clipless pedal woes

I've decided to take the leap to clipless. Got the beautiful SIDI shoes, and Shimano pd-r540 pedals....those were the first pedals. I have a very small foot - size 4.5 - 5 and I can't kick out of the pedal. My husband thinks it's because I have a small foot? however, I think it's just that I don't have the right pedal. I've tried a few other Shimanos, and even when set on the easiest tension I have to go through contortions to kick off the pedal. I've been riding quite some time so I do have some leg muscles - so what's up with this? Anyone else have this problem? Any really easy release pedals? I've done some research and found some LOOK easy pedals, but I'd be just guessing. Anyone with experience with this problem? :confused:thanks! D.

I don't know those particular pedals, but a few things come to mind. How hard is it to clip in? If that's a problem too then maybe there isn't enough clearance between the shoe and clip and it's catching. I don't know if a small shoe makes a difference in that. Are you sure the tension is way down? I had that problem with my first SPDs. I thought it was all the way down but I had it all the way UP, so I couldn't come out. Are you twisting your foot correctly to get it out?

I still use SPDs on my mountain bike (mostly because I'm too cheap to buy different pedals). But on my road bike I have Speedplays. They need very little tension to come out, but you have to swing your foot through a longer arc because of the amount of float. I've been very happy with them.

I started with Time pedals and the tension was too tight and I could get in them, but couldn't clip out. I was terrified! We adjusted the tension and I still couldn't get out. I tried Sampson pedals - very light and enjoyed those. Not sure if they make them anymore. I am now using Look pedals for the road bike and Shimano for the mountain bike. I like both. I have a small foot too and its important to get your clip in the right place on your shoe. I suggest you lean your bike against a counter somewhere or put it on a trainer and practice the motion of clipping in and out. Get someone to help guide your foot. When you are out riding on the road, clip out before you get to a stop sign and rest your foot on top of the pedal. that way you don't panic that you're stuck!

Oh man, I did not move to the Looks very gracefully. Let me tell you my thinking on it. Last season I had SPD pedals, this season I read about a great shoe then I found a good deal on it, and bought it without much research. The upshot is, it was a road shoe and I couldn't use the SPDs... duh! Anyway, I bought looks and tried the grey cleats. When I first started using them, I fell over all the time. I had horrible lumps on my legs for a good long time. I have put a lot of miles on my bike this summer, and the cleat/pedal system seems to have loosened up quite a lot. I think I had to sort of break in the cleat part. It is WAY easier to clip unclip now. So, yes, it has a steep and painful learning curve, but also, the cleats do 'break in' (break down?) a bit and become much easier to get in and out of the pedal. So, I would suggest to keep at it. It was a miserable early season in terms of falling off my bike, but when my friends and I started laughing at the lumps on my legs and celebrating every ride without a topple by me, it became a bit more comical :rolleyes: Good luck - I totally know what you are going through.

Hi DMB and welcome to TE! If you have a chance, please take a minute to introduce yourself in the sticky thread at the top of Open Topic (Getting to Know You).

There might be a problem with the pedal (it happens - I mean THAT pedal, not the whole R450 series) but I would suggest that you do as others have suggested and 1) verify that the tension is really on the loosest setting (towards the - sign) and 2) Put the bike on a trainer, or next to a wall, or to a hip-high counter, and practice clipping in and unclipping, with maybe someone to help you guide your foot. Do just one foot at a time. I don't know what you mean by "kick out of the pedal" but for me that motion had nothing to do with a kick and everything with a rotation of my ankle to push my heel towards the outside. In those pedals for me there is no upward motion, just an outward motion of the heel. It does not have to be a violent move but it does require some strength, and I can testify that when I started riding clipless my ankles were not as strong as they are now. There might also be a "break in" factor.

You can put your feet flat on the floor (barefoot) and practice pushing your heels out (thus your toes will point in) while keeping your whole foot on the floor. For me it really mobilizes the same muscles and gives me the same feeling.

I have seen children riding with clipless pedals so I don't think the size of your foot is a big factor, but perhaps it does force you to push your heel relatively further out than a guy who wears size 13 shoes.

You can also have someone a bit more experienced try your pedals and see what they think/feel.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Grog's answer is very comprehensive. The only thing I would add is to be sure you are not lifting your heel while rotating it outward.

SPD pedals should be very easy to get out of.

