Don't laugh - I've done something daft

[PSims]

Well the current pair of boring old training shoes had seen better days. I figured as I'm doing a LOT of rowing and not a lot of any other training, that it would be a good move to get rowing shoes.

So did I ask anyone on here first - course not - far too sensible an idea.
Did I look around decent sports shops - nope.
Just fiddled around on the web and bought a pair of Adidas rowing shoes...thinking they would be great on an indoor rower.



Umm...they came with a single lace threaded between the shoes - which I guess is for securing to the boat. So I didn't know what to do with that. Took that out.

Some cute bolt holes in the soles which are as much use to me on a C2 as a chocolate oar on a river of lava!

I didn't figure on a friction coefficient of approx zero as I skated across the gym floor the first time. Treading carefully now.

I also didn't figure on the shoes slipping out of the footstraps so easily during rowing. So rowing more slowly and carefully - not really the idea.

So, now it's somewhat too late...can I ask your advice??!

Perhaps I should have to foot holes much higher up with these shoes?
Should I tie them in somehow?
How can I stop the little eyes that are attached to the rear of the heel from making my feet hurt?
Should I just stop using them?

I don't think they are going to be used next Saturday for the Marathon row!!

[BorisZ]

Sorry to hear about the new shoes. Here you try and be really good, and THIS is what you get!
Winter bicycle shoes (with lots of leather/plastic) on the front, that reach over the ankle, work well for me. Same old pair. I guess they are becoming a bio-hazard....

[Stan]

Umm...they came with a single lace threaded between the shoes - which I guess is for securing to the boat. So I didn't know what to do with that. Took that out.

Some cute bolt holes in the soles which are as much use to me on a C2 as a chocolate oar on a river of lava!



Should I just stop using them?

Paul these sound like shoes made for a slave on a roman galley.
Yes you should stop using them.
Hope you didnt spend too much on them

[Mike Channin]

What size are they? Maybe you can flog them on fleabay?

(BTW - hahaha - very funny thing to do! )

[JanetS]

OK - I confess - I laughed!

Single lace across top is for quick release if sinking/upside down
Eyelets in back is for lace to secure heels to boat to assist in quick exit (see above!)

I guess you could lace yourself to the ergo using the heel eyelets...... but better to try different shoes...

I'll stop giggling now - promise........

[rtmmtl]

I use New Balance Race Walking shoe #100.

No lift heal, no cleats/waffles on bottom and just enough heel so that it attaches to and holds the footpads even without straps.

[PSims]

It's OK - they were only £80 !!!

Wonder if I can grow some plants out of them?

For Sale: Bloody uncomfortable racing clogs. Size 9. One careful owner with blisters. Any takers?

[Gooner Neil]

What not to wear 8pm Thursdays BBC1 you could get a gig (do you also offer financial advice?)

[Thomas W-P]

Mike did not post his infamous mixing up of the envelopes for Newark regatta to this thread. But he should have. There is still time mike

Here is my latest cockup.

I row in my office at the back of my garage. It is cold but has electric heaters.

In my nervous state I went to row my last row before BIRC. Putting the heater on full whack seemed the thing to do since my asthma is not helped by the cold.

Imagine my horror when I opened the door this evening to a wall of sauna-like heat. The thing had been on 24x7 for over two days. Everything in the room was about 35 degrees! A quick calculation gives a cost of at least £20, ignoring the warped noticeboard above the heater, the blisters because I sweated so much etc. etc.

I can only put it down to my parlous mental state before BIRC.

[Gooner Neil]

It's all that chocolate addling your brain
Drink cement tis good for you

[PSims]

So how about doing the 24 hour rowathon in a sauna?

Now THAT's an FS Extreme challenge.

Which reminds me...I'm a f***wit get me out of here is back!!

[big dave k]

Which reminds me...I'm a f***wit get me out of here is back!!

my housemates had that on earlier. thought it might be worth watching with myleene klass in a cold shower in only a bikini, then the others came into view and i remembered just how shit a program it is!

[webberg]

I went to a driven pheasant shoot at very short notice last week. Long story but a friend calls at 5:30am and says there's a spare place do I want it.

This normally costs about £500 so I say yes.

Grab guns, shells and in car by 6am. Blackberry to work saying won't be in. Settle down for an hour's nap.

Get to venue. Kit up, get to first peg. Imagine the scene, lots of hooray Henry's in Barbours and sporting very very expensive shooting irons, lots of the local county set. First shot of the day to be taken by the local laird. Loaders provided for everybody, mine was called George. Great stuff.

Birds in sight, first shot away turn to loader for gun.

He looks sheepish. I've brought 20 bore shells and two 12 bore guns!

Total muppet.

Spent the rest of the day borrowing shells from everybody and by 4pm was being treated like I'd stepped up to my neck is manure.