Clipless & Hybrid??

Clipless & Hybrid? (sounds like some sort of poodle mutt) BUT, I was thinking of asking for SPD mountain bike shoes & pedals to match for my birthday next month. I like being able to walk sturdily and someone let me try their shoes on, liked 'em fine.Not so much chance I'll fall down in the middle of the gym. I thought I could practice with the clipless stuff in spin class a bit before taking them on the road. Question: Are people going to point and laugh at me going clipless on my li'l ole Giant Cypress Hybrid? I mean, I know I'm a nerd, but still....

I think you have a great plan. If you ever buy a road bike, you'll already have the skills. Learning in spin class is a good way to do it also.

Very good idea. Clipless pedals (Shimano SPD M520 if I remember correctly) were on my first decent bike, a Trek 7100 fx hybrid. I am quite sure that it got my love of cycling started, really. It tremendously improves efficiency, I find.

(Although just having stiff sole shoes does make a big difference, to start with.)

Why would people laugh at you? Plus: many commuters do just that.

and what do you Care if they laugh at you??......you're riding my friend!!!

Awesome. I was wondering about putting clipless pedals on my Trek 7200 myself. If I like them, I can put them on my roadbike... if I ever get one. Thanks for posting the question.

Totally WHO CARES!

I wear Mountain bike shoes, they don't look all that different from the road shoes and I love the extra tread on the bottom so you don't ruin your cleats or sound like a tap dancer when walking around.

I use the Crankbrothers Candy C Pedals on my roadie I love them they are so easy.

Do I get looks from some of the foo-foo roadies yes... do I care?

Nope as quoted by the lovely CorsairMac "you're riding my friend". :p

on my hybird - a Trek 7700FX and I wouldn't have it any other way. Same pedals on my road bike too. One pair of shoes and two bikes to choose from, what could be better?? OK,ok, I know, more shoes and/or bikes!!! :D

Thanks for putting my mind at ease! :rolleyes:

By the way, I've been riding every day (just taking Fridays off for date night) for about a week - 6,8,0,10,9,3,8 miles - 10 being my best ever. (I used to ride about 3 or 4 days a week.) I feel fantastic and my riding seems to be improving really fast. There's only one hill on my current routes that still gets the best of me, and her days are numbered. I got this idea from the charts on training for a century ride in Bicycling mag. I felt like I needed to push for a weight breakthrough so I can start enjoying some longer rides.

I can't believe this is me! I skipped gym my ENTIRE junior year!!!

Latelatebloomer...you are NOt alone! :) I was just terrible! in gym...hated anything resembling athletics...such a sissy! NOW, I may be a sissy, but I'm a strong one!! :)

[QUOTE=latelatebloomer]Thanks for putting my mind at ease! :rolleyes:

By the way, I've been riding every day (just taking Fridays off for date night) for about a week - 6,8,0,10,9,3,8 miles - 10 being my best ever. (I used to ride about 3 or 4 days a week.) I feel fantastic and my riding seems to be improving really fast. There's only one hill on my current routes that still gets the best of me, and her days are numbered. I got this idea from the charts on training for a century ride in Bicycling mag. I felt like I needed to push for a weight breakthrough so I can start enjoying some longer rides.

Hey latelatebloomer - I saw the same training chart and thought it looked pretty good. Maybe you and I could do a virtual training program together. I always ride alone but it would be fun to know someone is out there riding along with me and even doing the same distance. Are you thinking of doing a century soon?

Trek, realistically, I don't think I'm going to be up for a century until next year. On those charts in the magazine, I think the weekend rides STARTED at 25 or 30, and last Saturday's 10 was them most I've ever done. I'd like to surpass that by at least a mile or two this weekend, or at least do those 10 miles stronger. Where are you at for your long rides? How fast does an almost 46 year old, 220-some lb woman improve? I feel like there's some point at which my body fat will no longer dominate - that my ride will be less about moving the luggage - when was that for others?

Okay Latelate Bloomer--I am 46 and was almost 220 and I ride 20-45 miles per day. I also am clipless and use mountain bike shoes as I have falled on road shoes.
I started going just 10 miles per day but as I grew to love biking more the bikes became thiner along with my butt...and the miles pile on..
My favorite thing to do is to sneak out of work and do a trail here in my area that is 40 mies.
Watch out this affliction sneaks up on you and before you know it...BAMMMMM You are a biker. :eek:

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Originally Posted by BIKEAWAY

My favorite thing to do is to sneak out of work and do a trail here in my area that is 40 mies.:

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Ah, so you have an eye AND possibly a foot problem... you can't see being at work or you can't stand being inside. I have that problem too. As the days get shorter, I'll possibly have that issue too and try to sneak out a bit earlier.

