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Newsgroups: uk.rec.cycling, rec.bicycles.misc
From: mark <markfel...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 17:09:36 -0600
Local: Thurs, May 15 2008 7:09 pm
Subject: Re: Provence Tour: Technical Glitches but Proof of Concept
Artemisia wrote: The worst was the excruciatng pain > caused by the SPD pedals and clip-in shoes. This was torture after the Cleated (clipless) road bike shoes are difficult and/or unsafe to walk > first few kilometers. A long discussion in the cycling newsgroups helped > somewhat, as I was able to adjust the position of the clip to hurt less, > but these still are not comfort shoes by a long way. The SPD shoes also > meant that I couldn't really walk anywhere. in. Cleated/clipless mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, designed specifically for walking. I only tour and commute on mountain bike shoes & pedals for this reason, although my road bike shoes have regular cleats. You'll need to switch pedals, shoes and cleats to make this change. While you're getting new shoes, spend a little extra for MTB shoes with a good, stiff sole so the pedals don't dig into your feet. > Travelling with Widdershins is a bitch. I have to allow about an hour What kind of brakes are these? Caliper brakes? V-brakes? Cantilevers? > and a half for the dismantling or reassembly - a VERY far cry from the > 90 seconds folding time advertized on the Web site! "Quick release > levers" is a joke. The central lever, that permits the bike to fold or > holds it rigid, works or not, entirely on its own terms, and in its own > time. You might get lucky and compact the bike in half an hour - or you > could be there, struggling in a pool of sweat, until the train has left. > The wheels too, are very tricky to remove and replace, and every time > they have been out of the bike they get "voilées" - I don't know the > English expression - it means that they stick in the brakes and do not > turn fluidly. On the way into Vaison, the left wheel was so stuck that > the trike was drawing to a halt on downhill runs! When he delivered the > trike, my Darth told me that this is because the brakes must absolutely > not be touched, or the levers activated, when the wheels are not in > their axels. All very well, but it is pertty much impossible to edge > them in or out without touching the brakes, and you have no control over > what happens to the levers when the covered bike is being squeezed into > a train compartment or a taxi. The manual says that the brakes should be > blocked with the clips used in delivery - but I was given no such clips. > I tried bits of cardboard on the way back but they didn't stay in. This > is a big glitch to sort out because I cannot go to the Darth to get the > brakes readjusted every single time the bike has been folded. With a better description of the brakes someone might have some idea of how to resolve this issue. > Trike apart, the trip had its ups and downs. The base hotel in Avignon > Another big annoyance was that the maps and routes provided by the tour your choice) and plan your own itinerary. It doesn't sound like you'll do any worse a job than the tour company, and you'll have a far more satisfying tour. Google Earth and the various online mapping websites are handy for figuring out just how far a prospective hotel is from civilization. Get some lights and reflective tape for Widdershins and you can cycle to and from a nice restaurant in town if you don't like the hotel restaurant. HTH, mark You must Sign in before you can post messages.
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