tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post8239920828818500276..comments2023-10-16T06:10:13.385-05:00Comments on Munsoned in the Middle of Nowhere: My epic failure ride.munsonedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878330049549526023noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-16685784134174169832009-12-03T08:16:03.321-06:002009-12-03T08:16:03.321-06:00I enjoy the best of both worlds with the Shimano M...I enjoy the best of both worlds with the Shimano M324 dual purpose pedals (http://www.mtbr.com/cat/drivetrain/pedal/shimano/pd-m324/PRD_358193_135crx.aspx). I have two sets of these. They have an SPD fitting on one side, and platform on the other. There are little metal teeth on the platform side, but the teeth aren't nearly as aggressive as with BMX pedals. Still, I am quite comfortable riding in sneakers or even my dress shoes. <br /><br />I also have an MTB shoe with an SPD cleat that looks like a black hiking or walking shoe. The cleat is recessed enough that I can walk without the "tap-tap." If I step on some grit or a pebble, I do get a grinding or crusing sound at times. I am comfortable wearing these shoes into stores, restaurants, etc. I've even forgotten to take them off, as they are comfy, and gone back out driving and walking around in them.Scott Reddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-80063429177156350512009-11-30T23:53:00.469-06:002009-11-30T23:53:00.469-06:00*so don't give up just yet!*so don't give up just yet!erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08128941098449141122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-58038004430812895402009-11-30T23:51:29.029-06:002009-11-30T23:51:29.029-06:00No honestly Mike you are straight on about the BMX...No honestly Mike you are straight on about the BMX recommendation. For riding in any type of shoe, and getting adequate support in even the most flexy of sneakers, it's hard to beat the size of the platform. I can't ride rat-traps unless I have cages, and I always thought that meant free was not right for me until I tried out the Crank Brothers 50/50. Emily loves that on her mb-1 with light hiking boots now. Would recommend.<br /><br />All three of my bikes now have the MKS lambda, or grip king as riv calls it. You can find them for about 35 dollars, so they're not bad. Even with my size 15 honkers of feet, no problem and plenty of grip. I'm going to add some spikes, like the 50/50's have, to improve things a bit more (I like to pull back across the stroke at times, and mud/wet can sometimes make them a bit slippy for my tastes). Otherwise, do recommend.<br /><br />And yeah, I'd agree that the moral of the story is more along the lines of "don't change anything before a long ride, ever." Clipless takes some time to work beyond, you're using new muscles, but once you get into the ability to ditch your bike and go on a few mile hike or walk into a store casually, it's hard to go back to such a specialized setup.<br /><br />I'd rather put the hundreds saved on pedals, shoe/cleat replacement, and the like, into my wallet!<br /><br />Most of all, riding is fun. It got much more so for me once I shed my cleats.erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08128941098449141122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-42848120092649516472009-11-30T08:58:20.134-06:002009-11-30T08:58:20.134-06:00Mike,
I think the pedal you use when using a flat ...Mike,<br />I think the pedal you use when using a flat pedal can make a big difference. Platform pedals like on a BMX or Freeride bike have little spikes that dig into your shoes. These spikes do two things they help destroy your legs if you fall on them, but they also allow for you to a bit of what Erik described of pulling back on the pedal and getting some of the same effect as using clipless pedals. They are heavier, but they will do the job nicely. Secondly, you need a shoe that is stiff enough to transfer power but not super stiff. Think once again about what you see bmx/freeride types wear. <br /><br />I'm sure Erik can provide some alternate suggestions that will work just as nicely but the above are some good points to consider. I like my clipless pedals just fine but back in college when I'd ride my bike 6-7 miles to school and didn't want to geek out to get there this is a set up that worked nicely. Used some old Odyssey bmx pedals and Vans or something of the sort. Did the job nicely.Mike Mileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15646180244234150366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-27076499390295849512009-11-30T08:16:59.421-06:002009-11-30T08:16:59.421-06:00Mike - I was using plain ol plastic Wellgo pedals ...Mike - I was using plain ol plastic Wellgo pedals that I've had laying around forever. <a href="http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=661313002&tid=plfr1r" rel="nofollow">These</a> were the shoes I had on. Nice and comfy to walk around in, but the sole has no stiffness. But the pedal was wide enough it shouldn't have mattered. I think, after feeling the odd sore muscles this morning, that I agree with Erik about the stabilizer muscles being overworked.<br /><br />Erik, I guess I should have put it differently. Never ever go from riding clipped in, take 2 weeks off of long rides, then randomly go on a >60 mile ride on flat pedals. You have to work up to the longer rides when you switch something major on your bike. I know that fact, yet I ignored and feel pretty dumb for doing so. Also, something I found interesting, when I switched to flat pedals, I had to lower my saddle to pretty much level with my bars. I guess there's still an inch or so difference, but I sure was way more upright than my riding partners. This was a bother heading home into the wind, but by that time, I was tired enough all over, I didn't have the strength to use the drops and cheat the wind.<br /><br />So the moral of the story is, always work into a change on the bike and ride more often so long rides don't hurt as bad.munsonedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00878330049549526023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-37080611854429582162009-11-30T07:59:19.770-06:002009-11-30T07:59:19.770-06:00Mike,
What kind of flat pedals were you using and ...Mike,<br />What kind of flat pedals were you using and shoes?Mike Mileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15646180244234150366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38356521.post-51237238142838664092009-11-29T18:03:05.362-06:002009-11-29T18:03:05.362-06:00I'm glad the normal clothes thing is working o...I'm glad the normal clothes thing is working out for you, it's a nice change of pace.<br /><br />You got tired more quickly partly because your body had to use your muscles not just to move your pedals but to stabilize your foot upon the platform. Folks like you and I ride flat pedals for hundreds of miles continuous so I don't feel as though your admonishment to NEVER EVER is correct. It felt very weird to me on longer rides at first too, but so did riding in cleats when i first made the switch earlier. Another point to consider is your fit on the bike. The face kissing the pavement, bars 6 inches below the saddle, lance treatment isn't going to work as well for flat pedals as bars even with or just below the saddle--you'll have to work harder to keep your feet stationary in the former setup. Finally, the study of professional racers showed that they simply unweight the pedal on the upstroke--there is no pulling. If you really want pull on a flat pedal, you can do so by grabbing back across the surface and pushing toward the back of the bike through the first quarter of the return stroke. The friction of the pedal has something to do with things as well.<br /><br />I point these out because I think the NEVER EVER EVER admonishment is a bit much, not to mention empirically false.<br /><br />cheers.erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08128941098449141122noreply@blogger.com