New to Clipless

I am STRUGGLING with being "clipless". Remember, I only started riding last Sept. I started in the toe clips (ok, I started on the BACKS of the toe clips) and got pretty comfortable getting in and out of them. Then a friend loaned me some old clipless pedals and I bought some cleats. They were pretty easy to get in and out of on the trainer. But, once I got the bike outside, I was scared to death! At first, I had to hold on to the car to get clipped in, I slid off the pedals instead of clipping in a few times and busted my knee........man those cleats are slick!...... I told my LBS owner, Mark-the-wonder-man, that I needed to buy my own set of pedals. So... I got the new Shimano clipless pedals with the "walkable" cleats. They're as big as the red "look" style cleats, but they are a little rubbery sorta and are easier to stand and walk on.

Here's my biggest delimma.........I can clip in on the trainer, but I can't clip back out! They're too tight. How do I make them easier to clip out of? How can I concer my fear outside? I am totally intimidated by the thoughts of clipping in and out and being out of control!

Any thoughts on the subject?

Kim in TN

If you are using SPD's you can adjust the tension of the release with an allen wrench. Even after riding clips for a lot of years, I still keep mine really loose.

Irulan

It sounds like you have road cleats, but Irulan's advise still holds. There should be a way to adjust the tension. If you can't find it, ask your LBS guy.

janet, government employee with yet another day off........