clipless for scaredy cats?

[ReneeLynne]

Hi Ladies!!

I bought a new (my first!) road bike 6 mos. ago. When I took it out for a first ride, I was so excited by the speed compared to my old hybrid that I got a bit overzealous and crashed big time!!! Lots of betadine and several x-rays later, I am back on the bike regularly and going strong, having completed my first metric century last Saturday. I was so frieked out by the big crash that it took me a while to get to this point, but I am now ready to explore the SCARY clipless option...I recognize that it will make my ride better.

I want to balance safety and speed, erring on the side of safety when in doubt. My LBS suggested I try mountain bike clipless pedals because they're easier to get out of in contrast with road bikes. Is this true? Is that advisable for performance? Are there any brands/models you ladies recommend?

thanks for helping me get over this fear!!! I know many of you have successfuly overcome it yourselves ;)

Renee

[roguedog]

Hey,

I too am looking and started a thread similar to this. In my research I found this link which was pretty helpful:

http://www.bicyclesouth.com/clipless.htm

[mimitabby]

I was all ready to get "frogs" for my pedals(mountain bike clipless, right?)
. right now I have power straps which are just straps. I was testing my bike at the LBS and the guy said that he could see i was having trouble getting my right foot into the straps.

he said because i didn't have enough flexibility toeing in my right foot the frogs
would not work for me and he thinks i should try the SPD's because less flexibility is needed.

so this winter, on my bike in the basement on the wind trainer, I might try SPD's. I don't want any broken bones, I am in my 50's and not as flexible as I was, so i am not in a big rush to lock my feet into my bike.

[Duck on Wheels]

I went clipless last winter. SPD, reversible pedals (platform on one side, clipless on the other). That's actually a bit of a nuisance, since you sometimes have to kick the pedal around to the right side before clipping in, but since I sometimes ride to and from the woods in hiking boots it had to be that way. First day with cleats in my shoes, I went to spin class and practiced clipping in and out. Then toodled a slow ride around town, clipping in and out at every opportunity. It soon became automatic. I don't think I'd been riding clipless more than a couple of weeks when I unclipped in a split second when my chain fell off the back cogs, or when I dodged a lunging labrador retriever. I have yet to crash (touch wood), probably because I assiduously follow my sister Trek420's advice: "when in doubt, clip out". I also followed her advice by setting the clip springs as loose as possible -- just tight enough to give a click when clipping in and to hold when pedalling, but so loose that even a slight jerk of the foot clicks the shoe free. That's really all there is to it. The other day I had to ride my old bike with platform pedals and discovered that now THAT feels unsafe. When I try spinning in a low gear to get up a hill, my shoes slip off the pedals :eek: .

My 2c: Go ahead and give em a try :) . Maybe a bike shop will let you borrow some shoes and try clipping in and out on a trainer. I bet you'll find you like it, one system or another. And once you're used to it, you'll never look back.

[roshelleuop]

Renee,

Don't be afraid. To give you some light at the end of the tunnel, I was also scared of going clipless (like everyone is). But I bit the bullet, put them on my bike and took some spins around the park (on grass). Sure I fell a couple of times while getting used to them, but it was on grass and it didn't hurt! Just take it slow and the first couple times you ride have someone come with you to remind you to clip out! I think it took me a good 3 weeks before it became a habit where I didn't even have to think about it. :D :D

Now that I have fully transitioned to cilpless, I can honestly say that I'd BE A SCAREDY CAT TO GO BACK. You couldn't pay me to go back to regular pedals or cages or straps or any other pedal. Clipless may be scary at first, but after you use them for awhile they not only improve your performance, i believe they are alot safer. :) :) :)

Sorry, I use road cycle clipless pedals on both my road bike and cycle cross, so I can't help with the differences between them and the road. But I will say that you can adjust your clips to as tight and to as loose as you want to make it easier to clip out. On my road bike, I keep them as loose as they can go just about so i can easily clip out. On my cycle-cross I keep them pretty loose, but a little tighter because of the terrain. They are still both really easy to clip out.

Roshelle from Milwaukee
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[midgetcycler]

I bought Shimano SPD-M505 mountain bike pedals and mountain bike shoes at the suggestion of my father. He didn't mention being any easier to get in and out of them as a reason, though. He just said it would be a good idea to get the mountain shoes because they actually have some tread on the bottoms, whereas road bike shoes are smooth. As I am not necessarily interested in speed (road bike shoes are smooth so they have less wind resistance/drag), I agreed. I didn't want to be one of those at the Stop N Go busting their butt on that hard tile floor!

[mimitabby]

I agree with Midget
everyone in my house rides road bikes but wears MTB shoes.

[Melstar]

From what i've read around and about, everyone is saying that an "initiation" fall is unavoidable... URGH... but i wanna get me some clipless!.. but the fall... clipless!! the falll... the fall the fall fall fall....NOO000oooo....

[ReneeLynne]

thanks all for the advice!!!! The link to Bike South was particularly helpful.

On the FALL, it sounds to me like the fall is likely to happen at a slow speed -- like as you come up to a stop sign and brake but forget to unclip....so that's not so bad, right? embarrassing at worst....nothing like the bad fall I took earlier this year. I hate being embarrassed, though....

