offroad Footwear + Cycle computers

Brian said:

At the moment I'm wearing a pair of New Balance approach shoes

Finding it a bit annoying having to keep on tucking the laces out of the
way, so I'm looking for suggestions on better footwear for offroad cycling.

Quoted message said:

One problem is that I'm a size 13 (48) - I have difficulties buying walking
boots that size so I'd imagine that cycling shoes in that size would be
difficult to find.

Specialized shoes go up to 48 on the size selector at the EBC site, so
you may find those big enough. As with all shoes, shape is important to
fit so don't assume 48 means it'll fit. Different manufacturers use
different lasts and have slightly different ideas about sizes, so do
make sure that 47s really are too small.

If the Speccies (or other) shoes are okay, cycling shoes are much better
for cycling in, especially if you combine them with clipless pedals.

Quoted message said:

Also wondering what cycle computer to go for - taking my Garmin Geko 201 is
a bit overkill for just taking a reading of distance and speed.

But you've already got it, so why spend more money on something that you
can already do? And if you're off road it'll even tell you where you are
on those festive new forestry roads that have been bulldozed in since
your map was published...

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

Brian said:

Finding it a bit annoying having to keep on tucking the laces out of the
way, so I'm looking for suggestions on better footwear for offroad cycling.

Anything with velcro straps, really. Some have a combination of laces
and velcro, with the velcro strap going over the top of the laces to
keep them tucked in.

Quoted message said:

Also wondering what cycle computer to go for - taking my Garmin Geko 201 is
a bit overkill for just taking a reading of distance and speed.

Cateye Mity 8. If you just want distance and speed, you don't need
anything more expensive.

d.

Hi brian,
i have a pair of specialized rockhopper comp size 48 and they are very
comfortable. They can have cleats but i don't use them. They are also ok
for walking, short distances, and don't look too cycley, so you can wear
with jeans etc.
halfords are selling off last year's 8 function computer for £3.99, bargain!

--
Paul

[email hidden]

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

Quoted message said:

Brian said:

Finding it a bit annoying having to keep on tucking the laces out of the
way, so I'm looking for suggestions on better footwear for offroad

cycling.

Quoted message said:

Anything with velcro straps, really. Some have a combination of laces
and velcro, with the velcro strap going over the top of the laces to
keep them tucked in.

Quoted message said:

Also wondering what cycle computer to go for - taking my Garmin Geko 201

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a bit overkill for just taking a reading of distance and speed.

Cateye Mity 8. If you just want distance and speed, you don't need
anything more expensive.

d.

davek <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Anything with velcro straps, really. Some have a combination of laces
and velcro, with the velcro strap going over the top of the laces to
keep them tucked in.

I've found that if you're going off road then velcro straps are pretty
awful. They get clogged up with mud, grass seed, sheep's wool (no, not for
the reason you're thinking!) etc. I've got some Cannondale SPD shoes that
have an elastic loop on the tongue for slipping the laces into. It only
takes a few seconds, but now the OP mentions it, it is a bit of a fiddle.

Graeme

Graeme said:

I've found that if you're going off road then velcro straps are pretty
awful.

Fair point. Not being an off-roader, I don't think of these things.

d.

Graeme said:

davek <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Anything with velcro straps, really. Some have a combination of laces
and velcro, with the velcro strap going over the top of the laces to
keep them tucked in.

I've found that if you're going off road then velcro straps are pretty
awful. They get clogged up with mud, grass seed, sheep's wool (no,
not for the reason you're thinking!) etc. I've got some Cannondale
SPD shoes that have an elastic loop on the tongue for slipping the
laces into. It only takes a few seconds, but now the OP mentions it,
it is a bit of a fiddle.

Graeme

So that's what that's for. I think I'll keep tucking the lace ends down the
through the lacing though. They are comfy shoes.
--
Mark

davek <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Cateye Mity 8. If you just want distance and speed, you don't need
anything more expensive.

d.

