time bandit

I've seen this around the web lately, so of course, some fixie kids have been coming into the shop asking about it. any of you do it? should i be asking in the track section? Does anyone else agree this is ******** and lame?

Cynikal 

I've only seen it on SPD-R's and for track use only.

Squirrelli

I've seen them on other road pedals as well but forgot links.

TejanoTrackie 

Some very powerful track sprinters like Carleton use a combination of clipless pedals and double straps for racing, but the majority of trackies like myself find it to be unnecessary. Back in the dawn of the clipless pedal age, early shoes were not designed to resist pullup forces and the pedals themselves were not always reliable and could unclip accidentally. Nowadays, both shoes and pedals work reliably without the need to add straps, and on the street it's just for show. It also makes it very difficult to unclip when you want to, since clipless pedals require a sideways foot motion to unclip, and straps prevent this unless they are very loose.

FKMTB07

Ah yes, that's practical for your sweet urban fixie, brah.



But really, that's totally lame for anything but track sprinting. Or regular track riding if you have terrible form and jerk your ankles around. On the track, I get by with SPD-SL pedals, no strap, 5 degree float cleats, and the tension screw turned all the way up. On the road fix, I use regular SPD mtb pedals and shoes, regular cleats, and moderate spring tension. I ride hard and back-pedal and skid whenever I feel like messing around and have never pulled out of a pedal on the road. I think a lot of people who have problems with clipless on their road fixed bikes jerk their feet around a lot and/or ride with worn out cleats/pedals. Clipless and straps combined should not be necessary on the road.

HandsomeRyan

Straps and SPDs?

Kol.klink

Wait are those SPD Dura-ace pedals as in non-spd-r dura ace pedals.

Squirrelli

Those are Dura Ace SPD-R.

muckymucky

ive always loved the idea of straps + clipless

carleton

+1 to everything said so far. (Thanks for the compliment TT)


I would imagine that your customers are either trackies or just curious. I hope so at least. Such a setup is TOTALLY impractical for street use because you have to reach down and unstrap THEN uclip at every stop. THEN you need to hang on to something as you strap up to ride again or have a holder as Kevin Sireau does in this photo (his hand is obscuring the strap) because it's very difficult to clip into clipless with straps on the fly because the weight of the straps hold the pedals upside down. And also the pedal is moving if the bike is moving:



In short, it's a stupid idea for other than track use.


But, on the other hand, people use double straps incorrectly all the time already by not cinching them, why not take it to an extreme? This is like installing a 5 point harness in your car...and not fastening it. Why bother?

evilcryalotmore

Like said above carelton, I have to go down to tighten my straps everytime,

I have olderstyle pedals that have a clip and strap.

Its pretty impracticable due to the fact that if i need to track stand and for some reason i loose my balance...

sigh.

PluperfectArson

brb setting this up, then falling over in traffic.

evilcryalotmore

^^ haha be careful. I did it twice, Cause i went to the LBS and got the cleats for 20 dollars.

Squirrelli

I agree with what you've said but pardon my ignorance, wouldn't having slotted cleat and cages be more or less the same as having clipless with straps?

TejanoTrackie 

Not quite. The traditional slotted cleat does not hold the shoe down on the pedal the way a clipless setup does. When you combine clipless with straps, you get a more secure system than with clipless or straps alone.

Squirrelli

Does it unclip the same way by twisting the ankle or does the rider have to undo the strap before clipping out?

TejanoTrackie 

With slotted cleats, you have to loosen the straps, then lift the shoe up to disengage the cleat, and then pull straight back.

Squirrelli

I see now.

Thanks, TT.

carleton

Yes. It's close to the same.

But, with traditional clips and pedals, there is a tab so you can flip the pedal over and enter the cage. With the clipless + straps there is no such tab, so getting into the pedal is a pain in the butt.

I have the system for my bike, but they really are a pain in the butt to get into.

All this talk tonight had me put them back on my pedals for my roller workout (I haven't used them since October). It took me like 5 minutes to get strapped in while balancing on the rollers and holding on with 1 hand on a stool.

I would LOVE to see someone run that setup on the street. If anyone does this, PLEASE please videotape the first ride. Heck, ANY ride.

monsterkidz

Some poor shmuck is gonna get really hurt....