Having fallen in love with oh so unnecessary but sexy clipless pedals, I got more from Nashbar. They arrived, and you can see an example here – added to the GT Saddleback:

The GT with Nashbar Clipless Pedals

The first thing I noticed about these pedals is that I seem to be able to clip-in a lot easier. Well, easier AFTER I switched to the cleats that came with them. I don’t exactly get it: These are all supposed to be ‘SPD-compatible’ pedals – why would the cleats be different? Well, they are almost the same, actually, but slightly different.

The good news is that these cleats also seem to work okay with the other pedals. Not as good as the ones that they came with, but okay. If things are SPD type, shouldn’t they all work together?

So I took a little trip north this time.

The GT on a road trip

It seems like using clipless pedals helps reduce fatigue a bit. I don’t know. My riding speed varies so much – usually SLOW – that two rides are never the same.

More On The Road

While on the road, I saw a police officer stop and then arrest a bicyclist. I’m not sure exactly why…

Cyclist Arrested

I heard the siren hit momentarily and the guy pulled over. He’s riding a mountain bike in the city, that must be the problem. After he produced ID, the cop made him empty his pockets. I should have taken pictures but I didn’t think of it until near the end of this spectacle.

I guess there was something in there because the next thing was the cop made the guy get down on the ground, then he handcuffed him and put him in the patrol SUV. Or maybe it was the crime of failure to support oil companies. I don’t know.

He sat there a few minutes then a pickup showed up and grabbed the bike. After that, the cop left.

It was a good trip.

I’ve tried to keep things simple so when it comes to riding I have always eschewed the use of equipment that required even more equipment to use. But I finally gave in to all that nagging about getting clipless pedals.

Clipless Pedals
taken on Galloway Road using the cheesy pencam

I didn’t really believe all the hype, you know. The clipless fans tell me how wonderful it all is but I just couldn’t see it. I’m not sure why I tried it. Oh yeah… I guess it was a sale Nashbar had – it was a ridiculously good deal on a combo of shoes and SPD pedals. I figured, why not? I could always use the shoes which looked pretty cool and then the pedals were thrown in for almost nothing. At least I could say I tried them.

Some assembly is required…

First, I had to decide what bike I’d use. I decided to put the new pedals on the Norco ‘Arctic’ hybrid, also known as the Pagani ArtMachine.. It wasn’t hard. I got a pedal wrench for just that purpose. Remember, kids, the pedal on the left (opposite the chain rings) is backward-threaded: you turn clockwise to loosen, counter-clockwise to tighten!

I practiced clipping and unclipping leaning on the van. It seemed easy enough but I’d always heard that you WILL fall the first time or two.

By now it was almost dark but I had to go anyway. I couldn’t stand the suspense. Wheee! It works! What an interesting feeling.

Then I had to take a real ride but waited for daylight and lack of rain. I just took a little tour of Sandlake Road and Galloway Road just to see how it felt.

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The Norco on Top of the Hill
taken on Galloway Road using the cheesy pencam

It’s an almost.. hmm… wonderful experience (hint hint) ..you feel like you are ONE with your machine. I never forgot to unclip..so far. It helps a *little* to be able to pull up as well as push down on the pedals, but I think for me it produces a harder to describe feeling. I like it.

Clipless Pedals
More on the ride

I can’t honestly say it made climbing much easier, but there may be some adjustment required. I do stop a lot for art purposes but as long as I keep making sure to unclip I’ll be fine. The first time I fall because I forgot about the #&*&*#$ things I might change my mind.

Sand Lake, Through Trees
It’s there, honest!

It was a lovely tour, however brief.

The Lovely & Talented Sandlake Inn

I ordered more pedals for my other bikes. I don’t think I’ll go back…