[Melstar]

Some wise guy claimed he fell at the traffic lights and got stuck with the bike between his legs and couldn't unclip cuz he was side on.... but that guy i know talks crap 24/7 so its probably not true anyway...

[Kano]

For what it's worth, six weeks into clipless, I haven't had any of the "obligatory falls." Not even when I dropped my chain one day on a hill.

I try to see ahead a bit -- if I'm coming to an intersection, as I slow down, I clip my "ground foot" out so that if there's traffic and I need to stop, I'm ready for it. Clipping back in is pretty quick and easy, and that extra moment is well worth the joy of staying upright!

I've noticed reading that it seems like most of those falls are people who clip out with the wrong foot. If you're a left foot down person, it does you no good to clip out of the right pedal. Another thing that I've seen is what sounds like people trying to balance while stopped with their butts on the saddle and barely a toe on the ground. Off the seat, foot flat (and for me, making sure it's a little out from the bike) gives you a "three point" stance, which is usually pretty stable (one foot, two wheels, three points!)

Neat thing about this knowledge was figuring out before I did clipless pedals which foot wants to land on the ground first, and, well, since my foot doesn't reach the ground anyway, getting off the saddle every time I stop was an easy one to practice before the pedals!

Karen in Boise

[midgetcycler]

When I switched to clipless, my Dad told me you *WILL* fall at least twice.

I fell the first day. I did great on my whole ride, clipping out well in advance, yada, yada, and then just as I was pulling into the driveway, I unclipped and put my left foot down. Everything is great right?? Well, apparently my right foot clipped back in without me knowing it, and when I went to put my right foot down, I was still stuck to the bike. So down I went. I managed to get my foot out before hitting the ground, though, so no permanent damage. I am still to this day very thankful DH was not where he could see me. He would probably still be laughing.

I have yet to have my second fall. I know it's coming, and I know there's nothing I can do about it but wait for it to come. I just hope I'm alone. :o

[Trekhawk]

Hi Ladies!!

I want to balance safety and speed, erring on the side of safety when in doubt. My LBS suggested I try mountain bike clipless pedals because they're easier to get out of in contrast with road bikes. Is this true? Is that advisable for performance? Are there any brands/models you ladies recommend?

thanks for helping me get over this fear!!! I know many of you have successfuly overcome it yourselves ;)

Renee

I love road shoes. I have road shoes for my road bike and mountain shoes for my moutain bike. My pedals for both are made by Crank Brothers and both are just as easy to clip in and out of. For mountain biking I have egg beaters and for road I have Quattros basically an egg beater with a nice size platform around it.

Once you have gone clipless you wont look back.

Happy pedal/shoe hunting.:)

[SouthernBelle]

I've been clipless less than a month. I fell twice on pavement the first day. I'm 51 but I still didn't break. ;) I'm riding the spds that came with my bike. The only issue I might have with MTB shoes is that they usually recess the clip. So if you are like me and have a hard time finding the sweet spot sometimes, that may make it harder. But I'm still very glad I did it.

[rivergrl]

I was scared as well but I already had a cycleops trainer so I put the bike on that for at least a week 1/2 and practiced getting in and out of the clips. It made a world of difference for me. My first ride off the trainer I did great until I came to a stop the first time and I went straight down. So far I've been riding and I've not had another fall. The key for me is to be aware and even a bit afraid while riding any bike. If I'm aware of the fact that I'm attached to the bike then I think about how I need to start slowing down to stop ahead so I clipout early. If I'm a little afraid then I'm aware that people may not stop when I'm crossing the riding trail. I always slow down and try to watch the driver to see that they see me, sometimes even if they do they KEEP on driving which always baffles me.

I'm always aware I may have to stop at any second and I'm always a little afraid of what other people will do around me. I never assume they see me but It makes me stay aware that I need to put my feet in the position I need them in in order for me to get out safely and quickly.

I've learned I clip in the same way and I get out the same way. I put my feet in a certain position when I'm getting ready to stop. The big thing is to be aware of other people.

[eclectic]

I put Frogs on my road bike and am very happy with the decision

My road shoes clip into the frogs plus I have the option to wear my mtn bike shoes.

I don't wear the road shoes for aerodynamic reasons - I am pretty much a hill slug (although a faster one now:) ) I need them for riding long distances, the soles are stiffer and give better support on rides over 40 miles long. (This is repeated in claims from all my riding partners who do rides of 40 miles plus)

When I am bumming around town, or doing shorter rides with some touring involved I wear my mtn bike shoes so I can walk in stores, visitor centers etc.

So my vote goes for the versatile frogs (you can clip in and out on both sides)

The spd reversible could be a good solution too

It all depends on your riding style, where, when, how far and what you do when you get there :)

[CyclChyk]

Midgetcycler - EXACTLY the same thing that happened to me when I first went clipless! (I use SPD reversible on my road bike)

Melstar - be brave. I wear my bruises and scabby knees with pride!!! The pain lasts for a minute but the elation and joy I feel when I ride far outweighs any bloodshed I may leave in my wake. Being clipless only makes it that much better! (ok I may have exaggerated the bloodshed but the multiple bruises really are kinda hard to explain at work............

