Don't Try This at Home!

This summer I have taken to my bicycle once again, in a desire to give my knees a break from running. Spending the Kayak Weekend with Tam, I learned all about a bike trek she will undertake next spring along a route from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. This intrigues me and I have a notion to set about to do the same on my own. Thus I have begun to take stock of myself and my bicycle with an eye to readying both.

My first line of inquiry was into toe clips. Toe clips are attached to the pedals and serve to hold the foot in place on the pedal to provide the ability to pull the pedal up as well as push it down for hill work. Hence, pedaling is easier.

I had been in the stores looking for toe clips for my bike and was not liking what I was finding. For quite a bit of money specially-made pedal and shoes are available that are made to hook up to each other. This set-up has a safety release, like ski bindings, to release the foot in case of a fall. The others do not.

Then one night last week Mark said, "I have a set of toe clips!" like a light bulb went off. And he found them! They're brand new and 30 years old and he managed to locate them amongst all his treasures! This is a simple aluminum "basket" that the front of the foot slides into. When you fall, you have to remember to slide your foot out so you can brace your fall. :>) Mark put them on for me that evening.

The next morning off I went on my maiden run with the toe clips. Getting the first foot in was easy because you do it while you're standing still. Getting the 2nd one in takes . . . skill. Oiy!!! It's all uphill out of my driveway in the direction I am going. The basket is heavier than the pedal, so it wants to hang upside down and scrape the road on the downstroke. Meanwhile, as if pedaling up Keegan Road is not enough, I was pedaling right-footed while trying to catch and hold with the left pedal toe clip. I almost knocked myself over. Finally, after much flubbing around, I was in two-footed.

There are spots where I stop to catch my breath, but not this day! No siree! I was hoping for a green light at the busy intersection of South Street and Route 6 and stopping would necessitate dropping the toe clips, and then starting up again - with onlookers! Red light! Full stop. Drop toe clips. But, a little smoother start this time.

So up and down and up and down for several miles, then I was way up with a gorgeous view, then a little dip, picked up momentum and another big, long, up . . . street sweeper! at the bottom of the big long up! One-way traffic and someone directing it, stopping me and letting oncoming cars through!!! Mr. Traffic Man! My toe clips! My momentum! So, I slowed to a crawl but did not stop, then big smile between traffic man and me and I began my big up. Oy!

And somewhere along my trip I became adept at picking up the 2nd toe clip, just got the hang of it. Glorious ride!

Then there were a few days off because I was away at Cape Cod and now I am loathe to summon the nerve to go out again and have more toe clip adventures! I must get brave again!