[GuyContinental]

@vvill 40926 wrote:

One other option for pedals is Crank Brothers. Their Candy model is my go-to pedal because it’s so easy to clip in and out with 4-sided entry (although SPDs are pretty easy too), and the platform is also big enough to ride casually unclipped as long as your shoes have some tread. I’ve also never destroyed a Crank Bros pedal yet – I can’t say the same about SPDs (although they were not Shimano branded pedals). They also clear mud/debris pretty well (which is why they are so popular in CX racing).

For shoes, they use the same 2-bolt mount as SPDs (the cleats are similar but not really compatible). I have Specialized MTB shoes and Shimano commuter shoes and they’re both walkable yet reasonably stiff.

I don’t like combo pedals myself because you have to flip them.

FWIW I went from platform => toeclips => SPDs => Crank Bros

I’m a huge fan of crank brothers, the four sided clip can’t be beat and IMO is the best there is for clearing muck off road and in CX. However, off-road I do break them. A lot. Like a set a year. Probably have gone through 8-9 sets, learned early just to go with the chromoly ones. Usually from high speed contact with big pointy rocks breaking one of the cages. But they are cheap and now I have lots and lots of spare parts so I can constantly re-build them. They are also easy to service (if you bother), free floating (some people don’t like that, but my knees insist), and the shorter release threshold set-up makes sense for beginners. My wife uses the Candy- the little bit of platform gives her a touch more feel for the pedal and added confidence- I prefer the standard pedal, I like the way that even unclipped it catches on the lugs of a MTB shoe- the Candy feels weird to me, not enough platform to use, too much to catch in your lugs- YMMV.

One note on the Mallets- I bought a set for my kid-hauling bike but never liked the feel of the clip under a street shoe. It’s fine but not ideal.

Whatever you buy, try and get the stiffest shoe your budget will allow (I know others will disagree) it makes a big difference in pedaling efficiency and will spread the contact are over more of your foot. I use Specialized MTB Carbon Pro shoes (overkill for commuting) and honestly can’t feel much of a difference in efficiency vs my Speedplay road pedals + road version of the same shoe. In fact I’m all sorts of annoyed with “road” pedals- tons of maintenance, squeaks, low lifespan and I end up walking like a duck for little appreciable gain.

[GuyContinental]

@KLizotte 40812 wrote:

Don’t forget colds and the flu will take out a few competitors along the way as well as vacations and work duties. I think there will be room for movement amongst the teams.

I’m already down… all week…

The plague is awful even WITH a flu shot. Ugh. Sorry ‘Ochos…

[GuyContinental]

@DismalScientist 40369 wrote:

I accidentally turned the wrong way on the WOD on Tuesday:
http://app.strava.com/activities/36829949

Bah, you didn’t even make it to Reston!

[GuyContinental]

@vvill 40341 wrote:

The only thing then I guess is the chainrings. How often do those need changing? Mine have 5800 mi on them right now.

I don’t subscribe to the “change the front rings along with the chain and cassette” theory- even high end rings are considerably thicker than a comparable cassette cog and IMO wear significantly slower. In theory, I change mine when they are hooked or causing shifting problems, in practice I’ve never had one survive long enough to replace, I’ve always busted a crank, upgraded or destroyed the ring (MTB).

In your case, if you don’t have shifting problems, get more diligent about the lube and replace the cassette & chain when you need to (yes it will wear faster now that it’s worn but who cares, you are going to toss it (or make art out of it) anyway.

[GuyContinental]

Agreed, FODoom is awesome- in fact I just gave one for a driver leaning on their horn behind a car that had kindly stopped for me on Sterling Blvd…

For me it’s for really over the top rude behavior when others are being good kindergarteners.

[GuyContinental]

Great thread on chain cleaning (I shall not re-post my OCD-ness)

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?1480-Chain-cleaning

I use Pro-link and wipe down the chain frequently. Every few weeks I do a full on-degrease in a sonic cleaner and a deep re-lube. Rain requires immediate wipe down and re-lube. I get tons of miles out of my drivetrain (5k or more from Ultegra) but when I replace I do both cassette and chain.

[GuyContinental]

Meethinks that Hans is going for the longest “oops I missed my office, commute” with 35 extra miles this morning.

http://app.strava.com/activities/37141481

Go Ochos!

[GuyContinental]

@mstone 40136 wrote:

Why on earth would someone steal shower shoes?

Chewy and full of protein… duh…

I worked in the Hoover building (wow, a long time ago now)- at least at the time, there were a bunch of (well) hidden showers besides the gym. On the plus side, no one knows about them so they are secure and there’s never a line. On the minus side no-one knows about them so they don’t get cleaned… Reagan is totally the way to go if you can get access. As said above the bike racks are in the courtyards and next to VIP/Secret Service parking- it would be hard for your ride to be safer outside.

Like everything in that crazy building expect to go up 2 floors and down 3 to get anywhere and if you run into the shark tank, you’ve gone to far north and east.

[GuyContinental]

Ahhhhhhh!!! Take it awaaaaayyyy!!! No more, I can’t stand it!!!

[GuyContinental]

Whoohoo! I’m right in front of the guy with the broken leg… (no offense Vince…)

[GuyContinental]

Awesome posts PC, thanks- I printed them out and will get rolling today.

[GuyContinental]

@americancyclo 40005 wrote:

Sounds like you need a USB rechargeable light.

Or rechargeable batteries. I have a eneloop charger at work and one at home for the aaa batteries that my taillight eats.

[GuyContinental]

@FFX_Hinterlands 39935 wrote:

How about standing on a balance board while working in front of a computer all day (if you do that kind of work). Seems like it would help with those lateral knee muscles that don’t get used until you’re standing on the pedals. Sounds like my kind of workout as well.

That actually sounds fun… knees are strong though- I really need lower back.

Some of these look promising: http://www.livestrong.com/article/112696-ab-exercises-can-desk/

[GuyContinental]

I wanted to bump this up for some advice- (PC’s post is one of the most informative I’ve seen, hopefully he’ll chime back in)

I’m looking for a cycling-specific set of core exercises that I can do throughout the work day (at a desk?) and supplement with a evening routine. Does anyone have some once and hour work break exercise sets that they follow that can build up some lower core strength? The simpler the better…

[GuyContinental]

@ejwillis62 39915 wrote:

my competitive nature is surely making me ride more considering the fact that I have NEVER ridden in the winter before but I hate to lose so this whole competition thing has been an awesome thing. I have ridden with a headlight in the dark. Which I love, I never thought I would do that. Now we shall see how whimpy I get when there is wet or snow out there. I am not at all sure about that. But I love a challenge so we shall see and after the marathon training this winter riding is way way easier, evertime I ride and coast past a jogger I grin. I love coasting.

There were a LOT more riders out (in both directions) on the WOD this morning than I’m used to seeing in the dark… at first I thought it was the usual new years resolution crowd, now I think that it was all of YOU (more so because dang near everyone dimmed their lights).

[Author]

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