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Looks like the XC701 are just
Looks like the XC701 are just the 2019 model of the XC7.
Here’s a Road.cc review of the XC7: https://road.cc/content/review/226422-shimano-xc7-spd-shoes
I’d be inclined to get the latest model just because it’s newer, but there’s an equally good argument for getting the older model because it’s cheaper.
The dials for tightening the laces should be fine – they’re pretty common on good quality cycling shoes.
The Vista Outdoors boycott
The Vista Outdoors boycott was discussed here: https://road.cc/content/news/237709-should-you-boycott-bike-brand-if-its-parent-company-supports-nra
Those cleats do seem to be some other variety of SPDs, but as StraelGuy states, it makes no difference to the shoes (2-bolt SPDs).
Almost forgot – there could
Almost forgot – there could be a boycott issue with Giro as they are owned by Vista Outdoors which is primarily a guns’n’ammunition company and as such they funnel a lot of money towards the N.R.A.
Hi,
Hi,
Personally, I like NorthWave, but then my feet are quite wide so I wouldn’t get on with a lot of makes.
Sidi are generally recommended though I’ve never had a pair. I used to use a pair of Five-Tens when I only had a mountain bike, but they were quite heavy and more “skater” style. Giro and Shimano are both good makes as well. Specialized is also a well regarded make.
I’d recommend going for a reasonably lightweight pair for road cycling, but other than that it’s going to be a personal preference thing regarding the syling. Don’t underestimate the importance of colour co-ordination with the bikes, either.
Good luck.
The two bolt fitting style
The two bolt fitting style are the Mountain Bike (MTB) style cleats (known as SPD).
Yes, you can use them fine on a road bike although the other main cleat style is known as “Road” style (also known as SPD-SL).
I use SPDs on my road bike as, like you say, it’s easier to walk in them. Typically shoes will either be for 2-bolt SPD MTB style or 3-bolt SPD-SL Road style – I don’t know of any shoes that would take either style.
Also, the pedals are different for SPD and SPD-SL, so you’d need to buy him SPD MTB shoes. If your husband has wide or otherwise unusual feet then it might be worth giving him a voucher instead as he might well want to try on shoes to check for fitting.
Hope that helps.
Edit: buying shoes from Wiggle should be fine as their returns process is quick and easy, so if you do get the wrong colour/shape/style then you can always send them back and exchange them for different ones (or get your money back).
What ‘race’ are the Welsh exactly? If we moved a line on map would you change race?Imagine living in Whitchurch and they adjusted the borders and you changed race!
That’s a bit disingenous – the Welsh have a separate language and culture, so although I wouldn’t class them as a ‘race’, they’re certainly an ethnic group.
I was reading about that this
I was reading about that this morning and trying to figure out if it was steeper than Vale St in Totterdown, Bristol: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/what-really-like-living-englands-12693
The steepest is apparently in New Zealand (for the moment) and in the Wikipedia entry it’s got this:
Many streets in the west of England and in Wales have reported slopes of 33% and higher. The street Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales has a reported slope of 36.6% (rounded to 40% on the warning sign). Vale Street in Bristol is often also reported as the steepest street in Britain (21.81°/40.02%) and hence may have a slope even steeper than 36.6%. However, these roads are mostly shorter roads than those listed above, with far more frequent turns as opposed to the straight path of Baldwin.
Wow – that research shows an unreasonably large effect from the hi-viz – 38% reduction.This is an interesting comment. Do you have a problem with the study design/methodology, does it conflict with previous research you are aware of, or is just that the result is not in keeping with what you imagined it to be in your head?
It just conflicts with what I’d expect. I would have guessed that hi-viz would maybe have a 10% effect at best. As I currently cycle a lot at night, I prefer to go with reflectives (especially the 3M high reflective stickers).
I haven’t drilled down into the study design/methodology though I did spot that it wasn’t a blinded study (presumably they kept falling off when they were blinded).
