Mark,
I agree with Ken on this one... Last night I studied perhaps 100 pictures of racers from the 50s and 60s (extra loop era) and not one of them showed anyone using the toe straps as you describe. Of course, Europeans generally have smaller, narrower feet than Americans, so they would be less likely to need extra clearance from running the strap down and around as you suggest.
A few riders actually ran the strap through the cut-outs in the back of the pedal cage, right behind their cleats! Now THAT'S a narrow entry... talk about difficulty getting into the pedals!
Aldo "the dvl is in the dtls" Ross
> Mark,
>
> Your verbage is confusing just by virtue of the way it's written. I can't
> get past the first paragraph without getting dizzy. Secondly, let's not
say
> someone else is "wrong" just because that person's technique differs from
> that of yourself. I have photos of hundreds of racers from all periods of
> cycling history that seem to differ from the technique you describe (if I
> understand it correctly, but without taking dramamine, I still don't think
I
> do). I guess they are doing it the "wrong" way.
>
> Take care,
> Ken Denny
> Boston