I did it! I'm clipless now too!

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.

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Originally Posted by pooks

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

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Here's the "how they work" pictures, and then go to the main homepage for more info:
http://www.ekosport.com/pg_how_works.shtml

I still have the old type toe clips on mine and like them just fine.

After reading everyone's post on going clipless, I am afraid to do it. I am very clumbsy and pretty overweight right now. If I fall, it's not going to be pretty or feel very good, with all this weight coming down.

I ordered power grips last night! Thanks!

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Originally Posted by DDH

I still have the old type toe clips on mine and like them just fine.

After reading everyone's post on going clipless, I am afraid to do it. I am very clumbsy and pretty overweight right now. If I fall, it's not going to be pretty or feel very good, with all this weight coming down.

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DDH -- read all those posts, was terrified, probably not the most graceful overweight ballerina in the bunch (75-80 just gotta go) and I did it anyway!

I had the clips on my old bike, knew the added efficiency of tying myself to the pedals somehow, but didn't want to do those clips on this one -- I don't like getting into/out of the cages.

I dunno if I just think about what I'm doing on a regular basis, or what has made me successful so far, but no falls. I've decided that maybe it will still happen some day, but there's going to be less of me falling when it finally does! So far, I'm finding that I have one "clutzy" foot, and once it's in its clip, as long as I leave it there, everythign's good. Take it off the pedal, and I struggle with putting it back!

Karen in Boise