itwonder

Searched past posts, and I think Power Grip straps may be the best solution for my new-to-MTB wife who does not have any experience with clipless pedals. She uses toe clips on her road bike. Question: which power grip compatible MTB pedal is best for a budget of $75 or less? Many of the clip compatible MTB pedals appear to be low end. Is the Power Grip high Performance Pedal/strap combo a good choice? I suspect they just package somebody else's pedal.

gruppo

Powergrips are a great choice for a lot of folks. The model you referenced is a quality set-up. The pedal is light, has good bearings, and the spindle & cage are strong. I've used them for a number of years on both hardtail & full suspension mountain bikes and have recommended them to a bunch of folks - some of which use them on their commuter bikes. None of us have any complaints. I predict your wife will like them.

rmwun54

Try the Performance Stomp MTB pedals, they are a better quality grade in parts and a wider platform, which means that there is more comfort for the foot to step into the pedal and out of. Which is safer and they have sealed bearings. I have them and my friends does also. Plus they look good. But one thing though you need to be creative when you mount the power grips onto them using washers; sort of a modifying thing. I used a large washer to mount the bolt that goes to the corner of the pedal. I gaurantine you this she will love them. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5240 And with the larger pedal when you're use to them you will be able to slip your foot into the pedal without looking at them after awhile, just by flipping the pedal to level and slip in angling your foot inward slightly, it's a sensitivity thing. Power Grips rocks!

iovnow

I donno, if your gonna strap her to her pedal you might as well get her clipless. I would assume straps would be basket thingies or something similar. Anyways...same idea...

I went from platforms, to platforms with baskets and hated it. Maybe mine were just real crappy.

First of all, on the trails (around here) there was no way I could have gotten in them in a fast enough manner to make use of them. I would have crashed cause it took too much concentration to get in.

When I fell with them I still couldnt get out no matter how much I tried. I paniced and struggled for like 10 seconds one day cause I thought I was gonna hit a pole and fall over. I ended up just pedaling through it luckily.

The baskets cut off circulation to my toes. They werent that tight! It was just over time my toes were being pushed against the end of the baskets. I would think with straps something similar to the foot may happen.

I ripped the baskets off my pedals and missed the power of being attached to my pedals. I went out the next day and got clipless.

With clipless your going to fall a few times, but it gets engraved into your brain REAL quick how to get out. As a bonus you get to wear real cool shoes that are wierd to walk in.

itwonder

Thanks for the lead rmwun54. Question: Do you leave the pedal traction pins on when using the power grips, or is it better to remove them? Is there any benefit to using MTB swhoes with this setup, or are sneakers good enough?

itwonder

You do make a point, and from a cost standpoint a decent platform pedal with power grips costs about the same as the Crank Bros. Mallet C (from Ebay); which is a very nice clipless pedal with a platform. Off course, for the Mallet C, MTB shoes become mandatory

-Stretch-

i totally agree with iovnow clipless pedals probably a better choice, those strappy things look like your feet down come out to me, and when i got my cliples pedals, after falling with my feet clipped in about 10 times, i never fall over anymore, my feet come out easily.....nothing will learn you like a little pain...id reccomend a platform clipless like the candys or mallets loks nice like you said, and people are always talking about the time z control pedals, they look pretty nice

rmwun54

I ride with my day hiker or running shoe either one. I find that with the wider platform pedal increses the opening width of stepping into the pedal much more simlper to get into and out of when it matters. As for the traction pins I left most of them in except for a few outer edge ones to allow for quicker steping out of.

stapfam

They don't look right, look as though they won't work, but do the job--They are the 1/2 toe clips. They are like a normal toe clip and strap, but only cover the toe, and have no straps. I have a set for occasional riders who borrow a spare bike I have, and everyone can get on with them.

Leo C. Driscoll

Freebie Eko Sport Power Pedals! I have 5 pairs of these personally dangerous hybrids (compromise between clipless and platforms).

In Boston traffic, I had to contort my left shoe to get out of one in a few hundred milleseconds. My left foot, unlike the left feet I've seen in Africa, cannot do fine motor stuff. I crashed hard- not even time to try a track stand.

Since I can't give them to Dr. Arnold Scheller (hip specialist I'll be sharing with the Boston Celtics ;-), I'm offering them (one pair per BikeForums member, please) on this thread as well on one of the Mechanics threads. Your choice of yellow straps (girls like these ;-) or black straps. First to contact lowenherz@gmail.com, first to get these Power Straps. But first please read the MTB reviews.

https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_87805.shtml

Leo C. Driscoll

Follow-up on my crash last week with PowerGrip pedals.

rmwun54 correctly notes on the Mechanics Forum that adjustment of the straps is critical.

