I did it! I'm clipless now too!

Wait, I was before, too, since I had no clips of any sort on those pedals either...

And now I'm thinking, what was all the fuss about!

After our hilly ride today, which was probably not much to those of you who ride up the sides of mountains on a daily basis, but for me was more than a minor foothill....

Oops, digressing!

We had the bikes on the back of the car on the way home, and stopped at the bike shop (but not my favorite one) and bought pedals for our bikes! We're now "clipless" at my house! Mine are Shimano pedals (M520) -- DH chose a different model. They installed the pedals and cleats for us, setting them up to "easiest to get out of" -- is that extra floaty? And explained clipping in and out, then sent us on our way...

Fast forward to bikes at home, and we played with our new toys, practicing the in and out of those "non-clips." Harder to match the clip and cleat, but indeed like putting ski boots into bindings, just like they told us! We played in the driveway first, then rode around a bit, surprising ourselves with an extra three miles! It was just going to be down the block and back, but then I said to DH, let's go find a little hill -- one that we're familiar with, and see how they feel on hills. I don't know if it was a purely psychological thing, or if it really DID make a difference, but I should have been "tired" after my morning ride with the big hill!

The clipless pedal things are way cool! What a clever invention they are!

Karen in Boise

Awesome, Karen! And no falling to be spoken of... ;) Glad you got over the mental hump and joined the dark side (light side?). It'll be fun to retrace your familiar routes with the new pedals!

Good for you! One day I might be posting the same news. Still see them as a little "scary" -- I guess it's a "loss of control" thing. Every time I hear that someone has tried and survived, I inch a little closer to thinking, "well, maybe..." Anyway, congratulations -- sounds like a fun and successful ride!

Congrats on your conversion to clipless! You'll grow more comfortable with each ride. I actually felt more confident with clipless AFTER falling. Everyone kept telling me I was going to fall at some point. And then I did, and it wasn't so bad. Now I have no fear!

Colby -- no falling today, anyway! anticipate those stops was my mantra...

Terpin -- I'm kind of expecting sooner or later, it's gonna happen. I have to admit, I'm hoping it's relatively painless!

Emjae -- I was a bit surprised, I felt stronger and more in control, though I think I had the lack of control thing in the back of my mind too -- so much easier to just wup that foot off the pedal when needed than to think a moment before doing!

I had talked with "my" bike guy a few days ago about the pedals, said I was going to wait a few days since we had a challenging ride this weekend, and I didn't want to make that change until after, when my first few rides could be on easy terrain. He first said, do it, no need to wait, then asked where we were going. THEN he said, no, wait until after. There's stuff there that you don't want to be learning them on! Again, he could have sold 'em to me then and there, without worrying about what mischief I could do myself, but that's service for you!

Karen in Boise

We just got a nice package from Nashbar today.
I won't be able to try out the new clipless pedals for awhile b/c we're going to Washington, DC for a week and hubby thinks we'll probably need to take the bikes to shop to get the old pedals off :rolleyes:
I'm really excited though! :D

How ridiculous would I look with clipless pedals on my specialized comfort bike? Looks like I'm not going to be able to upgrade to a road bike until next spring - trying to figure out what I can reasonably do to this comfort bike to improve performance even a little (changing the seat has already helped). But I don't want to look like a complete moron either....

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Originally Posted by Pascale

How ridiculous would I look with clipless pedals on my specialized comfort bike?

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I had clipless pedals on my hybrid/comfort bike. They didn't look bad at all! If you want them...go for it!

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Originally Posted by oxysback

I had clipless pedals on my hybrid/comfort bike. They didn't look bad at all! If you want them...go for it!

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Oh cool! Thanks :D

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Originally Posted by Pascale

How ridiculous would I look with clipless pedals on my specialized comfort bike?

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Who cares what anyone else thinks? Besides who is going to be looking that closely at your feet anyway. Get them!

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Originally Posted by morsecode

Who cares what anyone else thinks? Besides who is going to be looking that closely at your feet anyway. Get them!

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Umm, my husband does, LOL

Congratulations on the clipless!

I found the cleated clipless pedals to be much easier and safer for me than the clips I'd been using for years. (I have Speedplay Frogs.)

Pascale -- my bike is a comfort-beast too! I figure this is the one to learn all that challenging stuff on while I figure out what kind of road bike to buy someday.

What's made my beast look a bit silly is the new tires she's sporting! The stock tires on our bikes -- I remember you said yours is a Specialized Crossroads -- are the same, mine's the Expedition. You might have bigger tires, though, I think that one has the 700c tires, and mine's 26-inch. Anyway, I just put Specialized Nimbus tires on mine. DH thought I'd gone as far as new wheels too, she looks so much different! (nope, they fit!)

Karen in Boise

Kano, that's awesome - I am definitely going to replace my pedals then - nice to have company!!!!!

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Originally Posted by emjae

Still see them as a little "scary" -- I guess it's a "loss of control" thing.

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Clipless pedals add control.

Congratulations! Someday soon I hope to be able to follow.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Congratulations on the clipless!

I found the cleated clipless pedals to be much easier and safer for me than the clips I'd been using for years. (I have Speedplay Frogs.)