Rich_cb wrote:
For me it’s a balance between safety and comfort. It’s been pretty cold recently so I’ve been wearing a gilet, do I care what colour my gilet is? Not really. So my comfort is identical but my safety is improved. Full leathers and a motorcycle helmet would probably improve safety in a collision but would be very uncomfortable so not really an option. People in hi viz still get hit because the majority of all collisions are not preventable by the cyclist. All we can do is focus on the collisions we can prevent through good equipment and good road craft. I think equipment that only protects the cyclist, eg helmet, high visibility, should not be compulsory and as such while I wouldn’t personally go out in the dark dressed entirely in black I think others should be free to do so. I think the airbag is a good idea without research as it’s literally just been invented so gut feeling is all I have to go on, I probably won’t buy one now but may buy a future iteration once the evidence is available. Research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753517313528%5B/quote%5D[quote=Simon E]But saying “not always effective” or “will only help in certain crash scenarios” aren’t great sales lines. How far down the road of “if it saves one life” should we go? Full leathers and a motorcycle helmet? That’s going be better than 0.3mm of lycra and a 200g hat full of holes, isn’t it?I was posing the question in a provocative way but I feel it’s a valid point: why do people wearing hi-viz still get hit? And do riders in black get knocked off more than those wearing brighter colours? If so then are the clothing brands irresponsible for selling it?
Do you have links to any of this research? I’m prepared to revise my opinion if it is convincing.
You think the airbag is a good idea, apparently without that kind of evidence. So it’s fine for others to buy stuff based on marketing hype but I can’t go with a scepticism resulting from decades of experience, a ‘gut feeling’ based on my research and experience?
Will you wear an airbag once they become available?
Wow – that research shows an unreasonably large effect from the hi-viz – 38% reduction.
You’re right about the safety/comfort balance (though maybe safety/comfort/price might be more accurate in this instance), but I’m really not convinced by torso protection on a bike. It would probably make more sense for me to wrap loads of bubble wrap around the street furniture alongside my regular routes (cheaper too).
The puncture fairy can be a cruel mistress indeed.One thing to check with a puncture is whether it was caused by a mis-placed rim tape i.e. the puncture will be on the inside of the inner tube rather than the outside. If the rim tape is not quite covering a spoke hole, then a bump can be enough to rupture the tube from the exposed edge.
Yeah, I thought of that. The bike is sitting barely ten feet from me as I write these words (from home, of course!), leaning against my wife’s piano. I’m going to get the wheel off today and see what’s what. Not going to let this get me down. Although I did get pretty pissed last night, so am nursing a hangover. 🙂
Let us know what you find.
I always get suspicious when I get multiple punctures over a short period of time, so it’s worthwhile identifying if there’s anything still stuck in the tyre etc.
The puncture fairy can be a
The puncture fairy can be a cruel mistress indeed.
One thing to check with a puncture is whether it was caused by a mis-placed rim tape i.e. the puncture will be on the inside of the inner tube rather than the outside. If the rim tape is not quite covering a spoke hole, then a bump can be enough to rupture the tube from the exposed edge.
I’m not convinced about this
I’m not convinced about this as I’ve never really hurt my chest/back when falling off. To my mind, I’d rather have elbow/shoulder/knee/hip protection but then again I very rarely (touch wood) come off my bike and I’d imagine pads would be a fuss to put on/take off.
Edit: just thought that this vest could be useful when navigating Temple Meads station’s stairs when there’s loads of commuters coming the other way and I’m carrying my bike.
I’m ashamed to admit that I
I’m ashamed to admit that I got suckered in by this forum advert and ordered a large one.
So far, I’m liking it. It does look a lot neater than my previous ToPeak saddle bag though it holds less stuff. I’m now having to find somewhere to locate my minipump (a tiny iPump Twist) and have ordered a top tube bag to hold it (and maybe some tasty acorns).
It rattled a bit on my first ride, but I’ve repacked it using some cloth wrapped round the rattly bits and it’s now silent. I have my doubts as to how watertight it’ll be in the rain as the plastic is slightly flexible – time will tell.
Larger tyres are better against puncturesReally? What evidence do you have for that please?
If you run them at lower pressure (which you typically do when the size increases) then there will be less force between the tyre, the sharp object and the road and thus reduced chance of punctures (although you’d also have a slightly larger contact area and may encounter more thorns).
‘Tis the season to be falling…No helmets – they all died!
I particularly like the people who control the bike round the corner and then fall off after it or the person that controls the initial fall and then falls off the other side.
A question that I have is when a helmet wearer falls and the helmet splits apart does that mean that the helmet did its job or did it fail to provide adequate protection? The design is centred around the compressive abilities of expanded polystyrene, but if the helmet splits apart, then that would be tensile strength, not compression. Or, would a helmet split apart under extreme compressive loads anyway?