[spokewench]

Re: the guy who was full of crap cause he couldnt unclip when he fell over because he was on his side - you were right he was full of crap!

Let me tell you a silly little story about a silly little girl (Me) who years ago went off to ride a mountain bike race (Sea Otter Classic) in California. This silly little girl was not having a very good day and had faced her worst fear in the first bit of the race when she slipped off an off camber trail and went slip sliding down the side of an embankment. Well, that little slip never hurt her and she was so relieved and off she went again to finish the race. As she was rolling along in the bottom of a meadow, she went around a blind corner and what did she see right ahead of her, but a big puddle of water! Well, the silly little girl had already faced her worst fears of falling down the side of the embankment so she decided in her wisest of moments to just GO RIGHT THRU THE MIDDLE OF THE MUD PUDDLE! Well, much to her surprise, the Silly little girl's front bike tire went down in a hole and over the girl went laying right in the middle of the puddle with her one foot stuck in the pedal (cause there was mud packed in her cleats) and she was up to her armpits in watery mud! As you would imagine the Silly Little Girl looked even sillier when a couple of bike racers came around that corner and from out of the muck she sheepishly told them that the middle of the puddle was not really the best line!

Anyway, to the point of the story, even with all that mud stuck in her cleats, lying on her side in the middle of a huge puddle of muck, the Silly Little Girl WAS ABLE to get out of her pedals and pedal away with head hung low!

Spokewench

[CyclChyk]

ok Silly little girl - when you had your head down cuz of that stupid lil mud puddle you should have held your head up and shouted at the top of your lungs cuz you BEAT THAT FRICKIN' EMBANKMENT! And that stupid mud puddle may leave you bruised and dirty and kicking yourself in the arse for getting suckered by it, but it can't take away what you accomplished on the embankment.

Silly little girl - you go wit' your bad self!!!!:D

[Melstar]

middle of a huge puddle of muck, the Silly Little Girl WAS ABLE to get out of her pedals and pedal away with head hung low!

Spokewench

And she pedalled off into the sunset happily ever after :D

[Crankin]

Well, not burst anyone's bubble, but I have crashed twice and both times I was lying in the road, on my side, still attached to the bike, and it was very difficult to get out. One time, my husband had to twist my foot to get me unattached from my bike. This is with regular Speedplays, which I love, double sided and VERY easy to get in and out of if you are upright! But, I have heard that it is not uncommon for you to stay attached to them if you fall.

[Bad JuJu]

when a couple of bike racers came around that corner and from out of the muck she sheepishly told them that the middle of the puddle was not really the best line!
I'm impressed that, even lying in the muck, you could still manage an ironic and funny little line to other bikers. Never lose your sense of humor, you Silly Little Girl!:D

[quint41]

I'm a newbie, too. And I was afraid of going clipless, although every week my group friends would tell me that I HAD to go clipless. When I went to LBS and was fitted for my new bike, the first thing he told me was that I had to go clipless to improve both power on the bike AND posture. I left there with pedals and shoes.

I have the SPD's (mountain bike shoes and pedals). He did tell me it would be easier to get out of those than the LOOK style. He adjusted the pedals so they are at their loosest possible point. I have ridden about 4 or 5 times on them, and (knock on wood) I haven't fallen over yet! Everyone tells me I will, and I'm afraid of that day. But, so far, so good!

Whenever I approach a traffic light or something that I may need to stop for, I just twist my angle outward and the shoe pops right off the pedal. I dangle that foot out and prepare to lean and put my foot down on the road as I stop. Always the left foot, as that is the foot I always tended to balance on anyway. I've had people tell me that it's smart to get used to using the same foot so you don't forget or get confused when you stop. So far, so good! Go for it!

[littlegrasshopp]

When I still had my road bike I road with Speed Plays and loved them. The only word of caution was that I had to be pretty careful not to get dirt in them. I carried cleat covers. They were easy to get in and out of and I never had a zero mph crash with them. I'd tried two other kinds but they never worked out well for me.

I'm trying to switch to clipless on my mountain bike but every time I get close someone tells me a horrible crash story from when they switched. So far I'm working on the trainer clipping in and out, in and out :)

[KSH]

I did not read all of the responses, so forgive me if I repeat what someone else has said.


My LBS suggested I try mountain bike clipless pedals because they're easier to get out of in contrast with road bikes. Is this true? Is that advisable for performance? Are there any brands/models you ladies recommend?



I started on this type of pedal. The shoes were great, because I could walk in them, but the clips were NOT EASY to get in/out of. Sure, it got better with practice, but they weren't very easy.

Then I switched to Speeplays (looks like a lollipop). They are SO EASY to get in/out of. Downside? You have to get road shoes (not as comfy as mountain biking shoes) and don't expect to walk too far in them... as the cleat on the bottom sticks out.



