Update: On Monday, July 18th, this product has been demoted from Reverence status due to imprecise machining of the 3mm and 4mm allen wrenches. Please see the updated Reverence article for it’s worthy successor.
My apologies to anyone who has purchased this product based on this article. I am truly sorry.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
In our pursuit of La Vie Velominatus, we embark on a sacred quest – the pursuit of Rule Holism. The path is strewn with apparent contradiction; these contradictions are in fact but tests laid out for us – oportunities to discover The Way and strengthen our resolve. Little by little, we find our way along the path.
Those of us who amputate our saddlebags in compliance with Rule #29, are immediately faced with the unavoidable realization that our tools are unwieldy, heavy, and bulky. Indeed, our reliance on the European Posterior Man Satchel has disconnected us from their contents and has bred complacency when it comes to tool selection. So long as the tool fits in the satchel, it goes in the satchel. Spoke wrenches, multi-tool with superfluous attachments, chain tools, zip ties, scissors, even the odd Crescent wrench has been known to find its way into the tool kit. For a Velominatus’ machine, which is kept in perfect working order at all times, these tools serve little function other than to make you climb less well for your weight.
Removing the dependence on a saddlebag demands that we become more discerning in the tools we carry with us. The tools that are to reside in our pockets must be as carefully selected for their function as our machines and our kit itself. Simple. Reliable. Lightweight. These tools will be called into action rarely, but when called upon, it will be at a time of greatest need. They must not fail.
Over the years, the tools that accompany me on my rides have reduced in number and weight, and we have developed a bond during the many hours we have spent together – me perched on my saddle, them tucked neatly in my pockets. I started with two Park tools, one with huge range of hex keys, and a second with a fewer (redundant) number of keys, but including the vital Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers. Eventually, I started leaving the multitool without the screwdrivers in the toolbox, and taking my chances with too few hex tools. The risk felt too great, so I switched to other tools with varying degrees of success, but each failed in one aspect or another – corrosion, weight, poor construction – and was added to ever-increasing pile of discarded tools.
The problem was further complicated when I switched to the Campy 10sp Skeleton Brakes with Torx T25 bolts. I cursed a blue-streak when, as I was mounting my new brakes with great anticipation, I realized I was to be stopped dead in my tracks as I didn’t have the proper Torx tool. I suppose, as Saul pointed out, I should be glad it was a standard Torx size and not some proprietary size that requires a $100 tool, but that knowledge did little to temper my rage. I purchased a set and returned home knowing full well that now my quest for the perfect minitool included a T25 to make emergency brake adjustments. More tools were chucked to the Island of Misfit Tools.
Almost without noticing, with the appearance of the Pro Minitool 11 in my stocking on Christmas morning my quest came to an end. The nickel-plated steel tools don’t rust, the alloy body is solid, the tool is thin and light enough not to cause any sag or discomfort in the jersey. Beautifully made, the tool folds smoothly and the 8mm hex snaps off to reveal a 6mm hex below it. Unlike most tools that attempt this feat, this one pulls it off with the addition of a ball lock. All the tools are cut precisely and cleanly cut, making it a pleasure to work with. Amazing.
It feels so good in the hand, it’s tempting not to carry it around and fiddle with it all day. But I don’t. Not anymore. Starting tomorrow.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@G'phant
OK. NOW YOU'RE GOING TOO DAMN FAR. One more slip-up like that, mister, and you can kiss that Black Cog goodbye!
@all
How much are you fucking walking? See Rule 69, and pay fastidious attention to Rule 5. If you're going to the market, don't ride your fucking road bike. Ride a commuter or a mountain bike. And sure, put MTB pedals on it because MTB shoes are better for walking.
A road cycling shoe that's designed with consideration for walking? MERCKX DAMMIT PEOPLE. Snap out of it! The way we walk in those shoes is as glorious as our tan lines and our cleanly shaven leggs. Merckx.
@Albert, @redranger
Thank Merckx. I can breathe again.
@redranger
That was my question as well; I liked how small the 6 was, but felt the Torx was a critical addition for me, as the Campy brakes use them now. But the 6 is smaller and lighter. Your call.
@Marcus
Nicely done. By the way, track stands at stop lights are akin to the jogger running in place at stop lights so they don't "loose their (nonexistent) rhythm".
@Zoncolan
NICE TOUCH. That last bit makes it a bit impractical, but the whole point is we shouldn't neet to get at them much.
@frank
My point exactly...
Track stands just look plain awkward. Maybe I'm just jealous because I can't do them, but whenever I see people executing a track stand it looks weird... they wiggle all about and roll fore/aft in an attempt to not put a foot down. I get the point, but to me it doesn't seem worth the effort.
Regarding Speedplay pedals:
If you really like your current pedal system, I don't see a need to switch if what you're doing already works for you. I happened to sold on them when I was first getting into road cycling and buying my first nice bike, so I just made the choice and I'm happy with it.
@il ciclista medio
I've had hotspots once or twice, but that was remedied by switching to a better insole and buying better socks. It hasn't been an issue for me.
As far as entry goes, since you can enter on both sides of the pedal it makes it very quick... just put your foot on the pedal, push down, hear the click and pedal away.
To exit you just twist your foot away from the bike. The Speedplay Zero's I use have "adjustable float", so you can set how far you want to be able to turn your foot before it disengages the pedal. I quite like it, as allowing my foot a bit of natural side-to-side movement while still engaged with the pedal feels nice.
As far as cleaning, I put a little teflon lube on the cleats every few rides. I've never stepped deep wet grass or anything, so I haven't ever had to give them a good cleaning. I've been riding my current pair of cleats for almost a year and they seem fine still, though as I said earlier, the side I clip out of to stop is wearing faster than the other side, and I could see replacing them at the end of the summer.
The only trouble they've ever given me is the screws holding flat adapter plate to my shoe started coming lose every ride. I used a bit of the low-strength blue Lok-Tight and it stopped that from happening.
Any way, that's enough of that. I could have my own Reverence: Speedplay article here shortly if I keep on going...
@mcsqueak
The cleaning isn't too hard. You just fill a bidon with clean water and blast away. It's amazing how much stuff comes out sometimes.
Lok-Tight is money. I was out on a ride in the mountains far from civilization and suddenly my right shoe felt very weird. I was loathe to stop, as I was on a climb, but I couldn't pedal properly. When trying to stop, I couldn't get my right foot out of the pedal, so I took out my left foot. It turns out, three(!) screws had fallen out of the right cleat (poor maintenance on my part). I had to take my shoe off while attached to the bike to get it free. Fortunately, you only need two screws to hold the cleats on, and I had five between my two cleats. Crisis averted and ride finished.
@Collin
Wow, that's crazy. Yeah I've been on rides with people who have had screws fall out of their cleats. I've been lucky and just had some looseness but never a complete screw back-out.
I am OCD about checking my cleats before rides because of this. I always try and twist the whole cleat (to check the plate screws) before I put my shoes on, and I will check the tightness of the screws holding the cleat to the plate with a screwdriver.
@frank
A-Merckx. I sometimes ride my rain bike, which has Ultegra road pedals, for local errands or to the train station for my commute. For such missions I just suck up to the fact that it's awkward to ride on road pedals with normal shoes. I sure as hell am not switching that bike to mountain pedals.