Cycling UK Forum

Oldjohnw wrote:

Paulatic wrote:

Cowsham wrote:

Seriously just do it. You don’t need to spend the megabucks on steam. I did Mallaig to Glasgow this year on regular service train and it is stunning.
I saw the Jacobite while waiting for my train.

I've done the trip from Glasgow several times including getting on/off at various stops to walk. Two years ago I went on to Knoydart, the best trip of my life. I've never been on the steam train. AFAIK the scenery is the same whichever train you use.

PH wrote:I've done that trip several times though never on that train, it is a spectacular journey, but I don't think it'll feature on this trip.

pete75 wrote:

Cowsham wrote:What's black an white and eats like a horse?

Simple - a black and white horse.

Mike Sales wrote:

Cowsham wrote:What's black an white and eats like a horse?

expecting a QI klaxon...a zebra?

horizon wrote:(I was going to start a new thread on this but looking at the thread title, it still seems apposite.)

The problem with cleats is that they require or at least use a certain type of shoe that has two characteristics:

1. A cleat plate that creates an opening to the shoe.
2. Mesh uppers.

Neither of these are inherent in a cleated cycling shoe: I have had a pair of Lidl SPD shoes in the past that had neither. And you can get SPD winter boots that seem to offer something different but they are incredibly expensive. But generally (and cheaply) you get the "cycling shoe". Walking/hiking/general purpose outdoor shoes and boots OTOH aim to protect the feet and leep the cold and wet out: cycling shoes are athletic shoes designed to keep your feet cool.

So the answer has been the maddening overshoe and even waterproof socks (aka Sealskinz which I do in fact wear). Who else wears this nonsense really? Giving up cleats for the winter just opens the door to all sorts of boots and shoes that do the job. And it isn't as though pedals as such need special shoes and we even have toe clips.

I'm going to do some more research but any views/info in the meantime appreciated.

pwa wrote:

Cowsham wrote:

pwa wrote:I have PD A520s on two bikes and get on very well with them. I actually value the spanner flats that allow you to use a spanner to get them off if the allen key socket rounds during a difficult removal. You don't get the spanner option with the dearer PD A600s, but what you do get is a silly painted surface right where your steel cleats are going to damage anything with a painted surface. I like the single sided pedals with their slightly better ground clearance and, yes, let's be honest, I like the sleek looks. I now instinctively kick the top of the pedals on entry, to get them the right way up, and once the bearings have freed up with use that is enough to get me clicked in nine times out of ten without hesitation.

For a newcomer the double sided M520s are the obvious learning platform. And you might never need or want to move on from there.

Yes -- a lot of good info here -- but a bewildering list of systems from shimano alone. -- I'll get Xmas over and start again.

If you get shoes that take SPD cleats (two bolt holes) you can use them with any SPD pedal. So the shoe side of it is relatively simple. And M520 pedals are cheap and effective, so you might want to start there.

Then you have to think about whether you want to stick with the normal single release cleats that come with the pedals, or purchase a set of multi-release cleats. Either way you will have to train yourself to release automatically when you need to.

pwa wrote:I have PD A520s on two bikes and get on very well with them. I actually value the spanner flats that allow you to use a spanner to get them off if the allen key socket rounds during a difficult removal. You don't get the spanner option with the dearer PD A600s, but what you do get is a silly painted surface right where your steel cleats are going to damage anything with a painted surface. I like the single sided pedals with their slightly better ground clearance and, yes, let's be honest, I like the sleek looks. I now instinctively kick the top of the pedals on entry, to get them the right way up, and once the bearings have freed up with use that is enough to get me clicked in nine times out of ten without hesitation.

For a newcomer the double sided M520s are the obvious learning platform. And you might never need or want to move on from there.