Looking at pedals for recumbent trike.
Subject to feedback and experience of others I'm keen to try alternatives before moving to clipless - and if alternatives work, avoid clipless).
Interested in heel-slings https://hostelshoppe.com/collections/pedals/products/jsrldesign-heel-slings-pair
Do thy work? Negatives?
Strikes me some cheap components from a yacht chandler and I could DIY them cheap and easy, even if only for a trial. Am I missing something or are they not a good plan, etc.
Reasons for a preference to avoid clipless include getting them set well for my bad knees, cost, need for special shoes which are not great for walking which means carrying an extra pair of shoes on tour, ... If clipless really is the only solution then I'll get some but I'd like to explore alternatives first.
Thanks
Ian
Heel Slings
Re: Heel Slings
I use these https://restrap.com/collections/pedal-straps/products/diagonal-straps-1 on my trike.
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PDQ Mobile
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Re: Heel Slings
I understand your points about two pairs of shoes to some extent.
I came to clipless through recumbents, though not trikes.
I see that not needing to get afoot down fast and accurately is not an issue on a trike and changes things a bit.
But clipless are wonderful things on a recumbent. They were "made" for them, so to speak.
The ability to deliver a pulling force to vary muscle groups is a big plus especially on long hard ascents.
Recumbents can be hard on the knees irrespective of pedal type because the back is braced and high loads are easily generated. High cadence is important here.
Being able to pull is also a help to get lubricant into the joints I think.
Obviously adjustment need to be correct at the cleat pedal interface but there is quite a bit of side to side movement in many types. A judicious filing can make it even more so, though wear can fulfill the same function.
A secondhand pair to try? And a pair of cheap Aldi cleat compatible shoes?
It can be dangerous to get a foot down under a moving recumbent,
Being able to sit (and pedal) without holding up the feet is a must and I guess your wanting to try heel straps is for that reason.
Clipless (SPD) do it so well though, and escape (and entry) is so simple with correctly set bindings.
SPD sandals are great summer touring footwear. And can be quite comfortable for walking some distance.
I could not now imagine recumbent cycling without clipless.
Single sided ones often hang at just the right for easy fast entry. Recommend them.
It's just my two penneth though.
Sauce for the goose may not be for the gander.
I came to clipless through recumbents, though not trikes.
I see that not needing to get afoot down fast and accurately is not an issue on a trike and changes things a bit.
But clipless are wonderful things on a recumbent. They were "made" for them, so to speak.
The ability to deliver a pulling force to vary muscle groups is a big plus especially on long hard ascents.
Recumbents can be hard on the knees irrespective of pedal type because the back is braced and high loads are easily generated. High cadence is important here.
Being able to pull is also a help to get lubricant into the joints I think.
Obviously adjustment need to be correct at the cleat pedal interface but there is quite a bit of side to side movement in many types. A judicious filing can make it even more so, though wear can fulfill the same function.
A secondhand pair to try? And a pair of cheap Aldi cleat compatible shoes?
It can be dangerous to get a foot down under a moving recumbent,
Being able to sit (and pedal) without holding up the feet is a must and I guess your wanting to try heel straps is for that reason.
Clipless (SPD) do it so well though, and escape (and entry) is so simple with correctly set bindings.
SPD sandals are great summer touring footwear. And can be quite comfortable for walking some distance.
I could not now imagine recumbent cycling without clipless.
Single sided ones often hang at just the right for easy fast entry. Recommend them.
It's just my two penneth though.
Sauce for the goose may not be for the gander.
Re: Heel Slings
Power Grip straps are another alternative to consider.
You can DIY some heel slings from an old tube and some bolts or rivets to test out whether you like heel slings.
OB
You can DIY some heel slings from an old tube and some bolts or rivets to test out whether you like heel slings.
OB
Re: Heel Slings
Recemt thread here, https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=135673
A strong case was made for using Time ATACS pedals.
A strong case was made for using Time ATACS pedals.
Re: Heel Slings
Haven’t tried heel slings but I run either SPD or Keo on all my bikes apart from the trike. I got fed up having to change shoes and wanted something that would allow me to use every day boots etc especially in winter. I have gone back to Power Grips on the trike which is what I started with on my first bent. They are not perfect as your feet move around a little but being able to wear my big clunky goretex boots when it’s -5 outside is most welcome.
Re: Heel Slings
I'm with PDQ on this. Back when I could run (ie pre-hip replacement) I could happily jog in my MTB style SPD shoes. Sure you can get stiff / light road bike style shoes, but IMO the latest Shimano SPD sandals are too flexible and I just use my latest pair as sandals...
"42"
Re: Heel Slings
I put heel straps on the KMX for my kids, certainly not buying child sized SPD shoes!
