How to Put Toe Cages on Bicycle Pedals

Most bicycles are sold with a pair of flat pedals attached to the crank because no special footwear or equipment is needed for these types of pedals; however, for more serious and technical riding, it is beneficial to have one's feet strapped into the pedals, which provides more control and allows the cyclist to transfer more power to the crank throughout the entire pedal stroke. One mechanism that is used to secure cyclists' feet in the pedals is the toe cage. Toe cages are simply metal or plastic strapping that encloses a cyclist's foot and secures it to the pedal. Installing toe cages on bicycle pedals is quite simple and can be accomplished by anyone.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Toe cages and supplied hardware
Crescent wrenches
Phillips screwdriver

Step 1

Unpack the toe clips, and determine which is the right and left cage. The cages are marked on the bottom with an "R" and "L".

Step 2

With the toe cage pointing up, slide the screws provided with the clips into the slot along the front edge of the bicycle pedal and then slide the cage onto the screws. Tighten down the cages with the supplied nuts, using the screwdriver and crescent wrenches.

Step 3

Repeat Step 2 for the other pedal, then thread the supplied straps through the toe cages and pedals. Secure the end of the straps with the snaps at the end.

Tips & Warnings

Most riders leave their toe straps a bit loose so they can simply slide their foot into the cage as they begin pedaling. It the strap is too tight, you will be unable to get your foot in.

Resources

Nashbar carries a variety of different style of toe cages

Article Written By Nathaniel Miller

Nathaniel Miller is a technical writer for an environmental division of Microbac Laboratories, Inc. He has a Master of Science from Ohio University. With over eight years of technical writing experience, Miller has a diverse skill-set and enjoys a wide-ranging client base. He is widely published on numerous writing websites and runs a small writing business out of his home in Marietta, Ohio.

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