MK313

Does anyone here use Powergrips? If so, do you find them worth it? I bought a pair a few years ago, but I needed to do some work on my pedals to make them compatible (at the time they were folding pedfals on a folding bike) & I never installed them. I currently ride without any kind of clips & have no interest in clipless pedals, but am thinking it might be worth it to put the Powergrips on my current ride.

Thanks,
Mark

mikewille

I have used powergrips in the past on my mountain bike with my workboots. They worked quite well, but
the strap material wore out after one season of rough offroading. There's a thread in the winter biking forum
where someone found a product at home depot that works well as replacement straps.
(i currently use platform pedals with workboots on my commuter and offroad)

sudo bike

I haven't myself, but I have a few friends who swear by them. Supposed to really help with hills, be better than toeclips, and nearly as good as clipless if not as good.

No personal experience, though, that's all second hand from the users I know.

Fizzaly

i had the same problem as mikewille mine wore out after about six months, I think they last longer if your wearing more like sneakers or somthing sim. Maybe my hiking boots just wore out the material because of the tread on the outside edges of the sole?

mikewille

Here's a link to the post, it's about homemade powergrips:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post10253721

Cyclist0383

I find them to be perfect for commuting, and have been using them for about 15 years. I wear a strap out about every three years or so whist daily commuting.

puppypilgrim

I use Zefal toe cups and have been very pleased with them. Don't need a specific shoe and allows enough freedom of movement that you don't get repetitive stress injuries from being locked in.

https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...clips-10-35398

nowheels

I recently have been using them and are ok with them for my short ride to the 5ubway (5 mles). Before I just cliped in... but as I want to walk a bit more I have found them ok. I am also going to be trying the RELOD Version on some MKS touring pedals... b

cooleric1234

I used them for commuting for quite a while. I found they lasted years, I was wearing regular sneakers. They are the ideal solution if you don't want to wear cycling specific shoes, blow toe clips out of the water. However I eventually went to clipless shoes even for my commute.

Powergrips keep your feet safe and securely attached to the pedal, which is why I liked them. They are not as good as clipless for pulling on the upstroke though, if you would like to use them for that. I found even when tight if I tried to pull up my foot came off the pedal slightly. Still safely secured but just annoying.

Sundance89

Yes, they are excellent. I use them on my utility bike and another bike that I primarily use when I travel and camp. On each bike I want most of the performance of clipping in with the convenience of wearing any shoe. I wear my hiking shoes a lot while camping and can ride to a destination with the powergrips, get off the bike, and be ready for my hike. On my main commuter & go fast road bike I have Crank Brothers though.

Aeneas

I commute on two different bikes, an Aurora with Grip King pedals and a commuterized 88 Specialized Hardrock with MKS touring pedals with Powergrips. Earlier in the summer I was primarily riding the Specialized and got really used to the having the powergrips so I could pull up and push down with each pedal stroke. When I switched over the the Aurora, I felt, and continue to feel, much less efficient with my pedaling motion. Whether that's really the case or not, I don't know, but I can say that it feels better a bit more natural to me to ride with them then without.

Now I have big feet, size 13-14, and so I had to pay premium to get the X-large size and was hesitant to do so. Now having ridden with them, I have no problem with money spent in their purchase.

gerv 

I've used PowerGrips on my Bianchi Volpe for the last 4-5 years. Like some posters above, I was concerned about them wearing out. They started to fray a bit, but they are still quite usable.

I use mine with MKS touring pedals.. which seems to be a perfect match.

They have a lot of advantages over just platform pedals. The main one being more power. But another advantage is being able to wear regular shoes, particularly if I'm off shopping or going for a coffee.

I occasionally do have trouble getting my right foot into the strap. Don't know why this is. Maybe is I put soap or teflon on the strap.

AlmostGreenGuy

I love my Power Grips. I use them on my mountain bike, and have a set on order for my commuter bike. I like them MUCH better than the plastic toe clips on my hybrid.

Grillparzer

After using them on two different bikes for over a year, I eventually found them to be more of a distraction then an asset. The side of the pedal with the strap always flips upside down when you remove your feet, requiring some fumbling with the pedal after ever stop. When I started commuting on city streets having to flip the pedals at every intersection just became more of a pain then it was worth.

MilitantPotato

I like them. I keep them a touch loose for easy entry and exit, seemed to remove most of the hassles I was experiencing.
I've about 1500 miles on them, no wearing issues yet. Oh yea, size 15 shoes too, so I went with the XL. It was more than enough for winter boots even.

JanMM

I used them for a year or two as a transition from toe clips to SPD clipless. I prefer clipless.

shouldberiding

Clipless is better, but they're better than nothing if street shoes are your only option. Many people use them in the winter with boots when the temperatures plummet as clipless winter boots are friggin pricey!

JR97

I love my powergrips and used them on my commuter and mtn bike for 2-3 years. Someone gave me some clipless shoes, so I put the clipless pedals back on my commuter and I'm pretty happy there as well. But I keep the power-grips on my mtn bike and that's the bike I also use riding around with my kids. Flipping the pedal around is no big deal to me. In fact, I don't even need to look. (My clipless pedals are platform on one side so I have to flip those around, too. Just takes a little practice.) The main thing I love about my powergrips is that I can where my Keens which helps keep me somewhat cooler than having to wear socks and cycling shoes. Plus, I can always spray the feet down with my water bottle. I haven't tried Keen clipless sandles yet, though. Maybe next year.

BestSportEver

I have been using Powergrips for a while now because I didn't like taking extra shoes with me everywhere. I love them and although they do flip down, I have yet to have to look down to get my foot back into them.

exile

I have them on both my bikes. Had them for years. My main rider has a strap that is fraying but still very much usable. If you have them then try them out for a while.

MK313

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll put them on this weekend & give em a try.