I DID it! Clipless revisited

[Catrin]

Talk about anticlimactic! (though that is a good thing in this situation). I apologize in advance for the book :o

I knew I'd get no real mileage today as I was helping a friend to feel comfortable riding in my favorite park - she is terrified doing anything outdoors by herself but she really wants to ride. So I went with her and she did great! I am hoping this will eventually decrease her fear, but I digress.

After she left I rode back to my car and changed shoes, drew in a deep breath, crossed myself a few times and began. I started with the parking lot I was in, clipped in just one foot at first, rode a few feet, stopped and unclipped. Rinse and repeated a few times :) No falling over - or even close to it :D Time to try both feet...Again no falling over or instability :)

As mentioned in the earlier thread my fitter has the tension adjusted extremely light - especially for my right foot. I just think about it and THAT foot clips or unclips. Left foot only requires slightly more effort. After about 15 minutes with no falling over, I decided to hit the roads in the park.

It was great! With each stop without falling over my confidence grew - and I also noticed that the harder gears seemed to require less effort and I was less out of breath at the top of a hill. I was, however, a little concerned that as light as the tension is for my right cleat that I might accidentally unclip during intervals or going uphill.

With this in mind I tried some intervals, and while there is a pretty good hill in that park - it requires much less effort than some other hills I know of. I think it will be fine. I did, however, learn that I can't use the platform side with these shoes - they are Bontrager Inform women's MTB shoes and the soles are plastic - they slip on the metal grippers on the platform side.

Part of me wants to just toss caution to the wind and clip in for my 75-78 mile ride tomorrow - but that is probably too much too soon. I am, however, considering doing the flat portion of my route first (clipped in) and then return to my car and change shoes to use the platform for the rest. The miles are more important right now than what pedals I am using...

I wanted to practice longer with them, but the park was really filling up with cars and dogs and children in bikes - didn't seem time to spend all evening practicing new pedals... Still though - got over an hour in with no falling over :D

[MyRubyE]

That's great Catrin! So proud of you. Keep it up and before you know it you will be a clipless expert.

[Crankin]

Mazal Tov!
I knew you could do it.

[huffandpuff]

Congrats Catrin! I am amazed at the mileage you do on flat pedals. Can't imagine what you will do now that you're clipped in!

[Catrin]

Ok, odd question. Do clipless pedals use additional muscles than platforms? It just seems to me that since they allow us to use the entire stroke rather than just the down part - that this would make sense.

Any chance this can cause soreness at first? Am considering clipping in for the first 30 or so flattish miles tomorrow (outside of 3 hills), then changing to my trusty Keene Commuters and the platforms for the remaining hilly....(well, less flat with some quite steep yet short hills) 45 miles.

I want a little more practice clipping in on hills before committing to 45 miles of them, but I really want to try them on the rural flat roads tomorrow. Does this seem a bit much for my second time going clipless? Trying to push myself without overdoing it...

[bluejellybean]

woo hoo, way to go! That's a huge accomplishment because once you're in, you won't be coming out...it just gets better from here!! :)

[DarcyInOregon]

Catrin, try the entire ride being clipped in, the hills too. While you are riding the flats, practice clipping out while cycling and switching over to the flat part of the pedal, doing it a few times to get the hang of it. When you get to the hills, if you eyeball a hill as you are coming to it and it looks like Mt. Everest to you, then unclip and switch over to the flat pedal to go up the grade. Otherwise being clipped in for the hills will increase your pedaling efficiency and decrease muscle fatigue. If you think you have a lot of hills, like you mentioned, then you will get proficient with climbing hills while being clipped in on this one ride, and it will be behind you and you won't have to worry about it anymore.

You will like 75 miles. It is my favorite distance.

[jessmarimba]

They do use additional muscles. It isn't nearly as drastic as going from running to barefoot running, but I wouldn't recommend going immediately for a hilly 75 mile ride entirely clipped in.

That said, congrats!! :) I'm interested in reviews of the dual pedals, since I don't think I'll be able to ride solely clipless during my first few months back.

