fred@varian.UUCP (05/03/84)
I feel Bob Fishell's flippant dismissal of cycling shoes worn by some enthusiasts is a disservice to new readers considering the issues of toe-clips (not "traps"-- please?), cleats, etc. Toe clips alone do provide positioning for the foot and improve safety (yes, improve), by preventing the foot from slipping from the pedal when you hit a bump or stop quickly. A foot slipping off unexpectedly can go into the spokes of the front wheel or cause a rather painful transition from sitting on the saddle to straddling the top tube. However, unless you pull the straps tight enough to put your foot to sleep, they do not improve cycling efficiency to any noticeable degree. What actually improves the efficiency is a rigid soled cycling shoe with a cleat for holding in place on the pedal. Nikes or other running shoes are designed to have very flexible soles-- a desirable characteristic for running but not cycling. In fact some foot injuries can result because the flexible sole does not spread the pressure from the pedal over a wide enough area of the foot as a cycling shoe will. As to the issue of cleats, my experience and that of most of the serious riders I know who use them, is thousands of miles without a cleat-related accident. Admittedly, we're all pretty good at snapping open the toe-straps in 50 msec. As to the issue of emergencies while riding, again , my experience is that most emergencies require riding out of danger, not sudden stops. Besides, you do have a finite period of time after stopping before falling over to open the toe straps. If you don't want "real" cleats, there a number of rigid soled touring shoes with molded cleats that make a reasonable compromise between running shoes and bicycle racing shoes. Fred Klink
chuqui@nsc.UUCP (05/10/84)
I have to agree with Ed. Toes straps are only the first step. A good set of
cycling shoes is a neccessity to keep from putting too much strain on the
wrong part of your foot. I, however, don't like cleats. I've always used the
Bata 'Biker' shoe. It is a lot like a tennis shoe with a steel insert so that
your foot spreads the force out equally. It doesn't use a cleat, is comfortable
to walk in, is relatively inexpensive, and works fine unless you are a gung
ho super racer. I used to use them instead of tennis shoes -- when they
wore out beyond their riding days, they'd become my walking shoes. Try that
with cleats.
chuq
--
>From the closet of anxieties of: Chuq Von Rospach
{amd70,fortune,hplabs,ihnp4}!nsc!chuqui (408) 733-2600 x242
Half asleep I hear a voice; is it only in my mind?
Or is it someone calling me, someone I failed and left behind?fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (05/14/84)
(oo)
I don't recall "flippantly" dismissing cleats in my article, it's just
that I don't think they're for everybody. They certainly aren't for
a beginner who's likely to panic the first time s/he tries to put feet
down at a red light. I have a friend who races quite a bit, and he
doesn't recommend cleats for city riding because of the occasional
panic stops you have to make. He does use them to race, though.
I think the decision to use cleats should depend on the area you ride
in. Out in the country where panic stops are less likely, it's probably
OK, but how can you use them effectively in a congested urban area where
you have to stop every couple of blocks? You're either going to ride
with loose straps, which takes away some of the benefit, or sooner or
later you're going to go down. You can always loosen the straps for
an anticipated stop, but not all stops are anticipated. And if you've
ever had your rear wheel go wild on you in some loose gravel or oil,
you know how important it is to be able to get a foot down to catch
yourself. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
I've been toying with the idea of getting cleats for long excursions in
the farm country west of here, but I don't think I'd want to use them in
the city, where I do most of my riding. I know they deliver an efficiency
benefit, but I feel better knowing I can uncouple myself from the bike on
reflex.
--
Bob Fishell
ihnp4!ihu1g!fish