Clipless, you can do it.

Welcome welcome...this is such a cool place. Inspirational and fun!
I think we did a lot of the same ...skimp on gear and ride anyway. I finally realized that everyone new to riding was buying stuff and I was still riding around with gear from the dark ages. After gradually adding shorts and gloves, then jerseys and finally (this year :) ) a new bike, I realized that the right gear makes a huge difference! A couple years ago another rider told me that I would be able to ride a lot longer with cleats and bike shoes instead of tennis shoes. I had used cages for years. He was so right! It feels like you and the bike are one machine. I will never go back. Be sure to get the stiff bottom shoes. They support and protect your foot ligaments-better in the long run. Like everyone says loosen the tension all the way. Don't make the mistake of starting out slow- that's when more falling happens. Go normal speed, plan your first several stops (unclip early at first) and unclip consistently on the same side to develop a natural habit.

Ditto from me too! I ride long rides- 50-75miles in carbon fiber sole shoes. I also have Superfeet inserts in my shoes instead of the innersole they came with as I need extra arch support. Another word- I use wool socks almost exclusively as they breath well in cold or hot weather.

Hard soles are best if you want to do century rides as you do get more support (kind of like a good mattress for your back idea).

Garneau mountain bike shoes-saw these mentioned in one of the post, so I looked on the internet, there were several different kinds:
Ergo Eco Cycling
Montana
Trail Cycling
Do you know which style might be better?
Also to ACG, the tip on riding with one side clipless and the other side with a regular pedal has worked wonders. First time out I used clipless, fell with one large chain scratch. The next time out with clipless I fell, leg somehow ended in the crankshaft so it looked like a chainsaw had gone through the back of my leg. So a doctor visit, tetanus shot later I'm trying to decide if I should sell the bike and then I saw your suggestion.
This website is incredible. All suggestions/encouragments have been great. Thanks so much to all :cool:

Mine are Women's Colorado ('Touring' section on LG web site).

When I got the pedals and shoes I didn't want to invest too much so I bought entry-level pedals (for about 50 CDN$) and I didn't want to pay much for shoes either and the Garneau were kind of inexpensive (80 CDN$), plus they were the only pair that fit me anyway. Also, I appreciated the fact that they looked like normal shoes and almost walked as such.

So just get into the store and check out the different types and try them on and see what's best for you. Even if Type Z or Bingo or whichever kind of shoe is "better" by universal standards, it may not fit you...

Don't sell the bike! (In the worst case, just change the pedals...) But I'm sure you'll get better fast once it gets into your body's routine...

Thank you, thank you all for your good advice and warm welcomes! Sorry for not using the search function first (I should have known better!), but it is nice to see your replies here in one convenient thread -- thanks for that.

Interesting that falls occur when biking slowly. For the past 4 years I've done Bike New York -- 30,000 bikers pedaling through the 5 boroughs of NYC. Every year, seems, a batch of bikers fall down to the pavement, and it always puzzled me. I'll bet it's because we're all rolling to a stop, somebody can't unclip in time, falls into the crowd, and a group goes down like a bunch of dominoes. Lesson: when approaching a stop, unclip both feet ASAP so you can brace yourself on either side of the bike.

So I'm a little afraid: haven't fallen off a bike since 1975 :o but looks like the summer goal is: buy pedals & shoes, learn to use them. Let's see now, how much do I have to save per week...

p.s. at least having used the old fashioned toe clips since 1975, I'm accustomed to removing my feet from *something* when rolling to a stop! How's that for a positive outlook :)

You'll be great, I'm sure!

I'm thinking if you can ride in toe cages, clipless will be a breeze!!

Corsair "never could get the hang of toe cages but LOVE clipless" Mac

Yea... I have fallen twice on my bike... both times I was clipped in and couldn't get out quick enough. DUH!

And, in situations where I have to get out quickly... I PANIC... I am still not good in tight situations.

I wonder when it becomes second nature to get out of those clips!

*Note: I have 300 miles logged on my bike since October 2004.*

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Originally Posted by KSH

Yea... I have fallen twice on my bike... both times I was clipped in and couldn't get out quick enough. DUH!

And, in situations where I have to get out quickly... I PANIC... I am still not good in tight situations.

I wonder when it becomes second nature to get out of those clips!

*Note: I have 300 miles logged on my bike since October 2004.*

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It will happen KSH!....I was in the same boat you're in now - I Never thought it would just "happen" without me thinking about it! but it does and you probably won't even realize you unclipped until after it's over. I have a thread somewhere around here titled "will it ever get any better?" or something like where I wondered the same thing and received the most wonderful, positive support and they were right!......now here's me hoping to pass the encouragement on!

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

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It will happen KSH!....I was in the same boat you're in now - I Never thought it would just "happen" without me thinking about it! but it does and you probably won't even realize you unclipped until after it's over. I have a thread somewhere around here titled "will it ever get any better?" or something like where I wondered the same thing and received the most wonderful, positive support and they were right!......now here's me hoping to pass the encouragement on!

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Maybe it's like learning how to drive a stick shift?

You struggle for a few months and before you know it... it's second nature... and if you drive an automatic, you are trying to press the clutch!

Thanks!!!!

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I'm thinking if you can ride in toe cages, clipless will be a breeze!!

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It's not working for me. I'm trying to do clipless for the second time, but I can't even get to the point of trying them on an actual ride, because I can't even get clipped in with the bike standing still. We've adjusted everything a million times, it seems, but I just can't get the feel for it. Or I'll have the cleat right on top of the pedal and I won't be able to make it engage. I feel like a complete moron -- last time around, I finally gave up after two weeks because it was making me not want to ride at all, I felt so dumb. I'm trying again now and it's not any better and I don't know what to do.

I'm using SPD style pedals and my husband suggested I ask here whether Speedplays or Look style pedals are easier to clip into, since I seem to have a learning disability regarding the SPDs. He's only used the SPDs but he thought the larger platform of the Look style pedals might be easier for someone who is, uh, a little dumb.

Toe cages, now, those are a breeze. But they also practically reduced me to tears the first time out, so I keep thinking that eventually something will click, so to speak, and I'll get it. Other times I think that I should just make myself a special jersey: "TOO DUMB FOR CLIPLESS."

Xeney - road or mtn bike?

I use Look on the road and Eggbeaters on the dirt. I find them both easy. I used to have Ritcheys, but the Eggbeaters are much easier. Eggbeaters have 4 sides so higher chance of hitting the pedal right. Also, have you checked to be sure your shoe sole isn't in the way of clipping in?

Do you have a trainer you can use to practice?

:D I've used Speedplays for 10-15 yrs. I love 'em. There's no "wrong side".

Do you ski?

I'm told that clipping in on SPD's is like popping into ski bindings... anybody?

Xeney, don't lose hope!!! It's harder for some than others (read me ;) )- if it's not too much of a financial burden, do try some of the other styles for clipping like Look or Speedplay or even Eggbeaters. Sometimes that different style of clipping can make all the difference in your feeling of confidence (and, Lance knows, confidence is 95% of the battle). I didn't get along with SPD at all and had to switch to Eggbeater Candy - with a tiny bit of wax on the "eggbeater" part of the pedal, I could clip in much easier. It wasn't as much a precision operation like SPD was.