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49
50

How I feel driving without my Cycling shoes (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by TheCl0neEnter bike & year

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[–]soundguy642012 Jamis Ventura Race 40 points41 points ago

I'm confused. Driving with regular shoes on? Barefoot? Why not take a pair of regular shoes with you?

[–]PleaseDontStalkMeGRAV SWIFT2 17 points18 points ago

I think he means riding his bike? Very confusing.

[–]Mr_Ected2011 Fuji Cross 3.0 8 points9 points ago

Nah, real men DRIVE their bike, wussies just ride along!

[–]NastyGrandma2011 Yeti ARC-X Force 3 points4 points ago

well... in reality you are physically driving your bicycle - you ride in a car.

[–]katalyst_2012 Cannondale SuperSix 4 Rival | 2011 Trek 4300 Disc 1 point2 points ago

drive: noun, verb

  1. to send, expel, or otherwise cause to move by force or compulsion

  2. to cause and guide the movement of (a vehicle, an animal, etc.)

i guess we were all right :0

[–]danmickla 16 points17 points ago

OP is not a clear thinker.

[–]terriblebikeadviceSoftride Qualifier SE TT Fixed Conversion 24 points25 points ago

OMG, I got SPD pedals to replace the gas and brake in my car too!

[–]ThePurdude 10 points11 points ago

Forget the brake pedal!!! Just install brake levers onto your steering wheel at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position.

[–]KingMango 14 points15 points ago

Nah bro. Fixed gear. You don't need brakes.
Just put your car in 1st gear and let the clutch out. You'll stop.
(don't actually do this)

[–]cestcaquestbon 2 points3 points ago

Actually you do slow down by switching to a lower gear, progressively. But you don't come to a full stop with it, you stop at the 2nd gear normally.

[–]KingMango 0 points1 point ago

Twas a joke my friend.

And no. You don't. Or at least I don't. I use my brakes which cost $70 for new pads as opposed to 2500-3000 for a new engine as 1500-3000 for a new transmission.

[–]fourvalleys2012 Jamis Ventura, 1982 Schwinn, 1982 Bianchi 4 points5 points ago

Cars can safely engine brake, unless you're being irresponsible about it. You won't kill your car just by engine braking, so those costs you list carry a lot different weight. Your engine also uses less gas when engine braking than when coasting in neutral (seems backwards, right?), so you save a tiny amount of money there too. The exception to that is if you have a hybrid which shuts off under a certain speed or when coasting. Then you're definitely better off braking in neutral.

Having said that, you're going to have a much easier time coming to a complete stop using your brakes. Massive difference in braking distance. That's why the brakes are there.

[–]Ching_chong_parsnipBianchi Via Nirone 7 105 2 points3 points ago

unless you're being irresponsible about it

He's comparing braking a car the same way you break a fixie, i.e. going at normal/high speed and locking your rear tire or, as it would be for a car, going 3rd/4th/5th gear and slamming 1st to come to a quick stop.

[–]wickedcoldBoulder Bicycle 650B & Surly Cross Check 0 points1 point ago

Having said that, you're going to have a much easier time coming to a complete stop using your brakes.

Not only that but you're using all four wheels to slow the car down. Engine braking in a passenger car really isn't a good idea most of the time. You'll beat the shit out of your clutch, no matter how slick you think you are at it. A clutch is a lot more expensive than brakes.

[–]fourvalleys2012 Jamis Ventura, 1982 Schwinn, 1982 Bianchi 0 points1 point ago

In my experience, most people will say that rev-matching will cause little additional damage to your clutch and syncros when downshifting (and reduce wear when upshifting). I've never blown a clutch so I can't really speak from a position of experience on what will or won't break it, but I've seldom been told differently, whether in driving school or at the track.

E: I've been told the same about shifting - up and down - without the clutch. I don't do it, but theoretically a rev-match eliminates the need to even engage the clutch. I don't want to risk not doing it perfectly, and it's not really any more effort to use the clutch.

[–]wickedcoldBoulder Bicycle 650B & Surly Cross Check 0 points1 point ago

Proper rev-matching is, unfortunately, beyond the skill level of your average driver. Most people who I see engine braking just tend to let the clutch out and let it grab.

[–]fourvalleys2012 Jamis Ventura, 1982 Schwinn, 1982 Bianchi 1 point2 points ago

Absolutely. Even with syncro'd gearboxes, that isn't helping the gearbox. The synchromesh gears are moreso preventing major grinding, rather than the "lurch" - which is just a drivetrain stress. It's not the end of the world, though.

And back to the original point - it will take you much further to stop regardless.

[–]katalyst_2012 Cannondale SuperSix 4 Rival | 2011 Trek 4300 Disc 0 points1 point ago

engine braking won't cause anymore damage to either the engine or transmission than normal operation. if anything is being worn out, it's the clutch...but even then engine braking has it's uses, like when coming down steep hills and mountains.

[–]KingMango -1 points0 points ago

Do me a favor. Go 80 mph then TRY and shift to first gear. Dont even let your foot off the clutch. I bet you $20 you can't get the transmission into gear. Throw after you do this you will probably notice its a lot harder to shift to first. That's because you just wore out your synchros. The synchros bring the transmission gears up to speed before you let off the clutch. Without them you have to shift to neutral, let the clutch out, push the clutch in, then shift gears.

I understand how downshifting down a mountain works. Thanks.

[–]conversionbot 1 point2 points ago

For our non-american friends:

80 mph ---> 128.75 km/h

I am a bot! This reply was generated automatically. If you have any suggestions, questions, concerns or would like to report a bug, please contact the owner of this bot.

[–]sideways8 0 points1 point ago

My friend did this on a trip to a 200km distant town a few months ago. He made it back - eventually, at about 20kph, with a combined 3 teeth left on his gears.

[–]NPraisin2008 Cannondale Six13 3 points4 points ago

I'm running my car fixed gear. I am the gas, brakes, and steering. Sometimes, I even work in heated seating every now and then.

[–]El_Glenn 0 points1 point ago

I believe there was a rally car driver that lost his legs in a crash that continued racing by using a setup similar to what you're suggesting. Edit for clarity ( moved the throttle,clutch, brakes to his steading wheel

[–]Playererf 9 points10 points ago

I also started duck taping my hands to the steering wheel, too. Y'know, for safety.

[–]soundguy642012 Jamis Ventura Race 25 points26 points ago

I got rid of my turn signals. I just yell 'ON YOUR LEFT!'

[–]katalyst_2012 Cannondale SuperSix 4 Rival | 2011 Trek 4300 Disc 7 points8 points ago

I drive a manual. I have to unclip everytime I need to brake! Shits kinda sketchy.

[–]hoganloaf 3 points4 points ago

I replaced the clutch in my car with a friction shifter setup. My Ford Fiesta is full campy baby!

[–]sprashoo2007 Rivendell Bleriot, 2005 Jamis Dakar XC Pro 0 points1 point ago

It occurs to me that you could make an interesting system where you clip in, and pull up to accelerate, push down to brake...

(the reverse seemed intuitive at first, direction wise, but would be dangerous, I think)

[–]NagisaK2011 Devinci Silverstone Sl2 7 points8 points ago

Why would you drive with your cycling shoes in the first place?

[–]callmegoat 5 points6 points ago

Please explain yourself, the people need to know.

[–]zair33ka 5 points6 points ago

wtf are you talking about??

[–]beautonton2011 Felt f3 6 points7 points ago

Why the fuck would you ever do that ?

[–]LurkingTroll 1 point2 points ago

I can confirm that.

[–]Ireland12061978 Schwinn Traveler III 0 points1 point ago

I think you mean riding.

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