They did exactly the job they were designed to do... Metal brackets which attached to the pedal and held a heel strap in the right place, so no fiddling with it when they got on.
I know of two other "obvious" alternative to cleats if you really want to avoid them.
- a diagonal strap as suggested above. Because they tighten by virtue of rotating your foot into them they are unlikely to "work loose" as you ride.
However, beware that if you are thrown from your trike for any reason then it's basically guaranteed that one of them won't release quickly.
- Pyro platforms. These are a marketed as a gimmick for time trials, a nylon sole with cleat attachments and straps to hold a "normal" shoe. Their theory is that it can save you time in transition.
For me they were invaluable for a while, since I cannot walk in even normal shoes, let alone cycling shoes. I use shoes which are branded as `barefoot`, and they allow me to feel what the ground is doing and keep myself "head up" much more easily than shoes.
Given the current cycling I do, I have gone back to my cycling shoes much of the time, but I hobble from the door to the garage, leaning on the wall all the way. but it's then easier once on the trike to have proper shoes.
They did exactly the job they were designed to do... Metal brackets which attached to the pedal and held a heel strap in the right place, so no fiddling with it when they got on.
I know of two other "obvious" alternative to cleats if you really want to avoid them.
- a diagonal strap as suggested above. Because they tighten by virtue of rotating your foot into them they are unlikely to "work loose" as you ride.
However, beware that if you are thrown from your trike for any reason then it's basically guaranteed that one of them won't release quickly.
- Pyro platforms. These are a marketed as a gimmick for time trials, a nylon sole with cleat attachments and straps to hold a "normal" shoe. Their theory is that it can save you time in transition.
For me they were invaluable for a while, since I cannot walk in even normal shoes, let alone cycling shoes. I use shoes which are branded as `barefoot`, and they allow me to feel what the ground is doing and keep myself "head up" much more easily than shoes.
Given the current cycling I do, I have gone back to my cycling shoes much of the time, but I hobble from the door to the garage, leaning on the wall all the way. but it's then easier once on the trike to have proper shoes.
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Re: Heel Slings
I use SPD nowadays but when I first got a trike I did get heel slings to go with toe clips as I already had toe clips on all my bikes.
They were too much faff getting clipped in so were abandoned as soon as I got new pedals for the trike.
They are probably still kicking around somewhere in my junk pile but not seen them for ages.
They were too much faff getting clipped in so were abandoned as soon as I got new pedals for the trike.
They are probably still kicking around somewhere in my junk pile but not seen them for ages.
Re: Heel Slings
They're certainly not the only solution, as people use others, but addressing the negatives...Psamathe wrote: ↑8 Jan 2021, 9:24pm
Reasons for a preference to avoid clipless include getting them set well for my bad knees, cost, need for special shoes which are not great for walking which means carrying an extra pair of shoes on tour, ... If clipless really is the only solution then I'll get some but I'd like to explore alternatives first.
On to the walking side, depends how far you'll be walking and what footwear you like to walk in, but I generally just make do with my riding shoes/sandals on tour, maybe adding a pair of very light sandals. Bear in mind that MTB shoes are often designed for some degree of hike-a-bike through mud and rocks and if you select the right pair then they can be quite walkable, but if your idea of the walk is a spot of Munro bagging or similar then they're definitely sub-optimal, as may be very light spares.
Hard to comment usefully on other folks' knees, but my preferred ATACs seem to get a lot of positive views from people who've found other clipless systems trouble them. Of course my knees will be different to yours, but ATACs do seem to have more float so your feet can move around on the pedal relatively naturally while remaining engaged so setup isn't too complex once you have fore/aft set, which is a few minutes of trial and error with an Allen key.
Cost can be reduced by getting them second hand off eBay, and while new ones aren't cheap as chips then especially over their lifetime they're not silly money if you don't get the pro carbon types.
Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
Re: Heel Slings
After 20 years of using SPD style pedals on trikes, I moved to these extra long pedals a year ago. The idea is that the pedal axle is in the middle part of the foot, not the ball, thus improving efficiency. I have now done a couple of thousand miles with them. My feet occasionally move when there’s an unexpected bump but have never shown any indication to drop off the pedals.
Advantages: your knees get a slightly better time as you are not fixed in any position - left or right, backwards or forwards; easy on and off; and most importantly I reckon that they are worth a gear or two on hills as you are using the whole foot and not having to use a muscle group to compensate for pedalling with the ball of the foot.
There’s a lot of explanation of the theory behind them on this website which may convert you (as it did me) or just raise a cycnical eyebrow - they are not cheap!
https://pedalinginnovations.com/
Advantages: your knees get a slightly better time as you are not fixed in any position - left or right, backwards or forwards; easy on and off; and most importantly I reckon that they are worth a gear or two on hills as you are using the whole foot and not having to use a muscle group to compensate for pedalling with the ball of the foot.
