First Clipless Ride!

[taxmuffin]

Today, I finally took my clipless pedals out of my apartment and on the road. Aside from one fall at a stop light (unclipped left, shifted weight right), it went pretty smoothly. Thanks to all of the folks on TE for the tips -- they really helped!

[jessmarimba]

Woohoo!! Congrats! It was petrifying the first few times I tried, but now it feels bizarre and inefficient to ride without.

Dunno what kind you have, but if you've got SPDs and they're new check & re-tighten the cleat bolts. It sucks if they fall off and you're clipped in, b/c you absolutely CAN'T get the shoe out of the pedal...not that I've been there and fallen over in front of a ton of people because of it :p

[AnnieBikes]

Congratulations!! You will soon wonder how you EVER rode without them. And, yes, I have fallen at a stop light in front of a bunch of people when I failed to clip out and leaned the wrong way! It happens to us ALL!!! Good luck, and remember that it does take time to get fully comfortable with them!

[schnitzle]

Way to go!! Were you hurt when you fell, or did you just topple over?
I'm so excited for you :D I can't wait until I'm ready for some new peddles.

[Owlie]

I've done that once or twice. :)
Glad it's going well for you.

[DarcyInOregon]

You will love cycling with clipless pedals. I fell over a few times too at an intersection. I am different than other cyclists in that I unclip both of my feet and plant both of my feet on pavement, so as to minimize any risks of stressing my lame left foot, though I will plant just one foot if it is an emergency. In my first year, a shoe would glide over the pedal and clip back in when I thought I was unclipped, and over I went. I never even got a scrape or bruise. It doesn't happen anymore.

[Catrin]

Congratulations! I am almost ready to try it again myself.... perhaps ;)

[Bike Chick]

Congratulations taxmuffin! You will enjoy riding with your new pedals. Leaning the wrong way happens to us all....sometimes even after you've been riding for years:eek: Have fun!

[taxmuffin]

:D

Thank you all! I am a little bruised up, but no scrapes and no damage to my bike. I did not even hit my head (so I don't have to worry about replacing my helmet).

I am riding the Shimano Road pedals, which are totally awesome. I tried Speedplay first, but I kept slipping on the "cleat" attached to the shoes. That lead to a completely awesome wipe-out in my living room that ended with me on the floor and my trainer upside down.

[Owlie]

Ouch! When I took my first fully clipless ride, neither I nor the bike fared well. I wound up with a scraped left knee (twice), and my bike ended up needing a trip to the LBS!:eek:

[schnitzle]

Yay, glad to hear you and your bike are ok! Oh man, I guess it's good that the biggest wipe out happened at home? Those trainers are heavy, that must have hurt.

Are the Shimano pedals you have the half and half kind so you don't always have to wear shoes with cleats? I'm looking at those for myself...someday.

[marni]

Congratulations taxmuffin! You will enjoy riding with your new pedals. Leaning the wrong way happens to us all....sometimes even after you've been riding for years:eek: Have fun!

and it invariably happens in front of a crowd of people usually at a stop sign and or in a parking lot so that everyone can enjoy your experience with you

[Catrin]

and it invariably happens in front of a crowd of people usually at a stop sign and or in a parking lot so that everyone can enjoy your experience with you

The last time I fell over on my bike this is exactly where it happened. At a stop sign on a club ride and there was a group of cyclists parked across the street and another group behind me. I couldn't even blame clipless pedals as I don't use them yet :o

[marni]

Congrats!

It's always at a stop where the 'learning' fall happens;)

shouldn't that be "learning falls?" ;)

[lisathew8lifter]

I tried SPD clip pedals yesterday - first time ever. i was so psychologically worked up that i put off trying it for the entire summer. i had my husband put them on yesterday and i had no choice. i did a few circles in the culdesac and all was well until we were 7 miles into a 30 mile ride. i was going up hill (no shoulder) and shifted and my gears got stuck and there was no where to go. i was going so slow i didn't even have time to think to unclip before i fell. i fell to my left, knee taking the majority of the hit, then elbow. i got a cramp in my left calf (still clipped as i laid there) and i looked, and a car was coming!!!! luckily, the driver saw me, and was going slow enough to avoid me. whew! i learned a HUGE lesson about shifting when going up a LONG hill with clips. i momentarily forgot about those and have NEVER had any probs going up this hill until yesterday. my knee and elbow are killing me right now, but it could have been so much worse!

[emily_in_nc]

Ouch! Lisa, sorry for your fall. Hope you'll heal up fast and won't let it put you off clipless pedals.

[lisathew8lifter]

i woke up this a.m. and my knee was throbbing so i iced it and it was much better. i took a break from riding today but i'll be back at it on tuesday. i knew that i'd never go back to regular pedals and i also had a hunch i'd take a tumble but i didn't think it would be THAT soon! :eek:

[marni]

ouch! glad you are safe, sorry you are hurting and in awe that you are soldiering on. It will get easier.

[lisathew8lifter]

thanks, marni! took another shot at it tonight and it was a non event. i took the advice of the ladies on here and always clip out on my left side. i have been clipping out as a precaution when approaching drive ways, stop signs/lights, etc. i do NOT want to fall again!!! i am kind of glad i got it "over with" on saturday so now i can just get better and hope to avoid a similar situation!!!

[buffybike]

You will love cycling with clipless pedals. I fell over a few times too at an intersection. I am different than other cyclists in that I unclip both of my feet and plant both of my feet on pavement, so as to minimize any risks of stressing my lame left foot, though I will plant just one foot if it is an emergency. In my first year, a shoe would glide over the pedal and clip back in when I thought I was unclipped, and over I went. I never even got a scrape or bruise. It doesn't happen anymore.


I always unclip both. Even though my right foot is always my "chocolate foot". The one time I tried to unclip on only one side at an intersection, I fell.

[jessmarimba]

I unclip both, but it's physically impossible for me to sit on the saddle and "plant both feet on pavement" - I'd be on my tippy-toes if I could reach with both feet, and the road is generally sloped away on the right side. Which, naturally, is the side I always fall towards.

(not to mention that every time I lose a screw and can't unclip, it's always the left foot that gets stuck to the pedal)