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#1
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Bar Ends and Clipless Pedals
I don't understand the principle of bar ends - I put a higher handlebar (about
4 1/2") on my hybrid. - I can acess the brakes all the time - also if I hold them on the inside undreneath on the "V" it gives me a poor mans aero position. Why add crap when you don't have too?? Also on my 10 speed I was thinking of going to clipless - how do I try them out? It would be nice to try them inorder for me to formulate opinion. (Although I realize most people don't need to know much about something inorder to arrive at an "Expert decision" and expert status). One fellow in front of me on a century ride, braked for a light on wet street and went down - I wasn't going to ask him if he tried to get his foot out. Also I take an occasional crash (flip) would hate to be trapped. Thanks In Advance (Provided you're not an Airhead and / or thave too much time on your hands - Why do people crank up their computers and convey mindless drivel? - I hope you don't think this applies to you!) Rob New York |
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#3
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Neoinventor wrote:
|| I don't understand the principle of bar ends - I put a higher || handlebar (about 4 1/2") on my hybrid. || - I can acess the brakes all the time || - also if I hold them on the inside undreneath on the "V" it gives || me a poor mans aero position. || Why add crap when you don't have too?? Bar-ends provide more hand positions which can make a big difference on long rides. || || Also on my 10 speed I was thinking of going to clipless - how do I || try them out? You buy a pair, install them, get some shoes, and ride. Or, find a friend who has the same size feet as you and who rides clipless. Talk nice and bring beer.... || It would be nice to try them inorder for me to formulate opinion. || (Although I realize most people don't need to know much about || something inorder to arrive at an "Expert decision" and expert || status). || One fellow in front of me on a century ride, braked for a light on || wet street and went down - I wasn't going to ask him if he tried to || get his foot out. I doubt if his going down had much to do with being clipped in...he was just likely not ready for the wet conditions. Also I take an occasional crash (flip) would hate || to be trapped. When I first went clipless, I crashed 3 times (on my first major ride) in 25 miles. All three times I was barely moving. As I recall, my feet came out expect for the last time. In general though, it's not a big deal as you rarely go down unless you're an incompetent bicyclist. || Thanks In Advance (Provided you're not an Airhead and / or thave || too much time on your hands - Why do people crank up their computers || and convey mindless drivel? - I hope you don't think this applies to || you!) This is not a good way to elicit meaningful responses, dude. |
#4
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When I first went clipless, I crashed 3 times (on my first major ride) in 25 miles. All three times I was barely moving. As I recall, my feet came out expect for the last time. In general though, it's not a big deal as you rarely go down unless you're an incompetent bicyclist. heh heh, fortunately, i rode clipless for the first time in deep snow (mountain biking). I think I fell to one side about 30 times that one ride. It was only a couple of years later, when I replaced those pedals, that I realized the right pedal was totally defective. I just assumed it was my fault that my foot kept getting stuck at a right angle (heel facing directly to my right)! Anyway, even though they aren't considered 'cool' nowadays, and the certainly look pretty dorky with riser bars, i think a small set of bar ends can be really helpful - especially on tough climbs. As far as clipless - go for it!! You'll learn quickly how to get out of the pedals. Now I ride anything technical I want - I can get out of the pedal pretty much as fast as with flats. They also make me feel very safe on the bike - there's no way my foot's gonna get knocked off. cheers, paul |
#5
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#6
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In article ,
Benjamin Lewis wrote: -nospam wrote: Also on my 10 speed I was thinking of going to clipless - how do I try them out? It would be nice to try them inorder for me to formulate opinion. I've heard very few reports from people who've tried clipless and decided that they *didn't* like them after a sufficient trial period, although you may find a few if you search the archives. I use these or similar on all my bikes: http://tinyurl.com/4oaca They only cost $28 Canadian, and I've never had any problems with them. I bought my first pair thinking I might get better ones if I liked them, but I've never seen the need to since then. C$28...man that's cheap for an SPD pedal! I'd like to make a specific recommendation that among clipless designs, you go for a recessed-cleat design, which is to say a 2-hole cleat that fits on an SPD-compatible shoe (SPD or compatible, Eggbeaters, Ritchey, and many more). The reason is that these are walkable designs. Depending on the shoe, they range from a bit like a normal shoe to almost exactly like a normal shoe. Look and other large-cleat designs (SPD-SL, Speedplay, etc.) are worth investigating if you're a hardcore racer or have issues with "hot spots" using the SPD-type designs, but for everyone else a shoe you can happily walk in is a good thing. You wouldn't think this would be an issue on, oh, a club ride, but a few weeks back, a 20' section of our club ride was barricaded off for road work. As the other riders tottered around carefully on their Look cleats, I unclipped, hopped up onto the obstacle, and jumped down again. Axo Blackball shoes, by the way, have really nice soft rubber soles for this sort of stunt. I just like them because paid only C$20 new. -RjC. -- Ryan Cousineau, http://www.wiredcola.com Verus de parvis; verus de magnis. |
#7
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On Tue, 05 Oct 2004 19:43:07 +0000, Neoinventor wrote:
I don't understand the principle of bar ends - I put a higher handlebar (about 4 1/2") on my hybrid. Bar ends give you different hand positions. I find them helpful. Also on my 10 speed I was thinking of going to clipless - how do I try them out? Most good shops would take them back if you were not satisfied with them. It would be nice to try them inorder for me to formulate opinion. (Although I realize most people don't need to know much about something inorder to arrive at an "Expert decision" and expert status). One fellow in front of me on a century ride, braked for a light on wet street and went down - I wasn't going to ask him if he tried to get his foot out. Also I take an occasional crash (flip) would hate to be trapped. Clipless pedals will not trap your feet on the pedals. A sufficiently large force, such as happens in a crash, will release them. As far as whether or not I'm an "expert", that would be for you to discern. But I have crashed with clipless pedals, and my feet ended up separate from the pedals. I have also crashed when I used to use toeclips and cleats. I prefer clipless. Thanks In Advance (Provided you're not an Airhead and / or thave too much time on your hands - Why do people crank up their computers and convey mindless drivel? - I hope you don't think this applies to you!) Rob New York You might get better responses if you tone down your attitude a bit. -- David L. Johnson __o | "Business!" cried the Ghost. "Mankind was my business. The _`\(,_ | common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, (_)/ (_) | and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!" --Dickens, "A Christmas Carol" |
#8
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"Benjamin Lewis" wrote
(Although I realize most people don't need to know much about something inorder to arrive at an "Expert decision" and expert status). One fellow in front of me on a century ride, braked for a light on wet street and went down - I wasn't going to ask him if he tried to get his foot out. Also I take an occasional crash (flip) would hate to be trapped. Many clipless pedals will disengage in such situations, like ski bindings. Once you get used to clipless, you'll find they're significantly easier to get in and out of than clips and straps, if you've ever used these. (At least, this is my experience, and the same is reported by most other people I've heard from). A good friend of mine (and expert rider) shattered his leg in a slow-speed twisting fall this summer when his pedal (Eggbeater) didn't release. He presumes that his foot rotation was blocked by his heel hitting the crank. This may be a real problem with pedals that only release in rotation, particularly if they have a large release angle (float). |
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