From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska




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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

<bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early, perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

IrCOd of thought not the Penny Farthing as the big wheelers you needed to be able to step off, and was a relatively short if iconic period of time, one
of the local to me (ish) radio and tv presenters rides around on one, herCOs terrorised various politicians by encouraging them to have go at various village fairs etc!

My hunch is clips would have come in quite early with the safety bicycle.

Roger Merriman

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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.


https://www.alibris.com/Bicycles-Tricycles-A-Classic-Treatise-on-Their-Design-and-Construction-Archibald-Sharp/book/7830199?matches=10
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

https://www.alibris.com/Bicycles-Tricycles-A-Classic-Treatise-on-Their-Design-and-Construction-Archibald-Sharp/book/7830199?matches=10

But on the safety bicycle than the Penny farthing, all of the examples IrCOve seen being ridden or as museum pieces have flat pedals, 1899 it was
essentially obsolete the penny farthing that is.

Interestingly both clipless and MTB flats shoes come from non cycling
sports, ie Look from the Ski bindings and Five ten who sold and still do
rock climbing shoes, that they noticed folks where using to ride their
bikes with, and such shoes where a game changer as the rubber was soft
enough to stick to the pedal so you arenrCOt skating about on the pedal, even now less than a handful of other flat pedal shoes give that pinned in
feeling, ie Five ten is still the go to for a secure platform.

Roger Merriman



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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 5/10/2026 10:43 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >>> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

I don't know but prior art includes skis and horse stirrups.

p.s. I don't recall anything specifically used on Ordinaries
but certainly after 1885 with chain drive yes, many.
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

Am Mon, 11 May 2026 08:30:12 -0500 schrieb AMuzi
<am@yellowjersey.org>:

On 5/10/2026 10:43 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >>>> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

I don't know but prior art includes skis and horse stirrups.

It is claimed that Cinelli M71 where the first clipless pedals,
in 1970. See for example Sheldon Brown's Glossary.

<https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ch.html#cinelli>

| Cinelli was probably the first to offer "clipless" pedals,
| with the infamous Cinelli M71 "death cleats." These
| "step-in" pedals required the rider to reach down and
| manually release each pedal before unclipping was possible!
--
Wir danken f|+r die Beachtung aller Sicherheitsbestimmungen
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

Wolfgang Strobl <news51@mystrobl.de> wrote:

Am Mon, 11 May 2026 08:30:12 -0500 schrieb AMuzi
<am@yellowjersey.org>:

On 5/10/2026 10:43 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >>>>> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early, >>>>> perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

I don't know but prior art includes skis and horse stirrups.

It is claimed that Cinelli M71 where the first clipless pedals,
in 1970. See for example Sheldon Brown's Glossary.

<https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ch.html#cinelli>

| Cinelli was probably the first to offer "clipless" pedals,
| with the infamous Cinelli M71 "death cleats." These
| "step-in" pedals required the rider to reach down and
| manually release each pedal before unclipping was possible!

ItrCOs probably why most go for LookrCOs pedal as the 1st as you could clip and and out with ones shoe no having to reach down to a lever!

To show nothing has changed took the racers some time to adapt to the new
idea! To show that resistance to tubless disk brakes wider tyres etc is
nothing new for the road racers they have always been conservative.

Roger Merriman

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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

Am 11 May 2026 21:43:47 GMT schrieb Roger Merriman
<roger@sarlet.com>:

Wolfgang Strobl <news51@mystrobl.de> wrote:

Am Mon, 11 May 2026 08:30:12 -0500 schrieb AMuzi
<am@yellowjersey.org>:

On 5/10/2026 10:43 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >>>>>> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early, >>>>>> perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

I don't know but prior art includes skis and horse stirrups.

It is claimed that Cinelli M71 where the first clipless pedals,
in 1970. See for example Sheldon Brown's Glossary.

<https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ch.html#cinelli>

| Cinelli was probably the first to offer "clipless" pedals,
| with the infamous Cinelli M71 "death cleats." These
| "step-in" pedals required the rider to reach down and
| manually release each pedal before unclipping was possible!

ItrCOs probably why most go for LookrCOs pedal as the 1st as you could clip and
and out with ones shoe no having to reach down to a lever!

Some racers certainly do. But there are other brands of clipless
pedals used by racers.

To show nothing has changed took the racers some time to adapt to the new >idea! To show that resistance to tubless disk brakes wider tyres etc is >nothing new for the road racers they have always been conservative.

I don't really care what racers prefer for their competitions.
To be honest, competitive cycling doesn't interest me much. I
prefer SPD pedals for road cycling, simply because they allow me
to wear shoes that I can walk in. I even own a pair of sandals
designed for SPD pedals.
--
Thank you for observing all safety precautions
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Sun May 10 22:38:37 2026 bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

Bob, while you and I can barely remember back to toe clips and straps, they only started in the late 30's.
Look started experimenting with ski binding technoloogy in the 1980's and then shoes and clipless pedals went crazy. I still use Look pedals because of several "pull outs" using lolipop pedals in the 2000's. Arfter years of having to bend over and looosen the strap cominf to a stop I really loved the Look.
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Sun May 10 18:28:46 2026 AMuzi wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early, perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

https://www.alibris.com/Bicycles-Tricycles-A-Classic-Treatise-on-Their-Design-and-Construction-Archibald-Sharp/book/7830199?matches=3d10