When I still had my road bike I road with Speed Plays and loved them. The only word of caution was that I had to be pretty careful not to get dirt in them. I carried cleat covers. They were easy to get in and out of and I never had a zero mph crash with them. I'd tried two other kinds but they never worked out well for me.


The cleats can get junked up with dirt and it makes it challenge to clip in/out after that.

Of course, I have only encountered this situation when I am on a bike rally walking through mud/dirt. I fixed that problem by tying plastic bags around my feet at the rest stops... the cleat covers never stayed on for me. Sure, everyone looked at me like I was *nuts* but my cleats didn't get dirty.

Unfortunately, at the Hotter N Hell ride, I forgot to do this! I have attached a picture of me cleaning my cleats!



Good luck in making your decision.

[midgetcycler]

Then I switched to Speeplays (looks like a lollipop).

Do you ever hear people saying that these break easily? I saw one of these in the middle of the road on my Tour de Pink ride Sunday (or Tour de Boobs as I saw amelia05 call it). There was no screw to attach it to the bike, just the little round thingy you clip your shoe onto.

it was at the beginning of the ride too. I sure felt bad for that guy.

[KSH]

Do you ever hear people saying that these break easily? I saw one of these in the middle of the road on my Tour de Pink ride Sunday (or Tour de Boobs as I saw amelia05 call it). There was no screw to attach it to the bike, just the little round thingy you clip your shoe onto.

it was at the beginning of the ride too. I sure felt bad for that guy.

Well, I haven't heard that.

I have had mine for over 1 year and around 2,500 miles and they are in 100% perfect condition.

[emily_in_nc]

Do you ever hear people saying that these break easily? I saw one of these in the middle of the road on my Tour de Pink ride Sunday (or Tour de Boobs as I saw amelia05 call it). There was no screw to attach it to the bike, just the little round thingy you clip your shoe onto.

My husband and I have been riding Speedplay X-2's for years, many thousands of miles overall, and have never had one break. It's possible that the less expensive models they make now (X-5??) are not as robust, however.

Emily

[indysteel]

I totally recommend clipless pedals, although they do take some practice. I purchased two bikes this year. The first was a Trek FX hybrid. It came with Wellgo SPD clipless pedals, but the LBS switched them out for Shimano one-sided SPDs. I bought some Nike touring shoes with recessed cleats to use with them that are pretty comfortable.

Before hitting the road, I practiced getting in and out of the cleats by propping myself up in a doorway. After working on it for a bit, I started to develop a sense of where the cleat was in relation to my foot and the pedal. They were pretty easy to use after that. Admittedly, I did take the obligatory fall on one of my firsts rides, but quickly learned my lesson. Within a couple of weeks, I was only using the clipless side of the pedals.

A couple of months later, I bought my first road bike--a Bianchi Eros Donna. It, too, came with Wellgo SPDs, but I immediately swapped them out for Keo Sprints. These have taken a little more of an adjustment. I practiced using them at the LBS while the bike was on a trainer. My first couple of rides, however, were still kind of tough. I ended up loosening the tension on the pedals quite a bit and then practicing in a parking lot. Keo's sort of float backwards when you're not clipped in. So to clip in, you have to first push the pedal down with your toe. It's taken some time for that action to become fluid and automatic. I still sometimes have to get all the way through an intersection before getting clipped in.

Anyway, here are a few observations:

Everybody seems to have a preference when it comes to brand/type. I talked to the guys at my LBS a lot before settling on the Keos Sprints. Weight wasn't that big of an issue, but in the Look/Keo line, some pedals have more adjustable tension than others. Your LBS should be able to explain that factor to you. Also, if you have knee problems, talk to your LBS about using a pedal/cleat system that has some "float."

Everybody has a preference when it comes to road shoes too, although SIDIs seem to be the most popular. Try on as many as you can. I ordered my first pair off of Nashbar. They weren't women-specific and while they fit okay, they weren't great. I then bought a pair of SIDA Zetas for women that fit much better. Whether you go with a mountain/touring or road shoe, make sure that they're well-ventilated, big enough to allow for some foot swelling, and are compatible with the type of pedal that you've purchased. Insoles can help make them more comfortable too.

Always unclip the same foot when you come to a stop. In my opinion, this helps use of the pedals become more automatic, and you're less likely to fall. If there's any chance that I'm going to have to stop, I unclip my left foot but then I keep the foot on the pedal so that if I don't end up stopping, I can easily just push down and clip back in. I only unclip my right foot when I stop along the side of the road to eat something or actually dismount the bike.

Be patient with yourself. There is a learning curve but considering how many riders swear by clipless pedals, it's easily surmounted. Just stick with it.

In my opinion, it's worth it to pay a fitter to make sure your cleats are positioned correctly on the shoe. When my LBS installed my cleat, they essentially approximated where the cleats should be. A month later, I had a professional bike fitting that included cleat positioning. The fitter measured my foot and precisely reset the cleat to maximize my power and comfort.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Kate

[ReneeLynne]

Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! :) Thank you so much to all of you.

OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --

1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?

2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?

3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes :p. But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?