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Knotted -- I had those clips on my old bike, so knew the value of being connected, but didn't like the interface. Those cages were awkward to use getting in, getting out, just plain pesky! I really like the feel of the clipless pedal! One of those things I wish I'd done a long time ago!

Pascale -- The tires made a difference too --- you might like to get some of those slick tires for your bike, depending on what the rail trails you ride on most are paved with (it's hard to fix what a good sized hill does for my average mph, but aside from that issue, I was really zipping along today!)

Karen in Boise

I believe it now, that toeless clips add control. Everyone's input on this site, the sharing of initial fears and experiences and, most importantly, successes, is inspiring me to believe that clipless pedalling could be my future.

I finally broke down and got shoes and clipless pedals last night. This after having ridden 142 miles in 110 degree temps during the Cycle Oregon weekend a few weeks ago, and having had achilles tendon pain (to the extreme since). Just a little background: bought a road bike last fall and trained on it in doors all winter. Have done 30 - 50 mile rides plus lots of smaller ones. Mostly a weekend rider but love being on the bike. Had a 10 speed when I was a kid and went everywhere on it.

The good news: I'm really excited about the power and having made this big step. The bad news: (which really isn't so bad) I was inspired to trip around our neighborhood after having read an uplifting post about clipping in and practicing to great success right away. Well, I bit it in a big way.

Actually, that's even kind of good news as I figured out something very important: even though you manage to clip out, if it's not with the foot you normally step off with (which I now know is my left) you will head straight for the ground. And hard. No biggy but I'm a bit banged up. As my unclipped right foot waved in the wind. Gah! Anyway -- got that one under my belt and I remain psyched about getting on the saddle again!

Kelly, that's an awesome ride you did! And in that heat, oh MY!

Congratulations on your new pedals! I'm sorry to read that you fell down and got scuffed up. So, now you'll think like I do -- left foot off pedal, even if it only looks like stopping may be needed I also make sure to get down off my seat when I stop -- I don't reach the ground very well unless my seat is way too low for comfortable, effective pedaling!

Here's hoping your body learned this lesson quickly, and you won't fall again! (since I haven't yet, and with luck, my body will learn the lesson without it!)

Karen in Boise

I'm with emjae...the "loss of control" mental issu comes from the lack of confidence in getting my feet out of the clipless pedal in time to prevent the fall. I tried out clipless last summer...promptly had a nasty fall after not being able to get either foot out in time. They now sit in a bag in my closet. I'm in the process of getting a new bike...I'll try to get myself used to them on the trainer next winter (although that was a goal for last winter...but laziness, then a ski accidet got in the way!).

-Deb

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?
:eek:

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?
:eek:

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Is there a foot you like to start pedaling with? The opposite foot should unclip. When you stand on a moving bike with one pedal up and one pedal down, which is up? The up pedal should unclip, and you coast to a stop while standing on the down pedal. That's assuming you always want to unclip on one foot. I guess some people can go either way, but I'm strictly one-footed (right unclips).

Hmm, not sure. I'm a typically confused lefty.
but i'll be in the back of the tandem for the next two days as we ride to Canada, so i will have plenty of time to think about it.

:)

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

Hmm, not sure. I'm a typically confused lefty.
but i'll be in the back of the tandem for the next two days as we ride to Canada, so i will have plenty of time to think about it.

:)

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I presume that you don't have a choice on the tandem. You'd have to unclip the same as your captain. So if you can go either way and your captain always goes one way, maybe you better adopt that for both tandem and single.

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Originally Posted by DebW

I presume that you don't have a choice on the tandem. You'd have to unclip the same as your captain. So if you can go either way and your captain always goes one way, maybe you better adopt that for both tandem and single.

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it's different on the tandem. I don't have clips on any of my bikes. i have
"power straps" and believe me when the tandem goes down; i don't wait for cues from the captain!!!!!

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?
:eek:

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I have no ideas if this is correct procedure, so take it with a grain of salt. I begin pedaling with my right foot and stop/unclip my left foot first-always. I never, ever deviate so I remember start right, stop left.

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?
:eek:

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For what it's worth

I am left foot dominate so I always leave my right foot clipped in and land and take off with my left.

to find out which foot is dominate stand w/ both feet together and have someone come up from behind and give you a firm push. which ever foot goes out first to catch you is your dominate foot. (usually it is the foot also that you step up with first onto a stool ladder etc.)

It has nothing to do with handedness, I am right hand dominate

Mimi-

I'm a lefty, too. (and can't tell left from right, but that's another story.)
I'm left dominant in hand, foot, and eye. I find that I prefer to keep my left foot clipped in and just use my right to land. Which is kind of the opposite of what I "should" do, but my brain seems to reason that it's more important to control the bike with the dominant side!

I also reach for my water bottle with the right hand, probably for the same reason.

Dominant side controls the bike and stays with the bike in my little world.

