New with clipless

[dynamite]

I just purchased my first pair of cycling shoes to which my husband installed look style cleats and pedals. I am having a hard time clicking in and out of the pedals (my husband has to hold my bike while I click out so I don't fall). Any advice on how to make the process easier? Is there an easier to use pedal/cleat system that I could use perhaps?:confused:

[Irulan]

I do't know about road and Look, but the advice for clips when you are mtn biker is to keep them loose and practice release on the grass a lot.

Irulan

[MightyMitre]

I'd agree with Irulan. i know you can change the tension on Look cleat to tighter and looses and when I started off with mine I had them on the loosest setting possible.

I then set my bike up on the home trainer and practised a bit till I got the hang of it, so i didn't have to look down too much when I was clipping in.

Also, it took me a few goes to realise I should be flicking my foot out rather than pulling or wrenching it. ( I must admit I came a cropper at a set of traffic lights on a quiet rode when I panicked and forgot to flick/twist)

With a bit of practise I'm sure you'll be fine, however if it's a different system you're looking for I can't recommend Speedplay enough. I had a problem with my knee so I switched to Speedplay as they have lots of float. The entry/ exit is VERY easy , but on the down side they do cost a lot more than Looks. if you really find you're not getting on with Look you maybe you could consider switching, but give it some time and i'm sure you'll be fine.

[BikerBabs]

This may be way more elementary than you need - but I was so clueless about clipless that I didn't want to ride because I knew I would fall. I don't have Looks - I have SPDs - but once I got a technique down - they work great...

If your bike is properly fitted chances are you can't reach the ground with your uncleated foot while you are sitting on the saddle. Probably obvious to most - but not to me at the time - remember my clueless remark. I would try to reach for the ground with my tiptoe and fall over because I couldn' uncleat the other side fast enough. Sad but true.

After watching in horror, my husband explained that when stopping I should click out one foot then stand up on the other while braking. As you come to a stop your put your free foot on the ground (which is now within reach because you are off the seat). Once stopped and standing with one foot firmly on the ground, click out the other foot. Very important last step. When you get more comfortable - there will be times when you don't have to take out the second foot and will simply adjust the cleated pedal and take off (see below).

You have to remind yourself to do this for a while, until it becomes second nature. You have to really plan your stops - initially - take your foot out early and be prepared - you can always cleat back in without stopping - but at least you are ready.

To start from a stop - click in one foot while standing - probably easiest at the bottom of the stroke and then pull your pedal up so you can push down to get started. Then pedal and push off with your uncleated foot or just push down the cleated foot and push up your seat up and into the saddle. Once you're going forward - try to cleat in the other foot - but don't worry if it doesn't go in right away - you have one foot in that can both push and pull - plus you can still push the uncleated one around -until it is seated properly.

It is very awkward at first - but practice will get you there. There are some other great hints under the tips and tricks thread - like while standing with one foot on the ground - cleat in and out twenty times on each side until it feels familiar, etc.

Clipless will really improve your riding once you get the hang of them. I read an article about Robin Williams and his first go with clipless - he fell right over and compared it to the Tin Man in the Wizard of OZ "Help me! No, not there...here! By the feet! Clip me out!"

Good luck.

[aka_kim]

I'd also agree with Irulan, practice on the grass. If you're still having problems then maybe try mountain bike-style cleats, like SPD or SPD-compatible. I've used SPD road and mountain, Egg Beaters, and Time ATACs, and LOVE the Egg Beaters.

Also shoe fit and shoe stiffness could be factors affecting your ability to clip out....

But don't go back to platforms and toe cages! Once you get used to clipless, you'll love them.

(BTW, if you are interested in the Time's, I have a pair of the ATAC carbon, with cleats, that I will either sell very cheaply or give away to a good home. They're almost new, but I never found clipping in very easy, and clipping out was a little weird too. But some people love em.)

[dynamite]

Thank you all for your advice. I've already started practising on the trainer and it does seem to be getting easier. I'm going to PRACTICE, PRACTICE,PRACTISE and if I do fall , oh well, it's not like it's the first time.