[mary9761]

right now I'm still on the Navigator 50 and I'm using toe cages. I hope that when I get a road bike that it will at least have me a bit more prepared for clipping in and out. I've only fallen a couple times with the cages when I was making a sharp turn and lost balance. Of course it had to be in front of the gorgeous chocolate roadie that had just spoken to me and 3 skinny chickies that had just stepped onto the MONON. One of my feet was trapped under the bike and nearly tangled in the derailleur. The roadie came over to help and strained to pick up the nearly 50# bike off of my foot. I was embarassed, but ok.:o
I've already talked to several at The Bike Line in both Carmel and Downtown, that when I make the move to a road bike, I will likely go to the pedal types with the platform on one side and clip on the other. I use my bike for everything (basically IS my car) so I will more than likely also use mtb shoes that will clip in and out. This way I won't have to worry about the cleat (waddle) or scratching floors in stores.
Mary

[ReneeLynne]

I don't wear the road shoes for aerodynamic reasons - I am pretty much a hill slug (although a faster one now:) ) I need them for riding long distances, the soles are stiffer and give better support on rides over 40 miles long. (This is repeated in claims from all my riding partners who do rides of 40 miles plus)


I'm a hill slug too....steep hills really irritate my asthma, although I'm starting to take some spinning classes in the hope that the higher resistance training will help me fight that. What is it about the mountain bike shoes that's better aerodynamics for the hills? Also, I do ride over 40mi a couple times a month and am working toward a 1st century in the spring....

[SadieKate]

. . . Of course it had to be in front of the gorgeous chocolate roadie that had just spoken to me . . . Am I showing some lack of street cred? What does this mean?

[mimitabby]

Am I showing some lack of street cred? What does this mean?

either something to eat or a brown bike? that's a good idea, a brown and tan bike! that would be beautiful!

[mary9761]

Originally Posted by mary9761
. . . Of course it had to be in front of the gorgeous chocolate roadie that had just spoken to me . .

Am I showing some lack of street cred? What does this mean?
sorry, I meant to say he is a gorgeous African American gentleman that I've met at some of the rides and the LBS. He looks a LOT like a young Billy Dee Williams. :p
I hope I didn't offend anyone, it was really not my intention..:o :(

[betagirl]

You've gotten a lot of good tips. I personally have found clipless pedals easier to manage than toe clips. It's pretty straight forward to get your foot out of a clipless pedal.

I started with Bebop's, but those are pretty rare and were something my LBS carried. They look similar to speedplays. After about a year or so, I switched to Look pedals/cleats. I like thsoe better. Very easy to get in and out of. I gave my Bebop's to my friend who was getting started with clipless, and she did great. She fell more with the toe clips :)

Good luck!

[indysteel]

Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! :) Thank you so much to all of you.

OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --

1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?

2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?

3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes :p. But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?

Renee, the non-recessed/recessed cleat issue is partly a function of the pedal and partly a function of the shoe. I think most "road" systems, i.e., the pedal plus the shoe, are non-recessed. That would include Look, Speedplay, and Time pedals to name a few of the more popular systems. SPD pedals are used (I think) primarily with touring and mountain shoes that have recessed cleats. There's certainly nothing wrong with using those on a road bike. I know plenty of roadies who just find a recessed cleat easier to use, especially for touring. The bikes used for my gym's spinning class also have SPD pedals.

It's not impossible to walk in a non-recessed cleat, although I wouldn't recommend going too far in them. They're a little treacherous on kitchen floors and the like, but it helps if you remember to put the weight in your heels as you walk in them. There's also a product on the market called Kool Kovers that are plastic covers that slip over the cleats. They make them for both Look (and Look-style) and Keo cleats. They're available from a variety of online retailers and cost about $10-15. I bring them with me when I know I'm going to walk in my road shoes. Otherwise, I leave them at home.

As for swelling: The guy who sold me my SIDIs put me in a women's size 40. That's about a half-size bigger than what I wear in regular shoes. Even with that, they sometimes get a wee bit snug by the end of a long ride. I like the shoe though. They're light and easily adjustable with three velcro straps. My other pair of shoes were by Vittoria and were a men's size 39. They were a little big/wide for me but otherwise light and comfortable. I also think it helps to wearing cycling/running specific socks. They're generally thinner and more absorbant than regular athletic socks.

I hope that helps!

Kate

[postiechic]

The first was a Trek FX hybrid. It came with Wellgo SPD clipless pedals, but the LBS switched them out for Shimano one-sided SPDs
so what's wrong with the Wellgo pedals? My Trek came with em too(one side clip, one side platform) but I only used em for the first time yesterday. Are they not a very good pedal? Just curious.

[KSH]

so what's wrong with the Wellgo pedals? My Trek came with em too(one side clip, one side platform) but I only used em for the first time yesterday. Are they not a very good pedal? Just curious.

Well, I am sure they good pedals... but when I have seen someone in action with them... it was just plain DANGEROUS. Why?

Because we (my friend and I who were riding) would start from a light, in traffic, and her head was down for a couple of BLOCKS and she was trying to find/flip around the pedal for the side that she needed to clip her cleat into. Worried me the whole time.

The idea of the pedals is great... but in reality, they seem to be a lot of work... from what I observed.

