I did this about seven years ago after reading some of Grants stuff. I thought I'd try it and lo and behold, I could ride just fine (and no slower) with platform pedals. I now use a BMX style pin pedal with a wide 4x4 platform and don't plan on changing. The Grip Kind pedal seems about the same as does the Riv sneaker pedal. The theory being that a larger platform distributes pressure over a wider area reducing the need for a super stiff sole to protect your foot from those goofy tiny cleats and spoon sized pedals. I haI ve a single speed with the BMX pedals and I can pedal at 130 rpm with no slippage problems and believe Grant when he says you have to train your legs to ride without retention. The fact is your legs "get lazy" when they are connected to the pedals and it takes a while to adapt. the great benefit is of course convenience. I love being able to ride in whatever shoes I have on from work boots to sandals to rubber rain shoes. I've been on a personal quest to find practical clothing items that I would normally wear that will also work while riding. My goal is to make my cycling a natural part of how I get around and not something that requires "suiting up" to do it.
On Sep 4, 5:50 am, Blindrobert <[email protected]> wrote: > LOL on the SPD's. I put platforms with toe clips on one of my bikes > last fall, and realized I rode it all the time because I didn't have > to change my shoes when I left the house. So put platforms on another > two of my bikes....rode them more too...now all 11 of my 12 bikes have > platforms and cages. The only one with clipless is my racing (track) > bike. > > Just keep telling yourself how much you love those SPD's! > > On Sep 4, 12:07 am, Michael_S <[email protected]> wrote: > > > sometimes I can be pretty stubborn. Grant espouses the wider Noodle > > bars for average sized males. ( I'm 5'11" 187 lbs) After 30 years of > > riding 42-44 cm bars I thought I was pretty happy and comfortable. The > > new Ram I picked up last Saturday ( 11 hour turnaround drive LA-SF- > > LA) had 46 Noodles. Wow, was I surprised how nice they felt! Climbing > > is especially better, and I just felt much more relaxed on the bike. > > So much so I just ordered another 46cm bar for my touring bike. I'm > > sure all the other bikes will be next! > > > and I'm not even going to think about flat pedals... I love my SPD's! > > > ~Mike -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
