I recently started biking around town for fun, to get some exercise, and as a primary means of conveyance to avoid the crockery of having to pay for gas all the time. Oh yeah, and greenhouse gases are bad too. Since I started riding more frequently I've been continuously planning the next way I can pimp my ride. My most recent acquisition is a set of toe clips.
My local bike shop guy steered me in the direction of Zéfal 43 Toe Clips (with straps) as a cheap and easy way to try the toe-clip setup. So far I'm happy with the decision. For roughly $15 I'm able to ride farther, faster, for longer. I'd say overall I get an extra few miles out of the same amount of expended energy during any normal ride.
The installation of the clips was simple. Snap a reflector off, line it up, slap 2 screws in, strap on, and roll. The clips don't fit like a glove on my wonky 30 year old steel pedals, but they're close enough to function properly, and they probably fit well on most modern pedals (especially native French like the clips themselves).
The clips came with some very simple instructions not only for installation, but also for how to properly use them. After about 5 minutes of practicing adjusting the straps on a short ride I was able to strap in properly and get off the pedals without falling over. The Zéfal 43s are well made, with a good strap system that is easy to tighten and loosen on the fly. So far I haven't had a single "stuck in pedal-falling over" incident.
I've been repeatedly advised to move up to a clipless pedal setup, but I'm not ready to commit to an expensive pedal and shoe system. My main beef with going clipless is that it will be inconvenient for commuting. If I'm running errands and spending time off of the bike it will mean constantly carrying around a pair of regular shoes in addition to my clipless shoes. To this end, my new toe clips are the perfect compromise.
However, there are two major faults of these toe clips. Firstly, they are made of "technopolymer," a.k.a. plastic, which means that they probably won't last forever. They're better than Chinese dollar store plastic, but far from indestructible. I have scraped each clip on the ground a couple times, leaving noticeable scars already. I foresee myself investing in some slightly more expensive clips in the future, made of a more asphalt-resistant material of course. Secondly, using toe clips at all puts any cyclists under the age of 50 at risk of being seriously ripped on. There are many many toe clip haters laying in wait in dark corners. I've gotten a couple looks, but I can't attribute the odd scoffs to any one part of my goofy bicycle riding getup.
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The skinny:
* Pros: Cheap, easy to install/adjust, makes casual and commuter riding more efficient
* Cons: Plastic-y, hater fuel
Make an Assessment:
If you currently ride with any frequency at all and still practice the flat naked pedal style, get some of these. They will improve your overall riding efficiency once you get used to them. It is certainly the quickest and easiest way that I've been able to squeeze more juice out of my Schwinn cycle fruit.
Overall Review Scores:
* Grade:B
* Score: 88%
* If it were a movie: ★★★★
* My Feelings: "My feet are going nowhere! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I'm on a bike beeeee-atch!"
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