[postiechic]

Because we (my friend and I who were riding) would start from a light, in traffic, and her head was down for a couple of BLOCKS and she was trying to find/flip around the pedal for the side that she needed to clip her cleat into.
Well yeah..good point.....but it shouldnt take you that long to find the right side....and besides, with practice, finding the right side would/should get easier all the time.

[SouthernBelle]

SPD pedals are used (I think) primarily with touring and mountain shoes that have recessed cleats. There's certainly nothing wrong with using those on a road bike. I know plenty of roadies who just find a recessed cleat easier to use, especially for touring. The bikes used for my gym's spinning class also have SPD pedals.


nope.

[Xrayted]

My biking buddy has been after me to switch over since I got the bike. She rattled off generalities about more speed, more power, yada-yada-yada... but nothing concrete. I asked her about any advice she could give for when (not if) I fall. She looked me up and down and simply said I should try to fall to my left. Um... oh-kay. Why??! (I guessed it was so I didn't mess up my crank, chain...) Nope. She said she figures I'm already so scarred up on that side that no one would notice the new ones. "Built in camouflage" as she puts it.

Hmmm. Uh, yeah. Thanks. :confused: :confused: **Note to self: Go check out what the ladies on TE have to say... (I actually love friends who are so brutally honest. I just wish they were more intelligent on the subjects of which they speak. :D)




Hey,

I too am looking and started a thread similar to this. In my research I found this link which was pretty helpful:

http://www.bicyclesouth.com/clipless.htm

Thanks, Roguedog! The article was very helpful. After reading many of the posts here on TE, I've now decided to go clipless too. I chose the Shimano 540 SPD pedal. I wanted to use a MTB shoe because I like to occasionally stop for a look-see when riding. From a past ankle injury, I just don't have the muscle control for the slippery bottoms of a road shoe. Also, it is extremely painful (and physically impossible) for me to walk "toe-up".

I've got the shoes, SIDI Dominators. Now, I'm just waiting patiently for my Nashbar box to arrive with my new pedals. Oh, I just love getting packages in the mail. :D :D Wheeeeeee!! Can't wait to go falldown and get it over with. ;)

[Duck on Wheels]

Well yeah..good point.....but it shouldnt take you that long to find the right side....and besides, with practice, finding the right side would/should get easier all the time.

Yes, finding the right side gets easier. Thanks to sister Trek420's coaching, I do NOT look down to find the connection. I flip the pedal with my toe if I need to, sometimes multiple times, line my foot up and slide it in. Click. No look. And I don't stress out about clipping in, because I also practice riding with one or both feet free for a few yards til I'm in the flow and out of the intersection I clipped out for. I think maybe this friend who has her head down focused on the pedals has not had the friendly-but-strict coach I had who got me over that (thanks, sis!). Now she needs to break the habit. I'm now fine with the reversible pedals. I still envision needing them (once my bike finally gets here), f'rinstance for days when I ride out to the woods wearing hiking boots.

[spindizzy]

I knew I would fall with clipless..it was just a matter of time. Twice on the same day, in fact, both coming to a stop and forgetting to clip out...
My mantra: "Save the bike." No scratches on bike; bruises and scratches on me and my ego... I figure, if I'm going to fall, relax and let it happen.
Happened again in the summer, trying to climb a gravelly hill with my road bike. (what was I thinking?) Tires started to spin..going nowhere. Falling. "Save the bike." Looked like a turtle on it's back, still clipped in, hands still gripping the handlebars.. Another lesson learned and no scratches or dents on my bike. I do believe that I'm done falling for the year..when the weather turns nasty, I'll be safe on my trainer in the basement....(Has anyone fallen off their trainer?)

[postiechic]

ok..well... after a couple of days with these Wellgo pedals I can honestly say "what's the fuss?!" Fairly easy to flip pedal to the clip side, easy enough to clip in and easy to clip out after some adjustment to the tension. No big deal, really. Shaving a good 5 mins or so off my ride to work without even really trying! Neat-o!

[postiechic]

OK


so I fell

twice within 40 mins

ouch

me and my big mouth

[Jen]

Scared to death but I did it anyway. Bite the bullet. I have fallen twice. I have the Look pdeals which I kinda like better than the spd. Maybe not easier. You can loosen up the bolt that holds your foot in so it is easier to get out of the clip. Youdo this while you are learning. You have to look ahead so you can unclip when you come upon a place where you may have to stop. I am still scared but I keep on going.:eek:

[aicabsolut]

After a long time of spinning with SPDs and knowing how easy it is to get on the bike (usually) but how hard it can be to get OFF, I did not want to get that system for my new road bike. (Frequently, I have no problem clipping in and out to adjust the seat on a spin bike, but by the end of class I'm stuck in at least one pedal. Once, I had to take my foot out of the shoe and kick at the heel of the thing to get it off the pedal (wrenched up the bottom of the shoe as the cleat tried to turn first despite being screwed on tightly).

So I get Look KEO Sprints with the red cleats, because I'd gotten good feedback on those from friends (well, red KEO cleats in general).