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Originally Posted by Hammer

Ah, so you have an eye AND possibly a foot problem... you can't see being at work or you can't stand being inside. I have that problem too. As the days get shorter, I'll possibly have that issue too and try to sneak out a bit earlier.

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Can I quote you on that hammer??? I love it!!!


I am soon to be a bicycle commuter and am looking into a good bike to attach a rack, pannier, or any of the sorts to run errands, commute to work, or just tool around aimlessly :D I have not really put alot of thought into shoes, just assumed i would wear my mtnbike shoes (get the same type of pedals for the commuter) I feel so much more connected when i am clipped in...i was playing with a friends new bike around the driveway and almost lost it on a curb cause i forgot i was not clipped (i won't mention the bike was about 2 feet too big for me :cool: ) In fact i am hoping for a pair of these for Valentines day (hey...it is the only holiday right before summer :p )

Besides...reading about all these crazy drivers I may need to get a BMX bike to perform some crazy tricks to avoid ignorant drivers!

Quote away. I stole it from my co-workers. I've never heard it anywhere else. Whenever I say that I have an eye problem, I usually have to explain it. :D

[QUOTE=latelatebloomer]Trek, realistically, I don't think I'm going to be up for a century until next year. On those charts in the magazine, I think the weekend rides STARTED at 25 or 30, and last Saturday's 10 was them most I've ever done. I'd like to surpass that by at least a mile or two this weekend, or at least do those 10 miles stronger. Where are you at for your long rides?

Hi latelatebloomer - I dont think I will be doing a century until next year what with husband that goes away alot and winter coming I think I will have to be happy with grabbing a ride when I can. I was trying to ride 5 times a week but now with Husband away I will be lucky to get out twice a week. The longest I have cycled so far is 25 miles. Yes I did notice those long rides are further than I have gone yet. SO perhaps we can train the program together next year when we have gone a little further - thats if I survive those winter rides. :D

Drop me an private message every once in a while and let me know how you are getting on. I know we can do this century and a little friendly support never hurts. :)

[QUOTE=bouncybouncy]I am soon to be a bicycle commuter and am looking into a good bike to attach a rack, pannier, or any of the sorts to run errands, commute to work, or just tool around aimlessly :D

In fact i am hoping for a pair of these for Valentines day (hey...it is the only holiday right before summer :p )/QUOTE]

bouncybouncy-

I have the shimano sandals and *love* them! They're stiff enough for me, and my toes like the breeze! I've done 20-30 mile rides with them, no problems... In fact, there's a fellow on another list from Asheville who rides in them year round. He swears by sandals and socks and sealskins (waterproof socks) for keeping feet warm in the winter. I haven't gone that route yet, but may try it in cooler weather. I still like my sidis for longer rides usually, though (I find that my foot moves in the sandal as I sweat which can make clipping out a little difficult).

Re: commuting/errand bikes
I ride a Cannondale T800 for errands - bought it to commute on, but that hasn't happened for a while. It's HEAVY, but then I do have a rack and fenders on it. I can't stand to not ride on drop bars. My hands start hurting quickly - so, I had to get a road bike of sorts. I've been looking for a lighter bike to serve the same purpose (did I mention this bike is heavy?? I actually have trouble navigating the 2 sets of stairs I have to use to get it on the road while carrying it), but haven't found anything yet. If someone shoots you a great idea, please share :) I know there are some (Hey Emily!) who use bike fridays for the same purpose. Maybe she can give you more input. I'm still drooling *strike that* looking at a bike friday. Maybe when spring comes...

For panniers, I've used arkels for several years now and they're still going strong. They have a mechanism that keeps them from bouncing off the rack.

Good luck with your move - when are you headed to asheville?

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

Good luck with your move - when are you headed to asheville?

