Exclusive Review: The X-ALP Launch Is The First Ever Flat Pedal Shoe From Pearl Izumi | Spd Pedals

Actually, I needn’t have worried. The trails soon venture into the woods proper, and traction issues largely disappear. All that chalk is hidden under layer upon layer of leaf mulch, and as lacking in traction as it is, it’s much more of a known quantity for my delicate Northern sensibilities – and it’s no match for the tyres. It’s gratifying to be able to lean the bike over into corners and accelerate out the other side without worrying (too much). The trails are everything I’d imagined them to be – a happy flowing middle ground where there’s fun to be had riding them gently, and fun to be had riding them hard. Short, flattering climbs lead onto flowy, bermy descents. A short, steep chute gives a few of us pause, before we decide that our collective confidence is up to the task, and we ride it anyway. And, once again, grip was there in unexpected but welcome profusion.

The UCI had previously allowed national federations to develop their own rules for clipless pedals. In 2013 the U.S.’s sanctioning body, USA BMX, banned clipless pedals for all Novice racers, regardless of age. Riders who moved up to Intermediate and Expert racers have been allowed to use the pedals.

That includes many of us at The Arizona Republic, even though our employer has frequent prize drawings for those who use alternative modes of transit to get to work. 

The flipside of this wider Q-factor is that the XT flats do add noticeable stability by placing your feet further apart – kind of like using a wider handlebar. This is ideal for gravity-type riding, and those newer to the sport will also benefit from the improved stability. Riders with bigger and/or wider feet will also appreciate the big platform.

“With a claimed weight of just 298 grams, Gamut’s Podium flat pedals are the lightest we have on test. They’re also the thinnest, with the slenderest part at just under 9mm, average at the edges around 10mm, and axle housing at the centre of the body still only 13.5mm. That’s not much space to pack moving parts in, but they’ve managed…” Read the full review here.

Mountain Biking UK celebrates everything that is great about mountain biking, enabling people of all abilities and ages to have a better time on their bike. MBUK brings you all the latest news, coolest kit, plus exclusive info on the newest and best bikes that you can buy.

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

Sixpack Racing is known for its high-quality flat pedals, but earlier this year it released the affordably-priced Vertic Trail pedal to cater for clip-in riders too. We got a set out to Julia Hobson – an experienced mountain bike guide who churns out the miles riding technical, high alpine singletrack – to see how the Vertic pedals fared. Over to Julia!

WASHOUGAL — To hear Shirley Scott tell it, this town’s recent drive toward proliferating public artworks was born out of…

Still, sandal-superfans hold steadfast, and it’s this dogged passion and Shimano’s willingness to cater for this segment of the market that grants the lowly SPD sandal a place in my heart.

DMT E1 The E1 is one of the few flat pedal shoes we have found that uses a BOA closure system, making it quick to tighten while riding. Claimed weight 465g in size 41. €120. Also check out the Specialized 2FO ClipLite.

Chances are that you won’t need to adjust an electronic shift system often so it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you never need to touch it at all.