tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post4689011635020695836..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Clipless MiracleVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-65204827772900813812012-05-14T19:31:54.416-04:002012-05-14T19:31:54.416-04:00Ive seen it happen. And I'm not speculatingIve seen it happen. And I'm not speculatingyoucancallmeAlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02578252140097961816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10040065322603906452012-05-14T19:30:25.219-04:002012-05-14T19:30:25.219-04:00A friend with thousands of hours in clips recently...A friend with thousands of hours in clips recently fell trying to release and shattered his shoulder. He is now triggering a lot of airport security scanners! It CAN happen.youcancallmeAlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02578252140097961816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-72551493012302326302012-05-14T19:27:16.734-04:002012-05-14T19:27:16.734-04:00I cant imagine why you would scream whee when you ...I cant imagine why you would scream whee when you pass someone that is just cruising along on their bike. When you can do that to a bunch of young guys on a training ride,then perhaps it means something. Presuming you let them know they're being challenged of courseyoucancallmeAlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02578252140097961816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60301555062147442202012-05-08T21:36:25.885-04:002012-05-08T21:36:25.885-04:00There is a learning curve for riding clipless and ...There is a learning curve for riding clipless and it could be steep, or not. I fell a couple of times in my first month of riding clipless pedals (on grass of all places) but haven't since. You always need to plan when stopping but that should not be an issue. It's similar to planning to downshift as you approach a light.<br /><br />Reading ahead, I see that you are riding clipless on a fixed gear. I find fixed gear scary and just the idea of clipless on fixed terrifying. You must be far along the learning curve at this point.Danielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-68310467094622823702012-04-22T21:24:34.989-04:002012-04-22T21:24:34.989-04:00Yay Velouria! I am new to road cycling and about t...Yay Velouria! I am new to road cycling and about to take the clipless pedal plunge (hopefully not literally). Your post gives give me courage that I can do it too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-57463177882147146492012-04-22T11:24:31.477-04:002012-04-22T11:24:31.477-04:00Congrats! I have the Candy's on my Big Dummy a...Congrats! I have the Candy's on my Big Dummy and the Eggbeater's on both my Vaya and Pugsley.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15873728708321423251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-28942896059432965032012-04-22T09:18:38.931-04:002012-04-22T09:18:38.931-04:00Grant is writing from his perspective and for the ...Grant is writing from his perspective and for the type of riding he does, which is commuting, camping, fun riding on trails and roads...in other words, versitality. Not using clipless pedals in these situations is advantageous. <br /><br />If you are racing or riding like you are racing, clipless make plenty of sense.<br /><br />I really like Grant's writing and for the most part agree with it even though I use clipless on one bike.Ryan M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3159119081598085972012-04-21T18:08:42.210-04:002012-04-21T18:08:42.210-04:00The other thing I forgot to mention was that I did...The other thing I forgot to mention was that I did add shims to the bottom of the cleats, which did help a little with the fumble issue.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12235831374184428641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-23579684087010602722012-04-21T00:21:34.568-04:002012-04-21T00:21:34.568-04:00Re: speculation and opinion
Speaking as someone w...Re: speculation and opinion<br /><br />Speaking as someone who has gone from clipless to riding in flipflops and clogs (yes, I DO do it to annoy), you are correct in guessing that the pedal stroke improvements from being clipped in carry over to unclipped riding.<br /><br />And I somehow stepped in something slippery this morning before riding to work, and it was really a pain to have such a slippery shoe on the pedal.dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15424990694948849042012-04-21T00:03:43.102-04:002012-04-21T00:03:43.102-04:00"I am highly skeptical that commuters regular..."I am highly skeptical that commuters regularly reach speeds that are not commonly maintained in races."<br /> <br />enough with the strawmen. it is simply ridiculous to argue that there are not millions of amateur cyclists who cannot sprint while passing. and most of them do not ride lugged steel homages to frodo and the elves.<br /><br />"There are many other terms that work."<br /><br />i award myself extra points if those terms are used.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54209245633266562492012-04-20T18:52:58.143-04:002012-04-20T18:52:58.143-04:00Yes, I did mean the wear factor. I find the cleats...Yes, I did mean the wear factor. I find the cleats are soft and do get worn out -- I ride in cities and clip in and out a lot, and find that it gets loose and sloppy. Couldn't say exactly how long that takes, it's more than 1000 miles for certain. Also yes, the bearings wear and get noisy.Carlhttp://www.hoxsie.