fisher@banzai.DEC (Ed Fisher, 381-2377) (03/10/86)
RE: Pedal bindings There were 3 bedal binding systems displayed at the New York Bike show: The Look system A system from Cyclebindings Another system (don't have the name) The Cycle bindings system has 3 types of shoes and 3 types of pedal: Tourist (like a sneaker), sport (more like a cleated shoe), and Racing (definitely like a cleated shoe). The 3 pedals all look the same so the difference is a matter of construction and possibly tension on the binding pins. In theory you can mix and match the shoes and cleats but I don't know why anyone would. The pedal is a plate, approx 3.5" x 1.5", with a raised center part that looks like a .5" square bar and has 2 spring loaded pins on the ends. The "bar" can be adjusted rotaionally within the pedal to accomodate pronation. It and its mating the the shoe cannot be adjusted forward or backward so it looks like the connection point on the shoe MUST be under the ball of your foot or you wont be in the right position. The pedal has a sealed bearing. The plate is always in the right position (bar vertical) so you never have to flip it. The mating part of the shoe is a trough about 2" by 1+" with a sloping section toward the rear. The best way to make the connection is to catch the pedal bar with a corner of the trough and give it a quick twist. It hold pretty tightly but a practiced quick twist will get you out. They said that Nelson Vails had ridden it without jerking the thing apart. What they had at the shoe were prototypes, shipment is expected for June-July 86. I would believe that August-September are more likely. Retail should be around $200 for the racing combo. The sole of the shoe was pretty soft. It easily nicked when disengaging the pedal. I don't think anyone could walk anywhere in it without causing major damage, perhaps the touring model would be much more durable for walking. Of course this was a prototype, so the composition of the product might be different. The other system that I did not get the name of is somewhat like a roller bearing on a pedal axle for a pedal and the cleat is a nylon (?) attachment that "replaces the cleat on any shoe." It should be no more expensive than a good pedal, about $50 (but I would not bet on it). I don't know what the delivery dates are.
carlson@ssc-vax.UUCP (Lee R Carlson) (03/12/86)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH A CLEAT ***
I saw an article in "Triathelon" or "Triathlete" or something with "Tri"
in it, recently (latest issue at REI) had a big (many pages) review
of 3-10 (I can't remember) different binding systems. As I recall,
Look, Adidas, Nike(?), Solomon(?) and others pending and currently for
sale were covered.
p.s. Scott, how do I mail something to you ?
--
-- Lee Carlson
-- Boeing Errorspace, Seattle
...{uw-beaver|fluke}!ssc-vax!carlsonleimkuhl@uiucdcsp.CS.UIUC.EDU (03/15/86)
The pedal system you're talking about is the Aerolite ($69 list) I already recounted my favorable impressions of it here after I saw it at the Chi show. -Ben Leimkuhler