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News from The Bicycle Wheel for May 2010 |
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The Bicycle Wheel is Growing!
Thanks to our loyal customers, we have reached a milestone with expanding our store into a bigger, nicer location. We are thrilled to announce our upcoming expanded store in the Medlock Bridge Shopping Center. The new space is being customized for us and we'll be ready for our grand re-opening later this summer. Follow us on Facebook for regular updates.
This month, we cover how clipless pedal systems can make a difference in your bike ride - whether it is on the Greenway, on the Big Creek trail, or on the road. We are also in full swing with our Saturday morning rides and encourage you to stop by to check our our 2010 Cannondale road bikes.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
The Staff of The Bicycle Wheel |
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The Bicycle Wheel is Expanding to a New Location
We are pleased to announce that by the middle of summer, we will have a new, larger location within the Medlock Bridge Shopping Center. Our new store will be located within walking distance of our existing location. The Medlock Bridge Shopping Center is to the immediate left of our existing shopping center and is home to Natural Foods and The Forum Athletic Club. Our spot will be next to the old Barnacles location.
The new location will be setup in a similar fashion to our existing store. Besides more space, the shopping center has a level parking lot and a large back lot for test riding bikes, a feature we have not had up to this point.
We will be posting pictures up to our Facebook page over the next few weeks as the new store is being built out and finished. Stay tuned for a "Grand Re-Opening" to celebrate our move! |
Add Efficiency to your Ride with Clipless Pedals
Clipless pedals are among the most significant bicycle innovations ever. Borrowed from skiing technology, clipless pedals make you more efficient by providing a better foot-to-pedal connection, and safer by offering almost instant foot entry and release. We recommend clipless pedals for racing, mountain biking, recreational riding, and commuting. They're also perfect for spin class since they provide more stability to the bottom of your foot.
How do Clipless Pedals Work?
Once you have the cleats bolted to your shoes and the clipless pedals on your bike, you simply step on the pedals to click your feet securely in place. When engaged, your feet are connected to the pedals for optimum efficiency. Your feet won't come off the pedals unless you want them to. When you want to get out, you swing your feet heels first to the outside as if you're getting ready to put your feet down, and the pedals release.
Because your feet are locked into the pedals when riding, you'll have more power throughout the pedal stroke and while accelerating and climbing. Clipless pedals also give you more control by letting you use your feet for maneuvers such as hopping pavement cracks and railroad tracks if you're riding off-road.
Clips and Straps versus Clipless Pedals
Standard toe clip and strap system. | Before clipless pedals, cyclists used toe clips and straps to keep their feet on their pedals. This is a perfectly viable solution and less expensive than clipless pedals and the cycling shoes needed for a clipless system. However, there are
a few significant drawbacks to the "cage" system.
One is that the clips and straps may cut off the circulation to your feet when they're fastened tightly enough to allow efficient pedaling and control. Also, it is a tricky two-step process to get out of the clips and straps because you must reach down to loosen the strap before you can pull your foot out.
Third, when you're riding off-road, the toe straps hang down where they can snag on roots or sticks causing a crash. These are just some of the reasons that clipless pedals are now standard equipment for many riders.
Off-Road (Walkable) and Road Clipless Systems
Just like there are two places to ride, off-road and on-road, there are two types of clipless systems. The most popular are off-road, or "walkable" clipless systems. In this setup, the cleats are recessed into the shoe soles. This means the cleats don't contact the ground when you walk so this clipless system is ideal for walking and even hiking. Yet, it's still incredibly efficient for maximum pedal power.
Walkable clipless pedals and shoes are ideal for off-road riding, commuting, touring and century
Our most popular off-road pedal - the Shimano SPD. | riding. Many use a double-sided pedal (photo, right), which means you can click into the pedal on either side so you don't have to look down to get your feet in. This also means that if you ride your bike with regular street shoes, you'll have a decent pedaling surface even though you're not using your special cleated cycling shoes.
The other system is a road system. As the name implies, it is designed for use on road bikes where maximum efficiency, aerodynamics and minimum weight are all important. Road shoes are lighter and stiffer than walkable models.
Our most popular road pedal - the Look Keo. | The other difference in road clipless systems is that the cleats protrude from the soles of the shoes because the soles are so thin and light. This makes it difficult to walk in the shoes. Also, road systems usually are single-sided so you must find the correct side of the pedal to click in when you start out. Most road pedals hang a certain way to make this relatively easy.
Getting Used to Clipless Systems You will need to practice with your new clipless pedals and shoes before hitting the road or trail for a long ride. This is especially important if you started with toe clips and straps, which require a specific motion to get your feet out. Clipless pedals release by swinging your heels outward.
Teach your feet this outward motion while standing over the bike. Practice getting your feet in and out. If you're worried about falling over, practice on a lawn or soft surface. Even better, if you have an indoor trainer, mount your bike on it and practice in place.
If you're still having trouble getting in and out of the pedals, practice some more while standing next to the bike. There might also be something making it harder to get out of the pedals, such as a too-tight adjustment or a misaligned cleat. If that's the case, be sure to bring your bike and shoes in so we can have have a look, solve any problems and get you going.
Our staff is prepared to help you with this new system for optimal riding so feel free to stop by if you'd like a demonstration or to feel the difference with a clipless pedal system. |
Join us Saturday mornings for our group road ride!
Meet at the store at 7:30a.m.
Both groups depart at 8:00a.m.
Our Saturday morning route is 25 miles and this is a "no-drop" ride. Even if you don't know the course, we won't leave you. Click on our logo to the left to view a map of the course. You must have a road bike or flat bar hybrid to participate.
This year, we have two groups:
A Group - 16-19 mph average speed. This ride is intended for experienced riders.
B Group - 12-14 mph average speed. Just got into cycling or recently got a new road bike or flat bar hybrid? Thinking of getting into triathlons and want to train with a group? This is your ride!
See you Saturday!
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  2010 Cannondale road bikes are in stock now!
Stop by for a test ride today!
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