[Rebecca19804]

Great going!! :)

Catrin, try the entire ride being clipped in, the hills too. While you are riding the flats, practice clipping out while cycling and switching over to the flat part of the pedal, doing it a few times to get the hang of it. When you get to the hills, if you eyeball a hill as you are coming to it and it looks like Mt. Everest to you, then unclip and switch over to the flat pedal to go up the grade.
Not sure that's an option, given what Catrin has said about her slippy MTB shoes...? Unless maybe Catrin you can carry your Keens with you so if you try a few hills clipped in but decide it's outside your comfort zone right now, you can change shoes?
Good luck!

[hebe]

Brilliant! That must feel really good :D

[Catrin]

Can't use my cleated shoes on the platform side - I should have had them install the cleats on my Commuters as well and I will be rectifying that but of course that doesn't help me today. I will go with my original idea of doing the flattest portion on my route clipped in, then change and continue clipped in. Wish the combination of plastic and metal wasn't so....slippery!

While my bike will be in the shop for a day or so this week to have fenders installed there should be a chance to get more clipless practice in this week and then, perhaps, I will do my long ride next week fully clipped :)

Hebe it feels great - especially considering what happened the LAST time I tried :eek: At that time my skills were just not ready for me to attach myself to the bike - though having them adjusted properly is huge!

Edited: Of course I meant that I won't be clipped in for the 45 mile second part of my route...

[OakLeaf]

Woohoo! I knew you could do it. :D

[Bike Chick]

Good job, Catrin! It won't be long before it will be second nature and you won't give it a single thought.

[Biciclista]

once you got it, you got it. You don't need to work your way into it. Carry the other shoes and pedals if you want, but you won't need them.

[malkin]

Way to go!

[Catrin]

Ride was great, wind kicked my azz... I am NOT ready for 20+ mph cross winds across the corn fields, but guess I just have to get used to them.

I clipped in for about 25 miles this morning and then switched. I wanted to compare, and I wasn't sure that it was wise to make my first real clipless ride a 75 miler!

In the end I didn't go 75 miles. The wind was just plain wicked, and I was VERY thankful for those 25 miles that I was attached to my bike. I felt more secure and noted that my speed didn't drop quite as low as it has in the past when dealing with strong winds.

These were the strongest winds I've dealt with in several months - perhaps since last winter... So I took a lunch break, and put in 30 more miles a little later (using platform side) in hopes the wind would be better in the hills. It was, kind of. My quads got quite a workout and are actually a little more sore after only 50 miles than the 65 miles from last weekend. It will pass in a few hours, but just goes to show that strong winds require more effort.

No problem starting or stopping - for some reason my stopping seemed more stable - probably because I was thinking about every movement I made.

Thanks for all of the great encouragement, it really helped me to just get out there and do it. Wish that I had gotten all of my miles in this weekend, but sometimes that happens. Still had fun :D

[DarcyInOregon]

The wind super sucks, doesn't it? I never get used to it. I have to gear down in order to keep up my cadence and any type of decent speed, and it just plain wears me out. The very worse is riding miles of a false flat going into a headwind.

My little secret for riding in the wind when I am out solo, and this doesn't happen often, but often enough, and that is if a strong male solo cyclist passes me on the left, I accelerate to catch up to him and ask if he minds if I lock into his slipstream so that I can draft off of him. I've never had a male say no, and there I am with a big guy pushing into the wind and pulling me along, which is exceptional bliss.

Windy days you have to cut the rides short.

In a few more rides, being clipped in will be real comforable for you and it will be automatic. Next time, when you are doing hills, be clipped in for sure on that part so you understand what everyone has been trying to explain, how it really helps getting up the hills.

[Catrin]

Thanks - I was feeling a little wimpy for cutting my ride short because of the wind.

Tomorrow my bike goes to the shop to get fenders, and she will likely have to stay there a day or so. I am hoping to get her back Wed or Thur so I can practice on the hills in my favorite park before clipping in on my full ride Saturday - regardless I will go ahead and just clip in for the entire ride :D

[DarcyInOregon]

Catrin, never feel wimpy about cutting a ride short due to wind conditions. Cycle smart. Move a little more out into the traffic lane so that you don't get blown onto the rough part of the shoulder by a wind gust or a passing semi.

