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Engine Connections Think of your legs as the pistons driving the crankshaft of a fine automobile from the comfort of an easy chair. Almost sounds like a video game. Ideally your feet are attached to the pedals and the crankshaft has just the right stroke to match your physical needs. Hitching your feet to the drivetrain not only protects you from the dreaded "Leg Suck" it also allows you to rest your legs after a hard climb. Comfort doesn't end on the seat . Many years ago someone came up with the brilliant idea that strapping one's shoes to the pedals would allow them to not only push down, but pull up as well. As in all things biking, one thing led to another and today we have umpteen different types of Clipless Pedals, which is considered by many a misnomer. Clipless Pedals work by clipping your shoes to the pedals. First you'll need shoes that the pedal cleats can screw into and second you'll need the cleats. That way your feet aren't likely to slip off the pedal, hit the ground and slam the back of your calf into the front axle. Not all Clipless Pedals take the same cleats; which also means not all shoes take the same cleats too. We'll cover 3 of the most common systems.
All pedals have left and right hand threads. The pedal on the right side is right-hand thread. The pedal on the left side is left hand thread. Biking Shoes like all things biking come in a variety of prices and styles. Most common are the sneaker style Mtn bike shoes that have a recessed adjustable mounting plate for cleats. Mtn Bike shoes have the cleats recessed which is great for those little trips to the grocery store on your trike. Like any common shoe they need to be sized and sometimes a size 9 is actually a size 8-1/2 & vice versa. We've all experienced that the shoe store. Moreover just like at the shoe store those with wider feet don't have a very wide selection. Wide shoes are have offerings from Shimano, Specialized and Lake Cycling. Buying them from the local Bike Shop or REI is the best way to assure a fit however buying online from Amazon or Nashbar will offer a savings, sometimes significant. Biking Sandals tend to be a must-have for avid warm weather trikers. Your feet will thank you on those hot days on a ride. Just don't forget to apply sunscreen to your feet! Road Bike shoes are more like ballerina shoes with the cleats exposed so on those trips to the grocery store you'll clip-clop like a horse down the aisles. These are a must for the weight weenies as they typically weigh a few ounces less per shoe then Mtn Bike shoes. Some have a little more rigidity in the sole and a little more adjustability for the cleats then Mtn Shoes. Its best to buy these at the Local Bike Shop rather then on-line as they tend to be a little tighter and less forgiving on sizing discrepancies. Many trikers tend to put off the purchase of Biking Shoes until after they've purchased their trikes. Chances are 9 out of 10 you'll be using Bike Shoes within the first two weeks of your trike purchase so be sure to add shoes to the shopping list and trike budget. |
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