Bicycling Shoe Sizing Charts

Here’s a great resource if you are looking for new bicycling shoes – Bicycle Shoe Sizing Chart. The nice thing about this chart is that it compares different shoe brands and shows how their sizing compares.

These charts can be helpful, but I highly recommend that you go to your Local Bike Shop and try shoes on before buying. The size is just one factors that will determine if the shoe fits you comfortably. Trying on shoes before you buy them will be one of the best time investments you make.

The Golden Shoe Rule: Never buy a pair of shoes that doesn’t feel good the first time you put them on.

My Favorite Long Sleeve Recumbent Jersey

The first thing a recumbent rider notices about cycling jerseys is that he doesn’t need pockets in the back. You can’t use the rear pockets on recumbents and they can be uncomfortable while riding. I find my best Jerseys in the Hiking Gear or Running sections of web sites like Campmor and REI.

Although I will admit that my favorite clothing comes from the Patagonia Outlet. If you can’t make it to a Patagonia Outlet, recently Patagonia has started having pretty good sales on their web site, just look in Web Specials.

My favorite long sleeve jersey is the Patagonia R .5. It is a very basic garment with no pockets and a zipper below the neck. The zipper lets you adjust ventilation and collar position. What makes this garment unique is the fine waffle construction that both breaths and keeps you warm combined with a soft internal and external finish that is very comfortable.

Hot Buy – Topeak Road Morph G with Gauge

Bike Some Where has this recommended pump on Sale for $24.95, list is $39.95.

See Topeak Road Morp Review

Crank Brothers Alloy Pro Pump

The Crank Brothers Alloy Pro Pump is a very interesting pump with a lot of potential. It is not their smallest or lightest pump but is still quite small (9.3″) and light (6.1 Oz., less that 1/2 pound). It also has a neat mounting system that fits almost anywhere.

This is a pump to love or to hate. It works but is tricky to use. I can never seem to remember which is the correct direction to rotate the head so that it pumps air into my tire and if you turn it the wrong way you quickly have no air in your tire. Despise Crank Brothers claim this is not a high capacity pump. I lost count of strokes but think of pumping times of 3 or more minutes. Most users will not be happy after they pump a tire to 100 PSI.

Nike Kato III Shoe – First Impressions

I like this shoe and think it is a great buy. It is even more comfortable than the Sidi Bullet 2 plus it fits my style better. It is a plain but fairly well made shoe that is built on American Lasts and fits my foot better than any other shoe that I have worn. A nice big toe box and the velco straps make this a shoe that will fit a lot of feet comfortably.
This is a comfortable shoe to walk in with a good grip. Definitely a better touring shoe than the Sidi Bullet 2 if you plan to do much walking.

I need to put some miles on to see how comfortable this shoe will be on longer rides but my first impression is very good.

The best price I saw for this shoe was $74.99  $84.99 (5/29/07 update)  at Bike Line. They should sell for around $90 at your Local Bike Shop.

See Shoes and Pedals for more posts on this topic

Bike Pump Update – Topeak Road Morph with Gauge

See Hot Buy Alert – 9/28/2006

The pump saga continues. I am back to the Topeak Road Morph. This is an acceptable pump that has a few issues.

Pros:

- Neat design, fold-out handle and foot

- Hose from pump to head (a big plus), provides a comfortable and efficient pumping position while reducing the chance of stem damage

- Built-in Pressure Gauge

- Sturdy

- Small and light

Cons:

- Over 60 strokes to pump to 100 PSI

- Gauge is not very accurate, mine reads 10 PSI low

- Pump effort a little high when you get above 60 PSI

- Doesn’t mount to frame very well, wobbles while riding

Rating: Recommended

NH Seacoast Bike Forum

If you are bicycling along the New Hampshire Seacoast or Southern Maine this may be the place to get your questions answered.

SABR’s NH Seacoast Bike Forum

NH Seacoast Bike Trails

New Hampshire doesn’t have a lot of seacoast but we do have world class bicycling. The problem for visitors is to find the routes and to discover what fits their needs. So let me make a few suggestions.

A complete loop ride from Dover is described in Seacoast History Ride. These notes supplement that information and provide information to plan your own rides.

3M Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth

One item I always carry with me when bicycling or camping is a 3M Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth. I use them to clean my glasses, sun glasses, bike computer, camera, PDA, GPS or Nintendo DS Lite, anything that is easily scratched.

The cloths are handy because you can use them for cleaning without fluids, the microfibers won’t scratch soft surfaces and clean surprisingly well. They are fairly small, 7 i n x 6 in (18 cm x 16 cm). They last quite a while because they are quite sturdy and can be washed and reused when they get dirty.

They are available at most CVS and Rite Aid drugstores or online at 3M Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth for $2.79 at Drugstore.com or about $2.50 on eBay.

Self Sealing Tubes

For my Northwest Tour this year I installed self sealing tubes to prevent flats from thorns. Riding with self sealing tubes taught me a few lessons.