Sorry to disappoint but I didn't fall off :-) I nearly fell off though as I approached a roundabout and focussed too intently on the approaching cars before I realised that i had to stop. Learned to do a track stand for the first time ever albeit for a couple of seconds.
I managed to polish off the first ten and a bit miles at an average speed of twenty miles per hour (not bad for a 20 stone lardy pants I think) and completed the thirty five mile ride at an overall fifteen miles per hour as I was knackered after the initail burst of enthusiasm :-)
The clipless pedals have certainly assisted my performance on the bike.
Looks like the other bikes will be getting news peddles soon.
On Sun, 16 May 2004 15:56:37 +0100, "vernon levy" <[email hidden]> wrote (more or less): ....
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I managed to polish off the first ten and a bit miles at an average speed of twenty miles per hour (not bad for a 20 stone lardy pants I think) and completed the thirty five mile ride at an overall fifteen miles per hour as
....
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The clipless pedals have certainly assisted my performance on the bike.
"vernon levy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Hah!
Sorry to disappoint but I didn't fall off :-) I nearly fell off though as
I
Quoted message said:
approached a roundabout and focussed too intently on the approaching cars before I realised that i had to stop. Learned to do a track stand for the first time ever albeit for a couple of seconds.
I managed to polish off the first ten and a bit miles at an average speed of twenty miles per hour (not bad for a 20 stone lardy pants I think) and completed the thirty five mile ride at an overall fifteen miles per hour
as
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I was knackered after the initail burst of enthusiasm :-)
The clipless pedals have certainly assisted my performance on the bike.
I wasn't as lucky the other night with my toe straps. I was riding home and approaching a roundabout where I wanted to take the first exit. I foolishly used the cycle lane to cut the corner and soon came up to a pile of glass. I'd not realised how much more powerful my road bike's brakes were and came to a more or less instant halt.
Before my brain could work out what to do next and transmit a "take your left foot out of the pedals" command, I'd fallen over onto the grass verge!
Sorry to disappoint but I didn't fall off :-) I nearly fell off though as I approached a roundabout and focussed too intently on the approaching cars before I realised that i had to stop. Learned to do a track stand for the first time ever albeit for a couple of seconds.
I managed to polish off the first ten and a bit miles at an average speed of twenty miles per hour (not bad for a 20 stone lardy pants I think) and completed the thirty five mile ride at an overall fifteen miles per hour as I was knackered after the initail burst of enthusiasm :-)
The clipless pedals have certainly assisted my performance on the bike.
Looks like the other bikes will be getting news peddles soon.
I cranked my oldest SPDs up to maximum tension today and it's still not enough for big hops without occasionally falling off. I think they're wearing out.
On the bright side I have extended my wheelie record to four pedal strokes from two by practising on the lawn, and I am now within 30 seconds of my 11-year old PB for a "10" after last Thursday's attempt. The bike is the same, but the U48/10 course I'm riding now is slower, with three 180 deg turns at roundabouts - the course I rode in my 20s was the legendary K37/10 dragstrip, which Stuart Dangerfield et al can ride in under 20 minutes. Like a lot of the good fast courses - the Swindon U4/10 course on the A419 was the fastest in the UK - it's about to be killed off by the installation of traffic lights :-(
"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:40a79d66.0@entanet...
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I cranked my oldest SPDs up to maximum tension today and it's still not enough for big hops without occasionally falling off. I think they're wearing out.
Most likely your cleats are wearing out. The pedal clips are much harder. -- Mark South Citizen of the World, Denizen of the Net <<Tiens! Ce poulet a une grenade!>>
"vernon levy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Quoted message said:
I'd not realised how much more powerful my road bike's brakes were and
came
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to a more or less instant halt.
This mirrors my experience. I came to a halt faster than anticipated.
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Before my brain could work out what to do next and transmit a "take
your
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left foot out of the pedals" command, I'd fallen over onto the grass
verge!
My impromptu trackstand gave me vital thinking time :-)
Doubt that I could do another though!
Trackstands are the true dark side .. looks good when you get them right ... I practice at all traffic lights. I fail 6/10. It always depends on how long I have to stop for.
