If the shoe fits, ware!

April 15, 2018

Greetings to you!  The last time I recall interacting it seems we were both a little worse for the ware.  The ware-creatures, known as lycons, that is.  

https://marcosweirdo.tumblr.com/post/144200650856/werewolf-fixie-rider-almost-ready

These ancient creatures have been roaming around, out and about, etc.  Along with many other 2-4-legged mammals.   Here are some humanoids enjoying the outdoors.  

I bring up the ware-creatures because it was near the time of the full, geese-coming-home moon that we last held council. 

Many bicycle-related events have transpired since then.  Here is a summary of the items that I’ve experienced:

1. I bought some new bicycling shoes
2. I got two flat tyres
3. I adjusted the cleats on my new bike shoes
4. I started wearing bicycling shorts because of recent upsurges in temperature
5. Wear Yellow Ride bike back to its original condition and is for sale

Here are the bicycling shoes I purchased:

https://www.pearlizumi.com/Shop/Ride/Mountain/Men%27s/Footwear/Cycling%20Shoes/Men%27s_X-ALP_Summit/p/15101809027

Here are my previous bicycling shoes:

Let me say a few things about bicycling shoes equipped with the Crank Brothers Egg-Beater style cleats: 

• I sometimes got hot foot with them on longer rides (20+ miles)
• Then I bought some carbon-soled shoes and it seemed to help with the hot foot.  These shoes are now mostly worn out (although still usable for the occasional longer ride).  

My Lake shoes came with an exhaustive list of things that could go wrong with the shoes, most of which can be fixed with “silicone-based adhesive.”  

So I applied liberally and haven’t used them since.

When I went in to The Bike Rack to purchase my new shoes, I was assisted by an enthusiastic young store associate whom I shall call Jack.  Jack got me a few different pairs of shoes and was quite attentive.  I stated that my shoe size was 42.5.  He responded that “I think cycling shoes just come in whole number sizes.”  Well Jack, my dear boy, let me introduce you to Lake bicycling shoes. 

They are great, especially if you have a proclivity to liberally applying silicone-based adhesive like me! 

My new shoes are great too (although I had to settle for a size 43), so far, although I haven’t yet tested them on any longer rides (32+ km).  And they have Vibram soles.  I like Vibram soles on my hiking boots because they provide excellent traction, are quite durable, and wear slowly.  But I’m not sure how necessary they are on bike shoes.  I don’t intend to walk much in them, but I guess it means I could easily stop and go for a comfortable hike if I get tired of all the bicycling hither and yon (yawn). 

I also got 2 flat tyres.  The reason for the first flat was not readily apparent to me.  Here are a couple of three photos that may (or may not) provide a clue:

The third photo was taken underwater and is supplied only for your confusion/consideration.

As it turns out, my tyre tube was having it's "throat" slit near the base of the valve.  I think that might have been due to the rim tape slipping due to an under-inflated tyre.  The first time I mostly blamed the tube and just quickly replaced it without examining the area around the rim hole  (optional rim shot).  The 2nd time it happened, I figured that there was some contact between the rim and the base of the valve and quickly consulted the inter computer-based web.  Lacking at that time a de-burring device or a new roll of rim tape, I settled upon creating a gorget for the base of the valve, which I did with much hope and gusto.

Thus far I have not suffered another deflating episode.

So, for a variety of situations, I entreat you to protect your base!

As previously mentioned, my new shoes fit well.  However, I was experiencing some slight knee discomfort and I just felt that my foot wasn't quite contacting the pedal in the sweet spot.  So I took a gander and here is what I noticed:

I like my cleats in the way back (machine) position in order to minimize the afore(foot)mentioned "hot foot."  Also, as you may be able to discern, I had not placed the cleats evenly on the sole. The right shoe's cleat was too far towards the outside of the foot.  So I adjusted them thusly,

and now things are great!

So that's what's been going on with me lately.  In closing, here is a photo I took on the first day of spring.

It looks a lot like that right now.  Grumble, grumble, bitch, bitch, whinge!
Your whiny,
BSO