Tales from today's commute....

[jarlrmai]

It's okay for accelerating a little bit but its not great on your joints long term.

 

[gaz]

It's okay for accelerating a little bit but its not great on your joints long term.

What?

 

[gaz]

Not a good idea really, it programmes in the fact your foot is lose when you need it rather than the correct reaction of seamlessly dis-engaging at any point. This means when you really do need to release the cleat you actually have to think about it which in turn ends up with you on the floor.

It also doesn't get you used to clipping out your foot when you have really little time to think about it. Example, when someone pulls out in front of you and you have to brake extremely heavily in the wet to avoid a collision and clip out when the bicycle is sliding to the side. Having it as second nature can be a life saver!

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFx_NWVEs-A

 

[kipster]

Been off the bike for a few days, cold and wet weather, being ill, car MOT, evening meetings etc.. all being used as excuses to take the car. Anyway, great ride in this morning except for a near miss from another cyclist coming towards me, heavy on the anchors on wet mud and leaves to avoid hitting him as he went for a gap on my side of the road. Choice words muttered!

 

[jarlrmai]

Its just what I've read some people think they need to pull up on every stroke and that this isn't in fact a good idea.

 

[jarlrmai]

Yeah I don't have any issues clipping out when I need to I just prepare a little bit ahead of time when I predict I might need to be stopping quickly.

 

[GrasB]

Its just what I've read some people think they need to pull up on every stroke and that this isn't in fact a good idea.

Actually almost anyone who spins smoothly will be pulling up on the pedals, especially those who are older & really honed their leg muscle coordination.

 

[GrasB]

Yeah I don't have any issues clipping out when I need to I just prepare a little bit ahead of time when I predict I might need to be stopping quickly.

Do you prepare at every single blind junction, drive way & parked car? How about every time a car coming towards you gets close to a junction? Do you prepare then? The whole point is that at some point you'll get caught out & you'll be relying on having a foot free due to your technique then you'll find your self on the floor.

 

[HLaB]

Lol, I headed out for an easy loop before work but as per another thread my jockey on my other bike are dead (metaphorically) so I needed to loop by a lbs. No problem, or so I thought; I was too preoccupiped with traffic I ended up taking a left early ond and I just went with then and headed towards the village of Marholm (about 8 miles the wrong direction), en route I realised I needed to up the pace so it was a bit of a sweat to the lbs. Got there and they didn't open till 10am; couldn't wait that long however, so dashed to work. So my easy 10 turned into a more rapid 15miles. The funny thing, I dashed back to the lbs at lunchtime and they do open at 9am; it was the almost identical running shop unit next door that opens at 10am

 

[GrasB]

Lol, I headed out for an easy loop before work but as per another thread my jockey on my other bike are dead (metaphorically) so I needed to loop by a lbs. No problem, or so I thought; I was too preoccupiped with traffic I ended up taking a left early ond and I just went with then and headed towards the village of Marholm (about 8 miles the wrong direction), en route I realised I needed to up the pace so it was a bit of a sweat to the lbs. Got there and they didn't open till 10am; couldn't wait that long however, so dashed to work. So my easy 10 turned into a more rapid 15miles. The funny thing, I dashed back to the lbs at lunchtime and they do open at 9am; it was the almost identical running shop unit next door that opens at 10am

Accidental tempo training... me like!

 

[jarlrmai]

Do you prepare at every single blind junction, drive way & parked car? How about every time a car coming towards you gets close to a junction? Do you prepare then? The whole point is that at some point you'll get caught out & you'll be relying on having a foot free due to your technique then you'll find your self on the floor.

like I said I don't have a problem with both, I've been in situations where I needed to clip out unexpectedly and it was no problem.

I clip out on certain part of my commute, there's a bit where I turn into a road which has a zebra crossing closeish to the bend, I can't see it or if there is anyone waiting but I know it's there and there's often people waiting, so I clip out as part of my preparation to give way to pedestrians.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

No commuting (day off) but rode a few miles down the shops - in jeans
Very cold with clear sky, didn't take waterproof over trousers for such a short trip neither had a plastic bag with me to cover the saddle.
Guess what? A wee snow storm between shops, got a wet bum!

 

[Harry_Palmer79]

After the wintry blizzards I've been scowling at all day, thinking 'FFS I'm not going to have to ride home in that am I?!' it's now lovely and sunny and I'm looking forward to another extended ride home tonight; try and beat my times on those new strava segments I went through last night maybe, or just enjoy the sun while it lasts?!

(I fully expect the snow showers to start again in the next twenty minutes before I set off!)

Edit: - In the space of three minutes it is now starting to look a bit iffy on the snow/cloud front , oh well that's Glasgow for you!

 

[paul04]

A day off work today, so it gave me a bit of time to do a couple of jobs on the bike, went out for a test ride in the sunshine and came back in a snow shower, could hardly see where I was going.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Was colder tonight than this morning, apart from that completely quiet commute home, just how I like it.