PAP Wonders...P-E-D-A-L-S!

It's been a while since the last article but I hope this new article will be helpful for those who want to change their current pedals or try new pedals. The pedals are part of the "cockpit" of the bike - the components which connect you to the bike. This category includes the handlebars, saddle, stem and seatpost. Here is a link for an introduction to the cockpit. The pedals' purpose is to let you transfer your power to the crankset, then to the chain, then to the cogs, then to the wheel, and finally, to the ground.

What types of pedals are out there? Pedals fall into two basic categories: Flat pedals and Clipless pedals. Flat pedals are what most people (even non-bikers) know. They are everyone's first pedal and there are several advantages in using them. First, they are the easiest to use and the most confidence-inspiring. Just put your foot on it and pedal. If you lose your balance, you can easily put your foot down on the ground. Second, flat pedals are offered at a wide spectrum of price points from the most affordable to the most expensive. With flat pedals, the cyclist can use any shoe he already has - sneakers, skateboard shoes and others. Clipless pedals, on the other hand, need cycling shoes.

Example of a flat pedal. This particular example has metal studs to improve the shoes grip on the pedal.

PAP Wonders... Cassettes, Sprockets and Cogs

Our next topic in PAP Wonders... is about cassettes. Cassettes are the gears that engage the chain and the rear wheel. For a brief introduction on cassettes, look at our Parts of a Bicycle article on the drivetrain. We will be talking about the pros and cons of different cassette choices like having more cogs in your cassette and having larger cogs. We hope this can help you on your cassette choice.

My personal choice: a 10 speed cassette with 12-27 range.

PAP Wonders... Chainrings for You and Me

Here is our next PAP Wonders... topic: Chainrings. Chainrings are what engage the chain on the crankset. You can review from our Parts of the Bicycle series. In this article, we will be talking about the different types of chainrings and their pros & cons. If your building up a new bike (your first one or your next one) or maybe planning to change your chainrings, we hope that this article can be useful for you in your decisions.

One-Two-Three. There are different numbers for different uses. Mountain bikes typically have three and road bikes usually have only two. These past few years there has been a trend in mountain bikes to have less chainrings. Mountain bikes and mountain bike groupsets now come with two chainrings or just one. For road bikes, the triple (three chainrings) is available but rather rare. Also, single chainring options are offered by SRAM. This first appeared in their Force CX1 groupset (mainly geared toward cyclocross/CX riders). Now, they have the Force 1, Rival 1 and Apex 1 groupsets.

A Double Crankset - 2 Chainrings.

PAP Wonders... Drivetrain - Straight or Mixed?

PAP Wonders... is a new segment here in Pinta At Padyak. We will be wondering and discussing bikes, bike setups and other bike-related topics. In our first issue, we will be talking about the bike drivetrain. For an introduction on the bike's drivetrain, click here.

When we talk about a bike's drivetrain, common sense dictates that a straight groupset is the gold standard. A straight groupset is where all the components of the drivetrain (cranks, derailleurs, cassette, shifters and brakes) are all from the same series. By having a straight groupset, we can have the smoothest coordination between the different components for an efficient operation.

An example of a straight groupset. Pictured above is a 10-speed Dura-Ace groupset (Special Anniversary Edition).

Parts of a Bicycle: Part 5 - The Cockpit

We talked about the drivetrain of a bike in Part 4. We learned about the mechanisms that drive the bike forward. Here in Part 5, we will be talking about the cockpit. The cockpit is what connects you - the rider - to the bike. These are the contact points and related components on your bike. These include the stem, handlebar, seatpost, saddle and pedals.

Front view of the cockpit. 

Parts of a Bicycle: Part 4 - Drivetrain

From Part 3, we learned about the wheels of a bicycle. The wheels transfer the movement to the road. In this article, we will be talking about the Drivetrain of the bike. The Drivetrain is the main mechanism of the bike. It transforms the pedaling motion to the rotation of the wheels.

The Drivetrain is the main mechanism of the bike.

The Drivetrain is composed of the shifters, crankset, cassette/cogs, chain, front derailleur, rear derailleur and brakes. The big names of drivetrain manufacturers are Shimano, Sram and Campagnolo. These companies have different series for their components. Having all components from the same series is called having a "Groupset" or a "Gruppo". Although one can mix and match different components from different groupsets or different brands, there may be occasions where these would not be compatible.

Parts of a Bicycle: Part 3 - The Wheels

Last time in Part 2, we talked about the different parts of the frame like the different names of the tubes and the two triangles. In this article, we will be tackling the different parts of the wheels. The wheels are the contact points between the bike and the road. No wheels, no movement.

The wheels connect the bike to the road.

Parts of a Bicycle: Part 2 - The Frame

We saw from Part 1 what a bike is and the four major component groups. In this article, we will be talking about the first - the Frame. The frame is the skeleton of the bike. It is where all the other components are attached. The frame set includes the fork which holds the front wheel in place and allows steering the bike.

The frame and the fork comprise the skeleton of the bike.

Parts of a Bicycle: Part 1 - What is a bike?

Everyone knows how a bike looks? YES.
Everyone knows how to ride a bike? MOST LIKELY.
Everyone knows how a bike works? MAYBE NOT.

This series introduces the basic parts of a bicycle and how these different parts make a bike work.

In a mechanical or technological perspective, a Bicycle is a vehicle, with two wheels, powered by a human being, through a pedaling motion. To make riding a bicycle possible there are necessary components. When I say necessary, I mean bare minimum. Without one of these a bike will not be functional or ride-able. These necessary components can be grouped into four categories: Frame, Wheels, Drivetrain and Cockpit.

Pinta at Padyak, Painting and Cycling

Painting and Cycling might not seem to have a lot in common but they do have things in common. One of the most significant similarities between the two is their power to capture our intellect and emotions.

In Cycling, one can be a calm state - relax, chat with friends, enjoy the view, and other things.  This calm state can go two ways. One can be so "in" your cycling efforts and be so immersed in the effort. Focus - even instinct - takes over to accomplish the task. On the other hand, one can just turn off their mind. This goes for long steady rides. Ignoring any outside stimuli to prevent one's self from the mental fatigue of enduring the time and the perceived energy spent.

In Painting, viewing an artwork can be a serene experience. One can feel a calm energy produced by the painting. However, the opposite can also happen. One can be pulled into the world of emotion created by the painting. The saddest expressions, scenes of heroism, abstractions of blues and purples - these intense colors and images make our emotions run wild.

Painting and Cycling - PINTA AT PADYAK - affect our mental and emotive states. Serene and calm to intense and focused to just switching off and immersing in the experience. Go ahead. Enjoy the experience. Be absorbed by the intensity of the experience. Your choice.


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