Road Cycling

[Martynt74]

I can't imagine switching to push a lot of power, with confidence, with flat pedals?!?! (Not for performance, for confidence and safety)

Maybe helps that i can't sustain huge power, but i've no issue with the odd push around 800w, the pedals do have small pins that help avoid slippage. The only time i've had issue was at the Traka when it got a bit muddy and mud filled the lugs on my shoes and then slipped around a little bit.

The other issue is that there's no "float". Your feet get locked by the pins but that's about it. I saw a review from SeaOtter where a company have released some which have float built into the axle which would be pretty cool. Just seemed a bit expensive.


Also have agreed to leave the Don Quixote trail in September. As cool as it would be to participate in the first edition, i'm selfishly going to wait till next year when they've ironed out some kinks. I've also signed up for a very mountainous marathon in November so sticking with the original focus of prioritising trail running for this year.

 

[fez]

I'm getting a lot of heat to move to SPD pedals! Every group ride or race I get comments about riding flats. I'm perfectly happy in them and can keep up fine so I think it's just them feeling that I could be faster. I'm not really arsed though, but it's getting to that point that so many people are saying it, I should probably do as I'm told

Every time they look into this they seem to come to the conclusion that it actually makes no difference really. I love the feeling of being clipped in but I imagine it wouldn't take long to adjust to riding flats on a road bike. If you don't want to change, don't.

I'm also a tart so I like the way it looks and the whole cycling shoe, sock thing.

 

[PikeyPriest]

Every time they look into this they seem to come to the conclusion that it actually makes no difference really. I love the feeling of being clipped in but I imagine it wouldn't take long to adjust to riding flats on a road bike. If you don't want to change, don't.

I'm also a tart so I like the way it looks and the whole cycling shoe, sock thing.

I recently swapped spd to spd-sl and can confirm no differences in power transfer. I also don’t believe carbon soles help power transfer. The pedal is under your foot so the amount of t of flex is minimal anyway.

The spd-sl road shoe range was better and I
wanted Velcro (like a child) rather than boa as had two start slipping. I would be happy on flat pedals for all my outdoor cycling, I think sprinting is the only area I’d notice and I save that for zwift.

 

[grudas]

For me I just like the confidence of being clipped in.. I’ve got way too many shin scars from bmxing days too..

Also pull and push is useful.

 

[fez]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't go back to flats. I would ride spds on my MTB if it didn't scare me. I love the fact my foot is always in exactly the right position. I love the fact I can adjust my shoes tighness on the fly easily. I love that I never have to worry about my foot coming off the pedals when I hit a bombhole in the road.

Its just that arguably there is no performance benefit for us mortals.

 

[#Chri5#]

Did a group ride on Sunday with about 10 of us. Started at just after 7:30 to try and avoid the worst of the heat and it worked for the most part. We were all done and home before 1pm and it was only truly getting too hot near the end of the ride. What it did tell me is that I really don't like a loud freehub. I had been looking at a set of Cadex Ultra 50s on ebay to get a slightly wider and ligher set of wheels and I heard they were loud. Guy on the ride had a set and man they are obnoxiously loud. My Shimanos are so quiet in comparison and I don't think I could go back to a really loud freehub. Surprising more brands don't make quiet freehubs as a selling point.

I'm with you on stupidly loud freehubs. My DT350s are super quiet right now as I've not long cleaned out & regreased the freehub but they are still pretty quiet (IMO) when ready for a quick service.

I was out for 8am yesterday and home for about 12.30. It was getting properly hot by 11ish, so followed official UCI heat protocol and raided a Co-Op for an ice cold coke and a Magnum For the first time in what seems a long time, I felt a rear wheel puncture when the sealant sprayed up legs. Kept riding to let the sealant do it's job - it didn't feel like I lost much pressure when I checked a five minutes so didn't bother getting the pump out. Anyway, I think I may be finally due a new rear tyre...



It's only lasted ~3500km. I suppose I better change the front as well as that's on 6500km.

 

[fez]

For some reason I am getting loads of little punctures at the moment (and a big one). I took off my gp5000 AS TR 32mm tyres and moved back to some part worn S TRs from last year and seem to have had about 4 tiny punctures and then got a nice big gash that required 2 plugs to seal.

Was in the bunch and a few people shouted "puncture!!" so I too shouted puncture to the rest of the group. Turns out it was me with the puncture but it sealed itself back up. I started with ~73psi at the start of the 120km and by the time I got home I was at about 45psi. Probably should have pumped it up again. Felt somewhat bouncy by the end of the ride!