A cycling jacket that turns into a sleeping bag? Whatever next? | Bike Self Locking Pedals

These criticisms are not without merit — the SPD sandal has a kind of naff normcore-dad-on-holiday aesthetic that I think is thus far unmatched in the cycling world. An admirable feat in a sport where silly clothing is pretty much a prerequisite.  

That said – definitely not a beginnner setup. Tightening the cleat screws even .5nm too much and you can compress part of the housing enough to give you issues with the spring. Breaking in the spring must be a hell of a time for a light rider, and if the missus moves on to them (I have bought her some, but after realising the initial learning curve she lost interest), I’ll have to break the spring in for her. Also actually finding the pedal isn’t just step down and go – you have a few cm wide circle under you foot that you need to mount so like Keo’s etc, you still need to develop muscle memory.

HT’s T1 clipless pedal is aimed at the trail and enduro ride, providing easy engagement with a positive action. They come in a wide choice of colours and there’s a lighter titanium spindle version if you’re feeling flush. The chromoly version here is lighter than Shimano’s XT Trail pedal, but they are more expensive even at discounted prices. There is good ground clearance but the cage doesn’t offer much support. The cleat mechanism takes some getting used to but they are a robust light pedal, that should last quite a while.

Flat pedals have not yet evolved into the One True flat pedal design, but things have never been better for those of us who ride them. The best pedals in the world turn out to have a zone of fuzzy personal preference around them and, once you find yours, they won’t make you into a riding god by themselves, but they’ll certainly help.

I really dislike the look of the current crop of flat-pedal-specific footwear. They either resemble ugly bowling/golf shoes, or clown shoes. Give me a sweet pair of Vans any day. Better designs, better feel/comfort, a lot less expensive, and just plain cooler.

"I am an amateur bike rider and was pretty nervous about riding in the street," she said. "There aren’t dedicated bike lanes in this part of town and people do not respect riders, so I took the sidewalk almost the entire way."

Clipless pedals are popular because they provide a firm, secure connection between bike and rider that’s easier to release than the previous system of straps and slotted cleats. But which of the many systems is best for you?

hands down the most comprehensive list of flat shoes i’ve found on the world wide web, well done Brian, I will be using this list when my current pair wears out. One thing I thought was interesting was that adidas now owns five Ten yet they’re putting out their own shoe…. would like to see some field reports of those Terrex. For now I’ll stick with my Five Ten Contacts

I know I’m not the only one with this problem. The first time I tried a cycling class, the instructor helped me get my feet, clad in borrowed cycling shoes, attached to the pedals. The second time, I was on my own, and spent two full songs smushing my feet against the pedals in the dark and praying for some kind of miracle.

Manufactured from big hunks of forged alloy, the XT flats get a very robust platform for stomping your foot down onto. The body is hollowed out through the middle for mud-shedding, and chiselled around its perimeter to reduce weight. Chamfered edges aim to help the pedal slide off of rocks rather than jam onto them, though the angle of these chamfers isn’t as obvious as what you’d find on say, a DMR Vault.

Cambridgeshire cyclist films driver threatening him – but police say they can’t do anything

Weighing in at 430 grams, the Vault isn’t the lightest pedal out there, but the large platform, and thin profile make it a solid option for most riders. Measuring 105mm x 105mm wide with 17mm of concavity, they disappear under your feet when riding rough, technical terrain.