Clipless pedals once again and the Texas Time Trials

[Owlie]

Caution with Speedplays: Is your area sandy? Speedplays don't seem to like sand very much.

[thekarens]

If I were mountain biking I'd say very sandy. Where we've road biked no sand. I assume I'd need to carry cleat covers?

[indysteel]

I like my Look Keos, and their basic version is relatively inexpensive. It's the road shoes that can be pricey. The only shoes that fit my foot seem to be Sidis, and they're not all that cheap (although they last for a long time).

[luvmyguys]

Well, you probably saw my first experience with clipless - but I haven't fallen since starting back! (Knock on wood!!!)

ny biker had great advice, especially about figuring how how you get off the bike already. I think what killed me was that I was trying to take everyone else's advice when I wasn't ready for it. Fortunately, you've been riding for a bit longer, and should hopefully have a better idea of how you ride than I did.

I'm not trying to do time trials, so this might not apply so much to you, but I'm using SPD's (MTB style) on my roadie. From what I understand, road shoes and pedals are lighter (I think?) than the SPD versions, so that might matter for a time trial. But when I get to the point of the century, I'll be putting the A-600's back on (right now I still have my baby step, training wheel, A-530's with a platform side and a clip-in side), which have a better pedal-to-shoe contact area than most SPD pedals, and more like a typical road pedal. So those can work, but for what you're trying to do, you may want the road versions.

Have fun with it!!

[thekarens]

Even though it is a "race" I'm not trying to race. My goal is to just finish in the allotted time, which is 3 hours for 26.5 miles. Here in Houston it wouldn't be a problem, but from what I've been told it's very hilly there and that's something I know nothing about. I figure clipless will give me more power and I'll be able to use my "pull" muscles on my legs along with my "push" muscles. That's my main goal.

[luvmyguys]

Where in Texas is it?

[thekarens]

Where in Texas is it?

Glen Rose. I've never been there. We go south and west occasionally, but never north of Houston.