Unless you’re suicidal, when you ride a fixed-gear bike, you’ll want to strap your feet in. Traditionally, this has been done by leather or fabric toe-straps, held open by metal cages, or more recently clip-less pedals, which (paradoxically) clip on to a special cleat in the sole of a cycling shoe.
Recently, another option has started to show up. It’s a wide strap which uses Velcro to secure it to itself, and is stiff enough to remain open even when empty, allowing your feet to slide in. Advantages: lightweight, a good tight fit and works well with any regular shoes. Disadvantages: Very limited availability and therefore relatively high cost. One commercial example is the Brooklyn-made Hold Fast.
And what do we do here on Gadget Lab when we can’t find or afford a piece of kit? We make our own. I paid a visit to the hardware store, spent less than €2, and maybe an hours worth of work (and several hours of laying in bed this morning planning). The result? FootBelts! (FeetBelts is already taken). Follow along and make your own.
First, the hardware. You’ll need some kind of strap or webbing. I used strapping for ratchets. I figured that if it’s strong enough to tighten down a load on a truck, it’s good enough for my feet. It was also cheap, came in a bunch of bright colors and was available in the right size. As ever, don’t worry too much about what I’m using. I headed to the hardware store and poked around to see what looked good. You should do the same. I bought two meters for €1.80 (around $2.50).
The second ingredient is Velcro, and I have a lot left over from various projects. Buy it by the roll (it’s cheaper in bulk) and pick something the same width or narrower than your strapping. Finally, a needle and thread. A sewing machine is quicker, but I don’t have one.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Put a shoe on the pedal and measure how much strap you’ll need. There should be a good foot-width of overlap on the top, as this is where the Velcro will go. Mark, measure again and cut. At this stage I found out that my strapping likes to fray, but happily it’s made of plastic. A quick trip through a lighter flame sealed the ends.
Add Velcro
Part of the strip will be split to thread through the holes in the pedal. I stuck the (self-adhesive) Velcro first and cut through both together. You can do this, or cut separately. The idea is to make a Velcro sandwich, with hooks and loops that clamp onto each other. It’s easier to see than to explain:
The second part of the sandwich is sewn on. This is fairly important for strength, as the seam will take a fair amount of stress. I’m a messy but effective sewer when I’m in a hurry, but this should hold, at least until I make it to a sewing machine.
That’s it. The sizes will depend on the size of your feet and pedals, as well as your material, but the actual setup is straightforward enough. Thread the “forked” part through the pedals from the outside and then up and over your foot. Stick them to the top of the wide strap and then fold the sewn flap over the top to secure.
Ride
I took them for a quick spin and they feel great. I’ll need to do a longer trip to be sure, but I like them so far, and they’ll work with softer summer shoes. Two weak points may be where the strap is split, and the sewn seam. Also, you should really sew the Velcro into place, not just leave it glued. Again, a sewing machine will help.
Good luck, and let us know if you make any of your own. Bonus points for innovations and outlandish colors.
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