What Gianni humbly omitted from his last article is that once he finishes ranting about sock color (actually, the lack of need for any color other than than white), he recovers quickly and we wrap up the Keepers executive board meeting with him tearing our legs off on the ride home from the bar with his magnificent stroke. Because after all, he is Rule #72.
But I digress. All the chit-chat Gianni’s article generated, and the timing of it with a new shoe purchase on my end, has me ruminating on Rule #8. Matching saddle, handlebar tape, and tires is, for the Velominatus at least, quite the no-brainer as it were. The only really poignant question I recall ever being raised is whether Vittoria Open Pave’s have an exemption because they are awesome and scream hardman tire (I think they are acceptable).
But what of shoes? They are the one piece of kit that most often throws a rider’s coordination out of sync. Of course this has traditionally been fine as shoes are such a personal matter that expecting one to match one’s shoes with the rest of one’s kit is hopeful at best. That being said, I wonder if shoes are less kit and more equipment. They transfer power directly from rider to bike and thus they are mechanical, they are engineered by smart people using fancy computers, and they render the machine virtually unrideable without them. In fact, I’ve often wondered why retailers list them under “clothing” and why online review forums don’t put them under “drivetrain” instead of “clothing and accessories”.
So if you don’t accept my premise, at least humor me here. If shoes are equipment and not kit, why would anyone buy a pair that didn’t match the rest of their bike? Surely, with the abundance of shoe choices on the market these days I would think one could make every effort to find a pair that fits, has the features and performance characteristics sought, falls within price range, and matches the rest of the bike.
I happened upon this concept casually deliberately this week. You see, I’ve been sporting considerable carbone over Fi’zi:k’s new shoe line ever since they were introduced (you might say I have a thing for shoes). So when a new pair of R3’s fell into my lap for number 1 I was forced to shift the Yellow Princesses over to number 3. The yellow decals and accents on the Serotta look awesome with the YP’s and the new R3’s are oh so sublime with the BMC. Splendid, indeed.
So I’ll put it to you, the Velominati. Does Rule #8 need amending? Are shoes equipment and not clothing? Do we, perhaps, need a new rule pertaining to shoe/bike matching (I think not but a suggestion might be in order). These are the things that keep the Keepers up at night.
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@itburns
Very good.
@itburns
Yes, very good.
Let's hope Frank's scented candles are feline-friendly.
@itburns
Awesome.
@Dr C
You're not wrong about the challenges of getting out to ride when you're away with family. I thought you had some too or is this solo trip. Got any more epics planned before you have to return to the malingerers?
My physio reckons she can fix my gouty gun with less pain and a better outcome than getting me a new one. It's going pretty well at the moment, most of the pain has gone unless I have a bad day like yesterday when I had to walk up the stairs (200 or so) in two tube stations and then seven flights when I got to the office. I just need to work on the strength side of it at the moment, it's very unstable laterally.
I've also acquired myself a coach/mentor in the form of a former 50 & 100 mile time trial record holder and multiple Best British All Rounder. I have a feeling he's going to knock me into shape which I need if I'm going to have a crack at something long and hilly in Belgium next year.
@itburns
Genius. Well done!
@Dr C
Just joined the team- sorry I was late, i could have added ~3,500 meters this month.
@Dr C
Hey I added another 371 metres today - had to ride 175km to get them, but...
More next week - we have a sort of sportive with a few hills in it, and 225km.
@scaler911, @Torvid, @Marko
You're too focussed on today's tech. None of you have ever been passed by a dude with toe clips and sneakers? I haven't, of course, but I saw it happen to a friend guy once. When I started riding as an eight year old, I was riding in sneakers and toe clips. Tighten down the strap and the shoe won't slip out when you're pulling back on the pedals, and the clips let you pull up. Works fine, if not ideally.
Pedals are equipment. Just because the shoe engages with the pedal doesn't also make it equipment. Shoes are kit, not equipment. End of.
@itburns
+1. That'll get you next week's badge, unless someone else tops you.
@Dr C
I'll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I'll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I'm out along the North Sea in Belgium.
@Nate
It's gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule 9 weather!