Expert Answers
Footloose Pedaling vs. Clips and Clipless
Josh's Question:
After a few weeks of riding my new bike around town, I've just started to ride off-road. I have traps on my pedals and they seem to be more of a pain than a benefit. I have taken a few spills simply because I can't get my feet out of the traps quickly enough. I'm planning on taking off the traps, but
I'm not sure if there is some benefit that I'm missing simply because I'm a beginner.
— Josh
Steve Jones's Answer:
Dear Josh,
By"traps" I'm guessing you mean the nylon devices that strap your feet to the pedals. The other term often used for these is "toe clips." Toe clips allow a biker's feet to lift up on the pedal and produce more thrust to the chain ring, thereby using energy more efficiently.
Many of the more serious bikers have tossed the toe-clip idea in favor of special shoes and pedals that lock together. These clipless pedals haven't been around as long as toe clips, but they are definitely the way to go for cyclists who are interested in stretching each calorie into more distance.
Few serious bikers wear toe clips any more.
You also make mention of the well-known (and frequently painful) learning curve associated with freeing your feet from either toe clips or clipless pedals before hitting the ground. Practice acquaints the biker with the smooth motion required to exit either device. Once the knack is acquired, few mishaps occur—but there's always the possibility of not being able to perform this maneuver in time to avoid a nasty case of rock rash. However, most bikers expect to suffer some whenever learning a new technique, and most chalk it up to the cost of having so much fun.
There are bikers—me, for instance—who are not speed demons and descend somewhat more gently down steeper off-road grades. These riders have simply chosen not to affix their feet with any mechanical devices that could in any way "trap" one's foot onto the pedal.
In short, the need for toe clips or clipless pedals grows in direct proportion to the speed reached. Think about it. If you seldom reach speeds higher than 25 MPH on pavement—or speeds sufficient to make you airborne on an off-road trail—why do you need anything attaching your feet to the pedals? But if you're into zipping along as human body married to a diamond frame, it makes sense to learn how to use toe clips, or better yet, clipless pedals.
So take those toe clips off. If later you find yourself drawn to the idea of becoming a more "serious" biker—one who desires a significant increase in both speed and efficiency—by all means fix those feet to the pedals . . . and crank on! But if you're like me and get happiness from being footloose, don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to use something that doesn't increase the fun of being on a bike just because it came on the bike.
