My GIANT Night Out

Last night I had to pick up some replacement cleats for my Crank Brothers pedals. I love how the pedals function. They are easy to clip in and out of and I can clip-in from two directions. The mechanism doesn't get clogged with dirt. They're great... except for the cleat mounts.

The aluminum bolts are just too soft and mine started to strip the first week I owned them. The mounts would come loose and I would torque them down pretty hard and strip them out even more.

I finally found my "spot" and they haven't moved, but they've certainly worn down from me walking around on them and it was time to change them out. That is... if I could get them unseated from my shoes. The hex holes were too stripped to take a wrench and no amount of hammering could do it, so I headed around the corner to the Giant shop to see if they had more tools in their arsenal to deploy against my cleat. I think I may have made it more difficult by forgetting to lube a bolt or two when replacing them in a hurry. ALWAYS LUBE THE MOUNTS!

The Giant guys kindly took a hacksaw to the cleat and it was off in about 30 min. During my time in the store I stood there with a bemused look on my face as I watched the sales staff sell bikes.

A tall young woman nervously walked in an grabbed a big mountain bike with full shocks and disc brakes. She rode in a few circles around the store and then picked up a micro-bike with flat-bar and 20" wheels. She did a loop on that. By then a sales rep went over to assist and mainly stood there talking to the woman about the "feel" of the bike. The customer was riding bikes with seats that were 4-5cm too short and then being asked how it felt. At no time was the customer ever asked what purpose she intended for her bike; leisure, exercise, commuting, errands, group rides...etc. She was never sized. The sales staff just let the woman randomly guess what might be a good bike. After that they took her over to look at mountain bike helmets and biking jackets. Lots of people really don't know what options are available to them and what characteristics they should be looking for in a bike. A knowledgeable sales staff can guide a customer to make better choices. The bottom line is that only the rider knows what they want... but the sales staff can help the customer focus on what might better suit their needs and at least size them for a proper fit.

Clipless Pedals

Time to go CLIPLESS... please!

I have seen too many riders out there who are still using grubby old athletic shoes and pushing away at old platform pedals.

Platform pedals were great when I was when I was a kid and I would just leap off my bike and let it coast down the hill into Mr. Anderson's new Berlinetta.

Time Atac

Now that cycling has become, for me, both recreation and serious exercise, the pedal becomes a serious and essential piece of equipment to get right.

I am not just bringing this up to dump on people for not looking "pro", but rather, with clipless pedals (pedals you clip a cleat into) you can deploy more muscles and take advantage of your entire stroke to get better, more efficient performance.

The perfect stroke

The most efficient pedal stroke should be, as it has been described to me, like scraping dog shit off your shoes. Nice even strokes with the foot being generally flat at the bottom stroke (or pointed up for climbing). I have seen some guys who have pointed their toes down for years, so much so, that it has changed their frame size requirements. Old habits die hard. I could only imagine how awesome they would ride with a corrected stroke.

A lot of people are afraid of being locked to the bike, but the clipless pedals essentially turn the show into the pedal. It isn't so scary with a little practice and becomes second nature. (I fell down my first time out... in front of some cute girls who happen to be there whenever I look like a total boob.)

Speedplay Zeros

For shoes in Taiwan, I made a fashion faux pas and bought SIDI mountain bike shoes for NT8000. Mountain bike shoes have a bit more tread and you can pretty much walk on the street as if you are wearing regular shoes.

Look Keo

I paired the shoed up with Crank Bros. Candy SL pedals because they have a small platform and are easy to hook in and out. They use the CB SPD style cleat. They are small and pretty universal. For roadies, a lot of guys like Speedplay Zeros, which have a huge clip that attaches to the shoe. Look Keo and Time Atac are also great pedals.

Crank Bros. Candy

No argument.... If you don't have 'em... get 'em!!!