toestraps and toeclips being one. The many clipless pedals another.

I acquired that "comfort" (with falling over) decades ago, when tight toestraps were it if you wanted to ride hard, Learned to just accept the fact that I made a fool of myself, relaxed and just collapsed onto the road. Probably looks bad, but I'd just pick myself up, dust off and get back on the bike. Skin intact and nothing but minor bruises. I still ride toestraps, toeclips and old fashioned slotted cleats on half my bikes (my fix gears). I never want to pull a foot off the pedal at high speed riding fixed, ever. Falling over a couple dozen times over the years at standstills in exchange? Sounds like a bargain to me.

When a really simple, not very expensive system is out there to "tie" your foot in place, why mess around doing it with laces? And "untying" is also so much simpler. You could put on both toeclips and straps and never pull one side tight. You will learn to disengage that foot very quickly. (You might even find that pulling both tight allows going uphill at both speeds and ease you never dreamed possible. Warning - this sensation might get you addicted. It did me 45 years ago.

Ben

Hardrock23

I got new toe clips for $5 at my LBS. Have an LBS or REI around you?

I wouldn't tie my foot to the pedal either.

dual650c

+1 for toe clips, with or without straps.

As said above, it's so cheap to try that, even if you decide not to continue with them, you aren't risking any serious money.

If you simply don't want straps/toe clips, then try the flat MTB pedals with knobs/stubs.For example:

PaulRivers

Do a google search on it. It's been studied and discussed a bazillion times, studies have shown you do not get an increase in power. (I suppose it's debateable whether there's a 1% increase in power, or increase under certain conditions like sprinting etc).

Tying your foot to the pedal wouldn't get you the same feel either.

Jon T

I've been using toe cages and straps for 40+ years. I can only think of 2 instances when I couldn't disengage my feet quickly enough. Just learn to fall gracefully.
Jon

highrpm

Tying your shoes to the pedals. That seems very dangerous to me. You will definitely fall over at some point and hurt yourself

jefnvk

I agree with everyone else, plus I'll point out how awkward it would probably be to tie your foot to a pedal in the first place.

If you really want to give it a go, maybe look for a bit cheaper setup to test it out on. A couple friends of mine who were getting into cycling found some of last year's MTB shoes on closeout for $30, and a set of Shimano pedals with flats on one side and clips on the other for $25. If you do a bit of digging, you can find deals. Worst case, you don't like it, and sell it all on CL for $40.

All that said, going to a set of platform spiky MTB pedals is an immense improvement over generic black plastic. Other than lifting straight off, once my feet are set on mine, they aren't going anywhere.

BobbyG

If lashing one's foot to the pedal were actually a thing, you know there would be thread upon thread about the proper way to lash it, the merits of one type of knot over another, and arguments over cotton, leather and wool versus synthetic laces.

athrowawaynic

Could certainly use it to bodge together some DIY Power Grips. (Or just spend the $20 to get the real thing?)

OP. these are installed a bit askew, so that they're loose when your foot is pointed inward, and they tighten as you straighten your foot.

Milton Keynes

Not to mention plenty of bickering when someone suggests one method or another as superior.

JanMM

zip ties are the only way to go. black ones. crank 'em down tight but carry side-cutting pliers for unzipping at stops.

indyfabz

Dave Stoller had both his feet lashed to his pedals and look what he achieved.

jefnvk

If Dave Stoller was an example to live by, I'd never cycle around Italians....

wphamilton

I tried industrial strength velcro, worked pretty good to. Better than lashing your feet on or ducktape anyway.

indyfabz

Did you know that the actor is from my home town (Philly) and is a smoker?

Shrevvy 

When we were teenagers in the late 80s, a friend of mine did just that. We didn't have much money and he wanted to try "clipless" pedals. We had a route without many stops. The route dipped through a small valley with a creek. It had rained pretty hard recently and as we rounded the corner, we saw that the road was flooded. Instead of stopping, he tried to get through it. The water bogged him down and he just fell. It was pretty funny, but also pretty stupid. At 15-16, you don't think through all your decisions.

europa

Since when do teenage boys think about ANY of their decisions