So..... cycling

[LeperousDust]

Haha, did you not have problems with your knees overlapping you're that low?

Currently sitting around in clipless shoes all night, trying to and decide which are more comfortable. Reeeaalllly hard, think my Giro Gauge are winning as they are a goooooood fit, i was worried a little too good, but my feet aren't going numb (but then i'm also not exercising).

The Suplest S1 are niiiice shoes also, but i think a smidge too big in comparison with the Giro, difference is 42 vs 42.5 which doesn't mean anything between different models of shoe as we all know! But i think there is too much unnecessary play...

[Joe 90]

I've been considering some proper shoes to clip-in & hopefully make things easier when out on the road. Then maybe even some of those hybrid pedals for the mountain bike. Not sure yet though. Its a bit of an investment in the unknown I suppose but I'm sure I'd get used to them!

[LeperousDust]

Personally i'd say choose between clipless or flats on an MTB, it's a sweeping statement but all hybrids are ****. Worst of both worlds.

On the road however i'm different, I've got the shimano A530 pedals, and I get most use out of the flat side because i commute in my work shoes basically (TNF hedgehogs) although i'd say grip wise whatever happens between my shoes and the pedals are dreadful in the rain but good enough for short road rides.

If i want to go further out and use my bike properly then its just a matter of changing shoes (M087's with shimano cleats) and using the other side of the pedal. Takes a little faffing round clipping in occasionally because there is only one dirrection you can do so, but its a compromise that i'm happy with.

For the mtb i use Crank Bro's Candy SL's which will be accompanied with the pair of shoes I finally stick with (looking more and more like the Giro's!), no real reason for crank bro's cleats apart from i was given them free by a mate yeears ago and ive got "used" to their style and just stuck with it. I do like the crank bros more for mtbing personally than spd's but its a matter of taste more than anything... (maybe slightly better mud shedding, but ive not experienced anything bad with spds)..

[Jonny69]

That's pretty much why I still use cages and straps. I have the kind of commute and lifestyle that means it's a lot easier for me to use one pair of shoes. Luckily I tend to wear Converse most of the time which are an ideal shape to shove into cages and the rubbery toecap seems to be very suited to the job! I have thought about cleats but it's a big investment for something I'll only really use on events.

Originally Posted by LeperousDust

Haha, did you not have problems with your knees overlapping you're that low?

The main problem was breathing. I was so compressed over I couldn't get any air in my lungs. The aero effect was good though

[LeperousDust]

Honestly I hated cages! Not doing that again... Ultimate faffing with pretty much all the shoes i owned, and I can't feel they gave me any benefit on the upstroke really unless they were pretty tight, at which point they also werent safe at all, no emergency stops anyway!

Clipless or flat for me,well that or my road compromise...!

[Jonny69]

Mine work well on the upstroke even when pretty loose, but they are the proper metal ones and you bend them into shape to suit your shoe. I've got some aero road pedals with an inbuilt plastic toeclip but I didn't get on with them at all. I think it's a matter of having the right kit and not a compromised version.

[LeperousDust]

Ahhh, yeah I've only used cheapo plastic jobbies, probably does make a difference

[camerajuan]

Stroke of luck - my new housemate is a bike genius & the random mountain bike which appeared in our back garden last year has finally been put to use. He tore it apart & switched the stem over. Not the Scott Yecora. Its a Peugeot from like 1994/5 I think. My facebook link should be public.

Anyhoo on further inspection I've realised that my pedal & rear wheel hubs are SCREWED, lot of jiggling around Had it with gumtree & ebay. I'm gonna buy a new bike from somewhere near here. Carerra/Qube/Claud Butler/Scott/Diamond Back/Raleigh or whatever I can afford that has good specs & looks pretty!

Any suggestions? 75miles a week & only one field to cycle through each time I go to work. I fancy a hybrid with front suspension but not too keen on going low price cos of the Suntour forks that seem to be everywhere!

[LeperousDust]

The Boardman urban mountain bike looks pretty damn nice for commuting, amazing components etc... £599 might be out your budget though, i'm unsure? It's also got rigid (but very light) forks.

Amazing commuter bike perfect for the odd off road, but mostly road cycling.

[Jonny69]

Originally Posted by camerajuan

Anyhoo on further inspection I've realised that my pedal & rear wheel hubs are SCREWED, lot of jiggling around Had it with gumtree & ebay. I'm gonna buy a new bike from somewhere near here. Carerra/Qube/Claud Butler/Scott/Diamond Back/Raleigh or whatever I can afford that has good specs & looks pretty!

If the bike is that age then you should be able to tighten those bearings up? Unless either of the axles are bent (unlikely) then there is probably nothing wrong with them. Hopefully nothing a pair of spanners won't fix for the wheel, and the bottom bracket might need a big adjustable spanner or a pin wrench depending what type shells it's got - i.e. might need to go to the bike shop to do it, but I have bodged them with a small screwdriver in the pin holes and tap with a small hammer.