WGB 

I have a set of toe clip pedals (at least I think they are called toe clips) on an old Fuji I picked up for a winter bike. Since they are on with locktite I can't get them off the cranks for now, at least. All my other pedals are spd and if I can get these off I will add spd as these toe clips are killing me. I just don't feel right in them.

But the toe clips are also ripping the toes of my spd shoes.

What do you wear with these pedals??

I can add photos of the pedals if needed

JohnDThompson 

Modern shoes for use with clipless pedals tend to have taller toe boxes than traditional bike shoes, which is probably why your SPD shoes are getting scuffed by the clips. If you can get the clips off the pedals, you could replace them with MTB clips, which have a taller opening for the shoe. Otherwise, dress shoes with stiff leather soles or bowling shoes work. And traditional bike shoes with stiff soles and slotted cleats can still be had from e.g. eBay.

N.B. heat will loosen Locktite and even galvanic corrosion, so if you have a heat gun or hair dryer try warming the crank/pedal connection before trying to remove the pedals.

Slightspeed

I'm an SPD guy too, but I "need" to use old school toe clips for Eroica events. It's a rule deal. I found these Louis Garneau Nickel shoes that take a recessed spd cleat, but still work with the clips. I would dump the toe clips, and swap to spd, but if you stick with the toe clips, these should work either way. $39 at Nashbar, but other places should have them too. They include black laces too. I'm currently using half clips, but they're OK with full clips, too.

WGB 

JohnDthompson

I sprayed the threads with PB blaster but l was lifting the Park stand off the floor. Never heard of heat for locktite. Will let the PB blaster soak in and try again. I expect a propane torch is too much and I should stick with a hairdryer??

davester

I find it often difficult or impossible to remove pedals while a bike is on a repair stand, and that's because they're tight, not because of the presence of loctite. The best way is usually to put the bike on the ground, leaning against the wall and stand and bounce on the pedal wrench, just the same way as you would get a car lug nut off. Also, make sure that you are turning the wrench the correct direction (the left pedal is reverse threaded while the right is normally threaded).

fietsbob

TEW Reynolds in UK classic custom made touting shoes

63rickert

Yes, a hairdryer.

Phil_gretz

The better way is to pull the cranks off and place the crank arm in a good bench vise. That way, you can put an extension on your 15mm wrench and torque away. That should do it.

And, yes, heat may help. Who puts Loctite on pedal threads? That's something that I've never heard of...

BigChief

Back in the day...I didn't use half clips, mine had leather straps. I would ride with those canvas boat sneakers. Oh yes, and blue jeans, cutoffs, tee shirts and certainly no helmet.

Giacomo 1 

Ahhh, simple times...simple times.

I was using indoor soccer shoes of all things on my clips, because they had smooth soles and had a very low profile toe cap. They worked well enough, but they weren't as stiff as I would have liked. All the while I used them, I was searching for the old style riding shoes that were meant for clips. Finally found a nice pair on eBay that are actually my size. Took a long time to find a pair in a 44. European feet must be very small!

easyupbug 

Heat will loosen lacktite and epoxy as said and as usual sheldonbrown has good advise.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/stuck-pedals.html

20grit

This might be a silly question, but are you sure you're turning the right way on the pedals? Have you tried both sides? Left pedal should be reverse threaded. If you've only tried that one, you may just going the wrong direction.

If you already know this, disregard the post.

Fahrenheit531 

Shoes: DVS/Cinelli Luster
Comfortable, durable, relatively cheap if you look around a bit.

(Dunno what's going on with the pictured colors. Mine are black/black with a little bit of the Cinelli green/gold/orange.)

squirtdad

but if you do this make you are really sure on which way to loosen the pedal (not that I ever got confused, frustrated, and put on a cheater bar and proceeded to extend the threads in a crank by turning the wrong way)

on the bike you loosen pedals by turning toward the rear wheel

Salamandrine 

I remember this from my LBS days.The average sizes sold regularly, but the small sizes tend to get left on the shelf. Consequently, decades later, the NOS cycling shoes available are nearly all small/kid sized.

