Hi,
I started riding again about a year ago. It was tough a first, 60 years had taken its tole. After suffering about a week of riding things began to get better. I bought a copy of Cycling Active and discovered that gray haired and no haired folks can still enjoy cycling.
I have ridden my Giant Sedona about 900 miles since October and of course, I really enjoy it. A couple of months ago, I started a new cadence, Lift, Lift, and Lift! Lifting the upward moving leg eased my knees and gave a bit more speed. The problem is that I sometimes pedal faster than I can chant.
I started kicking around the buying a set of cycling shoes and clip-in pedals. I wasn't sure that I could live with my feet being "trapped". Saturday I threw caution to the wind and bought new cycling shoes and a set of SPD pedals.
Saturday afternoon I installed the pedals and screw the clips onto the shoes. Bummer! The clips are not totally recessed into the sole of the shoes, I slid on my wife's new ceramic tile floor and nearly busted my butt! I made it safely outside to my bike and practiced getting in and out of the pedals. My new pedals only have clips on one side. I pedalled out to the open road with my cleats sliding on the flat side of the pedals, I wasn't ready to clip in yet. O.K., I clipped in the left foot, it took a couple of tries to get there. (Don't watch the clipping in process too long, you will feel very silly.) Then, I clipped in the right foot. Things felt a little strange but, I was riding on down the road. I was thinking be sure to unclip before I stop. The road was straight with no traffic, so I, started lifting the back pedal. Instant power surge, and after the ride a sore groin muscle. I unclipped and turned around on the road. I finally got back into the clips and rode for home. I was still in one piece.
Sunday morning I was ready to try it again. I started out of town with my new shoes on. Obsevation: Wet metal clips are slippery on pedals flat clipless faces. I got past the last stop sign and clip in. After a few minutes of riding, I was not really aware of the shoes or pedals. My second ride was better than my first.
Monday's ride was good, but I became aware of a misalignment of the left cleat. I was more comfortable, I was noticing the little things. I exceeded 21MPH on the flats with some ease, each leg was forcing the pedals into complete circles.
Today's ride was great, the SPD pedals are here to stay. But, I'm looking for some cycling shoes that I can walk more comfortablely in. BTW, I have ridden clipped in about 25 miles now.
BobH
I started riding again about a year ago. It was tough a first, 60 years had taken its tole. After suffering about a week of riding things began to get better. I bought a copy of Cycling Active and discovered that gray haired and no haired folks can still enjoy cycling.
I have ridden my Giant Sedona about 900 miles since October and of course, I really enjoy it. A couple of months ago, I started a new cadence, Lift, Lift, and Lift! Lifting the upward moving leg eased my knees and gave a bit more speed. The problem is that I sometimes pedal faster than I can chant.
I started kicking around the buying a set of cycling shoes and clip-in pedals. I wasn't sure that I could live with my feet being "trapped". Saturday I threw caution to the wind and bought new cycling shoes and a set of SPD pedals.
Saturday afternoon I installed the pedals and screw the clips onto the shoes. Bummer! The clips are not totally recessed into the sole of the shoes, I slid on my wife's new ceramic tile floor and nearly busted my butt! I made it safely outside to my bike and practiced getting in and out of the pedals. My new pedals only have clips on one side. I pedalled out to the open road with my cleats sliding on the flat side of the pedals, I wasn't ready to clip in yet. O.K., I clipped in the left foot, it took a couple of tries to get there. (Don't watch the clipping in process too long, you will feel very silly.) Then, I clipped in the right foot. Things felt a little strange but, I was riding on down the road. I was thinking be sure to unclip before I stop. The road was straight with no traffic, so I, started lifting the back pedal. Instant power surge, and after the ride a sore groin muscle. I unclipped and turned around on the road. I finally got back into the clips and rode for home. I was still in one piece.
Sunday morning I was ready to try it again. I started out of town with my new shoes on. Obsevation: Wet metal clips are slippery on pedals flat clipless faces. I got past the last stop sign and clip in. After a few minutes of riding, I was not really aware of the shoes or pedals. My second ride was better than my first.
Monday's ride was good, but I became aware of a misalignment of the left cleat. I was more comfortable, I was noticing the little things. I exceeded 21MPH on the flats with some ease, each leg was forcing the pedals into complete circles.
Today's ride was great, the SPD pedals are here to stay. But, I'm looking for some cycling shoes that I can walk more comfortablely in. BTW, I have ridden clipped in about 25 miles now.
BobH