Steven, I'm guessing you wrote the following after seeing this picture of the strap not only threaded through the pedal and clip upside down, but through the buckle wacky too?
http://community.webshots.com/
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
themaaslands@comcast.net wrote:
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> I am continually amazed at the small number of people who actually understand the reason behind toe clips and how to properly route toe straps. To get full benefit from the toe clips and straps, the straps should be snugged up when riding. The idea behind the buckles on the straps is to permit a quick tightening when taking off or loosening of the straps when stopping. It should therefore allow for fast and simple one-handed use. I have always been told that there is therefore only one single 'correct' position for the buckle and subsequently how to route the straps.
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> On road pedals, the non-buckle end of the straps should be threaded in such a way that it first goes between or under the outlying part of the cage. It then should pass through (where possible) the outermost rear pedal body arm. I have been taught to then twist the strap 360° (many think this is not needed, but habits are hard to get over) and then pass through the innermost rear pedal body arm. For those pedals with the innerlying tab, I have always been told to thread the strap between it and the pedal body arm (I have narrow feet so this doesn't create any problems but I have heard from others with wide feet that they must go on the outside of the tab). You then go through the loop in the toe clip. From there, the strap goes into the buckle. To insert properly, squeeze the buckle and thread the strap between the roller and the teeth. DO NOT thread the strap anywhere else! You do not need to thread it through the lower loop! To do so, makes it virtually impossible to tighten and
> loosen the straps. If you try, you will note that by simply pulling on the end of the strap, you can tighten the straps to your heart's content. By pushing in a downwards motion with your thumb or finger on the top tip of the buckle (you will see that it is generally upturned and smoothly rounded) you can immediately and easily loosen the strap. I suppose that toe clips and straps have become so much a thing of the past that nobody teaches the new users the ropes.
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> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