Bicycles

[Mr Hillier]

Mr. Hillier,

Yes, I suppose there is always some risk, especially on a folding bike which is, at best, a compromise between ease of folding and riding comfort. Also, the cranks may touch the inside of your shoes with each revolution and, even with a mud-flap on the front fender, rain and mud are out to attack both shoes and pants....
Have you considered galoshes? (http://www.swims.com/MEN/Galoshes.aspx)
If the weather is particularly gruesome, I wear nylon rainpants over my pants and rubber boots, and bring my shoes in a bag on my bike's carrier. My overcoat (made with one of Molloy's 610 grams Donegal tweeds) doesn't need extra protection from the rain, I'm relieved to know.

Dear Taller,

Thank you for your comments.

Galoshes would work, but these days if I need to wear good shoes they go in a bag and I change them when I get off the bicycle, , as you do. In any case, with the recent trends in the British weather, bicycles will soon need to float to be of any use, and I suspect that we will also have to review our footwear choices.

Regards,

Mr Hillier

[robert_n]

@ Mr. Hillier,
What about the half-moon metal toe-pads which are tacked to the leather sole? I find they lengthen the life of the sole dramatically.

[Mr Hillier]

What about the half-moon metal toe-pads which are tacked to the leather sole? I find they lengthen the life of the sole dramatically.

Dear Robert,

Thank you for your ideas.

I have experimented with steel Blakeys on the toe and heel, and haven't found much advantage of them on the toe - for me, the downside is that the nails seem to rust and destroy the leather that way, and I find that they don't stay in the sole very long anyway, certainly nowhere near as long as the life of the sole.

In any case, the problems I have experienced refer as much to scrapes on the upper of the shoes as on the sole. Paradoxically, I find that Blakeys are more useful on a heavier shoe or boot, where there is some real meat on the sole to fasten them into.

I think the solution of heavier shoes is a good one, which is working for me!

EH