A new and exciting thing to count
So over the weekend I got clipless pedals for my bike. (Fun fact: “clipless” pedals are the kind that you clip in to. Awesome naming.) If the internets are to be believed, I’m 1/3rd of the way to breaking them in. The story goes that when you first start riding with them you’ll fall three times. On the way home yesterday I forgot to clip out as I pulled up to the intersection of Colorado and Michillinda. This, of course, resulted in the slow tip sideways and me on my ass in the road in front of a (stopped!) pickup. Both the bike and me (save a skinned knee) are no worse for wear, so things went about as well as they could have.
At any rate: one down, two to go. I can’t wait!
July 1st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
So, are you finding your riding is more efficient with the clipless (and yeah, that is awesome naming) setup?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I’m finding that it hurts my legs in new and exciting ways and affords me more opportunities to fall down in traffic ;)
As it’s only been one day, I hesitate to claim the “GEOMETRIC INCREASE IN PEDALING ABILITY” that I’ve heard from some. That said, climbing feels a lot easier. I definitely notice the ability to pull up on the pedals when I’m out over the handlebars. Also the whole notion of “pedaling circles” seems to make more sense with clipless pedals, although that may just be wishful thinking on my part.
I gather that making proper use of them isn’t entirely straightforward, and I suspect that having my feet firmly attached may point out some flaws in the way I have my bike set up, and I’m pretty sure that I want to move the cleats back a bit on the shoes. What I need is to ride with Stephanie more, as she hangs out with the spinning/roadie crowd and knows much more about the physical mechanics of bike riding than I do.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
The situations that will throw you are ones where unexpected maneuvers are involved.
Moving at low speeds, or having to stop suddenly.
Definitely work on fixing any kind of pain.