However, the High Performance Pedal Kit shipped by Eko Sport, Inc. has the straps installed diagonally across the pedal (and when mounted, the straps diagonally grip the inserted foot's metatarsal arch).

The "power" of the power straps (unlike clips) derives from the fact that if your foot is correctly inserted into the power grips, your foot is wedged in place. You have to put your foot in "dink-toed" for the straps to grip your foot thus enabling you to develop the tremendous torque these pedals provide when you're cranking up a hill.

The downside of this wedging, is the fact that you have to "unwedge" your foot to release it from the pedal. I have successfully done this thousands of times with five bikes. Last week, I was unsuccessful when I tried to "unwedge" my left foot from a PowerGrips pedal in an emergency.

Eko Sport gives the following instructions. "Insert your foot into the mounted Power Grips strap with the toe pointed slightly inward until the ball of your foot is over the front half of the pedal. Now rotate the heel inward until the foot is relatively straight on the pedal. The strap should now be snug, but not constrictive."

What Eko Sport leaves out of their instructions is the critical need to be able to quickly rotate the heel outward so that you can release your foot to dismount or bail out as I had to do. I suggest that Eko Sport includes in their High Performance Pedal Kit a CD that will demo safe (and unsafe) adjustments and safe (and unsafe) mounting and dismounting procedures.

In the absence of this CD, I would recommend that the five lucky riders who inherit my PowerGrips (and all of you who are keen to ride with PowerGrips) practice emergency dismounts on terrain that will give you soft landings.

willtsmith_nwi

Another point, both straps and strapless* pedals have a "getting used to it" period. If this is a fresh user, a platform/clip combo. More importantly both take a while to learn how to "get out of them".

I would suggest that a strapless platform like the Mallet-C may be more appropriate. As far as cost goes, Pricepoint and Nashbar usually run combo deals where you can get both for $80-$100 dollars. And a "new pair of shoes" may be a real selling point to the wife ;-)

BTW, the specific benefit of the Mallet-C is that it's actually hard to ride the thing and NOT clip in. And if you go with the Mallets, point the cleat inwards towards the big toe to make getting out of the things easier. Once she's got the motion down, you can point them straight.


* All clipless pedals have clips. The difference is whether they use straps or not.

daskobtimburt

I wouldn't want to have to ride without my powergrips. I use lightweight pedals like the ones in eko's high p. kit, and the lightest 3/4 hiking boots with the stiffest sole I can find. I wear a women's 11 or larger shoe, so this makes it easier when it is time to buy new cycling shoes. (The woman's 3/4 size 11 clipless boot or shoe selection is virtually non-existant) With certain boots I have to go to the extra long strap, but usually a regular length strap will suffice. I had about 1600 miles (many hard mountain miles) on my last set before they had to be replaced. I am buying a new bike now that comes with clipless pedals, (sugar race) and the first thing I am going to do is give the pedals to my husband, and replace them with a powergrips high p. kit. My husband loves his powergrips too, after thousands of miles, but since he can find shoes in his size easily, he is lured by the fancy shoes/pedals. I bet he will go back to powergrips before too long, after all if it ain't broke don't fix it, but it will be amusing watching him learn the engage/disengage routine of the clipless. No emergency room trips, please, hon.

Nipo

May you recommend some pedals? I think it is extremely important that stepping in and getting out of the pedal works easily.

Usually I compare other pedals to Speedplay Frogs because they are extremely effortless to get shoes unlocked and out.

Kapusta

Don’t do this to your wife. There are so many excellent flat pedals out there. They are the best choice for learning MTB, and also for plenty of seasoned riders as well.

There are good reasons why 99% of people out there on the trails are riding either flats or clipless.

EDIT: HOLY CRAP!! This is a 18 year-old necro'ed thread I just responded to!

Nipo

Regardless how old thread, I don't care. I am really interested about the possibility of wearing what ever shoes, with ability to pedal properly. That's it, in one short sentence.

Kapusta

Well in that case….

Many modern flat pedals will fulfill that need without any need for powergrips. Flat pedals have come a looong way in the past 18 years. Furthermore, I doubt any of the best modern options will even work with power grips.

I’m talking about pedals like Diety Deftraps, Kona WhaWha 2, Race Face Chester, OneUp Composite.

Wileyrat

I use One Up composite pedals with Adidas 5/10 freeriders. It’s a solid enough combo that I have to lighten my foot on the pedal to change foot position. I wouldn’t want to slip off, but so far It hasn’t been a issue.

Fwiw, I ride clipless on the roadie.