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Pedals
In 1990, Shimano's new mountain pedal system, Shimano Pedaling Dynamics, completely changed how people connected with their bikes. Prior to SPD, most people strapped their street shoes to their bikes using metal cages and leather straps. They relied on toe straps to keep them bound to their bikes even throughout a crash. Stop signs were tricky and remounting required strap fiddling while pedaling. Even today, toe straps continue to be used by some sprinters and track racers to reliably stay attached.
Now we have a half a dozen “clipless” systems, with their own families of special cleats, pedals and shoes. What was special about Shimano's SPD system was that for the first time you could use “normal” shoes, which you would need when pushing or carrying your bike uphill, or when simply walking to and from the bike. Once again, mountain bikes helped bring cycling to the people.
Toe straps on a mountain bike.
1983 Cunningham Indian, vintagemtbworkshop 1)
ca. 1912, Philippe Thys, three time Tour de France winner, trusting his toe clips on a brake less fixie.
Clipless History
Clipless cycling pedals have been available since 1895, requiring special shoes with bolted in cleats which click into special pedals which hopefully let you disengage with a simple twist. All clipless pedals should also allow some “float” to allow for natural twisting and differences in people's feet.
“Clipless” refers to the lack of toe straps. However, all clipless pedals require you to clip in to engage or disengage. 2)
Until the mid-80's, a few serious mountain bikers would strap their feet to their pedals with leather buckles wound through a large, front toe clip. If you were willing to glue your feet to your early mountain bike, even through switchbacks and crashes, then you would use clips and straps. Today, mountain bike racers will often use simple flat pedals, without straps or bindings, trading the convenience of the quick touch of a toe to the ground and forgoing the advantages of eliminating foot slippage, pedaling efficiency, and easy bunny hops.
1895 clipless pedals patent wheelies
Pedal types trisports