Gnar Gnot Gnecessary: Great rides don’t need bluebird skies | Bike Flat Pedals

While this isn’t the most recent Shimano XTR model, we reckon you can’t go wrong with this top of the line item. That high performance is reflected in the price, but we’ve found discounts to make the purchase a little more palatable.

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“My move to Speedplay (about 10 years ago) was all in pursuit of extra cleat adjustment, and it’s something I still prize along with the double-sided entry for the pedals. I use the aluminium 3-hole-adapter baseplate for my cleats because it offers extra fore-aft adjustment and isn’t prone to cracking like the standard plastic adapter baseplate. I’ve found a dry lube works well for the cleat springs, but I always forget to use it as often as I should. I keep using the cleats long after they should have been replaced, which has probably accelerated wear on the pedals, but I’ve still gotten at least a few years before as noticeable rock develops in my pedal stroke.”

The soft padding in the Maltese Falcon makes for a comfortable shoe—more so than a lot of flat-style models—without sacrificing performance. When clipped in to smaller pedals, the sole is stiff enough that it doesn’t flex uncomfortably, and there’s still good power transfer. And on wider, platform pedals, you get the feel of a sticky sole, even in the wet, with the added bonus of being clipped in. Off the bike, the Maltese Falcon has enough flex and grip to walk safely on steep and slippery terrain. In addition to being comfortable, the mesh padding also holds the foot in place to provide a sense of security. The leather upper keeps water and mud out, and the mesh tongue and side panels won’t pinch your foot.

the plot THICKENS turns out the directions actually say to start walking FROM park and ride to some stop on dysart and van burenoh i’ve got time #carlesscommutepic.twitter.com/9w93bCArCp

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Herrigstad and Bendiksen pedal the most typical type of e-bike — those with a battery-powered “assist” that comes via pedaling. When you push the pedals on an e-bike, a small motor engages and gives the rider a boost. The more effort applied, the faster the bike will travel — up to a limited speed assist. Most e-bikes, including Herrigstad’s, come with a power to adjust the boost setting from low, such as on flat terrain, to high, such as on a hill.

And so we set off. It’s very, very (very) moist, but thankfully not actually raining. Breath condenses in curlicues of cloud as we head up the drive that I sloshed my way down in the rain last night; we cross the main road, and then head over a field. It’s at this point, as the terrain dips downwards and speed picks up, that I realise two things – one, that it’s really rather bloody cold, and two, wet chalk is famously less grippy than Yorkshire grit. It’s actually rather greasier than an oiled ferret selling used cars. I make it down to the gate with my front wheel ahead of my back one more by luck than judgement, and giving silent thanks that I removed a couple of psi from the Maxxis Forekaster tyres.

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“Through our work, we’ve seen e-bikes break down barriers for cycling,” MacArthur said. “Particularly people of working age … people (interviewed in the survey) who commuted by e-bike were commuting up to an average of 9 miles. Before e-bikes, 5 miles had been arbitrary wall to cycling for commuters.”

“I like riding my regular bike and still try to commute one day a week on it,” Herrigstad said. “For me, the e-bike allows me to commute nearly every day on it. … It gives me a decent workout and, above all, I enjoy it.”

And so it continues. Some of our younger contingent espy a minor double, which wouldn’t be a problem but for the sharp corner leading into it; a startling display of high-speed direction changing and jump-smashing then ensues, as do a couple of more wince-inducing displays of full-scale jump-casing. I decide to take a lead out of Douglas Adam’s book – if discretion is the better part of valour, and cowardice is the better part of discretion, then I valiantly decline to embarrass myself with a display of my abilities. It simply wouldn’t be sporting.