chephy

Chain lube is optional? I don't envy your chain.

They are not strictly necessary, but after you spend $2000 on a bike, not getting "special shoes and pedals" is kinda silly.

CdCf

Looking at the text you quoted, it's obviously a list of essentials to carry on a ride. I certainly don't carry lube when I head out for a ride!

rando

lol actually the lube is in my trunk bag, right now in case. it is essential you lube your chain at some point but I wouldn't necessarily always carry it.

rando

nah, not silly. just optional. plenty of people ride without 'em. I'd rather have lights than special shoes and pedals. lights might save your ***.

chephy

If you bothered to read the first post, as well as the following discussion, it's "obviously" a list of stuff the OP intends of buying. Not necessarily to carry on a ride. I don't normally carry chain lube on my rides either.

chephy

It is optional AND silly.

On $2000-bikes that are not custom-built faux-vintage Grant Peterson's creations?..

I already gave what I think is an apt comparison: getting an expensive light fast bike and not getting clipless pedals + shoes for it is like getting a state-of-the-art computer system and running it with only 32 MB of RAM. It will work, and it is not a safety issue - but you're ridiculously limiting the system's potential. If you knew you were only going to run it with that much memory, it would have made a lot more sense to just get an 10-year-old second-hand machine. Paying big bucks for the most current hardware and then using only a tiny fraction of its capabilities because you are restricting efficiency in one crusial area IS silly.

jcm

The most elusive of all the things you will need: Time

rando

well, I disagree that it's a major issue, that you are ridiculously limiting the system's potential by not riding with special shoes and pedals. unless you are racing, what does it really matter? it kind of depends on what the OP means by "getting the most out of cycling" and what he/she plans to do.

chephy

Yeah, it matters. There is a good thread in Commuting on the issue. One thing you need clipless for is to prevent foot slippage (which might not sound like a big deal, but it is, and not just for safety, but for general efficiency as well). The other is for far superior acceleration and hill-climbing abilities.

You may say that these are not crucial things - and you're right. But then this same logic ("why do you need it if you're not racing?") applies to the OP's choice of bike. Do you really need carbon forks and seatstays and an Ultegra derailleur and expensive aero rims if you're not racing? Well, perhaps you do, if your reason is to go somewhat fast, and are willing to pay big bucks for relatively small improvements in efficiency (face it, a $1000-bike will not be twice as heavy or twice as slow as a $2000-bike). Then going clipless definitely helps - for the price, it's actually a far greater increase in efficiency than getting 105-Ultegra drivetrain as opposed to a Sora-Tiagra drivetrain. And if you plan to roll to work slowly and leisurely... then you don't need clipless pedals, but you WAY overspent when buying your bicycle.

Anyway, gotta run. I'm sure the OP can make an intelligent choice for himself after reading about different opinions on the matter. Cheers.

colombo357

Not possible. Anything DDR2 800 and above is only available in 512MB at the minimum.

But yea, the OP should get clipless pedals and shoes. The sooner he gets used to them, the better.

Chiboy

I'm the OP (original poster?) and WOULD like to get pedals and shoes. From what I've read here at BF, it seems like the Crank Bros. Candy would be a good pedal. What would be decent shoes? Incidentally, I spent $800 on my year old (new to me) Spec. Tricross Comp, not $2,000.

I went to Perf. Bike in Schaumburg IL yesterday and they really didn't have much to try on. It seems like I'm a 45 in the MTB shoes I tried.

Keith99

I'm no expert on bike shoes, but I've used a fair pop of speciality shoes and boots including cycling shoes and I think I can make a couple of points. Fit is number 1. Nothing else matters if the shoe does not fit and some shoe lines run narrow or wide and if your feet are in hte other class no shoe in that line will fit you. The second thing is decide what you want the shoe for and select a shoe that fits your needs.

Actually the same for all the advice here. Listen to all of us, but make your own decisions based on how you ride and plan to ride. And perhaps go back in a couple of months and decide there are a couple of things you now want to add to the things you 'need'. Your rides should change over time. If they don't and yuo don't end up bored you are an exceptional person.

chephy

SWEET deal!

I spent $2000 on mine, and I officially hate you.

Gurgus

Just one suggestion about clipless shoes I'd make; Go with MTN bike clipless shoes. They have recessed cleats so that if you have to walk for any distance, you won't ruin your cleats. Also, most of them don't look like spaceships, the way some roadie shoes do. I've got Crank Bros "Smarty" SPD style pedals and some addidas SPD MTN bike shoes. Took a little bit to get used to clipless and you WILL most likely fall over a couple of times before you get used to uncliping, but they make all the difference in the world. I wish I had gotten into clipless years ago.

Someone earlier in the thread said "money" for what an enuthsiast needs after the bike. I've got to agree. I'm afraid to think about how much money I've spent in the last seven years since I got into cycling and I try and keep it cheap. Funny; I remember think cycling would be a good cheap hobby. ********. Still, beats playing golf.