The whole clipless experience is not designed to be painful... to talk to the store you bought them from.

dont kick - just slowly rotate your heel outwards just using your ankle joint to do so--

try straddling the bike at home maybe and just clipping in on one foot, keeping the other firmly on the floor and practice doing this heel rotating-outwards manaoevre - no lifting of your foot - just your heels rotating outwards---

bat

I second the "keep one foot down and practice". I found it really difficult to turn my heel outward, so by accident, when I first got them, I turned my heel inward and that's how I always clip out. I can't ski either, my toes and knees just have a hard time going in that "heels out, knees and toes in" direction.

Can you practice with your bike on a trainer or some other 'hands free' way of staying upright and still?

I had SPDs and had them cranked as loose as I could get them and I still crashed and was still clipped in. It's a mystery to my friends and the LBS as other people have no problems. And I have BIG FEET! Haha...
For mtn biking I don't use them at all, but on the road, well when the foot is better, I will. If you are mtn biking with them, I would try doing your getting in and out on the road or a very easy trail first.

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and quick replies. I spent the better part of the morning reading the horror stories of going clipless from men and women, and now I'm not sure I should do this at all! I ride about 20 miles a day, 6x a week - by myself. On path, off a path, down a bumpy street, on dirt, wherever I want to go.......now I'm wondering if clipless is even something I should consider. I'm not going to race, don't really enjoy riding with groups - and if I do anything it's a Randonneur ride where the only one you're racing against is....yourself. I use toe clips now - and like them very much. I also have to tell you that I'm no spring chicken (55) and an injury now would probably take forever to heal and I would be soooooo depressed. So - I guess my question is - what's the reason for going clipless? any real benefit if you're not racing. The toe clips I use now hold my foot in the perfect spot - and that in itself was a challenge - especially locating the correct pedal to go along with it. Small feet are cute and all but ......geesh! ;)thanks again

When I switched to clipless I gained 2mph without changing anything else. It's just more efficient. And, with my pedals at least, it's easier to get out of than toe clips. I ride crank bros candies.

The easiest pedals I've ridden to get out of are speedplay frogs. There's no strength involved in getting out at all. Just turn your foot and they come right off.

BTW- small foot size should actually make it easier for you to get out as your heel doesn't have to turn as far (short lever) to get the same degree of rotation. So I wouldn't blame the little feet.

I am not the most coordinated person in the world; if I could learn, you can, too. And, I am also 55, although I was 49 or 50 when I switched to clipless...
I practiced on the lawn, but what helped me the most was clipping in with one foot and riding with just one clipped in. I did that for about a month. Then I started clipping in with both feet, but I would constantly unclip one foot and put it back in, to practice how fast I could do it in different situations. Obviously, I did this on quiet streets.
I second the Speedplay pedals.

Thanks again for all the great answers and suggestions. I spent some time reading many reviews on speedplay frogs and no one is saying anything negative. I like that they'll "save your knees" too - had no idea that going clipless would even affect the knees. One more question - do I have to get special shoes or will the shoes I have work? I have your basic Izumi cycling shoes with the 3 holes on the bottom. So, I just get the SF pedals, and the clips that go with SF's for the shoes right? Thanks again for your time. D.

Sorry to say that those pedals may not be compatible with your shoes.... at very least you will probably need a 3 hole to 2 hole adapter - if Speedplay makes one - Frogs owners?

An option for easy to use pedals that do have a 3 hole to 2 hole option are Crank Bros pedals. Their pedals and cleats are all pretty much interchangeable (so you can use the 3 hole cleats from Quattros with the other pedal styles), but their road pedals (Quattro) are just as easy to use as their mt bike pedals (Candy, Eggbeater, etc) in any case. I wear a pretty small shoe myself usually a 5 or 5.5 in street shoes and I've never had any trouble getting into or out of this brand.

