Clipping in practice

[Catrin]

Someone has loaned me a trainer to allow me to practice shifting and so forth. My question is this. I now have the SPD 540 pedals on my Trek - would it be better to practice clipping in/out on, or off, the trainer? Obviously the bike is higher than normal when I put it on there - so would it be better to practice in a doorway instead?

Of course, I can fall over in the doorway :eek:

[XMcShiftersonX]

Practice clipping in and out on the trainer first. If you can adjust the tension to make it easier or harder to clip in and out, then do that to adjust it to your comfort level (I'm not familiar with your particular set up). You want to get the feeling down (Knowing how much strength you need to use, the twisting out motion, etc.) before trying in a situation where you can actually fall. Good luck! Clipless is fun!

-Jessica

[HillSlugger]

With your bike held in the trainer you shouldn't need to be in a doorway. Biking on the trainer is a great way to get used to clipping in and out.

[OakLeaf]

I can see value to doing it off the trainer... but I'd suggest a wall and a mattress rather than a doorway. Or a soft grassy field once the weather permits, which is what a lot of people use. Or, if you use a doorway, wear a helmet (I'm serious).

It's not a bad idea to practice timing the unclipping and putting your foot down. You won't be able to do that on the trainer. It's really the timing, not the motion itself, that causes people to fall from failure to unclip (FTU).

So if you're not actually moving, you do need something to hold you up, but it's a doorway, then you've got the solid other side of the doorway right in the path of your potential fall. Not good. Plus (which would be true for a wall too), you'd be getting in the habit of leaning to the opposite side of the foot you're unclipping, which isn't really a great idea either. So grass, if you can.

Now that I think about it - a couple of months ago, a few of the experienced riders in my club were discussing FTUs and one of them pointed out that it's really all about countersteering, and I'll be danged, I think he's right. When you're ready to get off, turn the handlebars away from the foot you're going to unclip. That'll induce the bike to lean toward that foot, and you'll be properly positioned for unclipping and putting the foot down.

[awm03]

Now that I think about it - a couple of months ago, a few of the experienced riders in my club were discussing FTUs and one of them pointed out that it's really all about countersteering, and I'll be danged, I think he's right. When you're ready to get off, turn the handlebars away from the foot you're going to unclip. That'll induce the bike to lean toward that foot, and you'll be properly positioned for unclipping and putting the foot down.

That is so right! It's a habit I developed as a kid, thank goodness, to turn the handlebars during a stop to lean the bike.

Just wanted to encourage practicing your clipping on a trainer. Also to practice *mentally* clipping out when you imagine a stop sign. Remember, red octagonal sign with S-T-O-P on it means Unclip!

I just got clip-ins after years of fearing them. I was surprised how easy they were to use -- no learning curve at all, really. And they make biking so much more enjoyable. Hope you enjoy your new pedals too.

[ny biker]

I agree with what's been said here. The trainer is good for making sure the tension is comfortable and getting used to the motion of clipping in and out. But the second part is practicing off the trainer so you can work on the whole shebang of slowing down/clipping out/placing foot on ground.

Before you start, make sure you know which foot you always put down first. On my first ride with clipless pedals I clipped out with my left foot and only then realized that I always put my right foot down first. Got a nice bruise on my knee as a result.

BTW that counter-steering advice is excellent! I'm going to try it.

[annielynn]

ITA with everything. I learned the actual art of clipping in and out off of the trainer. Fell over SEVERAL times (I have the scars to prove it.) But to make sure that I understood the "idea" and the feeling I learned by leaning up against a door jam (I didn't have a trainer at the time.)

Good luck to you!

[Catrin]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I was able to set up the trainer easily, and have already spent some time on it riding, and practicing shifting and clipping in/out. I also have a problem with wanting to be seated when I take that first pedal stroke. I think the pedals are giving me the confidence to get over that - I think that my feet came off the platform pedals so often that I didn't trust them enough to put all of my weight on them when I started.

Practice continues :p

[ny biker]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I was able to set up the trainer easily, and have already spent some time on it riding, and practicing shifting and clipping in/out. I also have a problem with wanting to be seated when I take that first pedal stroke. I think the pedals are giving me the confidence to get over that - I think that my feet came off the platform pedals so often that I didn't trust them enough to put all of my weight on them when I started.

Practice continues :p

You're actually better off being seated as you try to clip in the foot that was on the ground. This article helped me a lot with clipping in.

http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/carmichael-20070330.html

[Catrin]

My trainer has suggested something that I hadn't considered before. He explained that when he is out mountain biking with his wife, if he gets too far ahead that he will stop by a tree and hold himself up, still clipped in, until she catches up.

His suggestion was that I try something like this with my car - for getting started. Clip in my power foot, brace myself against the car with my hand until I clip in the other foot - and take off with both feet already clipped in. This seems like a reasonable idea - as long as I am careful with the alignment of bike and car. Of course, this wouldn't help at a stop sign/light or a sudden stop in the road, so it can't be the only thing I practice...

I am thinking that my first ride after the parking lot session will be on a paved trail - at least there will be no cars in the equation :)

NY Biker, thanks for the link!

[XMcShiftersonX]

I also have a problem with wanting to be seated when I take that first pedal stroke. I think the pedals are giving me the confidence to get over that - I think that my feet came off the platform pedals so often that I didn't trust them enough to put all of my weight on them when I started.

Practice continues :p

I actually always start sitting on the seat when I have one foot clipped in. My husband tried to teach me to do it while standing, and I just didn't feel comfortable with it. So I did it my way and I do just fine. I would say if it's working for you, there's no harm!

[marni]

another thing to do is get intoo a set haabit of following a specific sequence when you stop or even go to touch the brakes and or stop. In my case to routine is sit up, unclip my left foot or standing foot, reach for the brake, check my rearview mirror and then brake and counter steer ever so slightly to bring me over to a bit of a left lean so as I put my foot down. I then lift mmy right knee up so that my right foot (still clipped) is at the 9:00 position so that I am ready to push down into a strong pedal stroke when I take off. This has become so automatic that I even do this, really really fast, in a panic stop.

Also, now matter how often you practice, be prepared to accept that you will fall over for failure to unclip, usually at a stop light in or parking lot, front of an audience. COnsider it payment to the bicycle spirits for all the fun you're having. ;)

marni