My wife had a pretty bad fall the other day when her foot slipped off the pedal. She wasn't going particularly fast and the main reason was becasue she was worrying where I was going rather than what she was doing herself. However, as I'll never stop her worrying about what I am doing, I wondered if I could make her lack of concentration a little less dangerous to herself. At the moment her pedals are whatever comes with an 04 Rockhopper Disk but I was wondering which ones out there will give her better grip. Basically she is not interested in anything that actually holds her feet to the pedal (SPD's etc) after she watched me come off when I couldn't release my foot one time. I was thinking maybe DMR V8's/V12's with the screw in pins but I have no experience of them.

Any advice appreciated

The problem with V8's and similar pedals is that, whilst much grippier and harder to slip off, it is still possible. And when that happens you get a leg full of those lovely screw-in pins.

Now I use that sort of pedal, but only on my FR/DH bike and almost always with leg protection.

I would have thought the footwear is equally important to prevent slipping, if not more so.

Yes defo agree with that. And it's a solution where your wife gets to buy more shoes! ;-)

I've got a pair of V12s & V8s and they do grip extremly well, but as the good doctor says, expect some mangled shins from time to time (bit like the ones I'm sporting at the moment!)

Thanks everyone.

Not sure she'll go for mangled shins and I have no chance of getting her in shin pads!!She was wearing decent trainers at the time though not bike specific. I think a bit of concentration on her part and as you say MD, perhaps more shoes.

Thanks again to you all.
:-)

At least you should have no problem persuading a woman that she needs _another_ pair of shoes :-)

The problem I find with my other half is that the right shoes won't be 'fashionable' or the right colour or so-on!

Kat has now developed this thing where she will only wear it if it's Nike Women's outdoor gear!

get her a pair of vans or some D&C shoes. the grip on platform pedals with pins is superb. trainers are ok if the sole is mostly flat and uniform. funky tread patterns won't engage the pins fully.
if she won't go for it, use the fashion v missing flesh argument.

strange but true.

flat soled skater type shoes get a better gripin IMHO

I always ride DMR v8s + vans or etnies trainers.

The vans waffle sole design is the grippiest I have found, even grips pretty well in the rain.

I'm going to be highly un-fashionable and suggest going all retro with toe clips. The reason is that they're way easier to get out of than SpD/ATACs, but they also stop your foot slipping off. And most likely they can be fitted to the cheap platform pedals with little hassle. If she baulks at the version with straps then she could try some 'open' ones that just cover the toes without being strapped up tight.

The downside is that they're a little tricky to get into on a hill start and people will look askance if they don't know any better.

Got a pair of Wellgo magnesium platform pedals, wear them with a pair of trainers from millets with big grips...hang on a min...Merrell. Had them on for a two week holiday riding trails in the Rockies, and Slickrock, Porcupine rim in Moab...feet slipped once! Do tear your shins though, but I think scars look rather nice on a lady.

i reckon u wanna try getting her some 'powergrips' which i had some experience of using some years ago. I highly recommend them in this case for the missus!

I ride my V12 in my hiking boots which have a very heavy sole. No slipping about even in mud once you lock the pins into the sole of the boot.

I was going to suggest, Toe Grips to, Halfords do them, plastic £5, no straps just literally your toes go in them, stop foot from slipping around abit. not even full length things, I tried them but my feet are to big :(

Paula, also V12's wearing where mountain boots, Vibram Soles ones, never ripped my shins to bits yet, works perfectly, loads of ankle support and waterproof to. I'm not the only nutter :)

any pedals with pins + any skate shoe with a 'waffle' of criss cross style sole = superb grip.

eg: my brand new vans (bought specifically for riding) are amazingly grippy with my crappy old kona jacksh*t pedals.

powergrips are the thing.
they also train you up for spd's. the release action is very similar you pull your heel out. but without the psychological "i'm bolted to the bike' thing.
worked for me and my spud curious but shy missus.

Why are all newbies becoming Time Travelers these days...?

I reckon they're probably sorted being that it's 3 years ago now Dan...

;o)

Although, it's a strangely relevant topic at present it would seem.

Maybe you have some sort of hidden talent there...