Well, I opted for a sigma BC800 as I was in Halfords getting a pair of bike
shorts. The instructions are about as clear as mud, and the rubber band
fixing doesn't look too clever.. Also the bike dust cover I bought
doesn't fit my bike...

Hopefully the shorts will fit, otherwise all 3 will be going back!

--
Brian

Dulwich Cyclist said:

Hi brian,
i have a pair of specialized rockhopper comp size 48 and they are very
comfortable. They can have cleats but i don't use them. They are also
ok
for walking, short distances, and don't look too cycley, so you can wear
with jeans etc.
halfords are selling off last year's 8 function computer for £3.99,
bargain!

But don't get the wireless one. I had no end of trouble getting mine to
work properly. My best ever computer was my Sigma BC400, just did speed &
distance, but worked like a dream. Some computers are far too bloody
technical for their own good.

--
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Remove the bars to contact me

in message <[email hidden]>, Chris Davies

(') said:

Dulwich Cyclist said:

halfords are selling off last year's 8 function computer for £3.99,
bargain!

But don't get the wireless one. I had no end of trouble getting mine
to work properly. My best ever computer was my Sigma BC400, just did
speed & distance, but worked like a dream. Some computers are far too
bloody technical for their own good.

I couldn't disagree more profoundly. My Specialized wireless, bought in
1997, has just had its first new battery. It has always behaved
flawlessly apart from very occasional double-counting at high speed,
presumably due to the reed switch bouncing, so not a wireless problem.

Thin cables taped up the side of your forks look ugly and are very
vulnerable to snagging things.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; all in all you're just another click in the call
;; -- Minke Bouyed

On 18 Aug 2004 20:00:01 GMT, Brian <[email hidden]>
wrote (more or less):

Quoted message said:

davek <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Cateye Mity 8. If you just want distance and speed, you don't need
anything more expensive.

d.

Well, I opted for a sigma BC800 as I was in Halfords getting a pair of bike
shorts. The instructions are about as clear as mud, and the rubber band
fixing doesn't look too clever.. Also the bike dust cover I bought
doesn't fit my bike...

I recommend Aldi's £3.99 wired computer. It's got the best, most
robust fixng I've ever seen on a cheap computer.

(My previous Equus Judo cheapie went rhough two of it's naff mounts)

Quoted message said:

Hopefully the shorts will fit, otherwise all 3 will be going back!

--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
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Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) http://html.dnsalias.net/gawnsoft/smalltalk

Gawnsoft <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I recommend Aldi's £3.99 wired computer. It's got the best, most
robust fixng I've ever seen on a cheap computer.

(My previous Equus Judo cheapie went rhough two of it's naff mounts)

Quoted message said:

Hopefully the shorts will fit, otherwise all 3 will be going back!

Well I managed to figure out how to set the computer up correctly. Took
the bike for a blast around Blairadam Forest. 10.91 miles according to
my gps track log, 11.08 miles according to the cycle computer. Not much
difference.

Also wore the Halford Cycle shorts. Started off with a pair of jogging
trousers over the top, but once I got moving I found them too warm. Very
comfortable, although I felt a bit self consious at first, what with no
undies under the shorts! Comfortable to wear, with no problems of
"bits" getting in the way. But thats probably too much information!

:-D

--
Brian

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 10:35:03 GMT, Simon Brooke <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Chris Davies

(') said:

Dulwich Cyclist said:

halfords are selling off last year's 8 function computer for £3.99,
bargain!

But don't get the wireless one. I had no end of trouble getting mine
to work properly. My best ever computer was my Sigma BC400, just did
speed & distance, but worked like a dream. Some computers are far too
bloody technical for their own good.

I couldn't disagree more profoundly. My Specialized wireless, bought in
1997, has just had its first new battery. It has always behaved
flawlessly apart from very occasional double-counting at high speed,
presumably due to the reed switch bouncing, so not a wireless problem.

Thin cables taped up the side of your forks look ugly and are very
vulnerable to snagging things.

I don't have a problem with other computers, just that one. For some
reason it has always played up ever since I got it. My wireless Cateye was
perfect.

--
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Remove the bars to contact me