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Cycling Thread |
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timnoyce
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Aug 04 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991 |
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Topic: Cycling Thread Posted: 31 Jul 09 at 2:31pm |
Finally got the pics to work....
It's fair to say that after a weeked at Afan with over 60k cycled in the rain it wasn't that clean! Bit of muc-off on my return and its back to its former glory again... just with no pad left on the discs front or back! |
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BEARFOOT DESIGN
Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
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alstorer
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Aug 09 at 11:20am |
cycled to and from work for the first time yesterday. Ten miles each way, south cambs so pretty much flat. Still, think I might have to do this more. Might help with this thing called "fitness" that I hear people going on about...
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Al |
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chrisg
Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 893 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 10:21am |
Spuds it is James..... If you let me know when you are finishing your lap I'll catch you so you dont fall off in front of the amassed crowd on the patio!!! You wont regret the spds, they are the best thing. Just remember to twist your heel out BEFORE you stop (and the correct one for the side you are putting your foot down on - sounds simple but if you've pulled the wrong one out and over balance the other way the look on the face is priceless!).... Did you buy shimano pedals? Do you know if you have single or multi release cleats? Edited by chrisg |
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jlecou
Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 30 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 10:27am |
TT For what its worthy my (honest!) advice is: I call them S-P-Ds definately not spuds. Somewhat counter intuitively they can be referred to a clipless pedals (though they patently do clip your feet on!) but I think that is a throwback to the days of toe clips and straps... Whatever you call them (if anything), once mastered they are essential for the "pedalling in circles" stuff ie pulling up as well as pushing down. Without them all you can do is stomp down - bit like only being able to sail on one tack. Be warned - everyone has a comedy moment when learning with them. Gracefully coming to a stop at a junction or whatever, forgetting to unclip and a gentle-ish topple off with feet still firmly attached. Hopefully onto the pavement side. Pride is usually more damaged than anything else. I always inclip my left foot - good for kerbs when at rest - and it makes you fall left not right... But everyone has their own preference. Set the adjustment to a low release pressure initially (small allen key on nose of each pedal, there are usally + and - marks unless you bought really cheap ones). To save your knees, unclip by moving heel outwards when your leg is at/near the bottom of the pedal stroke. When you get fanatic/obsessive you may find yourself spending a fortune getting your cleats (that's the bit on the bottom of the shoe, not on your boat) set in just the right place by a professional bike fitter. Do that before your knees hurt not afterwards... A bikeshop should be able to help with the initial cleat set up. Hope that helps |
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RS400 880 : Laser 203302 : King George SC
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jlecou
Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 30 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 10:47am |
I think Chris was asking if the pedals are double sided - much easier to use as you don't have to flip the pedal right side up before clipping in.
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RS400 880 : Laser 203302 : King George SC
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jlecou
Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 30 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 11:05am |
Good choice - but probably means you will have to adjust the release tension on all four (two each side). On anew set of pedals I wind the setting down to minimum and then, depending on how macho I am feeling, wind each setting up x 90 deg "clicks". Start small and if you find your feet pull out with all that power tighten the setting up a bit. As the cleats wear you will need to tighten the settings maybe unevenly (I get though more left cleats than right because of unclipping one leg all the time on my commute - 19 miles each way into London, 85 sets of traffic lights...!) |
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RS400 880 : Laser 203302 : King George SC
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timnoyce
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Aug 04 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 11:15am |
I have a set of these on my bike...
I believe they are very similar to the way the shimano ones work. You can see on they have the little adjustment screw on them to adjust how tight they clip. When I first started I had them set as loose as possible just so that clipping in and out was easier, and if I were to fall off I assumed my feet would "fall out". This seemed to be the case. I have since wound them up as tight as possible as I could feel a slight bit of play in them which was bugging me! I have fallen off on a number of occasions since having the spds, only probably half of them having been caused by the pedals themself! Normally they cause you to topple off when either moving incredibly slowly in traffic, or coming to a stop. (it might sound stupid, but you have to remind yourself at first that you need to do something different with your feet when coming to a stop. But toppling off in front of a bunch of school girls at a bus stop is probably a good lesson learned !) The other times have been when going up rocky technical uphills in the rain, losing traction with the back wheel and just not being able to put a foot down. I've ended up in some nice heather bushes on a few occasions on dartmoor! When I've stacked it in a big way downhill due to 'driver error' I have come complete free of the bike on all but one effort (normally about 20feet further down the trail). The benefits are amazing. Just think about pedalling circles, then when you do come to gun it just give it everything up and down strokes and you'll be amazed at your new found speed. You'll find that the first few trips out you ache in new places, but after a while you'll find that you can go much further as you are using all the muscles less. Oh... and its dead easy to do bunny hops too |
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BEARFOOT DESIGN
Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
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timnoyce
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Aug 04 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 11:35am |
I know! That was my highlight too. My first trip out involved bunny hopping over everything in my path (much to the disgust of my girlfriend who thought we were going out for a casual ride!)
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BEARFOOT DESIGN
Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
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chrisg
Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 893 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 1:05pm |
Cool that you got proper double sided pedals, the half and halfs are worst of both worlds I reckon. What I meant was the cleats that go on your shoes for shimano pedals can be single or multi release. If they are single you can only pull your heel outwards, but if they are multi, basically wiggling your heel in any direction (apart from up or down) will release the shoe from the pedal.
I always ride with my pedals as tight as i can on all my bikes but then my cleats must be getting on for 15 years old so are perhaps a little worn out..... SPD's are great allowing you to spin circles with the pedals, but I reckon they are best for actually holding your feet on the pedals when you gun it through a rock garden and the bike is bucking all over the place. Ive got no idea how people cope with flatties! If you need any help/advice tonight just ask. Tim, I bought a pair of those ritcheys and i cant get them anywhere near tight enough, do they actually hold your cleats? Maybe it is because mine are so old so may have to try them with some new cleats and see if they are any better. |
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jlecou
Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 30 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 1:12pm |
Chris - I change cleats on my shoes about every 6 months - I've no idea how you have managed to get them to last 15 years! The pedals themselves seem to last about 5000 commuting miles before the bearings go. |
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RS400 880 : Laser 203302 : King George SC
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