Old shoes, new cleats.

My single pair of cycling shoes (Shimano) are pretty old, but still comfortable and have yet to actually fall apart. The cleats however;

Knackered Time cleat.

I use Time pedals, these have more side to side float than Shimano SPDs which I find more comfortable. The cleats are bronze and are held in place by two screws which pass through the sole into an adjustable steel plate inside the shoe.
The screws were seized solid, any attempt to unscrew them just resulted in the hex head rounding off. So, clamping the shoe in my 24 year old Workmate I fitted a 9.5mm drill into my equally ancient Bosch and set to work drilling the heads off the screws. Which was rather hard on the drill bit, I had to re-sharpen it twice. Luckily I've just been lent a bench grinder, and its nice to know that I can still sharpen a drill off-hand even though I've not had to do it for a few years.

Screw heads drilled out.

Once the heads were drilled off the cleats came away easily and the inner plate could be removed.

Inner plate on left, old cleats top, new cleats below.

I was expecting to have a fight with the stubs left in the inner plates, but to my suprise they came out easily with a pair of pliers. So then it was just a case of refitting the new cleats and sticking some duct tape over the inner plates to seal the inside of the shoes.

New cleats fitted. Sole looks a bit worn though...

Job done.


These are used with clipless pedals, even though the cleat clips onto the pedal. This is to distinguise them from rat traps, which have a cage that you slide your foot into, but no actual clips. Bicycle clips have nothing to do with pedals, but do stop your trousers getting caught in the chain. Hmmm.

When it comes to rat-traps (of the pedal variety) I'm with Sergeant Pluck;
'...If rat-trap pedals were universal it would be the end of bicycles, the people would die like flies...
...Did I ever tell you how I asked Inspector O'Corky about rat-traps? Why they are not made prohibitive, I said, or made specialities like arsenic when you would have to buy them at a chemist's shop and sign a little book and look like a responsible personality?'
'They are a power for the hills,' said Gilhaney.
The Sergeant spat spits on the dry road.
'You would want a special Act of Parliament,' said the Inspector, a special Act of Parliament.'...
Taken, slightly abridged, from 'The Third Policeman' by Flann O'Brien.

Paul.

In praise of - Salsa seatpost clamps.

Most bikes come with cheap horrible ugly seatpost clamps. Some do a good job of stopping the seatpost slipping down into the frame, but some don't, especially cheaply made quick release jobs.
Salsa clamps are beautifully machined and finished, the q.r. levers are nicely shaped and comfortable in the hand (some levers are just awfull!), and rather than just having a tapped hole for the thread they feature a seperate stainless steel boss (the bolt is also stainless) so you're not going to have any stripped thread or rust problems. Yes they're expensive compared to other offerings but quality costs, and slipping seatposts irritate!
I like them so much that 3 out of my 4 bikes have them fitted, and I've just bought this for Dani's Genesis;

Dani's new pink Salsa seatpost clamp.

...and fitted to her Genesis.

I never move my seatpost so I just fit the plain versions;

The plain 'Lip-Lock' version.

I really like these!

Paul.

In praise of - Lifeventure Thermal Mugs.

When Dani came home with one of these I thought she'd gone mad, after all its expensive for what looks to be just a posh flask...
But once I'd seen it in use a few times I changed my mind and bought my own. Its basically a vacuum flask constructed from stainless steel which holds 300ml, or one cup of tea in real terms. Tea is kept hot for hours, it doesn't leak, it withstands abuse and is easy to clean. When new they even look smart, but these are designed to be used and a few scuffs and dents add character.

Tea, an important part of the outdoor experience.

There is a dedicated jacket available for it which claims to improve performance by 25% as well as protect it from knocks, I use a neoprene jacket that came with a small Thermos with mine and I reckon that using a jacket does help keep your tea hotter for longer.
Like any flask though the trick is to pre-heat it with boiling water before use.

Paul.