noob questions

i ordered them from UK here:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/exustar-sp705-stelvio-leather-spd-touring-commuter-shoes-black-prod20634/

as far as fit goes, they are pretty high volume. i have narrowish feet so i used some cushion insoles to take up space.

what pedals w/ toe clips you got mark c???

i've had two lots and they've both fallen apart in less than 6 months. most recent ones had a metal clip that made a "you're a shit cyclist noise" if it ended up scraping against the road, so i didn't like them v much

recently I have been intrigued by these. Don't really have a use for them, not exactly going to ride the BMC to a bar.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/200496881373?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y

Crackle, I have these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mks-sylvan-track-pedals/ - They're not the smoothest ever, even afetr I took them apart and regreased the bearings, but they actually work fine and haven't fallen apart under several thousand miles of use.

what are the best otp touring bikes for £700-1000? surly LHT? on-one pompetamine?

I think the cross-check may be a viable alternative to the lht and a wee bit more versatile. Or... Could you put a kaffenback together for that price?

Check the Dawes Range as well

OK so I got my bike yesterday. It is a super nice vintage Bobbin city bike. I got bag and lock and helmet and lights and a nice bell too. It was fucking expensive. Then I rode home in the dark and it was HARD! Why didn't you guys tell me?

Still, can't wait to go home and try it again, but hills that are small in car are big for bike. This will take a little getting used to,,,

not a noob question, more of a noob update

Pics or the proverbial.

http://www.bobbinbicycles.co.uk/

seriously though hoe do you do hills? i have 5 gears

HOW do you

just keep going up hills, it gets easier every time

ugh

also seat hurts.

bike looks nice though. I feel like I must look at total noob to everyone in sight.

it gets better...

ok thank you

my advice is "pedal faster"

no, I tried

it's a city bike not one of your boy racer things

yeah no that's good, a lot of the racers around here like to train on heavier bikes

lol

adam they are experienced. i am also a newbie. but i will say, they are right! hills and seat comfort issues get better every time. :) yay for your bike!

adamrl if you don't have toe clips get them NOW, they will change your life and turn your bike into a totally new machine

http://www.parktool.com/uploads/images/blog/repair_help/feet_100.jpg

biking w/o toe clips is the WOOOORST

that is def on my list!

I cannot cannot cannot speak highly enough of them. They are p cheap, too! Especially considering how fucking amazing they are.

Not only can you pull up with the opposite foot while pedaling but you can also push forward!

Steve, have you heard of clipless pedals? You'd love them!! That said, I have toe clips on my fixie which I commute on and they are pretty good for the job. It's nice sometimes not to have to take special bike shoes everywhere you go.

Admrl, 5 speeds isn't terribly generous, but for hills, go into the lowest gear and see how it feels. If it's too easy, go up one, if it's too hard, you'll have to pedal standing up, or just grind your way up. You may have to get off and walk if it gets too much, there's no shame in it. There's no secret to it (other than "pace yourself" - oh, and get into the right gear *before* the going gets tough, otherwise you'll lose momentum and gain knackeredness unneccesarily - but if the gearing's not right then even this may be irrelevant), but the good news is, as everyone says, it gets much easier pretty quickly if you keep at it.

Theresa, there has been a recall on Trek 7.2 FX bikes, not sure if yours counts as a '2012' model but probably worth checking. Your saddle may fall off 'unexpectedly'.

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/trek-district-fx-recall-2012/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cyclelicious+%28Cyclelicious%29

Xp yeah, I've been looking into them recently but most all of my riding is commuting around the city and never, like, long recreational rides. Everyone's told me to just stick with clips

Are there smaller toe clip cages for women? I haven't changed mine out yet, I think they're "mediums" but they're way too big for me, and I remember having Smalls but they were still too far out in front.

Yes, there are - for e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Toe-Clip-Strap-Set/dp/B002BVXZFS/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3 come in S/M.

I just said that both men's mediums and men's smalls were too large. Have seen "small" estimated as men's US shoe size 6-7. My size is on the small size of a men's 5, so "S/M" is not going to work.

Also I didn't specify before but I won't put plastic cages on.

Aw, why not?? You make plastic cage sad!!!

Because they look cheap and breakable, and also ugly, that's why. Sorry, plastic!

Maybe look into those sturdy velcro straps that seem to be getting popular?

http://urbanvelo.org/hold-fast-frs-review-straps-for-bmx-pedals/

Those look intersting. Still have some reservations (bmx pedals? $60??) but would consider.

theres a small and medium of these:
http://www.amazon.com/MKS-Steel-Bicycle-Pedal-Clips/dp/B005I6D4EA

I put those exact cages on my last bike, in size small. They worked all right, but like I said, could have been smaller. So basically the answer to my question is: no, nobody makes toe-clips in women's sizes.

Good design and good price, though.

what about reshaping the smalls w/ pliers

prob take more than pliers tho, nm

I just did a bit of googling and stumbled upon these Power Grips toe straps; can anyone tell me about these?

Also laurel maybe look into kids sized ones?

I put those exact cages on my last bike, in size small. They worked all right, but like I said, could have been smaller. So basically the answer to my question is: no, nobody makes toe-clips in women's sizes.

They make them in pink, what more do women want? Them to actually fit?

I've seen simple neoprene straps used for mountain biking, and heard that they had some success for reg street use as well, but mostly (as you can see in this thread) people tend to recommend clipless systems as a way to resolve all problems with toe-clips.

i know some hipster dudes love power grips (feetbelts lol), and they certainly make sense in theory. they've gotten popular enough to spawn a couple other competing brands, at least. never used em though. keep yr eyes peeled for some kid that has em on their bike and ask?

For a city bike, I would recommend either platform pedals or toe clips. Clipless for short city rides seems to be oversolving a simple problem.

Toe clips have there merits but they are far from necessary.

"their" sorry, haven't had coffee yet, remedying that asap.