October 2022’s crisp autumn made Dian Shan Lake’s 100KM RAW ride ideal.
We started at 8 a.m., 20 cyclists gliding along the lakeside. The first 20KM felt effortless, but by 40KM, my legs burned. On flat pedals, my feet slipped, wasting energy.
At the 50KM rest stop, I rubbed sore calves. Today’s AVS was 32KM/H, the ride leader said: “Flat pedals cost power—no upstroke pull.” Back on the road, I gripped pedals tight on inclines, falling behind. He dropped back: “Lock shoes clip in—pull up and push down, less fatigue. Changed my riding.”
By 90KM, my legs ached, but I pushed on. The final 10KM had an orange sky; crossing the finish, the group cheered. Collapsing on grass,the ride leader clapped: “32KM/H is good—but clip shoes’ll get you 35 easy.”
Packing up, I stared at his clip pedals. That Dian Shan Lake ride wasn’t just a 100KM finish—it was when I knew I was ready to level up my cycling with clip shoes.
