competitive SOs...(long)

[tulip]

Crazy for putting SPDs on a road bike? Why?

[Owlie]

Crazy for putting SPDs on a road bike? Why?

He's one of those guys who has to have EVERYTHING match--helmet, jersey, shorts, socks and so on, so clearly, a road bike must have road pedals, and to him, SPDs are not road pedals. I told him I'd rather not walk like a duck if I need to get off the bike. He's since stopped trying to win that argument.

[Mr. SR500]

Go for it, clipless pedals and all. He'll get on board. I remember when Mrs. got her Madone, made my old one sort of dated and old, but it's an awesome bike and she deserves it!

[lph]

Cut him some slack. He's just trying to do the manly thing of teaching what he knows best, the way he was taught it, which of course was the best way Especially if he felt that he "earned" his rise up to the really good gear by using semi-good stuff first.

I went through a phase of that when I had rock climbed a couple of years - long enough to have learned a lot of stuff and identify myself intensely as a rock climber, not long enough to realize there were other ways of doing it. I was pretty insufferable

Clipless is not rocket science. You'll be fine!

[Owlie]

Cut him some slack. He's just trying to do the manly thing of teaching what he knows best, the way he was taught it, which of course was the best way Especially if he felt that he "earned" his rise up to the really good gear by using semi-good stuff first.

That's probably what it is. I think he'd prefer me to upgrade the heck out of my current bike and then buy a new one when I can't upgrade it anymore. If it weren't cheaper to buy a new bike than upgrade my bike to 105, I'd do that. (I did the math based on new parts, but still.)

[tulip]

He's one of those guys who has to have EVERYTHING match--helmet, jersey, shorts, socks and so on, so clearly, a road bike must have road pedals, and to him, SPDs are not road pedals. I told him I'd rather not walk like a duck if I need to get off the bike. He's since stopped trying to win that argument.

No offense, but I think the correct term is poseur...

Since when are SPDs not road pedals?

[Biciclista]

Wow, most of the roadies I know have SPD's !
You really need to ignore a lot of his advice - smile nicely and then do what you want to do!

[Owlie]

No offense, but I think the correct term is poseur...

Since when are SPDs not road pedals?

He's got Look pedals. To him, SPDs=mountain bike pedals. Don't ask me why.
I think his desire to have everything match has more to do with making the bike look good than looking like one of the pros. His bike is red, his helmet is red, his second-favorite jersey is red...you get the picture. Not that it's not aesthetically pleasing, because he looks pretty good in red. I just find it a bit excessive, although I appreciate a good-looking bike (and motor!) as much as the next person. It helps that he has a bike with an easy-to-match color. He does the matchy-matchy thing elsewhere too, but it's more pronounced on the bike. Someone did give him a hard time for having a Trek bag on a Cannondale, though.

He once had a yellow and black OCR3...and rode around in a Team Once (more yellow and black) jersey, helmet and socks. He looked like a giant bumblebee. I think the team kit look is silly unless you're actually part of that team, but that's just me.

Biciclista--He knows it's ultimately my choice, and that whether or not I follow his advice is irrelevant. I think he just has a bit of difficulty accepting the fact that I actually know something about cycling now, and if I don't know something, I have not-him resources for finding it out. One day, he'll get over it.

[zia]

I went through a similar experience with my DH when I began cycling more seriously this summer and wanted a road bike. He didn't want me to get more than a Sora group, wanted to do all my bike maintenance himself (which the LBS had to undo), wanted to fit me on my bike himself (which the LBS also had to undo), etc.

I think the changes in self confidence we experience from exercise can sometimes hard for our partners to understand, or even be threatening to them. I think my husband had a view of me (inexperienced, clumsy, slow -- not in a mean way, as I did fall a lot in the past!) that didn't match what I was becoming (competent, maybe even fast!). That balance -- of him being the *bike smart* one, of my relying on him -- was part of the thread of our relationship. As I've learned more about biking, it's also made me a little sad to see that he doesn't know *everything* about biking, as I'd previously thought.

This happened concurrently with a lot of other personal changes. I began training with a wonderful group of women. I began putting on muscle, made lots of new close friends, and started feeling happier and more confident than I had in years. He was very supportive, but it was still a change, and I know he continues to figure out how he fits into the new me. I think clinging to his role as "bike expert" was an expression of that.

For now, I've accepted he's not going to be the biking buddy I had visions of him being. And that's ok. I nicely accept his advice when offered. But I take my bike to a LBS for service and fitting. I do my own research. And I have a very supportive training group who I share my biking thrills and anxieties with. Like everything else, this will work itself out. And in the meantime, I'll be happily waiting for him to catch up.

[Zen]

I think the team kit look is silly unless you're actually part of that team, but that's just me.

No it's not

[smilingcat]

Jerseys what is okay and what is not...

Well gets bit touchy with that one.

I for one will wear an event jersey, PROVIDED, I had participated and completed. If I DNF'd it then nope, nada no way will I wear the jersey. Poseur isn't my thing.

As for team kit. oh jeeze... If I'm not on the team, why would I want to be in some one elses team kit? Maybe if they paid me to advertise...

If you are connected with a team, maybe I'll cut you some slack.

Then again this is just me. The other thing I hate is someone who is all decked out to a T and can't handle a bike. oui... I know I'm being an elitists but if you are riding a TT bike, you better know how to handle one. Nothing worse IMHO.

getting off the soap box.

[Zen]

you missed the nuance.
read those two sentences as though they were a conversation.

[Selkie]

No offense, but I think the correct term is poseur...

Since when are SPDs not road pedals?

You're right.

I have MTB SPDs on all of my road bikes, including both Luna and my Seven.

[Mr. SR500]

For those that have not used road pedals (single sided, Shimano, Look, etc...) they are more comfortable for longer rides. The larger platform provides a wider more stable base. I know SPD's are easier to clip into, and the shoes are easier to walk in, but road pedals can help of you have foot problems like hot spots, or need a more stable platform.

[ny biker]

I have SPDs on my road bike and it's plenty hard to walk in my road shoes. The pedals on my road bike are not the same as the ones on my mountain bike.