Merida Brass Monkeys - Round 3 - 04th January 2015...

[yellowjack]

richardxjr said:

They kept me upright in horrendous mud yesterday when I had to get round a fallen tree on a steep slope. Just jetwashed 'em along with the bike

OK. Having looked again at the picture of the sole, and had a quick look at the soles of my trainers, the Carnac shoes would certainly be a better bet for some grip in slippery conditions. Not massively better, but I think definitely enough to notice the difference.

Also, A quick question for the SPD users of this parish...

If you have to get off and walk/push/sort a mechanical problem/etc, and it's boggy/sticky/gloopy under foot, how do you fair when it comes to clipping in again? Do the cleats not clog up and prevent you from getting a decent engagement with the mechanism of the pedal? If I'm going to take the plunge, and go SPD, I need to be confident that I can clip in every time, whatever the conditions. Remember that the first round of the Brass Monkeys series is fresh in my mind, and that was spectacularly horrible under foot with all the mud and the rain. It was at the very extreme limit of what I would ride in, and if I hadn't paid the entry fee up front I'd probably have rolled over and gone back to sleep on race day

[yellowjack]

daddy cool said:

Yeah, its just mud - they'll clip in again fine. Worst case, give your soles a squirt from your water bottle!

OK. Next question. I've "clipped in again fine" - can I now unclip OK? Or will the mud clog up the release springs, leaving me with both feet attached to the pedals as I keel over, à la Delboy falling through the bar? I really don't fancy spilling my drink, or breaking the stemware

Or am I overthinking it again? Mud (and worse still, grit) getting into the pedal mechanism is the concern that has played the biggest part in keeping me from committing to SPDs.

[yellowjack]

gazza285 said:

It's the same for everybody else, yet 95% choose to ride with clip in pedals, stop procrastinating!

I do tend to spend a long time considering decisions of this magnitude. Even then, I often end up soldiering on with whatever kit I already have. As for 95%? Are you sure? Looking around at the other riders at the three races I've attended, I'd say it's higher, 98/99% at least. Possibly more. I was certainly the only one I spotted wearing shabby old running trainers when on the bike.

[yellowjack]

Excellent result, Benji!