Platform

I spent the afternoon fooling around on my bike, this time with platform pedals. Yesterday I felt like crap, today I felt really good. My legs weren’t tired, I had plenty of air for my lungs and my feet felt good. A complete about face from Friday’s malaise.

It’s been years since I’ve ridden a ‘real’ (non-commuter) bike with platform pedals. It was amazingly fun. Perhaps the absence of foot pain and numbness is contributing, but I felt very comfortable, even on technical terrain.

The first few ‘drops’ I went off were a little nerve racking, but it is not hard to learn that you’re not clipped in and can’t do certian things. I lost a pedal a few times while climbing, but again, I had to learn. It was amazing how little I actually *need* to pull up in techincal climbs and even ledges. At least with the Behemoth — it just cruises right up stuff. It helps to unweight the rear, of course, but often no ‘hopping’ is required.

The most important thing is that I’m not losing feeling and hammering my feet. At the bottom of the Sentinel Ridge -> Starr Pass descent my feet ALWAYS hurt. 100% of the time they are aching in one way or another, regardless of bike, speed or skill. But today: zilch. Feet were as happy as could be at the bottom. I wonder if other people feel so comfortable on a bike.

On the way to/from the trails I found some entertaining rocks, drainages and other assorted man-made things to use in a manner completely unintended. Too much fun….