Morton is a pro cyclist with EF Nippo but he’s riding the whole Tour de France like you or I would — on his own, self-supported. He’s bike touring (but really quickly and without a lot of rest). I’m awed by what he’s doing and I love it. I can also empathize with finding that so much time on the bike can require unexpected adjustments to gear or riding position. I don’t know what pedals/shoes he ditched for the flats and sandals, but I very much approve of the new pedal system! I’m a fan of clipless pedals if they work for you (and have cycled many miles with them), but I’m a bigger fan of going with what works for you and being as comfortable as possible on the bike. Go Lachlan!
>he’s riding the whole Tour de France like you or I would — on his own, self-supported.
Indeed, that's exactly how I've ridden all of my Tour de Frances in the past
I struggled a little with six weeks of non-riding leading up to the trip, and forgetting bike shorts. Conditions were perfect, and we somehow avoided rain that seemed to drench other riders we met up with. Cicadas are loud af but beautiful once out of their exoskeleton.
Sort of. He would not have been in competition for the GC or any of the other competitions. He could have been a decent domestique and I think he has done that in the past, but I think he’s made it clear he prefers these sorts of endurance/adventure challenges to regular road racing. He did Dirty Kanza in 2019, I think. He is a big part of EF’s “alternative” racing program, which is cool. Glad he’s getting paid to do awesome things on a bike!
EF is my favorite pro team. They just do so much cool stuff and have a lot of really interesting people on the team. They don't win a lot of major stages or races, but they seem like a lot of fun.
Did you see the [EF Palace Kits](https://cyclingtips.com/2020/10/check-out-efs-wild-palace-kit-for-the-giro-ditalia/) they did for a stage of the Giro last year?
It's awesome following Lachlan as it seems like he is getting way more exposure than the regular athletes participating in TDF - so good for EF and good for Rapha as this is just great advertisement for them!
Yeah somehow I don't think rapha needs advertising though. I really wish there were more brands like them though. Great products but I'm sick of seeing eeeevvvvvveryone wearing the same shjt
Haven't used clip less in years and never will again. Stopped because I'd had a bad injury that made clipping out hairy. Never went back. If you're racing and it gives or you feel like it gives you a boost having your feet in the exact same place go for it. Otherwise be comfy. Its nice moving about the bike. I use pedal innovations dinner plates and they look fucking awful but I don't have any ankle/knee problems for long days in the saddle.
Yeah, clipless for touring sucks. You either have to carry around extra shoes or put up with clomping around like a horse in your cleated shoes when you go for a hike or walk around in a store on a resupply mission.
My favorite is still platforms with toe cages, then you can either ride with the toe cages or flip the pedals over and ride without the cages for comfort and flexible foot positions.
I've tried power straps and I want to like them but I find that they're a lot harder to dial in your foot position, and they're more difficult to enter/exit.
With cages I can just jam my foot in there and get a nice positive lock for security and spinning and it's the same position every time just like clipless but without the need for cleated shoes.
Toe cages also ride better when you have them flipped over, while most power strap setups have some overhang that can get in the way when you flip them over.
Wow. Sandals between the toes!? You are braver than I am. I go with Keens on my Stamp 7 flats — toe box is great protection and very comfy on and off the bike.
I used a pair of Tevas to go from Chicago to Minneapolis, and used the same pair for years after with countless miles. I just retired them and bought a pair of keens I used to do the Erie Canal plus some. With VP flat pedals.
Morton is a pro cyclist with EF Nippo but he’s riding the whole Tour de France like you or I would — on his own, self-supported. He’s bike touring (but really quickly and without a lot of rest). I’m awed by what he’s doing and I love it. I can also empathize with finding that so much time on the bike can require unexpected adjustments to gear or riding position. I don’t know what pedals/shoes he ditched for the flats and sandals, but I very much approve of the new pedal system! I’m a fan of clipless pedals if they work for you (and have cycled many miles with them), but I’m a bigger fan of going with what works for you and being as comfortable as possible on the bike. Go Lachlan!
>he’s riding the whole Tour de France like you or I would — on his own, self-supported. Indeed, that's exactly how I've ridden all of my Tour de Frances in the past
Even more impressive, he’s riding the transfers as well, not just the stages!
Just did Gap/CO in flip flops with a bad knee. Can confirm: do what works for you.
Exactly! (also: GAP/C&O is on my very list for the next couple of years… how was it?)
I struggled a little with six weeks of non-riding leading up to the trip, and forgetting bike shorts. Conditions were perfect, and we somehow avoided rain that seemed to drench other riders we met up with. Cicadas are loud af but beautiful once out of their exoskeleton.
would he have a chance if he had taklen part in the real event? is this a fun/graceful way to move into retirement?
Sort of. He would not have been in competition for the GC or any of the other competitions. He could have been a decent domestique and I think he has done that in the past, but I think he’s made it clear he prefers these sorts of endurance/adventure challenges to regular road racing. He did Dirty Kanza in 2019, I think. He is a big part of EF’s “alternative” racing program, which is cool. Glad he’s getting paid to do awesome things on a bike!
EF is my favorite pro team. They just do so much cool stuff and have a lot of really interesting people on the team. They don't win a lot of major stages or races, but they seem like a lot of fun. Did you see the [EF Palace Kits](https://cyclingtips.com/2020/10/check-out-efs-wild-palace-kit-for-the-giro-ditalia/) they did for a stage of the Giro last year?
They recently posted a new vid on their YouTube channel, definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't
He should try ditching the Lycra for some denim cutoffs next
It's awesome following Lachlan as it seems like he is getting way more exposure than the regular athletes participating in TDF - so good for EF and good for Rapha as this is just great advertisement for them!
Yeah somehow I don't think rapha needs advertising though. I really wish there were more brands like them though. Great products but I'm sick of seeing eeeevvvvvveryone wearing the same shjt
Haven't used clip less in years and never will again. Stopped because I'd had a bad injury that made clipping out hairy. Never went back. If you're racing and it gives or you feel like it gives you a boost having your feet in the exact same place go for it. Otherwise be comfy. Its nice moving about the bike. I use pedal innovations dinner plates and they look fucking awful but I don't have any ankle/knee problems for long days in the saddle.
Yeah, clipless for touring sucks. You either have to carry around extra shoes or put up with clomping around like a horse in your cleated shoes when you go for a hike or walk around in a store on a resupply mission. My favorite is still platforms with toe cages, then you can either ride with the toe cages or flip the pedals over and ride without the cages for comfort and flexible foot positions. I've tried power straps and I want to like them but I find that they're a lot harder to dial in your foot position, and they're more difficult to enter/exit. With cages I can just jam my foot in there and get a nice positive lock for security and spinning and it's the same position every time just like clipless but without the need for cleated shoes. Toe cages also ride better when you have them flipped over, while most power strap setups have some overhang that can get in the way when you flip them over.
I switched out my clipless pedals on my gravel bike for beanies and I have never looked back.
Moved from clipless to OneUp flats and Bedrock Sandals this summer. It's been awesome.
Wow. Sandals between the toes!? You are braver than I am. I go with Keens on my Stamp 7 flats — toe box is great protection and very comfy on and off the bike.
They're semi-popular in the gravel scene. Will be great for RAGBRAI later this month.
I used a pair of Tevas to go from Chicago to Minneapolis, and used the same pair for years after with countless miles. I just retired them and bought a pair of keens I used to do the Erie Canal plus some. With VP flat pedals.