I sat on the bike next to my couch and practiced clipping out a million times, especially with the left. But I couldn't practice clipping in with any speed and stationary tires. I tried to sneak in some practice at the bike shop when I went for a fitting with the pedal system, but the mechanic kept holding the back break until I was clipped in, saying "Wait, you're not in on this side." Duh. I'm trying to figure out if I can do it while pedaling.

I think my problem is not knowing how to pedal with one leg while staying upright, going forward from a stop, and simultaneously trying to stomp down with the other leg. So first 3 seconds on the bike ended with slamming into pavement in the parking lot, of course falling over on the clipped-in side. With a bloody elbow, I move my experiment over to the grass, where I proceed to keep falling over. There, the ground is soft, but I can't get good momentum before clipping in. My problem is getting a hang of nudging the pedal with my toe so that it's right side up and the clip in process is started. Once it happens, I generally have enough power to keep on pedaling (once, on a hill, I didn't, slow-mo fall to the other side).

These things are so slippery if I can't hit it right, how do I get going and get my other foot clipped in without getting lucky right away?

Fall 3 broke the tip off the right cleat, so now it's super loose (I had the springs already as loose as they'd go, which is not loose at all!), and I'm keeping it like that for now, being careful -- no standing, no big hills, so it can be my emergency release get a foot down leg.

Surprisingly, my practice paid off for unclipping with the left, and I didn't fall at all while stopping. I gave myself PLENTY of time, though, as my default coasting position is not my ideal unclipping position. The problem is getting started again. I think I'll get better at stopping, and I'm not going to be riding in traffic anytime soon with all the toppling over. Right now, I'm still pulling off in the grass to stop (just in case) and to start, though getting momentum in the grass is impossible, so if I'm doing this wrong, I'm never going to learn right--particularly since pulling up with the broken cleat is now hard. I could put on the gray ones, but those are so tight. Having a broken cleat kept me vertical even if stationary. :o

Am I using the wrong system? I thought these platform-like road pedals would be great. My new (non spin class) shoes will not take SPDs, and I don't want to go there. Someone suggested lollipops, but those are so tiny, I'm sure I'd miss those as well. I hope to get the hang of this without removing more skin and causing more bruises.. at least until these heal some. :p

Thanks for listening to my story.

[mimitabby]

After a long time of spinning with SPDs and knowing how easy it is to get on the bike (usually) but how hard it can be to get OFF, I did not want to get that system for my new road bike. (Frequently, I have no problem clipping in and out to adjust the seat on a spin bike, but by the end of class I'm stuck in at least one pedal. Once, I had to take my foot out of the shoe and kick at the heel of the thing to get it off the pedal (wrenched up the bottom of the shoe as the cleat tried to turn first despite being screwed on tightly).

So I get Look KEO Sprints with the red cleats, because I'd gotten good feedback on those from friends (well, red KEO cleats in general).

I sat on the bike next to my couch and practiced clipping out a million times, especially with the left. But I couldn't practice clipping in with any speed and stationary tires. I tried to sneak in some practice at the bike shop when I went for a fitting with the pedal system, but the mechanic kept holding the back break until I was clipped in, saying "Wait, you're not in on this side." Duh. I'm trying to figure out if I can do it while pedaling.

I think my problem is not knowing how to pedal with one leg while staying upright, going forward from a stop, and simultaneously trying to stomp down with the other leg. So first 3 seconds on the bike ended with slamming into pavement in the parking lot, of course falling over on the clipped-in side. With a bloody elbow, I move my experiment over to the grass, where I proceed to keep falling over. There, the ground is soft, but I can't get good momentum before clipping in. My problem is getting a hang of nudging the pedal with my toe so that it's right side up and the clip in process is started. Once it happens, I generally have enough power to keep on pedaling (once, on a hill, I didn't, slow-mo fall to the other side).

These things are so slippery if I can't hit it right, how do I get going and get my other foot clipped in without getting lucky right away?

Fall 3 broke the tip off the right cleat, so now it's super loose (I had the springs already as loose as they'd go, which is not loose at all!), and I'm keeping it like that for now, being careful -- no standing, no big hills, so it can be my emergency release get a foot down leg.

Surprisingly, my practice paid off for unclipping with the left, and I didn't fall at all while stopping. I gave myself PLENTY of time, though, as my default coasting position is not my ideal unclipping position. The problem is getting started again. I think I'll get better at stopping, and I'm not going to be riding in traffic anytime soon with all the toppling over. Right now, I'm still pulling off in the grass to stop (just in case) and to start, though getting momentum in the grass is impossible, so if I'm doing this wrong, I'm never going to learn right--particularly since pulling up with the broken cleat is now hard. I could put on the gray ones, but those are so tight. Having a broken cleat kept me vertical even if stationary. :o

Am I using the wrong system? I thought these platform-like road pedals would be great. My new (non spin class) shoes will not take SPDs, and I don't want to go there. Someone suggested lollipops, but those are so tiny, I'm sure I'd miss those as well. I hope to get the hang of this without removing more skin and causing more bruises.. at least until these heal some. :p

Thanks for listening to my story.


