Cycle Shoes

James Hodson said:

Peter Clinch said:

ICBW but I think I got into the habit of putting the left foot down by
default as that was the obvious one to have on the ground when I was
mounting a bike with a "you'll grow into it" sized frame from a kerb and
heading off on the LHS of the road. And when coming in to land on a
nice raised kerb while headed in the same direction. It was just easier
that way round. Similarly I mount the bike from the left by default,
and actually have to think about it to get on from the other side...

You beast of Beelzebub, Peter. Mounting from the right side and
putting ones right foot down first is the only correct way to do
things. Of course, I'm left handed so am also a spawn of Stan.

Whenever I have to do an emergency unclip with my left foot I find it
almost impossible to get going again until I've unclipped my right
shoe and reinserted my left.

James

I'm a left-foot-downer, right foot on pedal to go again person.. the
right leg is stronger/more finely controllable than the left, I guess.
I'm right-handed, and right-footed.

--

Velvet

"Velvet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No, I've not oiled or greased anything, I wasn't aware this was
something good to do.

I seem to recall the leaflet with my SPDs warning against lubing the pedals
and the cleats... but that might be confabulation rather than memory. I
could easily believe that some lube is needed - if my bike's been standing
in the rain, the SPDs seem to work more easily.

--

Richard

--------------------

Individual replies to [email hidden]

less the Misdirections (and note the underscore after r246)

Michael MacClancy said:

Yes, and people *should* be able to ride with no hands but many can't/won't
and it doesn't stop them cycling. You're trying to solve a problem that
doesn't exist, it seems to me.

Disagree very much with this. Riding no hands depends very much on the
bike. If it doesn't really have any trail then it won't really work
unless you're /very/ good, and there aren't really any cases where you
need to be able to do it.

OTOH being able to ride one handed is a basic fundamental skill, because
there are times when clear signalling makes you (and those around you)
much safer. And beyond that it's simply much better over distances if
you can drink from a bottle, munch a snack, scratch your back, pop your
numb hand in a warm pocket etc. without having to stop to do it.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Gippledocks said:

I seem to recall the leaflet with my SPDs warning against lubing the pedals
and the cleats... but that might be confabulation rather than memory. I
could easily believe that some lube is needed - if my bike's been standing
in the rain, the SPDs seem to work more easily.

My original clipless were Look MOABs and the destructions suggested a
/waffeeere/ of grease on the pedals where the cleats engaged. I've
never bothered lubing anything in the mechs or cleats on the ATACs
(pretty much impossible, aside from anything else!).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Gippledocks said:

I seem to recall the leaflet with my SPDs warning against lubing the
pedals and the cleats... but that might be confabulation rather than
memory. I could easily believe that some lube is needed - if my
bike's been standing in the rain, the SPDs seem to work more easily.

Dunno. I apply a small amount of wax lube to the pivots, and hard wax to
the cleat edges (as I used to woth the Looks). It seems to be OK and make
clipping in and out more predictable.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!

In article said:

Michael MacClancy said:

Yes, and people *should* be able to ride with no hands but many can't/won't
and it doesn't stop them cycling. You're trying to solve a problem that
doesn't exist, it seems to me.

Disagree very much with this. Riding no hands depends very much on the
bike. If it doesn't really have any trail then it won't really work
unless you're /very/ good, and there aren't really any cases where you
need to be able to do it.

OTOH being able to ride one handed is a basic fundamental skill, because
there are times when clear signalling makes you (and those around you)
much safer. And beyond that it's simply much better over distances if
you can drink from a bottle, munch a snack, scratch your back, pop your
numb hand in a warm pocket etc. without having to stop to do it.

Absolutely. I can't ride no hands, but one hand is no problem, and very
useful. Though I'm not sure which is more annoying - cyclists who don't
signal at all, or ones who wave vaguely at the ground, arm by their side.

On Thu, 13 May 2004 09:14:20 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

No, I've not oiled or greased anything, I wasn't aware this was
something good to do.

Just a smidgeon of cycle oil on the cleats. Or a short blast with your
choice of aerosol cycle lubricant.

