Zefal "Cristophe" Mountain Bicycle Half Toe Clip

My bicycling situation may not be like yours, but as a result of a stroke almost 6 years ago I have been unable and hesitant to get back on my bicycle. A huge part of the problem, is keeping my right foot properly positioned on the pedal. Because of the disability, my foot tends to angle out and move forward on the pedal. The limited movement that I have in my foot and ankle, precludes the use of a clipless pedal, and regular tow straps lock my foot in too much and limit my ability to get it out and on the ground in a hurry. I tried these Zefal toe clips about a year ago and they have been a game changer! I'm now able to ride with more confidence and in less pain because these keep my foot positioned exactly where I need it and allow me easy and immediate release when the need arises. The only issue I have had in the past was when I was ordering these. There seems to be a common issue with determining the proper size since they are offered in two different sizes. After much research and reading a lot of reviews I determined I should have a small to a medium for a size 9½ shoe. When I received them and installed them I could tell they were way too small. I returned those and picked up a large-extra large and they are perfect for a size 9 and larger shoe. The photos are of a size 10 cycling shoe and the extra large toe clip. You should be able to see from the underside of the shoe that the predetermined location of where a clipless pedal could be attached, that it aligns almost perfectly with the center of the pedal. For me this works out perfect. The installation of these could not be simpler or easier. I have put many miles on these and have never had an issue. They appear to be well built and should last for years, and for $10 I could not have made a better choice.

Appears to be of good quality. Decently stiff and a good shape, which allows for easy in and out. Purchased the S/M and its good for a small female/youth to smaller male shoe size. Also. Super easy to install. I recommend you used loctite so you don't lose the hardware..

They seem fine for the purpose. I wear a men's 9 1/2 shoe, and I wish I had gotten the large size. They are a little too small/low, and squeeze my shoe or hit my toe when I am wearing sandals. If you are just looking for a clip to make it easy to position your foot on the pedals (rather than actually holding your foot on the pedal), consider the large size unless you have a small foot.The thing to be aware of (which applies to all half clips, or even full clips) is that the position it places your foot on the pedal will vary depending on the front/back width of the pedal, the depth of the clip, and your shoe. These aren’t Prime items and can’t be returned for free, so cross your fingers when you order them.

I installed the Zefal "Cristophe" half-toe clips on my mountain bike a few weeks ago, and I’ve been seriously impressed. I was looking for a bit more foot stability on rough trails without going full clip-in, and these were the perfect middle ground.The installation was super straightforward—took about 10 minutes with basic tools. They fit my standard platform pedals perfectly and feel very sturdy despite being made of plastic. Once installed, the improvement in power transfer was immediately noticeable. My feet stay in place, especially when climbing hills or powering through technical sections, and I feel like I’m getting more out of each pedal stroke.The wide platform design gives great support to the ball of the foot, which helps reduce fatigue over longer rides. I also noticed a big difference in foot slip—basically none now, even when things get bumpy or muddy.

I put these Zefal Christophe toe clips on my touring hybrid a year ago after being unable to get used to the Time system. They work very well with my Merell Moab Ventilator hiking shoes.We can divide pedaling into four quadrants: (1) the downstroke; (2) the "pull back" at the bottom of the rotation; (3) the upstroke; and (4) the "push forward" at the top .Clipless systems provide no advantage over these Christophe clips on both the downstroke and on the "push forward" at the top. You can push down and forward as powerfully as your muscles allow with these Christophe clips.Users of clipless systems will always swear that they develop lots of pull on the upstroke, but studies with stress gauge cranksets do not support that assertion. Only an elite minority of pro cyclists actually develop significant upward pull on the pedals over the course of an entire ride. The best case scenario for mere mortals is to completely unweight the rising pedal. Here, the Christophe clips provide enough centering that it is possible to completely unweight the rising foot on the upstroke without losing position for the push forward and downstroke.So, the Christophe clips definitely improve efficiency as compared to open platform pedals.The one area where they are at a severe disadvantage to clipless systems is during the "pull back" phase at the bottom of the rotation. Legs have powerful muscles available for the pull back, but very little pull back is possible with the Christophe clips. A little bit, but not very much. It is just enough to maintain your foot's position on the pedal, but not enough to help propel your bicycle forward.My one complaint is that only two sizes are offered. My Merells are size 11.5 and end up placed too far rearward. The L/XL size is really not so large. It would be better if the company offered a longer clip or if the packaging included optional spacers and longer bolts for men over size 10.Please vote "yes" if you found this review to be helpful to you. This exercise no longer matters now that the Big River has chosen to ignore the number of "helpful" votes when presenting product reviews in "top rated" order. Nonetheless, it's a courtesy to your fellow purchasers who did not receive the product for free in exchange for a review, and who have nonetheless taken the time to write a review that is carefully researched and written.