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-41390586113701098072012-04-20T13:03:50.048-04:002012-04-20T13:03:50.048-04:00I want brown, but I live on the other coast, so I ...I want brown, but I live on the other coast, so I doubt we'll run into each other Miss FixiePixie. Unless you come back to ride in SF with us, that is... :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03262425857471988498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-41108791597178354152012-04-20T10:16:26.198-04:002012-04-20T10:16:26.198-04:00Except of course a high cadence is easily maintain...Except of course a high cadence is easily maintained using toe clips, power grips or no strapping whatsoever. <br /><br />I am highly skeptical that commuters regularly reach speeds that are not commonly maintained in races. Then again, you don't go to any length to let us know who you are or where you ride.<br /><br />Immature is one term for people who feel the need to challenge commuters minding there own business. There are many other terms that work.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54924606675144133462012-04-20T08:23:18.073-04:002012-04-20T08:23:18.073-04:00I doubt that by the time someone is on a cycling t...I doubt that by the time someone is on a cycling team, they are prone to falling over due to clipless pedals. Just speculation of course.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-16840239668171344312012-04-20T07:54:48.025-04:002012-04-20T07:54:48.025-04:00Why would you assume he was her boyfriend? They s...Why would you assume he was her boyfriend? They sound like teammates to me. If I fell over, I would expect my teammates to help me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86174915148887151602012-04-20T04:14:56.750-04:002012-04-20T04:14:56.750-04:00most reasonably fit cyclists can spin at 100-120. ...most reasonably fit cyclists can spin at 100-120. many can spin faster. and the old canard about tour de france average speed is inaccurate. i do not climb thousands of feet on my cat 6 utilitarian biking trips. <br /><br />"Riding with cleats is not going to be more exercise than riding without."<br /><br />au contraire. maintaining a high cadence is work/pain. <br /><br />"by a grouchy bike, but if it is heavier, riding it takes more energy"<br /><br />i was merely expressing my terribly immature glee at passing a certain riding demographic. i even award myself bonus points when they tell me to slow down!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31677545573650054352012-04-19T23:28:24.918-04:002012-04-19T23:28:24.918-04:00Seems to me no matter what side of the clip / non-...Seems to me no matter what side of the clip / non-clip abyss one stands, GP is brought up way more than even he would be comfortable knowing.<br /><br />Both systems existed before the masses took to the internet. I was riding cleats in the 90s, decided I did not like it, have ridden with toe clips, lately half clips ever since. <br /><br />Grant's shoe ruse article was a nice read and all, but I had made up my mind long before am am quite certain most people who chose one way or the other are doing so for their own reasons, not for what some other person thinks.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54994836793503039352012-04-19T23:19:55.349-04:002012-04-19T23:19:55.349-04:00If cleats mean you are typically riding at 30 - 40...If cleats mean you are typically riding at 30 - 40 mph, you may want to consider professional cycle racing seeing as the highest average speed of the Tour de France speed is under 25 mph.<br /><br />Riding with cleats is not going to be more exercise than riding without. Not sure what it is you mean by a grouchy bike, but if it is heavier, riding it takes more energy - ergo burns more calories and uses more muscle - than a lighter bike.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-81874971179068486132012-04-19T22:41:40.817-04:002012-04-19T22:41:40.817-04:00I haven't read through all of the posts so som...I haven't read through all of the posts so someone might have already mentioned this, but one tip for using clipless pedals is to dial in one side pretty tight and the other side a little looser so that it is easier to put a foot down when stopping. So if you habitually put your left foot down, make the left pedal's cleat catch a little looser to facilitate an easy release.Thomas Puleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02480832735579963301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60556448081254477392012-04-19T22:36:07.024-04:002012-04-19T22:36:07.024-04:00A long time ago, my experience with clipless pedal...A long time ago, my experience with clipless pedals was limited to heckling my racer roommate for using them, along with what I called his "action-sports shoes". After hearing a lot of ppl recommend them, especially for riding trails, I became kind of resolutely opposed to trying it. I guess I'm kinda O.D.D. that way.