Whenever you start a ride, think about how you can loop back and cut the ride short in case the wind does get real strong. Or know the roads so that the first part of the ride can be into the headwind and the last part can be with a tailwind. It rarely works that way for me, because the wind shifts as soon as I turn direction, but it is the advice of the experts. However, you can change your route if you know the roads, and turn away from the wind if it gets real strong.

Last year I was blown off my bike by a side gust and ended up spending the weekend in the trauma center, with a fractured rib cage, a punctured deflated right lung, and a concussion. It was a freaky gust that got me, that was more to do with the contours of the land at that point, than the strength of the overall wind.

So cycle smart, because the wind can be dangerous. Cycling with strong wind conditions also zaps the energy levels, and that creates another concern to the cyclist who is out on a long ride.

[Catrin]

Catrin, never feel wimpy about cutting a ride short due to wind conditions. Cycle smart. Move a little more out into the traffic lane so that you don't get blown onto the rough part of the shoulder by a wind gust or a passing semi.

Whenever you start a ride, think about how you can loop back and cut the ride short in case the wind does get real strong.

I did ride a little further into the road than I usually do - thankfully I am typically out on back country roads so, generally, the largest trucks I see are dump trucks. Well, there are also those massive farm vehicles that cover the entire road, but I stop and let them go by :) I do have a mirror so I keep a close watch behind me when I do this.

Unless I am on an organized ride I typically route something in loops so that I am never more than 30 miles from my car. I always make sure there is at least one shortcut back to my car in case I get overly tired. Never thought about the wind making that necessary - but the wind just hasn't been a problem since I was able to start riding consistently. I do know the roads well though, and that helps a great deal.


Last year I was blown off my bike by a side gust and ended up spending the weekend in the trauma center, with a fractured rib cage, a punctured deflated right lung, and a concussion. It was a freaky gust that got me, that was more to do with the contours of the land at that point, than the strength of the overall wind.

So cycle smart, because the wind can be dangerous. Cycling with strong wind conditions also zaps the energy levels, and that creates another concern to the cyclist who is out on a long ride.

I am sorry to read this, glad you recovered and were able to return to cycling. Yesterday I had fewer problems with side gusts rather than headwinds - but there were probably a dozen times when I could feel the gusts hit my wheels and I wondered the odds of getting blown over. I WAS clipped in at the time though, which did make me feel more secure, and I just kept on pedaling.

I am more sore this morning than I have been in quite some time, and only rode 50 miles yesterday! Just goes to show that 50 miles in a strong wind is a rather different thing than 75 in calm conditions. I would like to go for a short spin with my shiny new clipless pedals this afternoon but one of my calves is talking to me this morning...we will see what it feels like this afternoon :)

[redrhodie]

Congrats, Catrin! I knew it wouldn't take long. Good for you.

My best tip for riding in the wind (which I love, btw, and I'm not being sarcastic) is to cover your ears. I wear a headband over mine. I assume the effect is 99% psychological, but it really helps me. Hearing the wind can be so morale defeating. Also, I find I can better hear cars approaching from behind with my ears covered. It seems like it would have the opposite effect, but dampening the wind seems to make other noise clearer to me.

[Catrin]

Congrats, Catrin! I knew it wouldn't take long. Good for you.

My best tip for riding in the wind (which I love, btw, and I'm not being sarcastic) is to cover your ears. I wear a headband over mine. I assume the effect is 99% psychological, but it really helps me. Hearing the wind can be so morale defeating. Also, I find I can better hear cars approaching from behind with my ears covered. It seems like it would have the opposite effect, but dampening the wind seems to make other noise clearer to me.

I will find a headband and try this - anything that might help :)

Since Sunday I've ridden over 60 miles on my clipless pedals, and only came close to falling over once when I went to stop and forgot I was clipped in :eek: However, I did NOT hit the ground but somehow managed to save it!

So...whenever I can pull off my long ride this weekend in the midst of all of this work I've got to do this weekend...it will be in clipped in :)