In my last post I mentioned my frustration over having just purchased new pedals and cycling sandals but being unable to use them because of being pedal-less. The thread on the left crank was stripped. I ended up driving to MEC in Burlington that same day to see what could be done about the bike.
Not only did I not have pedals at this point, but I had been aware of a wobble in the chainrings for some time and the occasional skipping of the chain in the higher gears. I returned the pedal wrench to MEC as I wasn't going to need it right now and I could use every extra dollar. MEC didn't carry cranks, so I quickly went over to nearby Brant Cycle. There I managed to get new Shimano crankset and new bottom bracket (the new crankset wouldn't fit onto my old bottom bracket). All this, with labour, cost much less than I had expected.
So the next day I excitedly took my bike, now with new crankset, SPD pedals and my Keen Commuter sandals, to work. I had taken it for a little ride the day of the fix to give clipped-in riding a try. The commute home that day was eventful. My knee has just recently recovered from the road rash...
A colleague, who happened to see my new sandals, told me some funny stories about a friend of his who fell quite slowly on more than one occasion, once off a plank into the creek, to the great amusement of his fellow riders. I smugly laughed along, thinking I wasn't going to be one of those newbies. But dagnamit I was! On the way home that first day, I approached a stop sign and slowed to look both ways, having carefully unclipped the right foot, then had to come to a sudden and unexpected complete stop as a vehicle approached the intersection rather more quickly than it had previously appeared. My centre of balance, when I came to a sudden stop, happened to be to the left. Time slowed as I very slowly but conclusively went down to the left. I was so embarrassed and angry that it didn't take me long to get up and, bloodied as my knee was, get the heck out of there.
Anyway, I've since commuted home, wearing the Keen sandals, for three weeks. Being clipped in really does help to power up those hills. I have also not had any more foot pain and numbness since wearing the sandals. While not too stiff to walk in off the bike, they are stiff enough for a comfortable longer ride. So far I have nothing but good things to say about them. I bought them a half size larger than normal so that I could comfortably wear one or more layers of socks underneath in cooler weather. I have not yet used them in heavy rain, but do enjoy feeling of air on my feet.
Though the sandals are fine to walk in on smooth floors and on grass, the cleat being recessed enough to allow that, it does get a bit awkward on rough pavement or side walks as the cleats then grind on small bumps, pebbles, and so on. I keep worrying about the cleats getting ground out of shape. I think I'll look for those little rubber cleat covers soon.