Tim

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Michael MacClancy said:

Yes, and people *should* be able to ride with no hands but many can't/won't
and it doesn't stop them cycling. You're trying to solve a problem that
doesn't exist, it seems to me.

Disagree very much with this. Riding no hands depends very much on the
bike. If it doesn't really have any trail then it won't really work
unless you're /very/ good, and there aren't really any cases where you
need to be able to do it.

I think you're correct as far as it goes. Riding no hands is a skill
that cyclists should acquire. Yes, it can only be done on a bike whose
steering geometry allows it. However, a rider who is unhappy riding no
hands on such a stable bike is going to have a tough time on any bike
with more "interesting" handling characteristics.

--
Dave...

Dave Kahn:

Quoted message said:

Riding no hands is a skill that cyclists should acquire. Yes, i
can only b

done on a bike whose steering geometry allows it

That's interesting. I'd never really thought about it like that -
learned to ride no-hands on my BMX (probably about the most stable kin
of two-wheeler there is?) but then carried over and developed thos
skills on my "road" bike

I can ride uphill (not too steep, mind) and even round corners no
handed, no problem - it never occurred to me that the bike itself migh
be helping me out. Chiz

d

-

"Velvet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is it the case that people actually *don't* fall off, that the tales I
hear HERE are, in fact, nothing more than just that, tall tales with no
fact?

IME being clipped in has never led me to fall off in itself.

I have fallen/been thrown off while clipped in on quite a few occasions
riding off-road but it wasn't being clipped in that caused me to fall off,
rather my choice of riding terrain and style.
Earlier this year I fitted some well-worn spd pedals to an mtb which were
difficult to release from, after a while this had an impact on my confidence
and hampered the way I rode but I didn't fall off because of it but rode
more timidly instead.

Only once have I fallen off a road bike whilst clipped in and this was after
12 years of using clipless pedals. It was due to my pig-headedness and in
fact I'd passed up ample opportunities to unclip at my leisure so it was
avoidable.

I have been launched from a road bike while clipped in after being struck
by a motor vehicle and this resulted in the cleat mountings being pulled
through the sole of one of my shoes but that's hardly the same thing as
toppling over ;-)

In short you shouldn't expect to fall off in the normal course of events.

As Pete Clinch has already suggested go and practice somewhere until
unclipping becomes second nature and you won't even need to make a
conscious decision to unclip under normal conditions, which includes
emergency stops and evasive actions.
--
Regards,
Pete

In message <[email hidden]>, Velvet
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Michael MacClancy said:

Velvet said:

Michael MacClancy wrote:

>There's no need to fling it out. A violent movement like that may cause
>problems. Just hold it out. Anyway, the usefulness of a lot of indicating
>by cyclists is questionable and, in some cases, indicating is to be
>avoided.

Yeah, I know flinging's bad, but I was trying to get across it should
be something I can just *do*... not have to think about compensating
it, etc.

Yes, and people *should* be able to ride with no hands but many
can't/won't
and it doesn't stop them cycling. You're trying to solve a problem that
doesn't exist, it seems to me.

Not really - I am, currently, not able to signal to other road users
what I want to do. I need to be able to do this, though I realise it
won't be possible in ALL cases, where it is, it should be done.

For example, I think it'd be easier to pull out into the stream of
traffic to do a right turn off a more major road, if I could stick an
arm out and thus indicate to the cars behind that's my wish/intention,
and that yes, I WILL be looking to pull into a gap between them, and
thus then cross, potentially stop, toward the middle of the road.

Velvet

Pardon me for butting in at this late stage in the debate. From what
I've read you don't sound fully confident of your basic cycling skills -
and cycling in traffic is about as tough as it gets. So why not postpone
using clipless pedals for a while, they're by no means essential. And
don't feel pressured to perform, cycling is to be enjoyed. I had a bad
experience while cycling in London and it was ten years before I got
back on a bike. Then for two years I would cycle off road only - too
scared in traffic. I'm back on a road bike now but I still stick mainly
to country lanes. I use clipless pedals; I started with SPDs but now use
Time ATACs, I find the latter slightly easier to get into and prefer
their feel. I've never fallen off because of them though I've come
pretty close, but only when coming to a stop.
--
Julian