Bit the bullet

[Cush]

OK I have bit the bullet and will be picking up a brand new Dawes Nomad from the LBS next Thursday. I would have preferred to have had a cheaper bike with disk brakes and there is no doubt that I will miss the butterfly bars I fitted to the Kharakum but I am also looking forward to taking the Nomad for some runs up and down the Eden and Tyne valleys. I sussed up the insurance and decided to take out a separate policy rather than put the bike on the household policy and then I ordered a Kryptonite New York lock from Amazon, as it was one of the locks recommended by the insurance company, it arrived yesterday and seems to weigh a ton, how the heck I am going to manage to take it touring I do not know. I also ordered a “Mega Horn” and scared SWMBO witless. The Nomad is fitted with Wellgo dual purpose pedals and I have asked for short toe clips to be fitted till I get used to the bike then I will probably go clipless before going for a week’s tour. Not totally convinced of the advantage of clipless though and it seems a lot of money to pull out for a pair of shoes that can only be used on a bike. At the moment I use New Balance trainers both for the bike and taking the dogs out and a pair of Walsh fell boots for touring with.

 

[compo]

(snipped) I have asked for short toe clips to be fitted till I get used to the bike then I will probably go clipless before going for a week’s tour. Not totally convinced of the advantage of clipless though and it seems a lot of money to pull out for a pair of shoes that can only be used on a bike. At the moment I use New Balance trainers both for the bike and taking the dogs out and a pair of Walsh fell boots for touring with.

You don't have to be a dedicated follower of fashion. Nothing wrong with toe clips if that's what suits you.

 

[brockers]

Not totally convinced of the advantage of clipless though and it seems a lot of money to pull out for a pair of shoes that can only be used on a bike.

Yet you're using two types of shoe that are designed for running to go cycling in. Nothing wrong with popping down to the shops on your bike in your trainers, but clipless (or any shoes designed for cycling) have stiffer soles and spread the load much better over the pedal than flimsy-soled running shoes. Can't help thinking that your feet will be sore after a day or more of pushing pedals in a pair of Walshes. Have you ever actually tried clipless? If you go for mtb spd, you'll find you can walk in them quite comfortably. Although admittedly, not best suited for taking the dog for a walk or for knocking out a hilly 10k run. ;-)

 

[Cush]

I must admit that the two main reasons that stop me going cliples is age (rapidly approaching 69) and the thought of falling off at the busy traffic lights on the main approach to Carlisle. The Walshes are the old ripple sole that you can only get from Blands in Kendal and I used them last year to do a circular from Haltwhistle to LE to Dover to Haltwhistle.

 

[brockers]

Oh! Don't worry about the falling off! It might happen once and that will be it. We've all done it! (Practice for a day going slowly on soft ground. Like most things, once you get your confidence, you'll wonder what you were worrying about, but the chances that you'll have a clipless moment in a dangerous place is pretty slim.) I can understand the apprehension considering your age. I'm mid-forties and even my reactions aren't what they were, but I honestly believe it's quicker to whip your foot out of properly set-up SPD pedal than one secured by a toeclip and strap. I've put toeclips back on my pub/shopping bike just because I don't want to be forced to wear one pair of shoes when going out (so can understand where you're coming from in that regard), and I tend to pull the strap quite tight if I'm motoring along (you can take the man out of racing, but you can't take racing out of the man etc...), but I find I generally have to lean down to flick the strap before I can pull my Chuck Taylor Allstared feet out, requiring thinking ahead. I think they're more faff and possibly more dangerous than clipless in all honesty, but I grew up with toeclips and straps so it doesn't worry me. Try clipless. Aldi and the like do OK shoes for about £30 every now and again, and double-sided SPD pedals can be had for about £20. I think it's good to keep mastering new things throughout life too. Keeps us feeling young!

 

[HLaB]

I think I was more likely to fall off with straps (toe clips), I put it down to wearing different shoes that could sometime snag, no consistency. That aside though, enjoy your new bike.

 

[Fubar]

I took a lot longer to get used to clipless than everyone suggested, had 2 clipless moments - one at a busy junction! However now I'm used to them I wouldn't go back, I'm starting to get used to pulling on the upstroke as well as pushing on the downstroke, and now automatically unclip once I start pulling in the brakes approaching a junction (though find I need to do that less and less now as well). As others have said it's personal preference and if you're used to toe-clips there's no pressure to change - I can walk normally in my SPD shoes and also quite like having one pair just for cycling. Regards, Mark

 

[compo]

Let's not lose sight of the fact that the OP says he is pushing 69 years. Bearing in mind how common broken hips and bones are in the elderly as a result of relatively minor falls (sorry Cush, no ageism or offence meant) I think he is right to think about the risks of clipless moments. In your earlier years you bounce, get older and you don't bounce, thing just break. I am still a youngster at a couple of months off 65 years, but at my age I just do what I find comfortable and secure doing.

 

[Cush]

We have to face facts, I might act like a teenager at times and beat up the traffic but that pain in the knee from a fracture forty years ago reminds me how easy bones are broken and time is too preciouse to spend it in hospital