The next battle of the clipless

I went out today with a friend for what I thought would be an easy day to
get used to the clipless. We rode in this strange area near our houses.
Right in the middle of a rural residential area is an old mining area known
as Logan Cut or "the cuts" of about 8000 acres.

It's an area everyone knows about but none of my friends or acquantances
have been in. As mentioned, it's an historic hydrolically mined area.

Well, it turned out to be the most tecnically difficult riding I've ever
done. We rode for six hours (with breaks) and only covered 25 miles! It
really got to me: going up steep (10 to 15%) hills, full of ruts, and
suddenly hitting deep mud or a patch of wet mining tailings (about the
consistency of talcum powder). No way I could clip out in time. I went down
five (yes five) times. None the worse for wear except a skinned elbow and
bruises, but I'm a little scared of my bike and pedals right now. I
DEFINITELY need to practice on the clipless on less technical roads
(pavement sounds real interesting about now - at least red lights don't
appear suddenly with no warning!)

--
Mark Rehmar
Please remove *splinters* to reply by email

Oops, I meant to post this under the "a not so great biking day" thread but
pressed the wrong button - too many falls today!!


"MarkR" wrote in message
...
I went out today with a friend for what I thought would be an easy day to
get used to the clipless. We rode in this strange area near our houses.
Right in the middle of a rural residential area is an old mining area
known
as Logan Cut or "the cuts" of about 8000 acres.

It's an area everyone knows about but none of my friends or acquantances
have been in. As mentioned, it's an historic hydrolically mined area.

Well, it turned out to be the most tecnically difficult riding I've ever
done. We rode for six hours (with breaks) and only covered 25 miles! It
really got to me: going up steep (10 to 15%) hills, full of ruts, and
suddenly hitting deep mud or a patch of wet mining tailings (about the
consistency of talcum powder). No way I could clip out in time. I went
down
five (yes five) times. None the worse for wear except a skinned elbow and
bruises, but I'm a little scared of my bike and pedals right now. I
DEFINITELY need to practice on the clipless on less technical roads
(pavement sounds real interesting about now - at least red lights don't
appear suddenly with no warning!)

--
Mark Rehmar
Please remove *splinters* to reply by email

"MarkR" wrote in message
...
I went out today with a friend for what I thought would be an easy day to
get used to the clipless. We rode in this strange area near our houses.
Right in the middle of a rural residential area is an old mining area known
as Logan Cut or "the cuts" of about 8000 acres.

It's an area everyone knows about but none of my friends or acquantances
have been in. As mentioned, it's an historic hydrolically mined area.

Well, it turned out to be the most tecnically difficult riding I've ever
done. We rode for six hours (with breaks) and only covered 25 miles! It
really got to me: going up steep (10 to 15%) hills, full of ruts, and
suddenly hitting deep mud or a patch of wet mining tailings (about the
consistency of talcum powder). No way I could clip out in time. I went down
five (yes five) times. None the worse for wear except a skinned elbow and
bruises, but I'm a little scared of my bike and pedals right now. I
DEFINITELY need to practice on the clipless on less technical roads
(pavement sounds real interesting about now - at least red lights don't
appear suddenly with no warning!)

--
Mark Rehmar
Please remove *splinters* to reply by email



Not exactly the best terrain to get used to clipess...

On Mon, 31 May 2004 18:57:16 -0700 in rec.bicycles.misc, "MarkR"
wrote:

No way I could clip out in time. I went down
five (yes five) times. None the worse for wear except a skinned elbow and
bruises, but I'm a little scared of my bike and pedals right now.

you need to loosen them up a bit, and then you'll probably have
to tighten them over several months as the new cleats wear in.

MarkR wrote:
:: I went out today with a friend for what I thought would be an easy
:: day to get used to the clipless. We rode in this strange area near
:: our houses. Right in the middle of a rural residential area is an
:: old mining area known as Logan Cut or "the cuts" of about 8000 acres.
::
:: It's an area everyone knows about but none of my friends or
:: acquantances have been in. As mentioned, it's an historic
:: hydrolically mined area.
::
:: Well, it turned out to be the most tecnically difficult riding I've
:: ever done. We rode for six hours (with breaks) and only covered 25
:: miles! It really got to me: going up steep (10 to 15%) hills, full
:: of ruts, and suddenly hitting deep mud or a patch of wet mining
:: tailings (about the consistency of talcum powder). No way I could
:: clip out in time. I went down five (yes five) times. None the worse
:: for wear except a skinned elbow and bruises, but I'm a little scared
:: of my bike and pedals right now. I DEFINITELY need to practice on
:: the clipless on less technical roads (pavement sounds real
:: interesting about now - at least red lights don't appear suddenly
:: with no warning!)
::

Wow. Mark -- it's time for some easy rides...otherwise, you may really get
fear of the saddle. Keep to routes you know well. I say short and
frequent.

I did 25 (I consider that short) on Sunday with no problems. Going again
this morning.


:: --
:: Mark Rehmar
:: Please remove *splinters* to reply by email