phoolish

The Fates have it in for me.

I picked up some speedplay x2s a couple of weeks back, but I still wanted to use my bike for commuting. I looked around for some clip-on decks, but there was nothing out there.

I said to myself "It's time that I made some." And that was that.

One extra pair of speedplay cleats later, and I finished these:






They look beautiful, no?

Now, I thought, I'll be able to keep the pedals on the bike and just pop these little beauties on when I need to ride while wearing my street shoes.

A quick test ride was in order. I grabbed the bike, headed outside, put my feet in the pedals, and took off. The float that the X pedals put into the toeclips was weird feeling, but I thought I'd get used to it. I rode for a little ways, hit the first hill, stood up, and put my weight on the first pedal. BAM the float had put the pedal at the edge of its clipout angle, and the thing went flying. I dropped left, hard, and tore my poor bar tape again.

Analysis: The free float on the speedplays renders my experimental pedals pretty much useless. Like Icarus, I flew too high, and also like Icarus, I shall pay for it by replacing my bar tape for the second time in as many weeks.

Even though I busted, I still feel kinda ingenious.

BeardedMonk

Well I don't know if 'Ingenious' would be the word I'd use.. but it certainly made for an entertaining read! Made my day

Toothpick

You've got too much time on your hands.....at least you tried.

roadfix

I remember some years ago, triathletes used to use platforms just like those. Maybe they're still around...?

jfmckenna

LOL
Dude don't give up! I really like the screw ' tab ' for flipping the pedal over to slide in, nice touch

phoolish

If you've got any info on how I could make these things work or purchase something similar but that won't kill me, by all means post up.

I'm still into the concept, even if this implementation is outright deadly.

djbowen1

sorry, but look at this, just a little nicer looking than yours
https://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?f...latformbig.jpg

djbowen1

picture

Avalanche325

No wonder the government keeps making new laws to try to protect us from ourselves. Trying out for the Darwin awards, are we?

ImprezaDrvr

Well, seemed like a good idea in concept. The implementation was a bit off, I guess. There are plenty of things I would try to DIY on a bike, but that's not one of them. And now I know why my instinct was to avoid such a project.

phoolish

I didn't pick this username for nothing. :)

I guess I'm going to order a pair of those production platforms. While I think mine look better (I mean come on! Who'd pick black plastic over real oak?), those will probably not hurt me nearly as badly.

Avalanche325

But you should have put a nice stain on them. It brings out the grain and provides a nice finished look.

Bluechip

Oak? Looks like fir to me. Maybe pine. Definately a softwood.

trekvet

What is missing is one of those plastic water pipe clamps on the inside that would engage the pedal spindle and so stop the float. Next please.