[DoubleLori]

I used to use LOOKs but I gave them up about 7 years ago because they were so difficult to clip out of. I could not clip out on uphills and fell over a number of times. I've used SPDs ever since. SPDs are way easier, though LOOKs are somewhat more comfortable on very long rides due to the larger cleat (less pressure per square inch on the bottom of the foot).

[Dogmama]

Dynamite - you have to fall over at least once with clipless. It's a rite of passage. Remember Laugh In & the old man on the tricycle? Same thing. Good news is - you won't hurt yourself because you'll be at a stop - just don't put your arm out & try to catch yourself (collarbone breakage!) - fall on the fleshy part of your shoulder like a football player.

Also, when you stop, turn your front wheel slightly in the direction of your unclipped foot. It will help lean your bike in the correct angle.

[Terry]

Well, I must chime in on this thread. I'm the queen of "I can't ride with both feet clipped"...and I had a million reasons. I bet I rode one foot clipped in and the other out for a few months...for me,
it was more like the 3 Stooges trying to swallow a pill. My riding
"honey" and I had a couple of really fine "F-you, no, F-you"-fueds right there on the trail over my insisting that the pedal was too tight/too loose over rocks. I was always clipping out on rocks just in case...Sigh...I'm very athletic, but this was the worse learning curve I've ever experienced. Of couse, that now makes me an expert! (ha!)

Using a spin bike or home trainer is very practical advice. I also practiced on a quiet back street that had a circle so I could ride up on the grass/off the street in case I had to--I also took my tri-tool and some teflon lube along, and, would frequently get off the bike and make ajustments to the cleats/pedals. In that way, I taught myself to adjust everything until the clipping motion was no different that unsnapping/snapping on a piece of clothing.

As far as equipement goes, I use SPD's. I think if you're a roadie, you're a lot more concerned with cornering, weight, ect. than mountain bikers. But then of course, I'm looking at upgrading to the Speedplay frog...from what I'm reading, I really like the sound of this product line.
Terry

[Dogmama]

What is the Speedplay Frog

[MightyMitre]

The Speedplay Frogs are the mtb version of their road pedals.

I switched to Speedplay from Look because I had a nightmare with Looks. I found them really hard to get out of, even with the setting as loose as it would go. I had a couple of falls when trying to stop because I couldn't get my feet loose and in the end it really started to effect my confidence. Every time I saw a set of lights in the distance or knew I had to stop at a junction I'd start to get anxious and over compensate by unclipping my foot way before I needed to , just to make sure.

With Speedplays you there's no big spring to have to click in and out of and to release you foot all you need to do is turn a little way and it slides out - it's so easy! If you're interested take a look at the website at www.speedplay.com I've just got the bottom of the range road pedals and I love them.

Having said all that, I'm sure most people will agree with me it does take a little while to ge the hang of clipless pedals. I'd carry on with the Looks for now and see how you get on.They're probably the most commonly used road pedal over here in the UK and loads of people swear by them. But after you've given them a good chance or if it's really getting you down, then maybe you could look into the Speedplays.

Good luck

[adkoch]

I switched from SPD to Speedplays this winter. On the trainer, I have no problems clicking in/out. However, on my first ride today, I was tooling along just fine and then about 1/4 in to my ride, the foot I always clip out of at stops would just NOT click back in! I tried with all my pressure, different angles, looking for debris... argh!!!! Could I have done something to the combo, at some point during the ride???? Any help would be great...

~Angie

[snapdragen]

Dogmama, the law is you have to fall at least twice, and one of them must be in front of lots of strangers, preferably at an intersection! :D



Originally posted by Dogmama
Dynamite - you have to fall over at least once with clipless. It's a rite of passage. Remember Laugh In & the old man on the tricycle? Same thing. Good news is - you won't hurt yourself because you'll be at a stop - just don't put your arm out & try to catch yourself (collarbone breakage!) - fall on the fleshy part of your shoulder like a football player.

Also, when you stop, turn your front wheel slightly in the direction of your unclipped foot. It will help lean your bike in the correct angle.