August 10, 2006

A simple design is most often best.

Building a better mousetrap -- bicycle foot clip department. From Kevin Kelley's Cool Tools comes this very nice foot clip that doesn't require you to wear a dorky shoe that scratches the h*ll out of the flooring and immediately makes you a high-level bureaucrat at The Ministry of Silly Walks From the website:
PowerGrips
Simple cheap toe clips

bicycle_power_grips.jpg


PowerGrips give most of the benefits of toeclips or clipless/cleat systems on bicycle pedals, without most of the downsides. The concept is simple: an asymmetrical strap of cloth that attaches securely to most bicycle platform pedals. The strap is attached in such a way that it loosens when you rotate your heel away from the bike, and tightens when you "heel-in". This gives you similar benefits of a clipless/cleat system; greater efficiency in pedalling, because you can pull on the pedals' upstrokes, rather than just being able to push down. They are just as easy (if not easier) to disengage from. The PowerGrips also have a couple of other benefits which fit well with all but the higher-end performance cyclists.
There are people who like to buy the high-end stuff for the sake of owning something "high-end" (My performance is so awesome that I strain these high-end widgets to their limits!!! Look at me!!!) but for me, this looks like a product that works and works well for 99% of the population. $17 at Amazon -- gotta love it! Posted by DaveH at August 10, 2006 9:28 PM