Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Monday, May 24, 2021 -- Marina Del Rey

Due to a chain issue, by the time I got a different chain swapped on the bike, I only had time for a short ride to the Marina Del Rey bridge and back (about 9 miles).  A bit on the warm side (about 75 F, 24 C).




Quite a few people out for mid-day on a Monday.
The weather is nice though...

 

Look Keo Compatible Cleats for the second spare pair of bike shoes...

At the same time as the genuine Look Keo cleats, I bought these non-genuine compatible cleats (made in Taiwan or China?).
The material and quality looks OK but the truth is in the actual function under use...

I'm putting them on the second pair of spare Louis Garneau shoes.
I think this was the very first pair of road bicycling shoes I bought.
I initially used them with the Shimano SPD SL pedals and cleats.
That's what's on the one left shoe.

Actually, the RH shoe is from the second pair of road shoes I bought.
The two pairs are exactly the same brand/model/color.  So they're pretty much interchangeable.
When I had the strap break just before my last ride with a friend from work, I had to swap out the RH shoe.
So, the RH shoe (without the cleat) is from my other pair...

Removed the Shimano cleat from the LH shoe.

These shoes have provisions to use the Shimano SPD pedals/cleats with the two bolt mounting system.
Since I'm using the three bolt system, the two bolt plate inside is redundant.
This plate, when not being used, can slide back and forth while you ride and make a clicking noise.
So, best to remove it...

There's provisions (a slit in the inner base sole) to allow this plate to come out...

Installed the new cleats.

The shoes can use a cleaning.

Fir the shoes were cleaned using a mild household cleaner.
Then for the stubborn blackish stains on the synthetic material, this leather prep/deglazer works well.
It's a pretty aggressive chemical so you need to be careful what you use it on (one of the ingredients is acetone).

After cleaning.

All three pairs are now usable.
All have been cleaned.
All with Look Keo type of cleats.

I'll use the new shoes but will keep the old shoes around for backup.
Also, if I decide to ride one of my other bikes with a different pedal/cleat system on it, I can use one of the old shoes and not have to change the setup on my "everyday" shoes.

On one of the old shoes, one of the Velcro strips is coming away from the outer material it's glued to.
Will have to use the contact cement to glue it back in place.

The heel area on one of the old shoes has a small area with damage from a previous crash...

 

April 2021 issue of Motor Sport Magazine -- You Were There -- LBGP in the early 1980s...



 

Shelby American -- Part 32