Well apparently everybody’s done it at some point. I haven’t. At least until last night I hadn’t. I’m talking about falling over at traffic lights unable to release your shoes.

Now there is no doubt in most cyclists minds that the single most influencial ‘upgrade’ you can apply to a bike is a set of clipless pedals, the superior efficiency, power, and dare I say it, security is just so noticable. People are often put off initially by thought of the above, but it’s so much safer than a strap and toe clip or a bare flat pedal for most cycling outings, despite what I am about to describe.

I’ve been riding in clipless pedals for 20+years and I’ve never fallen over at traffic lights or pulling up at the bottom of a trail. Until last night.

I remember proudly unpacking my first set, back in 1991 some Onza HO (ti of course) clipless pedals with a choice of elastomers to vary float. HO stood for High Output. NO more like – No Output! I never seemed to get them engaged. Bunny hops were lethal. And in the era of whispers becoming shouts about knee issues with other brands, the Onza’s seemed so sensible a choice. I realise now that it could have been more that you spent most of your time not actually engaged to the pedal so your knees ended up less abused perhaps? They did look very cool though. And that is important.

Anyway, pedal on 21 years and design, technology and safety has moved on leagues. However, last night I joined the club and did the ‘junction two step’ (or no step) for the first time.

Straight down, fighting, I think adequately describes my slow decent onto tarmac in front of a whole village worth of bystanders (of course) supposed to be watching a football match, but temporarily finding my audible struggle much more interesting a spectator sport. Such a shame too as up to that point I had such a smug glow about me riding my new Speedplay X1 Ti’s (sort of the spiritual successor to the HO Ti in many ways). These things are daft light. At 150g a pair and looking like a lollipop, how could I resist? Well, on returning home I discovered the piece of information that would have meant I didn’t need to visit the chiropractor this evening….I overtightened them, it was indeed user error! One of the only times I ‘m sure, I’ll be glad to know that I was in fact to blame.

 

lovely pedals…

 

 

Ah, the crucial warning that slipped out of the box unnoticed when i fitted them pre-ride…

 

A poor mechanic blames their tools, a really poor one blames not seeing the instructions in the first place.

They do feel really good and I like the two sided entry, still getting used to the float though, it’s even more than my worn out spd’s on my cross (which is quite a lot)…

 

 

So, what’s been on the menu in here this week?…

dhb eyewear has been been a mainstay the last couple of days. They just fit so nicely (trying on sunglasses is a prerequisite of setting up the lighting for these 360deg spins).  Reckon I’m taking some home this weekend in the vague hope the sun lasts…Maybe try the variable lens options just in case…

 

 

 

 

And chainrings…

Including this magic Shimano LX 42t that floats about the studio on it’s own from time to time in a ghostly fashion…

 

Caught it!…

 

Sometimes we get called upon to help out our friends in the workshop with illustrations of ‘how to’ for bike instructions…

 

Here’s my glamorous assistant Jules demonstrating ‘how to’ fit wheels and tension a chain correctly on a Sturmey Archer drivetrain…

 

 

Check that chain tension Jules…

 

One of the nice things about happening to have a 38,000 sq ft warehouse full of bike bits next to your office is the ability to check out pretty much anything on the market in the flesh at lunch time. So, for no other reason than going shopping, here’s what’s sat on my desk right now as I write this….

Oil Sick or Matt Carbon? I’m rather taken with Arundel cages at the mo…

Your own personal bike shop next door. Perfect.

So, moving on, Garmin Edge 200? 500? 800? (I’m just playing now)…

 

 

 

 

Odd things happen in here too. You get in and a pair of prototype shoes has appeared on your desk in the night with a post it note attached saying ‘shoot me’.

Nice dhb T1 Tri shoes….

Lovely attention to detail…

mmm, shiny carbon sole…seems a shame to bolt a cleat to it really…

 

 

Cake of the week? The good old fashioned donut. Sometimes, if it ain’t broke…

 

It’s looking bad weather wise (round here) this double bank holiday weekend, but hope you get out and get some miles in. Saturday’s looking best if you do.

Until…

Gus