woodcraft

About 14 yrs old,

riding at high speed downhill into a pond.

Seemed like a good idea at the time....

MotorToad

What is this tripe? Are we going to stand for having sound advice on bikeforums? I THINK NOT! :-D

I'm not sure I could go back to toe clips, but I spent many years in them getting odd looks from the velominati. I wear mtb shoes which are pretty comfortable and don't scrape the cleats on the pavement.

I don't buy stuff until something presents a problem. Riding 4 miles to the skating rink is fine in any gear, but 40 miles of rain starts to show weaknesses in your kit.

one4smoke

indyfabz

Have you calmed down yet?

I can see from your post count that you are new around these parts. The waving issue is sort of a running joke in this forum.

BTW...Do you wave at other pedestrians, or are you one of those "competitive, arrogant, unfriendly prick" pedestrians?

Stucky

That's basically my philosophy of life. Only trouble was, when I bought my used Klein, it came with a set of SPD pedals, so eventually I bought a pair of shoes/cleats, figuring I'd give it a try, what with everyone on these forums always raving about clipless. And I mean, clipless is O-K- not that I dislike it- but I just don't see what the big deal is- Clipless...straps...duct-tape- any kind of foot retention'll do! I do dislike being "locked-in" to having to use only specific shoes for riding, with clipless. But at least I can say that I gave it a try (And probably will continue doing so, as I don't see anything wearing out in the immediate future...)

hairnet

Rode 100 miles without eating. Hardest bonk ever....

joejack951

Rode 45 miles on a really hot summer day with only one 24 oz. bottle of water. Worst cramps ever. I got passed by a couple kids on BMX bikes during the last 2 miles of that ride when I was struggling to turn the cranks over.

rmfnla

Oh, that reminds me of the time a friend and I split a 'lude before a Florida summer ride, also around 1970.

We didn't make it a block from my house when we drifted into each other, and his front axle caught my front spokes, pitching me over the bike.

We were shirtless so I was cut up pretty good, but the 714 was doing its legendary thing so I was feeling no pain.

I did tell my friend we had to get home so he could clean up my back before the 'lude wore off because I knew I'd be a hurtin' gator by then...

Leastbest

Last year on a hot August day I took off for a nice ride and got ten miles in when I realized I had no water bottle. I had skipped breakfast to get on the road early. Even though I found water and got some food I bonked hard at forty miles and limped home. I almost made the call of shame to the wife.

Jiggle

Put little lead weights on my wheels to balance them.

dougmon 

It's taken me a while to write this, but...I ran into my own car. Not hard, wasn't hurt. Just entered the driveway a little quickly.

Really, I have improved since then.

C9H13N 

Rode in Not Bibs.

Rode on SR99 in Seattle during rush hour.

Spent hours overthinking equipment choices instead of riding.

alexaschwanden

selling my bikes and losing money on them, also having a cheap 9 speed cassette blow up and leave me stranded 12 miles walking to the next train station.

rmfnla

Did you tie & solder your spokes, too..?

Voodoo76

The first time I did 100mi, out and back to another town. It was with another relative newbie. We had the usual ill prepared issues. But you can stop for water or pick up a snack, ect. Some things however are not so easily corrected.

We reached our destination without issue. Stopped at a convenience store, had a snack and chatted a bit about how easy the first half was. Got back on the road and very quickly realized we had been riding with a pretty strong tailwind the whole time. It was an epic 50 back home to say the least.

rfmarotti

goenrdoug

Well, it's true. I was pushing 300 lbs when I swung my own big gelatinous leg(s) over a bike for the first time in 20 years... 100 lbs later, they're like steel! I only wish the same for her.

side_FX

For the longest time, I ignored the Specialized DSW bikes because I thought they were bikes for women, like the Trek WSD line.

B1KE

LOL I still do this too, happened to me last week.

Soberider

I didnt practice clipping in and out. at my first stop sign i fell over and hit a bus

Fiery

Why do you need foot retention at all? When I'm not riding clipless, I'm on flat MTB pedals. My feet know where they need to go, I don't need a cage or a belt to keep them in place. I see clips and straps as most of the disadvantages of clipless with none of the advantages (unless you do the whole thing with cleats and tightened straps, in which case it would be more convenient to simply go clipless). What's the deal? Honest question.

Stucky

Very valid points! I'd say, that 95% of the time I don't need foot retention. It just comes in handy when you're pedaling at higher cadences; when it's wet; and climbing [I don't buy into the "you can get more power by pulling up on the pedals" thing- but I do feel that having foot retention when struggling up a big hill- especially when one is out of the saddle; and more so when one is tired and struggling, like on the big hills I have to climb just before getting home.] -Just to keep your feet from slipping off of the pedals. I'm sure, the vast majority of the time I'd be just fine with no retention. It's probably more psychological [like most things cycling] than anything else- you get used to it, and then feel that you "need it" because it seems funny to be without it.

And you're right- clipless is indeed a little more convenient vs. cages/straps. (Although not hugely so for me, as when I rode with cages/straps, I'd keep the straps loose enough to just be able to slide in and out of them without having to fiddle with them).

I think the most valuable aspect of foot retention to me, is the security it offers when out of the saddle. If I lived where it was flat, I'd probably just ride plain-old platform pedals with no retention- as I did for many years when I was younger. And even now, if I had to ride with no retention, I wouldn't even give it much thought- I'm sure I'd be just fine with a "grippy" platform pedal. [Damn these forums for making me try clipless!! ]

Bassmanbob

Release my right foot and lean left.

Canadian_giant

Cages and a loose fitting CCM helmet on my first group ride with elite riders. Dropped fast and shunned like I had leprosy.

big chainring 

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