Jon T

The Yellow Jersey Bike Shop in. Wisconsin (the town escapes me right now) sells slotted cleats that fit Look and SPD bolt pattern shoes. I think they're about $30 a pair. Why not just keep it all vintage? I'm still using toe cages and wearing my Detto shoes.
Jon

non-fixie 

Pretty much all of my bikes have clips and straps. For "formal" rides, like L'Eroica I'll wear real cycling shoes, but the rest of the time I wear sneakers. As long as the tops are smooth enough to not interfere with the clips or straps, and the soles are not too wide and too thin, they all work fine for me. Currently I use these, and like them a lot, both for riding and walking:

madpogue 

Arlington. Aprx. 40 minutes north of Madison. Yellow Jersey, Ltd., Arlington WI USA Everything Cycling Since 1 April, 1971! ; the web site is about as C&V as they come... You'll be "ordering" essentially by PayPal payment and Email communication with Andy.

But the OP should be warned -- properly used, slotted cleats on hard-soled shoes in old-school pedals with clips and straps will LOCK your foot in the pedal, and the only way out is to quickly loosen the strap at the buckle. Personally, this is one part of the C&V expericence I'm happy to leave behind. Yes, you can loosen the straps (or the left strap at least) to the point where you can jerk your foot out in a pinch, but that partly defeats the purpose of the slotted cleat. A plain hard-soled non-cleated shoe (BITD it would be something like a Bata Biker) might be a wiser choice, depending on how "high performance" you want to go.

Photos of the pedals would be helpful, BTW, to determine if they're even appropriate for slotted cleats.

NB: I'll likely be going up to YJ in the next week or two, if you'd like me to check out these cleats or anything else in person.

WGB 

I tried riding this bike with runners but no dice. I rode for about 45/48years with flat pedals but now that I am used to SPD I sadly can't transition back. I am going to try and fit in a "work" day in my garage this weekend and remove the pedals and fit SPD pedals (I also have to strip the wheel bearings and regrease) as it should be about 6C (40F).

Madpogue - thank you for your offer but my wife is giving me a new set of Shimano SPD shoes for Christmas and I better wear them....

Salamandrine 

Running shoes are the worst possible shoe for use with toe clips and straps. Not surprising you didn't like them. They can be ok if you happen to be using Lyotard #23 platforms or one of their clones. Vans work OK, as do Keds or similar sneakers. You must have a fairly smooth sole or they are difficult to insert. IME the best choice among conventional shoes is a pair of leather or leather/rubber soled dress shoes. I'd imagine old school bowling shoes would be good too. So +1 to what JohnDThompson said above.

BITD people with sport touring bikes might have used Avocet Touring shoes or Batas if they rode a lot of miles. Some of the modern retro touring shoes coming out of Europe should be about the same.

FWIW anyone that had invested in a $$$ all campy type pro level bike would have almost certainly have worn leather cycling shoes with cleats. Traditional cleated cycling shoes + clips and straps were functionally the same as clipless pedals. You did need to remember to loosen your strap before stopping, but that got to be second nature. SPD are more comfortable though. If you prefer them use them. Unless your bike is a museum piece not much point in troubling yourself. I don't really miss toe straps cutting into my feet on long steep climbs.

John E

For almost 50 years I have used toeclips and straps exclusively. My current favorite shoes are Giro Rumbles, but I also have some older Diadora mountain biking shoes and Lake BMX or skate shoes that are not too bad.

Nothing is as good as the old Avocet Touring shoes with the steel shanks and the slotted rubber soles.

Pompiere

I still have an old pair of the Avocet touring shoes that I use occasionally. They are getting pretty worn, which is the reason I switched to SPD pedals a few years ago.

My son uses his old track spikes, minus the spikes, for riding with toe clips. They are narrow and fairly smooth, and have a hard plastic bottom under the ball of the foot, where the pedal hits.

bark_eater 

jimmuller 

All my bikes have clips and straps. For the last four or five years I've been wearing 5-10 Freeriders, a fairly inexpensive cyclocross shoe. They look and feel good enough to wear all the time, on or off the bike. They are my go-to shoe for commuting and just about everything.

Prowler