A Day in the Life of a Cycling Shoe by Derek Novaes

A Day in the Life of Me….a cycling shoe!

            Many wonder what its like to be in someone else’s shoes? Wonder what its like to be me, a cycling shoe?! Well, let me tell you, I have been circling around California for several years with my owner and his feet. See, my owner, his name is Derek, is a cyclist. He races around circles and some crazy bumpy roads with a bunch of other owners and their shoes too. I’ve tried talking to my fellow shoes, but typically they are going around in circles too, which makes it hard for conversation. So let me tell what its like to be in my shoes.

That's me!

            On a typical Saturday, a non-race day, we ride in place called Davis. It’s a fun ride, but it can be super cold at 7:45 in the morning. On cold days, Derek places a shoe cover on my toes, which keep me warm. On really cold days, which I detest, Derek covers me up with a shoe cover and then I can’t see a thing. Those are long and cold days folks! I love the days without covers!

Today is a no shoe cover day, just toe covers. Sunny!

            This particular day it wasn’t too bad! The sun was out, the skies were clear and there were lots of other shoes to see going around in circles. The ride starts off at 8:00 am promptly, if you’re late, you need go in circles fast to catch up. 

That's Derek and I on the road!

            We start off slowly, then for some reason, I start going around circles really fast. Then we stop…this is awkward now…Derek gets off the bike and walks in the dirt and then water starts coming down near me… really strange since its usually a clear day! I don’t get it!

            Back on the road we go, this time we go fast then slow up some hill with lots of pretty trees, small roads. Then all of a sudden, while I am perfectly still, the bike is flying down some hill. Now that’s super fun, I get to just chill and go fast!

            By now we have pedaled some 30 miles, that’s good news! We’re half way there! Next we go near some more trees, a pretty lake, a small town that has strawberries and lots of interesting fields. Again, out of nowhere, we start going fast again! Really odd, but I just keep going in circles as usual!

My view most of the day, pretty nice huh?!

            This next part seems familiar to me, that’s because we go back on the same road we came in on earlier on the ride. However, it seems a bit faster than before. We go over this road with lots of cars and then back thru some fields and then we start to pedal fast again! Going over railroad tracks hurts me, not once but twice!

That's a computer, it tells Derek all about his ride: distance, temperature, speed etc.

            Finally we get back to Davis and I get to chill and relax after nearly 60 miles of going in circles! It’s a long day being me, a cycling shoe! On the flip side, I see the beautiful roads and scenery that Derek takes me on while riding his bike! We have seen some amazing places; such as, Haleakala in Maui, many coastal areas, we have even gone around Lake Tahoe a few times.  I love being me, a cycling shoe!

Its fun being a cycling shoe! Wanna be me?!