Hey, I guess I have my priorities.....:D

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?
:eek:

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When I first went clipless I was way over analysing this and couldn't work it out. What I did was went for a short round the block ride on my other bike that had platform pedals (well actually the underside of a bike with toeclips) and just noted what came naturally (which is I am a left foot down person)

a word of advice, as someone pretty new to clipless (well, to cycling) too -- the first, most important thing to do is to find your "clip-out" foot and make unclipping on that side automatic. (It feels like you'll never get it, then all of the sudden you don't think about it). But also important -- DO develop the ability to reflexively clip out quickly on the other side too, or else you'll go down if you happen to lose your balance for some reason on that side (I took a stupid, completely avoidable tumble about a month ago and learned this lesson!). :D

Okay, I think I have finally done it. Last year my husband tried to get me converted to SPD's, and after many tears I gave up. I never even tried them on the road because I couldn't reliably clip in even in the house -- I missed about a third of the time. Unclipping was easy, it was clipping in that I couldn't do. We adjusted the tension, we tried different pedals, but I found them so painful to my ankles and knees that I just couldn't make my foot work that way. Instead he tried me on toe clips and straps, and unlike the rest of the civilized world, I liked them a lot.

I just bought myself Speedplay Frogs for my birthday, and we put them on the bike on the trainer last night, and this is totally different. Clipping and unclipping isn't even an issue, it is so easy. We are going for a ride tonight, and I hope I don't fall ... I fell on my first ride with toe clips, but unclipping (uncaging? this clip/clipless terminology is maddening) before a stop is already really ingrained with me, so I hope this won't be too different.

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Originally Posted by xeney

I just bought myself Speedplay Frogs for my birthday, and we put them on the bike on the trainer last night, and this is totally different. Clipping and unclipping isn't even an issue, it is so easy. We are going for a ride tonight, and I hope I don't fall ... I fell on my first ride with toe clips, but unclipping (uncaging? this clip/clipless terminology is maddening) before a stop is already really ingrained with me, so I hope this won't be too different.

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keep us posted Xeney, there are a lot of us out there who aren't unclipped
for various reasons. I mean, i don't have any mechanisms on my bike shoes and right now i am not using cages either; I'm using power straps..

yes the terminology drives me bonkers too.

I use the Power Grips also. Love them!

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Originally Posted by xeney

Okay, I think I have finally done it. Last year my husband tried to get me converted to SPD's, and after many tears I gave up. I never even tried them on the road because I couldn't reliably clip in even in the house -- I missed about a third of the time. Unclipping was easy, it was clipping in that I couldn't do. We adjusted the tension, we tried different pedals, but I found them so painful to my ankles and knees that I just couldn't make my foot work that way. Instead he tried me on toe clips and straps, and unlike the rest of the civilized world, I liked them a lot.

I just bought myself Speedplay Frogs for my birthday, and we put them on the bike on the trainer last night, and this is totally different. Clipping and unclipping isn't even an issue, it is so easy. We are going for a ride tonight, and I hope I don't fall ... I fell on my first ride with toe clips, but unclipping (uncaging? this clip/clipless terminology is maddening) before a stop is already really ingrained with me, so I hope this won't be too different.

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Let us know how it goes - keeping you in my thoughts. Just as a "reminder?"....if in doubt ever at all about anything while on the bike, unclip and rest you heel on the clip, that should help you to feel more comfortable about dealing with whatever is coming up than trying to do too many things all at one time.

Well, it didn't go so well. I really like the Frogs -- easy to clip/unclip, etc. -- but when I finally tried them on the street, I fell hard on my second try. It was really dumb. I have them on my old beater bike, because my husband convinced me that I was definitely going to fall at least once, so I should not put them on my newer bike if I didn't want it to get banged up, but the problem is that my beater bike is a tiny frame and I have to be careful about hitting the front wheel with my foot.

And I wasn't careful -- actually I missed clipping in with my right foot, and the foot slid, and I hit the wheel, and down I went. My left foot stayed clipped in and that kind of wrenched me over pretty badly. I banged up both knees, twisted one ankle, and pulled a hamstring badly enough to result in the whole back of my thigh turning black a couple of days later.

That was last weekend. I am mostly better now, except my right knee has just gotten worse, to the point where I can hardly walk, and I am definitely going to have to go to the doctor. My husband, veteran of many knee surgeries, thinks I damaged the meniscus.

I did practice some more with the clipless pedals in the park, on the grass, and I didn't fall again and I was doing fine, but I have been afraid to try it again on the street because I really, really do not want to fall on this knee again right now.

I think I may have to accept the fact that I am just too clumsy for clipless. Toe clips are retro, and retro is cool, right?

The theory of clipless makes me salivate. I mean, push AND pull? I might finally break 10 mph! (I wish that were a joke.)

But the reality of who I am and how clumsy I can be terrifies me when it comes to clipless. I haven't tried cages; am a little nervous about them, too.

Good luck with your knee. I had horrendous bruising and a hematoma from one of my falls, but no joints involved. I hope your husband is wrong.

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Originally Posted by denda

I use the Power Grips also. Love them!

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I also am using the PowerGrip straps and really like them. Nice and snug when you want them, easy to slip your foot right out when you want to stop.

How do power grips work? Do they go on any regular pedals or do you need special pedals to use them?

They go on regular pedals. I installed them myself, no problem.