If you commute or ride long distances on your bike, toe clips can greatly increase your pedaling efficiency while riding. Bikes without toe clips are equipped with regular, flat pedals, which the rider uses power the bike. The bike is pushed forward by the bicyclist's downward motion onto the pedals. What many people many not realize is that on flat pedals without clips, the cyclist loses power on the upstroke of each pedal. Therefore without clips, a cyclist can only reach approximately half of the total power potential of pedaling and therefore cannot maintain speed as efficiently.
Toe clips drastically change the amount of power that a bike can produce. Instead of only being able to produce power on the down stroke, clips allow a cyclist to also power the bike while pulling his or her foot up on each pedal stroke. When a cyclist lifts his or her foot on an upstroke, the top of the foot meets the clips, thereby pulling the pedal upward and producing more power, instead of just relying on inertia to bring the pedal upward. A cyclist who is new to toe clips will find that she or he can climb hills more easily and can maintain speed on all types of terrain without using as much energy.
Toe clips are also useful for cyclists because they help to keep the foot in place on the pedal while riding. Sometimes when a cyclist is pedaling very hard or is riding in wet weather, his or her foot may be prone to slipping off of the pedal. Toe clips prevent this and thus help to keep all of the cyclist's power focused on the pedals. Anyone who commutes by bike, takes long recreational rides, or races will love the increased pedaling efficiency that toe clips allow.
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Like any bike upgrade, toe clips can make a bike a more conspicuous target for theft. To ensure that your bike stays secure while you are away, consider purchasing a quality U-Lock and cable lock combination to keep your wheels and frame locked to a bike rack. To learn more about the lock combinations that are available to you, don't hesitate to contact the friendly bike lock experts of A&Js' bike locks today at 708-460-2999.
