The next big innovation in pedal design came with the invention of toe clips, which first appeared in the 1860s. Toe clips offered significant advantages over platform pedals because they allow the cyclist to drive the pedal during the full rotation, i.e., pulling up on the pedal as well as pushing down. Toe clips are an ideal choice for commuters who have frequent stops in traffic.
Advantages
- Simple to use
- No specialized footwear needed
- Easy to learn how to use.
- Cyclists can utilize their leg power to pull up on the pedal as well as push down when pedaling the bike.
Disdvantages
- Still some minor loss of power. Toe clips cannot capture all of the energy the leg provides when moving through the pedal cycle.
