The Clipless Experiment

Tried riding with clipless pedals and shoes for the first time today. No Bueno =( After riding my whole life with toe clips it uses completely different muscles, aggravated my acl, i felt like i was doing less power transfer, and i fell in the streets of nyc 3 times (2 red lights and one right turn fall when i braked hard to avoid a jaywalking pedestrian coming from behind a double parked car outside of the crosswalk).

On the bright side i learned how to unclip pretty quickly but i dont even see the power benefits that are supposed to offset the mobility loss. This may be an expensive experiment.

Flat

Darnit, less than 2 months and i lost my rear Vrdestein. It almost looked like they would make it. Thank goodness for BikeTiresDirect and their Road Hazard warranty. I reported it to them and they said they would replace it. I will never buy a tire anyplace else from now on.

This weekend

So the pedals and the shoes arrived, shoes were too small, i had to send them back.

I did Nyack this weekend. I finally conquered Police Station Hill (formerly known as Police Precinct Hill, its not a precinct) without getting off the bike. I made it to Nyack then got off the bike and enjoyed the street fair. I bought a bunch of fruit smoothies and a fruit cup at the fair then sat on the street to eat/drink it.

When i got up again i noticed that pain in my right knee again. It seems i have "tweaked" my right ACL. I felt it duringt the commute in today. It looks like i will have to rest, bad timing as this is likely the last real month of outdoor training prior to La Vuelta (i will ride with baklavas and gloves and everything else as much as i can this winter but it wont be uninterrupted training).

With the ups come the downs.

Trying to do this is getting expensive

So i use toeclips on my bike. Anyone who commutes in NYC would be crazy to do anything more restrictive, those who think otherwise let me introduce you to this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgBSj0XIIzM&feature=player_embedded

Everyone and their momma told me i need to go clipless so i had been following some ebay auctions and my usual suspect websites for sales/deals.

I finally pulled the trigger yesterday on a carbon clipess pedal, a shamino shoe, and a camelbak rogue (yes i have a hydroback but everyeone says not enough portage in that for the ride so i bought the rogue).

All in total a little less than $200, my brother said i should have taken up golfing it would have been cheaper.