I'm eager to get my feet on these Grand Cru Sabot platform pedals

I hate to admit it, but clipless pedals scare me -- especially in a trails setting where I might need to touch down to keep from falling over. It happened quite a few times when I was out riding in Kirby Park, but what bothered me even more was how often my shoes slipped right off the platforms. I could probably get a lot further if I had shoes with a non-skid surface, but even the pedals on my bike get slippery the moment they get the slightest bit wet. Time to upgrade?

Over the weekend, I was skimming through my blog subscriptions when I came upon this post on the Velo ORANGE blog: Sabot Long Term Test.

The pedals being tested in that post are these Grand Cru Sabot pedals:

Between the large size (100mm long x 100mm wide) and the removable pins (rounded pins are included but can be replaced with sharp pins) for extra grip, I'm definitely thinking of giving these a shot. They're even toe-clip compatible, just in case I'm feeling extra paranoid about slippage.

At $90, the price doesn't seem too steep, considering the quality of craftsmanship going into them. I'm sure they'll make the ride feel completely different, but it's going to be a while before I can get a pair. They aren't available yet, but should be coming soon. I'm looking forward to it!

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For the cyclist who has everything, SingleTracks.com's list of shocking Interbike finds

Ready for something really weird? Well, Jeff has a post on SingleTracks.com that highlights 5 weird things, just for you..

Brace yourself. Fat bike is coming. Source: SingleTracks.com

Want shoes that keep your feet cool, and also, possibly, minty fresh? How about anti-lock brakes on a mountain bike? Weird helmets? Fat bikes and free tattoos? Jeff over at SingleTracks.com has compiled them all into a fun list in a post titled MTB Products on the Fringe: Shocking Interbike finds.

To be honest, I've never heard of Interbike until this past week, as the event was actually occurring. Interbike is described as "North America's largest bicycle trade event and show." Given my experience attending trade shows and events in the video games industry, I can just imagine that this was probably pretty similar, complete with weird products and gimmicks galore. Well, maybe with less chance of being stuck in line for several hours with a large, smelly man wearing a Pikachu costume. (I'll let you decide if that is more or less awesome.)

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How to make your bike look like a TRON light-cycle

We're currently experiencing torrential downpours in a bout of super colossal crap weather, today. It's making me even happier that I went out for a ride yesterday instead of sitting at home, doing boring junk -- like working -- which is what I'm doing today. In between rounds of boring junk, however, I tend to hit up various blogs to see what's going on in the world.

Today, via Prismatic, I stumbled across this gem on PSFK.com:

This video is demonstrating the XFire Bike Lane, a safety light that attaches to a bike and uses lasers to highlight a personal bike lane, making cyclists more visible to drivers at night. The gadget is currently awaiting a patent and FDA approval. ...because I guess you might want to eat it? I don't know why it needs FDA approval. Is it because of the frikkin' laser beams? Regardless, it's a pretty sweet idea.

LASERS!

In addition, the XFire also just happens to make you look like you're in TRON, riding on a light-cycle! Maybe that's kind of dorky. Or, maybe that's just so awesome that it completes an orbit and loops right back around to dorky. Either way, it should definitely help drivers see you and give plenty of room when passing. Or, more likely, you'll be easier to hit with half-empty beer cans and yelled at to get off the road. But at least they'll see you, and that's the important thing.

My favorite part in the video is when two cyclists can be seen riding side-by-side with XFires, if only because it answered the question, "What happens when they cross the streams?" Unfortunately, nothing happens. For a moment, however, the two cyclists do meet on an even keel and revel in their collective nerdery. "We've got frikkin' laser beams on our bikes!" And you know you want one, too.

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