Steve -- I toured last summer on Grip Kings with uncleated mountain bike shoes. I rode 2500 miles over many long and steep mountain passes. I originally started out with PowerGrips attached to my Grip Kings, and I drilled and tapped set screws into the reverse side of each pedal to hold my shoe in place when not strapped in. By the second day on the road, I had removed the Power Grips altogether and mailed them home. I found the free pedaling with a heavy load more compelling than being strapped in. By the end of the first week, I had even removed all of the set screws, and was totally free. Another technique I use is to not pedal with the ball of my foot centered on the pedal. Rather, I move my foot forward so that the arch of my foot is centered over the pedal. That made quite a noticeable difference. It went well, and my feet never went numb. That said, I have grown to like the cleated shoe/pedal combo for regular daily rides. I push the cleat as far back as allowed on standard mountain bike shoes, and I have set the release pressure to the absolute minimum. I snap out very easily and quickly, and I use the reversible Shimano pedals that also allow me to pedal free on the flip side of the cleat. I use that mode when in heavy traffic, or when riding with uncleated shoes. If I tour fully loaded on roads again, I will try it with cleated moutain bike shoes on these reversible pedals. I find that cleats do facillitate long climbs. Here are the pedals I have mounted on my bikes. Two sets of "mountain" pedals, and one set of "road." By the way, I replaced the upward releasing cleats that came with the two sets of mountain pedals with road style cleats.:
http://www.rei.com/product/764688 http://www.rei.com/product/668198 --- On Tue, 12/15/09, Steve Wimberg <st...@stevewimberg.com> wrote: From: Steve Wimberg <st...@stevewimberg.com> Subject: [RBW] Grip Kings and Numb Feet To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 6:26 AM I would like to get some feedback from the group regarding Grip King pedals and their ability to eliminate numb feet on long rides. I started using clipless pedals about a year ago after my rides started increasing in length, and numbness in my feet became a problem. I had been using MKS touring pedals, and really can't use those on rides over 30 miles or so. The switch was extremely successful in keeping my feet from going numb, and I like riding with the clipless, in general. However, I have found that I get a little uncomfortable being clipped in when going up steep hills. It's always in the back of my mind that if I need to bail out because I can't pedal anymore, it's gonna be difficult because I'm clipped in. Granted, this hasn't happened yet, but why have the anxiety if I don't have to? This is where the Grip Kings come in. I am hopeful that the increased surface area of the pedal will spread the weight out over the bottom of my foot enough to keep the numbness at bay. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Has anyone had numb feet problems and had them relieved by using the Grip Kings? Like I said, I like the clipless pedals, but am willing to give up some of the things I like about them in order to gain a little piece of mind. Thanks, Steve -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
