Originally Posted by
saddlesores
if you got shoes spd or otherwise you can walk in,
you can always find cheap platform pedals as
temporary replacements.
I suppose it depends a bit on how much time you plan to spend in any one place. Tune the bike before you leave.
I've had a few "issues" (here in the USA), but nothing insurmountable.
- One one trip with the folder, a pedal with AWOL. I'm not quite sure what happened. I disassembled the bike for packing. Then no pedal at the other end. No place to lose it. So, perhaps it got lost when disassembling. I got a pedal off of another bike which I used for an afternoon until I located a suitable replacement. It was a bit odd... Reminding myself... Pull Up - Don't Pull Up - Pull Up - Don't Pull Up...
- Pulled a cleat off as above. Pried it out with the pocket knife and reinstalled. No parts lost. I was only 1/2 mile from home so I fixed it at home, but carrying a set of Allen wrenches would be sufficient.
- Shimano or Wellgo SPD? One of the pivot pins unscrewed. Nothing lost. Since the pedal was double-sided, one side worked, one didn't hold. Just detensioned the pedal and screwed it back together.
- Bearings can tighten or loosen. If using Shimano style pedals, perhaps bring one of those pedal disassembly tools to allow bearing cleaning, packing, and adjustment.
Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
I do not fully agree on the bolts staying tight. When you first install cleats on a new shoe, the sole of the shoe is plastic and it will slowly deform from the shape of the cleat. Thus, the bolt will loosen up slowly at first as the sole conforms to the cleat. I think it best to check the bolts after a few weeks, then again after a few months. And maybe the beginning of the next year. I have always found if I do that, I catch cleat bolts that are not yet too loose and I can tighten them up before problems develop. Do not just plan to tighten them once when new. I also carry one spare cleat bolt in my collection of spares, although I have never lost a cleat bolt yet.
Good idea. I have a few mystery squeaks. Perhaps I'll try retightening the cleats.