Saturday, December 31, 2011

Final Pedal BLOG of 2011 - I Promise!

I guess I am not doing as high of an end of equipment upgrades here just yet but I do have one more pedal update.
I went to Phat Moose Cycles today (in Ottawa).  It's a really great shop.  Anyhow it was there I first got my Power Straps pedal system that i have enjoyed for these two years.  A few weeks ago I bent the hardware on that system and was intending to replace them but Phat Moose doesn't have them anymore.  Instead they recommended what the courires are using these days, as pictured below.
A chap in Montreal makes the strap.  Although there is clearly a logo etched into the leather I do not see a company name. Apologies for that.  I also required a suitable pedal for the right fit and decided it was time to try a mountain bike pedal.  I think I will enjoy the stability, versatility for a variety of footwear (that is to say, winter boots) and the larger platform.  So now I have a new system.  When I get back home I'll try them out for my Tuesday commute.
Sorry - don't know why this is cut off.  But it does show the pedal with the strap installed and without.


I am looking forward to arriving at work with warm toes.  Here's hoping.

Admittedly I had intended to pick up a Cross Check frame while here.  However, they only had a 58 and that's too close to call.  I am more likley a 60.  Then, they very nearly sold me on the Salsa Caserole ... very nearly indeed.  I shall have some thinking to do about this.  In either case, I left the store without a new frame.  Don't know if I feel good about having saved my money for another day or if I feel bad about a missed opportunity (the frames were all on sale).

Once again, I apologize for another "pedal post."  Not very exciting stuff.  I promise better for 2012!

Happy New Year to all!  And Happy cycling!

5 comments:

  1. I like the pedal post, and am looking forward to hearing how that new system works for you. It appears that you basically have a large (wide) strap to slide your foot/shoe in, correct? If so, I guess it's basically a sandal concept. I might be willing to try that.

    Hmmm...Cross Check or Casseroll? Can't wait to see how that turns out.

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  2. I know a guy who has a Casseroll and he loves it for long road rides and commuting. I don't know if you could haul much with it, but for a lighter road bike that's reaaly comfortable, I think the Casseroll would be tough to beat, pricewise.

    I don't know much about the Cross Check. Be sure to let us know what you decide! Bike bloggers live vicariously through others.

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  3. That looks like a pretty nice setup.

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  4. I'm with Chris, I like pedal posts. I tend to pay a lot of attention to pedals on my own blog, too. So, keep it up. Let us know how these work out.

    My vote on the frame choice would be the Salsa, simply because I once had a Cross-Check and didn't really care for it.

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  5. @all - thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll let you know how the new system works out. There is a third player in the frame race but I am keeping it a surprise in case I go that route. However, that Salsa did look awfully nice. Great paint, I loved the headtube badge as well, and the stainless steel dropouts were a total surprise bosus. The shop fellow told me a shop sponsored rider used the Casseroll for a season of cross as well. While that would not be its function with me, it is always interesting to hear of that kind of versatility.

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