While I'm sure that there were 'inventions" for strapping yourself in, bicycling specific shoes didn't come in until just before the 2nd world war and if you tried to use toe clips and straps or straps alone,you would have been in trouble sinxce EVEN with the early bicycle specific shoes, the straps without clips would stretch and allow your feet to overcenter on the pedals making pedalling really inefficient. And once they developed toe clips, with regular shoes they would cut into the sides on your feet until hard soled bicycling shoes came along which was a modern invention.
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Mon May 11 03:43:22 2026 bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

I am sort of neutral handed. I ALWAYS click in on my right side and step in on my right side. This is so that if I come to a stop and can't get my foot out, I fall towards the curb and not into traffic. But toe clips and straps were a real pain. As you came to a stop you would bend down and loosen the strap so you could pull your foot out and hold yourself up. We were still using clips and straps early in the
MTB era and man were THEY ever dangerous because you could lose control and be strongly attached to the bike.
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Mon May 11 17:36:43 2026 Wolfgang Strobl wrote:

Am Mon, 11 May 2026 08:30:12 -0500 schrieb AMuzi
<am@yellowjersey.org>:

On 5/10/2026 10:43 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >>>> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early, >>>> perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

I don't know but prior art includes skis and horse stirrups.

It is claimed that Cinelli M71 where the first clipless pedals,
in 1970. See for example Sheldon Brown's Glossary.

<https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ch.html#cinelli>

| Cinelli was probably the first to offer "clipless" pedals,
| with the infamous Cinelli M71 "death cleats." These
| "step-in" pedals required the rider to reach down and
| manually release each pedal before unclipping was possible!

Good lord! I'm glad I lost that part of my memory.,
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 5/12/2026 6:35 PM, cyclintom wrote:

On Sun May 10 18:28:46 2026 AMuzi wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet >>> to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early,
perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.


https://www.alibris.com/Bicycles-Tricycles-A-Classic-Treatise-on-Their-Design-and-Construction-Archibald-Sharp/book/7830199?matches=10

While I'm sure that there were 'inventions" for strapping yourself in, bicycling specific shoes didn't come in until just before the 2nd world war and if you tried to use toe clips and straps or straps alone,you would have been in trouble sinxce EVEN with the early bicycle specific shoes, the straps without clips would stretch and allow your feet to overcenter on the pedals making pedalling really inefficient. And once they developed toe clips, with regular shoes they would cut into the sides on your feet until hard soled bicycling shoes came along which was a modern invention.

image of 1896 toeclips:

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/nos-ca-1896-toc-theim-adjustable-racing-toe-clips.243339/

Major Taylor in 1900 with toeclips, straps and cycling shoes:

https://www.swashvillage.org/storage/img/images_3/major-taylor-biography_2.jpg --
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

Wolfgang Strobl <news51@mystrobl.de> wrote:

Am 11 May 2026 21:43:47 GMT schrieb Roger Merriman
<roger@sarlet.com>:

Wolfgang Strobl <news51@mystrobl.de> wrote:

Am Mon, 11 May 2026 08:30:12 -0500 schrieb AMuzi
<am@yellowjersey.org>:

On 5/10/2026 10:43 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

On 5/10/2026 5:38 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

As a matter of idle curiosity, when did devices to attach a rider's feet
to the pedals of a bicycle come into use? I'd think relatively early, >>>>>>> perhaps even in penny-farthing days.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

You're right. Several toeclip with strap, half toeclip and
shoe-latch-into-pedal systems are in Archibald Sharp's
review of the industry in 1899.

The idea of using toe straps on a penny-farthing is intimidating,
at the very least. I could more easily imagine some sort of
latch scheme being used. Sharp's book seems to mention "pulling
pedals" but I couldn't find anything more using keyword searches.

My impression is that modern "clipless" pedals evolved from ski
bindings in the mid-20th century. Is that close to correct?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska

I don't know but prior art includes skis and horse stirrups.

It is claimed that Cinelli M71 where the first clipless pedals,
in 1970. See for example Sheldon Brown's Glossary.

<https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ch.html#cinelli>

| Cinelli was probably the first to offer "clipless" pedals,
| with the infamous Cinelli M71 "death cleats." These
| "step-in" pedals required the rider to reach down and
| manually release each pedal before unclipping was possible!

ItrCOs probably why most go for LookrCOs pedal as the 1st as you could clip and
and out with ones shoe no having to reach down to a lever!

Some racers certainly do. But there are other brands of clipless
pedals used by racers.

To show nothing has changed took the racers some time to adapt to the new
idea! To show that resistance to tubless disk brakes wider tyres etc is
nothing new for the road racers they have always been conservative.

I don't really care what racers prefer for their competitions.
To be honest, competitive cycling doesn't interest me much. I
prefer SPD pedals for road cycling, simply because they allow me
to wear shoes that I can walk in. I even own a pair of sandals
designed for SPD pedals.

ThatrCOs more that roadies and the mirroring of what the pros do have always been rather conservative about trying new technology, vs MTB who are more
open to technology ideas in general.

The idea that yourCOll pull up on the pedal stroke seems a hard one to kill however many studies to prove it!

I did use SPDrCOs for a while but realised that as my background is MTBing
and I like flat pedals that I prefer them, and they are more secure on wet surfaces, due to the much softer rubber, Five tenrCOs come from rock climbing shoes so developed class leading compounds, hence I can walk on much more slippery surfaces vs Mates on SPD on gravel rides who have to be more
careful as the harder rubber is less secure on wet rocks etc.

Roger Merriman

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