Jargon Busting: Clipless toe clips clipping in?
Tongue twisting pedal power...what does it all mean?
To clip or not to clip
Cleats are not the same as toe clips. But we say "ride clipped in" when using cleats. So confusing!
It's time for...JARGON BUSTERS
I want to clarify the jargon around riding clipped in, toe clips, clipless pedals, and cleats.
But first, a poll!
Towards the beginning of the 20th century, cyclists discovered that if your shoe was attached to the pedal, you would get a far more efficient pedal stroke, since you could use more muscles (read: your ass) from the rotation of each leg, rather than just 1/4 of a stroke. But some sort of foot retention device would be required to do this.
(Note that some new research is coming out that says you shouldn’t use the upstroke as it’s not good for your legs - an upcoming Cycling Demystified podcast is going to cover pedals - I swear this wasn’t planned.)
And so toe clips were born. These are steel bands that curl around your toe, and you were held in place with a leather strap, known as a toe strap.
Toe clips are still around today, used in vintage builds by pedants who insist on keeping things period correct, and for people who don't want to get special shoes for their bike but want to take advantage of more of their pedal stroke.
(I use toe straps for loads of other things, except for retaining my feet! They are great for helping get a Marathon Plus tyre on, fashioning a quick handle on an object, or tying something down - it’s like a Voile Strap that doesn’t stretch.)
The advantage of toe clips is that you can wear your every day shoes with them.
Fixed gear toe straps are a version of a toe clip that consists of a single fat strap wrapping around your shoe.
If you’re not clipping in, you must have toe straps if you're riding fixed - applying pressure in the opposite direction is how you brake, and if you don’t have something to pull up against, you could lose control of your pedals like a runaway train.
Of course, there are downsides to being strapped with toe straps: it's a faff to get on/off, they are not totally efficient, and sometimes the strap can hurt your foot if it's too tight.
Much like how our advancements in modern tech are brought about by war, many of our advancements in cycling tech have come about because of racing.
And so the clipless pedal was born - a faster system to get yourself connected to the pedal and the bike, thus morphing into the miniature mechanical centaur you were always meant to be.
Clipless here means no more toe clip (that metal part that curls over your toes). Instead, a cleat is affixed to the shoe, which clips into the pedal and - this is where the magic happens - THE SHOE BECOMES THE PEDAL 🤯
Cycling shoes have stiff soles for better power transfer and comfort. The bigger the pedal (in this case it’s the shoe), the more efficient the power transfer.
I think we use the term "clipping in"because of the sound it makes. (I wonder if they used to say "strapping in" with toe clips/straps.)
CLARIFYING CLEATS
Cleats are the bit that go on the bottom of your shoe, and there are two main kinds: 2 bolt and 3 bolt.
2 bolt cleats are for MTB/commuting shoes and 3 bolt cleats are for road shoes. Different brands will have their own style of cleat + pedal: Look, Speedplay, Crank Brothers, and Shimano are all key players. You cannot interchange between them, although some aftermarket brands will make compatible models - read the fine print.
Cleats are specific to the type of shoe you have, so be sure to check your soles for the number of holes! (An adapter does exist if you want to convert a 3 bolt road shoe to 2 bolt SPD cleats - it’s called a “pontoon”.)
It's easier to walk around in shoes that hold 2 bolt cleats, so these are good for beginners. 3 bolt cleats make you tap dance everywhere. Best get some covers!
So why clip in? For better, more efficient power transfer, that's about it. It makes sense if you're racing, riding long distances, climbing hills, or turbo training. Basically any time when you're going to be in the saddle for a good long while.
Other than that, flat pedals are fine. You don't need fancy shoes/pedals, and you'll save some time & money. And there's less chance that you'll fall over (but that chance is never zero.) I once rode London to Paris on flat pedals, the caveat being I was wearing stiff soled MTB shoes on wide MTB pedals, so I had some better power transfer and support.
And if you don’t care about any of this, get yourself some Bike Shaggies, shag carpet for barefoot cycling. Works on any kind of pedal, apparently!
In the end it's a personal choice and there is no wrong answer except for not riding at all.
CURIOUS ABOUT CLEATS?
Would you be interested in an Introduction to Cleats & Clipless Pedals class?
We'd cover what the different options are, how to fit them, practice clipping in/out, and learn how to make adjustments.
NEW CLASS DATES
Introduction to Maintenance keeps selling out, so new dates are live for November and - gasp - DECEMBER 🫢
Saturday 30 November 11am - 230pm
Sunday 1 December 11am - 230pm
Note the time change! Since being evicted and moving house this year, my commute is much further, so class times will be changing to 11am.
EMERGENCY ROADSIDE REPAIRS
Our 2nd most popular class, with dates for Oct and Nov:
Saturday 12 October 10am - 1pm
Saturday 23 November 11am - 230pm
BROMPTON PUNCTURE REPAIRS
Never fear! LBK is here to teach you how to deal with the mousetrap that is the Brompton:
Sunday 20 October 10am - 1pm
Lots more classes on the website, click here for more…
Kier 'Sausage' Starmer and the Labour Party continue to outdo their disregard for human life, as each day brings new horrors committed by Israel. I cannot believe that it's been a year. Winter is coming and - thanks to US/UK support - Israel is expanding its genocide.
Noha Beshir's poem brought tears to my eyes. She awakens a pain that had been held in a numbing state.
Indie Nile is a Palestinian drag artist, whose latest video is educational and also revitalises my hope - we cannot give up. Change begins inside each of us. Action can only follow thought.
The only reason these atrocities continue to happen is through our ignorance. It is a permission slip for governments to spend OUR money to continue oppression at home and overseas.
I’m tired, yes - and I’m sure you’re tired too. So make sure you make time to rest. When I find myself awake in the middle of the night, I just tell myself “all I have to do is rest.” And I am thankful for the opportunity to breathe in silence (well, except for my partner’s snoring - and I am thankful to hear his snoring, because it means he is alive.)
Indie's video about how mainstream film and TV have been used to manufacture consent for Israel is informative, eye opening, and hopeful.
Ride on,
Jenni x
Bike. Shaggies. 🤯.
Jenni, my husband just got the clip ones and I'm terrified of these. What if you stop suddenly? How do you not fall? Can you just lift your feet to unclip? Sooooooooo many questions lol... (I may still be freaking out because of my biking accident in July).