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It all starts in October...my bosses house will be ready for their move on the 15th. my fiancee and i are getting married in Feb and with his job and the wedding we are looking to move us up March 1st...the in-between time i will be back & forth. I will probably take one bike with me to asheville during that time (probably the road since the mtbing in FL is killer during that time - not that i will have any time to ride :( )
We have already let our riding go down the tubes but we are trying to keep up what riding we can...i am back into running cause of the lack of sunlight :( We have already compiled a list of clubs and rides and trails to ride so when we get there we will be unstoppable (slow on the hills, but unstoppable nevertheless :p )



Where are you? we will have to keep in touch and hook up (maybe we can start a Amic Veloci east coast version?) ;)


OK...back to the topic at hand...clippless & hybrid??? a good choice!!! :p

That's what I did before got my nice touring bike. used those Shimanos with the platform on one side and mountain biking shoes wth my hybrid (Fuji Palisade). The combo worked great, and I'm going to swap those pedals onto my touring bike. No one looked at me askance at all with that combo and really think even with the touring bike the only people that are likely to notice are the guys in the spendy jerseys and bike that cost more than several of my month's salaries, but they are usually blazing by too fast to look at my shoes lol!

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Originally Posted by bouncybouncy

We have already compiled a list of clubs and rides and trails to ride so when we get there we will be unstoppable (slow on the hills, but unstoppable nevertheless :p )

Where are you? we will have to keep in touch and hook up (maybe we can start a Amic Veloci east coast version?) ;)

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Bouncy-

I'm in the central part of NC - in Durham - about 4 hours east of Asheville. I'm in the Boone area pretty frequently, but that's a couple hours north of Asheville. That said, an excuse to visit Asheville...hmmm... :D

I'll have to work on my hill training - they kicked my *** last time I was up that way. Good luck to you with the move!

Carrie Anne

I've actually thought about putting clips on, but I'm deathly afraid because my mind wanders...A lot! After the fall without clip-ons this summer can you imagine me in them?

I've read an article Steve Madden (Bicycling mag editor) did on researching spinning classes and found cyclists clipped-in.. So yes that's definitely a great way to boost your confidence.

Thanks for posting the clip-sandals I think I'll grab those and some rollers for the off-season, since Terry Cycling thought nothing of us 'full-figured' women to ride outdoors in the fresh air. Talk about a limited source of winter clothing!

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

Bouncy-

I'm in the central part of NC - in Durham - about 4 hours east of Asheville. I'm in the Boone area pretty frequently, but that's a couple hours north of Asheville. That said, an excuse to visit Asheville...hmmm... :D

I'll have to work on my hill training - they kicked my *** last time I was up that way. Good luck to you with the move!

Carrie Anne

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Thanks...Boone sounds like a great area to ride (Lance rides there for crying out loud) we have a mtbike buddy in Raleigh, and look forward to checking out Boone along with the rest of the area...right now we are concetrating on moving but the countdown is shrinking and i am getting anxious!!! :p

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Originally Posted by latelatebloomer

Clipless & Hybrid? (sounds like some sort of poodle mutt) BUT, I was thinking of asking for SPD mountain bike shoes & pedals to match for my birthday next month. I like being able to walk sturdily and someone let me try their shoes on, liked 'em fine.Not so much chance I'll fall down in the middle of the gym. I thought I could practice with the clipless stuff in spin class a bit before taking them on the road. Question: Are people going to point and laugh at me going clipless on my li'l ole Giant Cypress Hybrid? I mean, I know I'm a nerd, but still....

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I ride a hybrid with spd, and none has pointed or laughed at me yet!! :) :)

I have had clipless pedals on my hybrid for about 5 years. Actually, I have campus pedals which are flat on one side and SPD on the other. I have a pair of lake shoes with recessed cleats - kind of half way between a road shoe and a mountain bike shoe. I started out using them in spin class so by the time I used them on an actual bike I was an old pro at getting in and out.

I say go for it! I have SPDs on my hybrid (Trek 7300) and my road bike (Trek 1000). I have one pair of shoes for both bikes (saves money and I just KNOW if I had two different sets of pedals and shoes, I'd have the WRONG shoes with me and wouldn't be able to ride!!)

I don't care what people may say - heck, I'm biking, I'm pedalling efficiently, and I'm passing a lot of those "froo froo" bikers! I, too, like having tread on my shoes. You never know when you might have to "hoof it" somewhere.


Lorie

I just put clipless/flat pedals on my TREK 7100 hybrid 2 weeks ago. love them. I don't care what people think. it's my bike and I'd like a road bike maybe next yr. Trade up :)

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Originally Posted by wannaduacentury

I just put clipless/flat pedals on my TREK 7100 hybrid 2 weeks ago. love them. I don't care what people think. it's my bike and I'd like a road bike maybe next yr. Trade up :)

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what would anyone think? what's wrong with that? (I get comments because I DON'T go clipless on MY hybrid!!)

I'd think people would be praising you for being efficient on your lovely trek!