Hi girl, I read every word. I hope you heal up soon and get the hang of those silly things. please introduce yourself on the getting to know you thread, it sounds like you'll fit right in with the rest of us!

[Kano]

I think my problem is not knowing how to pedal with one leg while staying upright, going forward from a stop, and simultaneously trying to stomp down with the other leg.



I don't know if it will help or not, but my technique, such that it is, is to leave my right foot on the pedal -- clicked in place, and to start pedaling with it. when the right pedal is down, my left foot is on the pedal, and with luck, I get it clicked in as I'm pedaling a downstroke. If not, then it rides up and I try again next time around! More often than not, I'm getting my foot in the right spot now, and getting snapped in that first circle!

Karen in Boise

[tygab]

Aica,

I have SPDs and use my shoes both in road and in spin class. I know that at the gym they have the tension MUCH higher than I do on my road bike. I can clip out of (or in) my road bike easily, with almost just a flick. At the gym, I sometimes fumble around for a while to get my clips sorted, and I am sure the rest of the people are thinking does she know how to use them or what?? The difference is on my own pedals I can, and have, set the tension nice and low. The gym ones are stiff/tight - I am not a 170 lb burly guy so the gym pedals are a pain.

I learned clipless after I got my new bike. My bike came with SPDs so I didn't think about it at the time, and SPDs are considered very universal. One other thing I like is that I don't have to worry about sided-ness - with the Looks you can only clip into one side, right?

My relatively newbie comments, so take as you like: I would make sure you adjust your tension down to a very low setting (I guess you have done this). Next, always clip out to the same side. The bike shop manager I purchased from told me this. You want it to be a reflex action. If the left is working, stick with it. As you gain confidence the right side will come along, and you're clipping out on the same side (left) anyway so you don't need to force it.

My husband has the 'lollipops' which are Speedplays, and if/when I upgrade, it'll be to those, because of the two sidedness. I think trying to spin the pedals around to clip in would stress me unnecessarily. Also, I doubt you'll miss them, they're not as small to the foot as they are to the eye... Our friend swapped his SPDs for Looks just recently and while it'd be a stretch to say he regrets it, I don't think he is fully happy with them either. One thing that is better about the non-SPD styles are that you generally get more float, or knee rotation with them. This could help in the long term.

Also, it's ok to pedal unclipped for a while. Just place the heel of your foot on the pedal instead, if you can on the Looks. I have to do this regularly in intersections, or stopped/restarting up hills. It's ok, once you realize that you can pedal without being clipped in.

Of course, there are many many Look users who swear by them. I am sure most have had to go thru what you are experiencing. Every pedal system appears to have a learning process with it.

Edit: To clarify, I unclip left, and leave my right foot in while stopped. So to go again, I push off with the left foot, or have my right positioned at say two oclock ready to push, and clip in my left at my first comfortable time to do so. Sometimes this is right away, sometimes I just leave it unclipped til I have some momentum and have more time to clip in. Usually as Karen points out, simply placing the cleat with mild downpressure on the pedal stroke does it at that point.

[aicabsolut]

Thanks. I do try to always unclip left, start right. The only problem there is when I'm not 100% balanced when I jump off the seat to put my left foot down.

I see what you're saying about SPDs, but the shoes I just bought for the road bike won't work with them anyway. And there are other things about these shoes I like a lot better than my other pair for spinning. I also really really like the float. These pedals are awesome once I get going. So it's between sticking with these or going with Speedplays.

My problem is always *needing* to get the left clipped in on the first try. What you said about figuring out that I can pedal unclipped is key. Because I haven't gotten there yet. I tried a couple of times, though I was in grass because I was sick of falling which is slow, but if I don't get pretty close to making it on the first downstroke with the left, then I slip off the pedal entirely (darn carbon soles), and by this point I'm not in one-legged-pedaling mode anymore. So I go too slow and the slo-mo fall always to the clipped side (right is usually back down at this point) begins. :) If I'm in the viscinity of the right place, then I'm clipped in right away and things are gravy. It's the building momentum and try again part that I haven't mastered. Any tips for that? I'm searching for the clip with my toe to get the pedal right side up and get the front part engaged, so I don't know if I could switch to heel pedaling so easily. Thanks

[aicabsolut]

Oh, and yes, the springs are as loose as they'll go. I really wish they went looser.

[aicabsolut]

Today was MUCH better, and I replaced the broken cleat. My biggest problem I think is trying to start in waay to high a gear, like forgetting to take it out of the big ring before I stopped last time. Once I toppled over in the grass once and made a couple other short-lived attempts, I got on, dropped some gears, and after that if I'd remember to keep shifting down before a stop, I could actually keep on pedaling with my right leg while the left one figured things out. :rolleyes: Stops are getting a tiny bit faster but still make me nervous.

My newest question? How do you stop with these cleats on pavement? I'm mostly pulling off in the grass, but once I stopped on the side of the trail, put my foot down, and it promptly slid out from under me. Luckily, I cought myself and my bike with my gloved hands. The 'walking pads' on the toe of my shoe isn't really big enough to land on without also landing on the cleat.

Just another reason to keep myself out of traffic for a long while.