Sponsors

**Industry_Hack** · 03-03-2010, 01:15 PM

Ryan, you'll appreciate this. My ex hadn't ridden a bike since she was a teenager when we built our tandem. I finally got her into some SPD shoes, and that really helped us once she overcame her initial fear. I showed her that it didn't matter if she unclipped or not, as I could release in a snap, and hold the bike up in emergency stops. All went well until one day we pulled into the driveway, and I leaned the bike against our fence and jumped off. She was still clipped in, and just fell over, taking our tandem with her.

Yes, I laughed a bit. She was ok.

Burr · 03-03-2010, 01:28 PM

Brian, I also am a diabetic, 18 years and my feet hurt at times.

Wife massages them with oil and that sure helps. Be sure to work on the bottoms long and hard.

Burr · 03-03-2010, 01:32 PM

Damn Hack, Nice looking legs ah I mean clips.

WOW, I'm in love again.

I think you used her picture before, that your wife or what?

**Industry_Hack** · 03-03-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burr

Damn Hack, Nice looking legs ah I mean clips.

WOW, I'm in love again.

I think you used her picture before, that your wife or what?

That's April Lawyer, a mountain bike racer. It's an old poster, but I do have a signed copy in my office. She's pretty cool.

fleeter · 03-03-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigal

I broke down and bought a pair of nice Shimano shoes and some peddles this past winter and I am unconvinced they are all that great. I will qualify that by saying after a summer with them I may speak differently. I think if you do race then go for it. If you don't race and you just love to ride then clips and straps or nothing at all is fine. Besides, once you get clippless peddles you elevate yourself above your peddle using friends on the snob caste scale and you are no longer allowed to associate with them. LOL!

Here's a good read on the subject:

Rivendell Bicycle Works: The Shoes Ruse

good read, but I have to disagree with one point -- I do actually pull up on my pedals, especially on take offs. So, the ability to apply power throughout the pedal's rotation is still a valid argument for me.

**Industry_Hack** · 03-03-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleeter

good read, but I have to disagree with one point -- I do actually pull up on my pedals, especially on take offs. So, the ability to apply power throughout the pedal's rotation is still a valid argument for me.

Doing that also gives you a much more powerful pedal stroke. Instead of just pushing down with one foot, (and part of your downward energy going towards pushing the other one back up) both legs are working together to transfer the maximum amount of power.

fleeter · 03-03-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

Doing that also gives you a much more powerful pedal stroke. Instead of just pushing down with one foot, (and part of your downward energy going towards pushing the other one back up) both legs are working together to transfer the maximum amount of power.

and when you're pulling up on the pedal, it actually increases the amount of force you're able to exert on the downward pedal because you're not limited by your weight anymore.

**Industry_Hack** · 03-03-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleeter

and when you're pulling up on the pedal, it actually increases the amount of force you're able to exert on the downward pedal because you're not limited by your weight anymore.

Exactly. You've just explained the difference between mashing and spinning.