Lazy Saturday

It's hot and humid. Overcast, cloudy, raining. All within an an hour's time. The air conditioner is running constantly and Gracie, the 15 1/2 year-old brittany, is sound asleep on the cool tile of the bathroom floor. Her nose twitches and her paws begin to dance as she dreams of a long-ago quail hunt near Andover, KS. Gracie's 12 years younger, I've dropped two birds in the brush, and she's working a blind retrieve.

Lazy Saturday.

Not much riding today. Did run to REI to pick up a pair of Keen Commuter Bike Sandals. These have been bouncing around in my head all week. Resisted temptation last weekend, but gave in today. Got 'em home and found the extra pair of SH-51 SPD cleats I'd stashed in my "bike junk" drawer. Easy install.

Rode around the neighborhood on the 7.3 FX to test out the feel of the sandals. Like 'em. Comfy, cool, and kewl. Easy on the foot and easy off, but a word of warning - at least with the SH-51 SPDs - it ain't the same popping out of the pedals. Because these sandals are a little more flexible than a traditional bike or MTB shoe, you gotta twist a little more before the cleats pop out of the pedals. Lean up against something and practice clipping in and out before you go for a ride and find yourself falling over at a stop because you can't unclip.

Off the bike, the Keens are a comfortable walk-around, with the cleats recessed sufficiently that you don't sound like you're wearing tap shoes. I'll probably wear these for most of my warm weather weekend errand and recreational rides - using the MTB shoes for colder weather and office commutes.

Well, guess I need to find a cool patch of bathroom tile for my afternoon nap.