The Chainlink

Traffic 'round these parts dropped off pretty dramatically a few weeks ago... hard to tell from the "I rode today" thread who's still riding, as one would have to conclude that Gene is the only one out there most days by reading it....

Who's sticking it out and plans to continue to ride pretty much every day regardless of weather?

(Was winter 2013;   2014 starts on p. 36;   2015 starts on p. 61)

 

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I like the idea of attaching neoprene to the clips.  

Doug, the problem is when the pedals get wet or my shoes are wet from stopping, they constantly slip off the pedals.  For a 9 mile commute it is annoying to get pedal slippage.  I was told that Ergon makes a pedal that is good for preventing slippage and keeping your foot properly aligned.

We know that we're definitely riding in early tomorrow!  See you in Daley Plaza at 6:30am for Winter Bike to Work Day!

 

 

The inexpensive BMX platforms on my frankentown are quite grippy wet or dry. All the BMX pedals I've seen have the little spikes for traction. And they look kind of awesome. 

Dave Grossman said:

I like the idea of attaching neoprene to the clips.  

Doug, the problem is when the pedals get wet or my shoes are wet from stopping, they constantly slip off the pedals.  For a 9 mile commute it is annoying to get pedal slippage.  I was told that Ergon makes a pedal that is good for preventing slippage and keeping your foot properly aligned.

Considered clipless? The cost of shoes/pedals is kind of steep, but you do offest that a bit by not beating the crap outta your street shoes. And with SPDs, you can actually walk in the cleats -- I take my bike up and down stairs in 'em. I've got an 8.2 mi commute, and love mine. I keep street shoes at work, and that helps a lot.

Tony Adams 6.6 mi said:

The inexpensive BMX platforms on my frankentown are quite grippy wet or dry. All the BMX pedals I've seen have the little spikes for traction. And they look kind of awesome. 

Dave Grossman said:

I like the idea of attaching neoprene to the clips.  

Doug, the problem is when the pedals get wet or my shoes are wet from stopping, they constantly slip off the pedals.  For a 9 mile commute it is annoying to get pedal slippage.  I was told that Ergon makes a pedal that is good for preventing slippage and keeping your foot properly aligned.

Yes I've considered clipless thanks. It is just not for me. It runs directly counter to my entire bikey schtick. I want my biking experience to be an entirely seamless part of "ordinary" life. No spandex clown suits, no special shoes, so stupid looking helmets etc. In my ideal world, using a bike is the most normal, simple, painless and inexpensive way to get around next to walking - and with a much larger range and greater cargo capacity than walking. 

Clipless pedals also mean that you can only loan the bike in question to someone who either has the correct shoes or happens to be your shoe size. 

It is a work in progress. I wear a pretty stupid looking helmet. 

Rich Evans said:

Considered clipless? The cost of shoes/pedals is kind of steep, but you do offest that a bit by not beating the crap outta your street shoes. And with SPDs, you can actually walk in the cleats -- I take my bike up and down stairs in 'em. I've got an 8.2 mi commute, and love mine. I keep street shoes at work, and that helps a lot.

Tony Adams 6.6 mi said:

The inexpensive BMX platforms on my frankentown are quite grippy wet or dry. All the BMX pedals I've seen have the little spikes for traction. And they look kind of awesome. 

Dave Grossman said:

I like the idea of attaching neoprene to the clips.  

Doug, the problem is when the pedals get wet or my shoes are wet from stopping, they constantly slip off the pedals.  For a 9 mile commute it is annoying to get pedal slippage.  I was told that Ergon makes a pedal that is good for preventing slippage and keeping your foot properly aligned.

My brother in law is constantly trying to sell me on clipless.  All four bikes I own have either clips or platforms.  I just like the simplicity of wearing most any type of shoe anytime on my bike.  Like Tony said, it is a simple part of my life that I use for transport.  I do ride for sport with singletrack but even then I ride big ole platforms.  I hear bibs keep the gut tucked in nicely though.

Whatever work for you, and lets you keep riding, works.  To each their own, but I do love my spandex clown suit, gore-tex shell, clipless boots, and thermonuclear light array on cold windy nights on Higgins Road :)

 

Amen to that. But... it isnt spandex!

I actually like fact that I have clipless shoes specifically for biking, thus keep my work/play shoes clean. Especially on rainy days.

Now, where can I get one of those thermonuclear light array?



Rich Evans said:

Whatever work for you, and lets you keep riding, works.  To each their own, but I do love my spandex clown suit, gore-tex shell, clipless boots, and thermonuclear light array on cold windy nights on Higgins Road :)

 

I hear bibs keep the gut tucked in nicely though.

That depends on the size of the gut.  ;)

when it's below 25 degrees or so, i slip a pair of chemical hand warmers in my shoes, as that's the only thing that i've found that will keep my toes warm over my 14.5 mile commute. if i had a shorter commute, it wouldn't be necessary, but my commute is so long that no amount of insulation can guard against the cold eventually seeping in.

a nice trick about chemical warmers is that you can prolong their life by sticking them in a zip lock baggie when you're not using them since the chemical reaction that creates the heat needs air to occur. for a pair of 10-hour warmers, i can usually get 3 days of commuting out of them. it makes their use more affordable.

Dave Grossman said:

I need a good solution for keeping my feet warm while still using my MKS toe clips.  I cant fit in insulated boots with the clips, and heavy socks and my usual Sambas just don't do it.  It takes a good 30 minutes at work for my feet to thaw.  Any suggestions?

Glorious cycling weather, cold but the streets are clear.  My favorite kind of riding conditions!  Nothing like a ride through the side streets of Ravenswood on a winter day.

Get a set of BMX flats, I ride those all year and I don't have any issues with feet sliding off of the pedals.  Pedals that are good with clips on them usually are not good without them.

Dave Grossman said:

I like the idea of attaching neoprene to the clips.  

Doug, the problem is when the pedals get wet or my shoes are wet from stopping, they constantly slip off the pedals.  For a 9 mile commute it is annoying to get pedal slippage.  I was told that Ergon makes a pedal that is good for preventing slippage and keeping your foot properly aligned.

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