<br /><br />Then, I read "The Shoe Ruse". Now, I'm willing to admit that I agree with a lot of what GP says about components in general, even though I find much of his copy to be kind of patronizingly offensive. I scarcely think he "invented" most of these notions, with the possible exception of the notion that uglier handlebars=better handlebars (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/hb12.htm). I consider most of his views on cycling to be "conventional wisdom" that existed before Riv did.<br /><br />So, when I read "The Shoe Ruse", my oppositional/defiant side kicked in again, and I decided to try clipless. A pair of shimano spd m540s went on my geared mtb. At first, it seemed like heaven. Things did, in fact, seem more efficient. Early on in rides, I felt like superman. And, I learned some valuable skills by staying clipped in thru rough stuff, where i might normally "dab" on my quill pedals. I got kinda into it; put a set on my singlespeed mtb, and some flip-style platform/spd pedals on my more roadish bikes.<br /><br />Looking back, though, GP was right again, even if he was kinda smug about it. My time spent on SPDs was kind of like the time i spent with marijana; it seemed awesome for about a year, but then I quit it quick and wondered "what was i thinking?" The truth is, it is annoying to have to wear action-sports shoes to the pub or restaurant after the ride. It is annoying to have to change shoes at work after the commute, or risk ridicule by co-workers about your action-sports shoes. (click-clack-click-clack-clickclickclick) Even more annoying are the "hot spots" one gets after truly long rides. SPD zealots claim that you simply need to adjust cleat positioning to minimize this; i did, and it did improve...but hot spots still occurred. And I spent a lot of time adjusting position for trial-and-error. Fact is, i can avoid hot spots on quill pedals without any tools, trial and error, or even conscious adjustments.<br /><br />So, yeah, I learned to ride clipless. I never even had an actual "spd crash", although I've watched countless others do it, and I had a few scares. I gave up the clipless b/c I don't race, and I'm generally not in a hurry on my bike unless I'm late for work. I can go plenty fast (for me)in normal shoes, and I'm not worried about optimal efficiency b/c I'm not competing. For road-racers, xc mtb racers, and bicycle LARP enthusiasts who obsess about efficiency needlessly, I can see the appeal.<br /><br />I don't rock clipless anymore b/c, for me, they kinda suck, by way of cramping my style (such as it is.) But safety? I've heard that argument before, but I cannot see how anyone with >1hour of clipless experience is going to be "endangered" by them.Screechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397676711365438175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3443044772269534822012-04-19T22:17:37.513-04:002012-04-19T22:17:37.513-04:00Yeah, I get it...hence the reference to the "...Yeah, I get it...hence the reference to the "uninitiated".<br /><br />I've definitely tried toe-clips, and i definitely despise those more than any other pedal option.Screechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397676711365438175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31927861680089856412012-04-19T21:55:26.229-04:002012-04-19T21:55:26.229-04:00I have more pairs of shoes and sandals with cleats...I have more pairs of shoes and sandals with cleats than I do without. The feeling of being physically attached to my bike is invaluable to my riding pleasure. Those who espouse the GP philosophy should realize that many commuters/utility riders view mixing transportation and EXERCISE as a positive. I love the fact that my transport mode is also the bulk of my fitness program. It saves me money, keeps me healthy, and gets me where I need to go much *FASTER*. <br /><br />I also gotta say that when I see someone riding a "grouchy" bike I always turn it up a notch. This typically means passing at 30-40 mph while screaming: Wheeeeeeeee!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-38174211978100527892012-04-19T21:40:28.967-04:002012-04-19T21:40:28.967-04:00Well, in that case, get your order in!Well, in that case, get your order in!Fixie Pixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12932022188247682078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-7571002134140556812012-04-19T21:20:57.697-04:002012-04-19T21:20:57.697-04:00I have the same candy pedals and for some reason I...I have the same candy pedals and for some reason I fumble with me right pedal, but not with my left. I then practiced with the different engaging options and the option that works for me is option 2: step down with the cleat behind the pedal, then shimmy forward. I have to think about it for a second. But I never have a problem with the left: engages immediately. I have never fallen with these on my road bike. I did with my mountain bike when I was learning. After mastering these I tried others, but I have always come back to the candy pedals. They just feel the most intuitive for me personally. <br /><br />For commuting to work I follow GP's philosophy - I love my MKS BMX pedals and I swear they stick to my shoes.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12235831374184428641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10556165427784315252012-04-19T21:12:06.678-04:002012-04-19T21:12:06.678-04:00Next: down tube shift levers.Next: down tube shift levers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com