I've given myself a 90% chance of not crashing today, my first day ever riding with big-boy bike pedals/shoes (i.e., the kind where the shoe actually clips onto the pedal*)

So far so good. I did some practicing in the parking lot on Saturday when I got them installed. I almost fell only once, and was able to get my foot out in time on that occasion, so I'm feeling pretty confident. It's really not that difficult, it's just a mental thing. It feels weird knowing that I'm attached to the thing. The biggest risk I think is that for 6 miles I'm on a bike trail where I never have to stop pedaling. So when I exit the trail, I'm at risk of having zoned out and forgotten when I get to the first traffic light.

But I'm sure the muscle memory will kick in soon enough. Meanwhile, the increase in pedaling efficiency was definitely noticeable. I'll found out tomorrow which new let muscles I'm using.


* Paradoxically, they are called "clipless" due to the fact that before their invention, there were "toe clips" which aren't really clips so much as straps or rigid cage-like things on the front of the pedal that your toe slips into

Yay summer! I guess I better go buy some shorts.

Me mum has a shiny new hip thanks to those things. Couldn't get her foot free quick enough fell over and crushed the old one.

I got a set that has clips on one side, platform on the other. When I'm in situations where I'm likely to have to stop or turn a lot, I can click out and use the platform side and not worry about it, then when I'm on the trail where there's very little chance I'll need to get off the pedals quickly, I clip in. It also means I can hop on the bike at lunch for a quick ride without having to change shoes. Best of both worlds. Meanwhile, the ability to really use the whole pedal stroke to power the wheel makes a big difference.

I'm now saying "Toe Clips" as in "Toe Picks".

And, those are things I will NEVER have.

Wait, I want to go back to this Hellman's mayonnaise-on-twinks thing.



Hellboy mayonnaise?

I am sooooo not into working today...

Those are the kind of pedals I'm going to get. I've only used my shoes in spin class so far. Makes a big difference!

I also got a pair of shoes that are kinda hybrid road/mtb shoes. Not as bulky as mtb, but still with a rubber sole that works on the platform side of the pedal. A standard road shoe, with it's hard plastic sole, would have a tendency to slip off the platform.