Tuclips: what is it, how to select and install them?

When cycling, safety is very important. To provide it, quite a lot of devices were invented, tuklipsy is one of them. They do not allow the feet to slide off the pedal during sudden jolts or riding bumps.

Tuclipsa is a special device whose task is to fix the foot, or rather, the toe of the foot on a flat pedal. Translated from English, the word means "clamped toe." These clips are considered an intermediate option between flat and contact bicycle pedals. This device has some common features with horse stirrups, it consists of a metal or plastic frame and leather or fabric straps.

The invention is not too new; earlier it was mainly used in professional cycling on track and racing bicycles. Such a device helps not only to press on the pedal, but also to raise it up, significantly increasing the driving efficiency. Use this kind of pedals during track races and their varieties. You can buy not only dolls for adult bicycles, but also for children. They also come in several types and from different materials. Children's clips are selected depending on the size of the child’s legs.

Tuklipsy, despite the more modern varieties of pedals, have their fans. The advantages of this device are quite significant and make it possible to widely use it.

• Low price distinguishes this device from kits of this type.
• Combine with any shoe, unlike contact models, to which it is necessary to select certain shoes. Tuklips keep on ordinary everyday shoes without problems, and besides, they can be used on thin winter boots.
• They make it possible to carry out circular pedaling, which contributes to the correct distribution of loads on the legs, increased speed and greater control of the bike. Such alternatives significantly reduce fatigue during long trips.

Such foot fixators are suitable not for all cyclists. For those involved in extreme types of riding, it is better to choose other varieties. But for city driving or tourist trips, they will be the best option, in addition, they are used in cases when pedaling is worth the extra effort. It is worth noting that tuklipsy have some drawback: not everyone can quickly pull out a leg when falling, for this you need to develop certain skills.

Technically, tuklipsy are divided into 2 types:

• racing;
• ordinary.

For the first look, bicycles with triangular-shaped pedals are suitable, and they also require shoes that have a hard sole. Sneakers, and especially sneakers do not fit at all. A platform with an elongated recess on the back is fastened to the pedal, which in working condition should lean on the pedal's back with this furrow. On ordinary bicycle pedals, these tuklipsy are not screwed. Such a system fixes the foot very firmly, which is both its plus and minus. Racing Tuclips are no longer available, they can be purchased only in the secondary market.

Ordinary tuklipsy fit almost all pedals, but since they do not have departure settings, when pedaling with the toe of the foot, it is worth choosing small cells. They, like shoes, must be selected according to the size of the legs. Cell parameters are somewhat limited when choosing shoes, because thickened winter shoes will not fit in them, but any other one will have no problems. There are two ways to fasten belts:

• crocodile clasps;
• roller clasps.

The second are more convenient, most often they are located on leather straps, but the “crocodiles” are mainly on nylon straps. Tuclips themselves can be plastic or steel, but not a single material in itself has any special advantages. Cracks can sometimes form on plastic clips, and on steel, chrome can be shed on hinges.

Tuclips are also divided into several types according to the type of fasteners.

• Tuklipsy pedals - factory adaptation. It is installed in place of the old bicycle pedals. Some brands have fasteners that allow you to adjust the depth of insertion of the legs, while others do not have such a function.
• In models with a fixed toe and straps, the fixing part (plastic or iron) for the sock is attached with two screws to the front of the pedal, as well as a strap that adjusts to the foot. By purchasing such a model, it is worth making sure that it is suitable for a particular bike. First you need to make sure that the shape of the pedal allows you to attach a sock to it, and whether the pedal itself has holes for threading the straps. Or at least it’s worth checking the possibility to stretch them under the pedal.
• Strap tuklipsy fasten to pedals by means of flypapers or fasteners. To secure them, flat pedals are also needed, with holes for the straps. The advantage of such clamps is that in the absence of the ability to quickly fix the leg, you can only turn the pedal with straps down and ride without them. You can try to fix them later.
• Power grips stand out among other models by the way of fixing the feet. Here, unlike other varieties, the manufacturer does not apply the method of rigid fixation with the help of a stirrup-shaped device and straps, but uses only one strap that connects the corners of the pedal obliquely.

The proper use of hooklips is a matter of time and dexterity. Such clamps are a budget option, which is simple and requires additional maintenance. Among the most popular brands of bicycle towclips are:

• Wellgo MT-16 - characterized by extreme ease;
• VP-733 - wearproof models;
• Zefal - made of technopolymer, with a solid wide platform.

When using tuklipsov it is worth choosing shoes that have a flat and hard sole and a flat top. Fixing them, it is not necessary to tighten very tightly, but at the same time the foot should not hang out. The mount should be such that the leg can be easily extended and inserted. If possible, it is better to choose latches with double straps, a single one is more difficult to configure for more reliable fasteners. Double ones, in particular, with Velcro, can be tightened with a different degree of tension, for example, the one closest to the toe is fastened more firmly, and the other is slightly weaker.

In this case, the leg will not slide forward, but at the same time it can be easily pulled out. Tightening the straps should take into account the shape of the base pedal. If there are spikes or ribs with high teeth on it, the leg will be pulled out more difficult than with an even pedal.

In the video you will learn how to make do-it-yourself clips.