Clip-less Pedals

Clip-less pedals bind the shoe to the pedal much like shoes bind to skis. There are many different types and it’s important to know what kind of pedal you use or plan to use before buying shoes. A common pedal is the ATB (All terrain bike) SPD compatible. This type of pedal can be used for both Mountain bikes and road bikes. Road pedals such as the “LOOK” type use a cleat instead of a clip and should only be used on road bikes.

Clip-less pedals improve cycling performance by correctly aligning the foot on the pedal and give the rider the ability to spin faster without slipping of the pedal. Furthermore, clip-less pedals allow the rider to apply power on the up and down stroke whereas regular pedals only give you power on the down stroke.

Shoes

Buying cycling shoes can be very confusing to a new cyclist. Most shoes come in European sizes and every brand seem to fit differently. It’s best to visit your local bike shop for shoes but sometimes it's hard to resist the deals from Internet retailers. Before buying look for a sizing chart for the brand you intend to buy. Charts are usually available in the help section of the retailer's website. Also make sure the shoes are compatible with your pedals.

Helmets

Helmets are required on all JSTS rides!

A bicycle helmet reduces the risk of serious head and brain injury by 85-88%. But it’s not enough to simply buy and wear one – you need to make sure it fits properly.

Buy a helmet that has been tested and meets the uniform safety standard issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or one or more of the voluntary bicycle helmet standards like ASTM, Snell or ANSI. You can tell this by looking for a label or sticker that says the helmet meets the standard.

Put the helmet on your head so it sits evenly between the ears and rests low on your forehead – it should only be about 1-2 finger widths above your eyebrow.

Put foam pads inside the helmet so it feels comfortable but really snug. Usually, the helmet includes more than one size of foam pads that can be velcroed inside the helmet for a better fit.

Tighten the chin strap as snugly as possible. Adjust the junction of front and back straps just under the ears and secure back strap without putting pressure on the front strap.

A Good Helmet Fit is as important as wearing one...but it takes time. Allow as much as a half hour to get a proper helmet fit. If fitting your child, don’t try to “rush” it as they are trying to go outside to ride. Do it while they’re relaxed and you have plenty of time. Then secure the adjustments so the helmet is ready for the next ride.