There’s a lot of explanation of the theory behind them on this website which may convert you (as it did me) or just raise a cycnical eyebrow - they are not cheap!
https://pedalinginnovations.com/
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When I see an adult on a bicycle I do not despair for the human race, H G Wells.
Re: Heel Slings
I've just fitted a pair of £25 mountain bike pedals to my wife's e assisted ICE ADVENTURE RS.
Clipping in has been a very secure way of holding the pedals, but there are disadvantages for her.
She is disabled and needs support when walking. Giro shoes that were broad enough were found to fit her broad feet aftera very long frustrating search but even so, she isn't comfortable off the bike at all and cafe stops are uncomfortable occasions.
I took long enough to persuade her to change from toeclips. We changed because on a couple of occasions a foot slipped out of the pedal and luckily no harm was done.
If mountain bikers wear them,, they do not want to be separated from their machine do they?
We're waiting for warmer days before venturing out, hence the reason we've not done a road test yet
What say you experts?
Cheers
Clipping in has been a very secure way of holding the pedals, but there are disadvantages for her.
She is disabled and needs support when walking. Giro shoes that were broad enough were found to fit her broad feet aftera very long frustrating search but even so, she isn't comfortable off the bike at all and cafe stops are uncomfortable occasions.
I took long enough to persuade her to change from toeclips. We changed because on a couple of occasions a foot slipped out of the pedal and luckily no harm was done.
If mountain bikers wear them,, they do not want to be separated from their machine do they?
We're waiting for warmer days before venturing out, hence the reason we've not done a road test yet
What say you experts?
Cheers
Re: Heel Slings
There are problems here from the frankly very confusing terminology of foot retention methods: can you clarify please?
Typically, a toe clip is a basket on the front of a pedal, usually with a strap to tighten it in to the foot. On a 'bent these will be at the top of the pedal.
"Clipless pedals" are pedals you clip in with, they're "clipless" dating from when they weren't the toe clips described above.
"Mountain bike pedals" could mean a number of things... Many MTB riders use "clipless" pedals, and the two-bolt SPD and similar systems can be considered "mountain bike pedals". Many others use "flats", which are wide platform pedals with grip studs around them. Those are often paired with MTB "flat shoes" that have a soft rubber sole for the studs to grip better.
The flats work well on an MTB, but mainly on the basis that on technical terrain the rider is usually stood with all their weight on them. They wouldn't hold a foot on a recumbent's pedals nearly as effectively as a click-in "clipless" pedal. I would think one could far more easily disengage accidentally from flats than a click-in.
Pete.
Typically, a toe clip is a basket on the front of a pedal, usually with a strap to tighten it in to the foot. On a 'bent these will be at the top of the pedal.
"Clipless pedals" are pedals you clip in with, they're "clipless" dating from when they weren't the toe clips described above.
"Mountain bike pedals" could mean a number of things... Many MTB riders use "clipless" pedals, and the two-bolt SPD and similar systems can be considered "mountain bike pedals". Many others use "flats", which are wide platform pedals with grip studs around them. Those are often paired with MTB "flat shoes" that have a soft rubber sole for the studs to grip better.
The flats work well on an MTB, but mainly on the basis that on technical terrain the rider is usually stood with all their weight on them. They wouldn't hold a foot on a recumbent's pedals nearly as effectively as a click-in "clipless" pedal. I would think one could far more easily disengage accidentally from flats than a click-in.
Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
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belgiangoth
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Re: Heel Slings
On my df I quit clipless and went powergrips to avoid the coat of SPD specific shoes. Then the powergrips chewed through several pairs of shoes whereas my last SPD shoes lasted 5+ years.
Hmmm
Currently I am on Aldi special cycling shoes and have a bling pair of Px shoes that cost me <£50. I could do with winter shoes, but this is true both on and off the bike.
My summary is that cycling shoes outlast regular shoes, so not too expensive and worth the investment for ease of use on a recumbent.
Hmmm
Currently I am on Aldi special cycling shoes and have a bling pair of Px shoes that cost me <£50. I could do with winter shoes, but this is true both on and off the bike.
My summary is that cycling shoes outlast regular shoes, so not too expensive and worth the investment for ease of use on a recumbent.
Last edited by belgiangoth on 9 Feb 2025, 6:27pm, edited 1 time in total.
If I had a baby elephant, I would put it on a recumbent trike so that it would become invisible.
Re: Heel Slings
Be super careful… I’ve seen horrible injuries from people running over their lower legs after their foot slipped off a pedal on a tadpole trike. There are different “clipless” systems, some which might suit your wife better than Shimano. Alternatively, a pair of crocs for walking about off the trike may be slightly inconvenient but less so than the alternative.