Back to Clipless :)

I went for it today and changed my pedals back to clipless - same pedals as last year. I didn't have any problems clipping in or out of course, that part was easy. Of course the reason for returning to BMX pedals last fall was my injuries and the uncertainty of the role of clipping in. I rode an easy and relaxed 15 miles and did not hammer it - it seemed best to take it easy my first time back. My IT bands are a little "cold" right now, but that has nothing to do with the old injuries.

I did notice the scar tissue in my hamstring a little while riding, but no hip flexor pain and no warmth in my hammie or quads :) Frankly, clipping in probably did not contribute to my injuries last year, I suspect the damage was already done when I moved to clipping in last August - but that was last year. This is now :)

I do wonder about the timing of moving to clipless for my Gunnar. I pick that bike up this week. I hate to buy more sets of pedals then I need to - but I also want to try it on the LHT a few times and make certain that it doesn't cause the old injury to flare.

The mountain bike is NOT getting clipless pedals until I have a certain comfort level on the trails - that just seems like piling too much on at once. Will have the BMX pedals I pulled of the LHT put on the Jamis.

It felt good to be back to clipless, but I don't like those dual sided pedals anymore - it isn't like I ever use the platform side or that my shoes would even stay on them...

Yay! You've learned a lot over this past year. I think it will be good.

One of my two rides Saturday was 22 miles on clipless pedals. I had an "ah-hah" moment :)

I did not have any pain. Anywhere. Nothing twinging. Zip. Nada! Whoooo hoooooo!

That is the way it is supposed to be - so why is it even worth mentioning? I've been blaming going clipless last August for my series of over-use injuries last year that eventually took me off the bike for most of the fall and all winter. People here, and elsewhere, told me I was probably mistaken & while I didn't disagree given my lack of experience, I never quite believed it because of the timing.

Back to the lack of anything uncomfortable on Saturday's ride - and it was my second ride of the day. I finally realized that when I moved to clipless pedals last August that I NEVER had a ride on clipless pedals without pain or discomfort of some kind - which means the damage was done earlier than I realized. I was just stubborn and ignored it.

Just saying everyone else was right - and it seemed a good idea to post this to point out the folly of stubbornly ignoring pain on the bike as I close the book on last year and look forward to many good rides this season!

Yay, Catrin! Excellent news! :)

yay for painless clip free rides indicating a good recovery from injuries and a start to training back into your favorite ride, route, and distance.