noob questions

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.

Toe clips being far from necessary is total BS; they are wonderful in every way!! I mean not just for going up hills or steady inclines but also accelerating from a stop is so much faster w/ clips.

I agree to disagree. I'm much faster from a stop on platforms than I am with clips/clipless.

wow power grips were big in like 1990 didn't know they still made them.

i'd agree w/ shasta only becuz i never seem to get my left foot in the first try, that stumble wasting precious cat 6 seconds

I'm waiting for someone to come up with the stylish work shoe that accepts a look cleat and is still walk able. I will be king of the cat 6ers

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/smsimg/79/1227-3472-full-srt707-79.jpg

come on, it says for formal or casual use right there

thanks, ed! i think mine is 2012! i will have to go look at those bolts. i wonder if the dealer was planning on alerting customers...

Ed will the dromarti sportives not take look cleats?

Ed will the dromarti sportives not take look cleats?

it was a somewhat facetious comment. Most days I don't bother with cleats, commute is PO short right now. Just stand on the eggbeaters.

Maybe I should add this project to the spd compatible high heel e' is on at me to create

a friend uses power grips and loves them. like color anodized components, hipsters have revitalized a once forgotten fad from the 90's. supposedly power grips are easier to get into than toe clips - i've never used either, so i don't know. my preferred urban setup (i have have said this before, so sorry if i'm being redundant) is a crank brothers mallet - cleat for longer rides, regular shoe on the pins for everything else.

I'm curious about the feetbelts, mostly so I could wear a greater variety of shoes.

Struggling to get tyre onto wheel, bought a large screwdriver-like tyre lever for super bonus leverage. Net effect: two inner tubes shredded. Ok, not a question, but I sure feel like a fucking n00b.

Get a tyre bead jack or try a different tyre.

yeah, i mean i managed in the end with 5 (five) different plastic tyre levers, but tyre bead jack look intrestin.

my latest randonneurs were ridic tight, but quickstiks never fail me.

OK guys

So I have been riding for about a week now, getting better. It is super fun but I am not yet very confident on the roads. I am enjoying it but now I hate drivers. Does that make me a real cyclist?

Also my bike is beautiful and awesome but very heavy. And I feel stupid in my helmet, but I wear it.

I am enjoying it but now I hate drivers. Does that make me a real cyclist?

Welcome, friend.

hatin is bad

everyday I'm
http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ohdeedoh/033109strider.jpg

lol i hate runners! but i find that hilarious because when i run i hate bikes! what it boils down to is that the path i ride on for half my commute is just too popular/congested. last weekend we went for a recreational ride and it was AWFUL trying to ride by groups of 15 ppl out for a leisurely stroll. i totally believe in mixed use trails and that everyone should get to enjoy them... it's just.. hard in reality.

Hating drivers is normal, but it's healthier for all concerned if you can downgrade it to some combination of fearing/suspecting/not trusting drivers.

Why do you feel silly in a helmet?