Went to the store... And I got new toys!!!

[Hell-uv-a-job]

Yup... Me got some Speedplay pedals and Specialized Comp Carbon Rd shoes!!! I used them today and my knee pain was "almost" gone. I need to adjust the shoes using the shims included with the pedals since I tend to turn my RT foot laterally for some reason. I do that unconciously. I had to stop and tie my shoe, that way I cannot move my food inside the shoe at all. I know... sounds crazy. I had ZERO problems with the LT leg this time.
Did 27 miles today and did not fall once! Very (very!) easy to unclip the pedals. I felt very safe since I could get in and out very fast. Had a 2 minutes practice session and was on the roll! I don't know if i am getting in better shape but I was flying!! I think it was the shoe/pedals... i had a great ride today.

[KSH]

Buying SpeedPlay pedals and new shoes fixed my knee pain.

Happy to hear you are loving your pedals and shoes!

I always tell anyone I can how much I LOVE my SpeedPlays... since I hated my foot being *locked* in place on the other type of pedal.

[Geonz]

When I try to move my food inside the shoe, it gives me blisters and smells a little funny when we stop to eat

(Actually, I'm too cheap to get clipless)

[Hell-uv-a-job]

hehe... food.

Do we have spell check?

[bikerHen]

LOL! Yeah, my food would get smelly if I stored it in my shoe too!

[Duck on Wheels]

Just to get back to the shopping thread ...
I too seem to have caught the bike gear shopping bug.
New pedals (nothing fancy, just reversible clipless/plain), new gloves, and DFW hydration pack ... and it was all on sale!
Oh, and I have a year on sabbatical from DH, so nobody looking over my shoulder as I shop. Not that DH would have objected (I hope). In fact, if he'd been along, he prob'ly would have made sure I bought a bright yellow reflective jacket too.
Now the bike is packed and ready for it's big trip to California so I can try out all this gear on the road.

[kiwi girl]

Well this is every so slightly off tangent given it isn't bike gear - but I visited my bike shop (which caters quite a lot to triathletes) at lunchtime and tomorrow I am trying on a swimming wetsuit that is $100 more expensive than the figure I had in mind ... a bit excesive given my next triathlon only has a 400m swim but I do like my toys. You would have thought that given they didn't have my size in stock I might have had the willpower to walk away but no ...

[bcipam]

I always recommend Speedplay pedals for first time pedal users - they are easy to engage and disengage plus the "float" is a benefit.

Just a note of caution, make sure you buy and use the "cafe covers". If you get just a smidgeon of dirt or debris in the cleat, it won't engage. Try never, even with covers, to walk around in dirt.

Also watch use in wet conditions. The small platform makes it too easy for the foot to slip off and uh! banged shins!!! Or worse, a spill!

[Hell-uv-a-job]

That's good to know!! Thanks!!

[bikerchick68]

yep, I also spray mine with White Lightening once a month or so... conditions out here are REAL dry so this helps keep them functioning at their best. And absolutely the coffee covers are a great purchase! $10 to preserve the life of the cleat... glad the knee pain is better... nothing worse than having a med issue knock ya off the bike!