🚴‍♂️ Clipless Pedals and Wireless AV: How AI Helped Me Ride Through It

by Andy Vogel

At the start of my 24-mile Cancer Fundraiser Ride, the strap on my pedal broke. This strap helps me stand in the saddle and push harder uphill. I managed a quick fix at the 10-mile break, but it pushed me over the edge of a thought I’d been mulling for weeks: switching to clipless pedals.

Clipless pedals in biking are like wireless tech in AV—they’re not truly clipless or wireless. There’s still a clip on your shoe, just like there’s still a wire somewhere in your AV setup. It’s a metaphor AV folks will appreciate: the illusion of freedom, powered by hidden connections.

It’s a metaphor AV folks will appreciate: the illusion of freedom, powered by hidden connections

Figure 1 Clipless Pedal 

To make the switch, I headed to Franklinton Cycle Works, a local bike co-op in Columbus. On Saturdays, they host open garage days where you can use their tools for free. It’s DIY heaven—with help if you need it. I brought my Meta Ray-Ban glasses and used their AI assistant to take pictures of the workbench, tools, and my bike setup.

Figure 2 Installing and inspecting clipless pedal 

I didn’t want to talk out loud to the AI in public, so I typed my questions and uploaded photos. I asked things like, “Which tool is the bike wrench?” and the AI nailed it. I’d never used one before, but with a photo and a prompt, I was able to identify what I needed and get to work.

Figure 3 Using AI to identify tools 

🤖 When AI Over-Explains and Humans Step In

After identifying the bike wrench with my Meta Ray-Bans, I knew what tools I needed. But where AI stumbled was in the how. I asked it how to remove the pedals, and instead of giving me a simple step-by-step guide, it gave me three paragraphs of technical explanation. I started overthinking every move.

Hours passed at the shop. Eventually, I gave in and asked one of the friendly staff members for help. Not only did they assist in removing the pedal, but they also helped me again when I accidentally installed a broken one and got it stuck!

Figure 4 Removing old Pedals 

The takeaway? AI was helpful—but I still needed a human (and to test the pedal before I started!). I needed mentorship—someone with the tried-and-true experience to say, “Here’s how you actually do it.” I can see AI being useful in a lab setting, where folks are working independently, but you still need that expert to step in and guide the process.

The takeaway? AI was helpful—but I still needed a human

Sometimes, you just need elbow grease. AI can’t do that—at least not yet. Maybe someday we’ll have robots doing our laundry and fixing our bikes. But until then, I’ll keep doing things myself and won’t hesitate to ask for help from a real person.

Figure 5 Installing Clips on shoes