Lots of riders In The Day, including some top pros, used track pedals on the road. IRCC, Bicycling magazine published photos of Lucien an Impe's TdF-winning Gitane with Campy pista pedals (even though most of his career was spend at LeJeune). I believe I've seen photos of Anquetil using track pedals on the road as well. Unless a bike is all original, including the pedals, I almost always use track pedals.
And my size 8 1/2 (Euro 42) feet aren't even large by US standards. Besides more room, the track pedals give better ground clearance. The one quilled road pedal I've found comfortable is TA. It is significantly wider than most road pedals. Of course that aggravates the ground clearance, but the TAs were made for touring, not racing. I frankly don't even know why the quilled road pedal developed, although I suspect it was before toestraps were common, so the quill would have helped keep the foot positioned on the pedal. But with toeclips and straps, the quill is pretty useless IMHO.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: grm1067@aol.com <grm1067@aol.com>
\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] Toestrap detail on Leggerissimo Cinelli
\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
\r?\n> Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 3:10 AM
\r?\n> I'm intrigued as to why the owner is
\r?\n> using Campag track pedals instead of proper road pedals.
\r?\n> The way the toe-strap is placed, together with pedals
\r?\n> without the road pedal "hook", suggests a rider with very
\r?\n> wide feet!
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Best regards
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Geoff Margetts,
\r?\n> Dreieich,
\r?\n> Nr. Frankfurt,
\r?\n> Germany