All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

ssshhhiiiii.... thats a lot of miles

i dont think i've swapped cleats on either of my spd shoes and the pedals have been the same for the last 9+ years. this is on my road/gravel bike but i also don't like my cleats tight, i have them on the loosest setting and like it that way. my cleats feel like cages where only the front is clipped not the rear. so i can move my foot straight back and get out of the cleat.

 

I've not swapped a cleat yet, maybe I should and feel the difference.
All I know is I can unclip easy, clip easy, and don't have accidental unclippings. Probably need to try some new cleats

 

I've done various forms of weight training since I was in high school but I wasn't so good about it the last 5 years or so. Since last spring I've been consistently doing these kettlebell workouts and I feel so much better day to day. It helps with riding but also just with the kids day in and day out.

I think this is highly dependent on your riding style. If you're clipping in and out during hard cornering then I think you'll wear through them quicker. Could it be the spring in the actual pedal?

 

while on the topic of grip strength, does anyone use something like this?

$38 Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster- Thick Handle Forearm strengthener exercise equipment. Thick Wrist Roller for Muscle building and Injury prevention Hand Grip Strength + V-Strength Workout App

https://www.amazon.com/Vikingstreng...51f3f2c2cd7931b0b43c033a5247fc3e&gad_source=1

i saw jono jones post something similar, but it had a spring inside for resistance and didn't need an extra weight, but that was also like $100 and this Amazon thing is way cheaper.

 

Have you ridden in wet conditions recently? I find that mine will squeak if I've ridden in/near wet weather but it usually goes away.

Another thing is the bearings, The base level ones seem to squeak on occasion near the seal area. I'd probably check for play (I may have blown a pair of XT pedals this weekend by not checking before the race).

I go years in between swapping, usually only go with new cleats when I get new shoes haha. My current XC shoes have cleats that are over a year old but the pair I had before had the same cleats from probably 4 years prior.

 

I've used something like that, I don't remember where but it definitely burns out your forearms haha. Check this guy out if you want ideas for grip strength specifically: Daniel Strauss (@raspberry_ape) • Instagram photos and videos

 

I'm not a fan of high tension in the pedals - like how if I have a rock strike the cleat pops out on its own; easy enough to clip back in without any thought. My gravel bike is set tighter but I'd rather have less accidental releases when putting down consistent power.

Kind of where I am at - might just replace the cleats and see if there is a difference. The float is a bit more evident but still need to give it that last heel kick to come all the way out.

Never intentionally unclip during cornering (unless there is an accidental rock strike). May try to grease the tension spring in the pedal, curious if grease with a small brush is better than silicone spray. Anything to keep the buildup of dirt and dust.

 

Grease is an option but I also use TriFlow lubricant in the liquid form, seems to work without too much gunk buildup.

Looks like finish line makes a pedal/cleat grease too, not sure if that works well or not though.

 

I did have green grips on my old bike that had most of these same green bits. Can't remember if I kept the grips...I should look.

I got the 38mm rise too. My previous bar was 35mm rise and I wasn't expecting too much of a change but it did feel quite different which I guess is the backsweep. Though if anything the sensation I felt was that it was just higher. Dropped a 10mm spacer last night and now it feels very low. Will give it a ride like that. I also think I have them rotated a bit too forward. Trying to tweak just one thing at a time though. Noticeably smoother ride coming from a high stiffness 35mm clamp AL bar.

I did one ride with my wife's GA2 and along with the carbon bar and B1 spring it was feeling pretty good. Going to try the PNW grips I've been on previously and see how it feels in comparison. I would like to avoid any winged grips for now, but people who have them seem to love them.

 

I've been riding 25mm with 10mm under the stem so it was 13mm increase for me. I measured all of my bikes bar height to ground and was surprised they're all within 1/2" of each other. The taller bar also shortens the reach which was my goal as I have been feeling a bit stretched out. Everything I'm riding now is 445mm CS or longer and you don't really need to weight the front aggressively on those. I'm hoping for a bit of a better body position for making shapes and deep leans. So yea, more crash pics shortly.

 

The extra backsweep also shortens reach.

 

Ah yes, the familiar feeling of me going to ride on a damp day, jam on the brakes and "HHHHHOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoNnNnnnNnNnnnnnNnKKKKKkkkkkkk"

 

I decided on Whistler due to the amount of time I have as an open window and proximity to the casa. Have a few work meetings I can't get out of, but they are before the lifts start running, so it works out great!

I'll likely be in Italy and Germany for work this summer/fall for a couple weeks so may have to look into something like Lenzerheide, Val Di Sole, etc so would have airfare and car covered. Your pics and story when you had just gotten back sounded rad AF!

 

too bad you're busy the weekend i'm there. :/

 

With all this recent talk about cleats, I have a clipless question. I rode clipless road and mountain bike for about 20 years, but switched to flats and 5.10’s, first on my MTB and then on road bike about 10 years ago. I mostly ride MTB and my road bike has become a town bike, but I just bought a gravel bike and was thinking of going back to clipless for that bike. But I have pretty fit-sensitive feet and my original style 5.10 Freeriders are very comfy; I had some Freerider Pro’s in the same size and couldn’t wear them, too tight and stiff even after suffering for over a year of break-in. On my 3rd pair of Freeriders and they just fit. Anyone with a similar preference, wide toe box (I like Altra’s also, my work boots are Red Wing “King Toe”), have a cleat-ready shoe they recommend? I’d like something that’s pretty walkable, not too heavy (I ride year around in California). Thanks.

 

Funny you mention Austria. Had a recent work colleague tell me that it was cheaper for his family to fly to Italy and spend a week there skiing vice going to Summit county, Co.

 

X2

 

I found the Lake shoes to be pretty wide. Some of their lasts are wider than others though. I had the mx238 which is a super nice shoes but ended up being too wide for me, mostly in the heel cup. I wouldn’t say they are altra level wide but better than most cycling shoes. The 238s are also on the more aggressive side so their other shoes might be wider.

shimano shoes are also pretty wide compared to other cycling shoes.

Edit: you should also try the five ten cross trail. I find their fit to be super comfortable. I wear Altras pretty much every day and feel pretty good in the cross trail. Great for hike a bike too

 

Thanks for the Lake and Shimano tips. But cross trail sounds good if it’s like an Altra. I’ve done short rides in my Altra’s and while I prefer less lugged soles for easy repositioning and more protection, they are very comfortable on pedals.

 

I should note that it’s not altra wide, just comfortable for me. I’d still recommend trying them on but they are way more comfortable than the freerider pro in the same size. Plus better traction off the bike. They are stiffer too but I have the clipless version so not exactly a fair comparison