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Originally Posted by DMB

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and quick replies. I spent the better part of the morning reading the horror stories of going clipless from men and women, and now I'm not sure I should do this at all! I ride about 20 miles a day, 6x a week - by myself. On path, off a path, down a bumpy street, on dirt, wherever I want to go.......now I'm wondering if clipless is even something I should consider. I'm not going to race, don't really enjoy riding with groups - and if I do anything it's a Randonneur ride where the only one you're racing against is....yourself. I use toe clips now - and like them very much. I also have to tell you that I'm no spring chicken (55) and an injury now would probably take forever to heal and I would be soooooo depressed. So - I guess my question is - what's the reason for going clipless? any real benefit if you're not racing. The toe clips I use now hold my foot in the perfect spot - and that in itself was a challenge - especially locating the correct pedal to go along with it. Small feet are cute and all but ......geesh! ;)thanks again

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Just throwing one other opinion in here....
I ride more like you- I'm 54, not into group fast rides at all, no competing. I ride in the country and on highways and back roads, mostly either by myself or with my husband, sometimes with a friend or two.
Lots of hills, cold winters.
I use PowerGrip straps, in a way similar to toe clips i guess. Just the right amount of keeping my feet in place securely without being actually locked in.
Here's a picture of me in semi-cold weather biking (40F) with hiking boots, heavy wool socks, and my straps:
http://harmonias.com/L_riding1DSC02460.jpg
I am totally happy with this setup, especially since it allows me to wear comfy sneakers in the summer and warm insulated hiking boots in the winter- I just adjust the straps bigger or smaller seasonally with my change of shoes.
Sure, I wouldn't mind instantly getting 2mph faster....but not if it means I have to wear expensive tight plastic shoes that make my feet go numb, avoid walking on dirt, ice, or mud, have freezing toes in the winter, and lock my feet in and out at every intersection. YUK, no thanks.
Many riders like clipless, many don't. Do what's right for you and what makes you comfortable. :)

I've ridden with toe clips and with clipless pedals, and while toe clips are light years better than riding on flat pedals, clipless pedals still feel much more powerful. The difference is especially noticeable on hills.

I think it just takes some people longer than others to get the clipless thing down. I read here about people who have no problems at all from the very first ride. For me, it took me probably a month before I could reliably clip out when I wanted to (lots of falls and lots of fear in the meantime), and a full summer before I felt really comfortable with them. Now, it's completely automatic and I wouldn't want to be without them. I actually feel more secure and safer with my clipless pedals than I do without them.

I have average sized feet (US size 7.5) and am average size/weight. When I first got my pedals (Ultegra spd-sl), even set to the loosest tension, I found it incredibly difficult to get out of them. I actually brought my bike into the shop and asked them to make sure there was nothing wrong with the pedals or cleats :o (they must have thought I was ridiculous). Nope, nothing wrong with the pedals. I just didn't have the feel for doing it, it felt awkward and I was probably doing something wrong (for instance, trying to lift up while turning). It also really helps (at least in the beginning) to clip out only at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Anyway, I now don't find it difficult to clip out at all, either on my pedals or on my boyfriend's stiffer Dura Ace pedals. Once you get the motion right, it feels a lot easier (even though the actual force you need to unclip has not changed).

So, Lisa is right that you shouldn't feel pressured to get clipless, you need to do what works for you, but I wouldn't give up quite yet.

Best of luck!

Don't give up on clipless. There is a learning curve, but now I have to think twice before riding my hybrid with normal pedals. I also find that I'm not positioning my feet correctly without the clipless pedals.

Lisa,

Your picture is fabulous! You sure look great on your lovely new bike! :) However, I do think you have some misapprehensions about clipless pedals and the shoes that go with them. :rolleyes:

I'm a purely recreational cyclist these days, enjoying short trail/fire road rides on my mountain bike for fitness and fun, not speed or distance (been there, done that back in my roadie days), and I love, love, love my Speedplay Frogs! They are incredibly easy to clip into and out of, and the shoes I have are VERY, VERY comfy. Mountain bike shoes come in all types, from a Cannondale pair I have that look remarkably like your hiking boots, to sleek models that look like road shoes (I have a pair of those too), or the cool Keen Commuter sandals my riding buddy has and loves with her Eggbeater pedals. I got both of my pairs on sale, so they were not very pricey ($39 and $65) and have held up well. My shoes aren't so tight that I can't wear a variety of socks, from thin summer socks to thicker wool winter socks, and having the recessed cleats, walkability is not an issue as it is with road shoes/clips. Sure, I probably wouldn't want to walk in wet mud with cleats, but I don't really ride in it either!

The cleats definitely give me more power and speed on the hills, and they are so easy to clip into and out of that doing so at stops is just no big deal at all, no bigger than it would be to get into and out of Powergrips, I'd imagine.

I definitely believe in live and let live, so I respect your choice of Powergrips over clipless. It's definitely the more frugal choice. I just wanted to point out that some of your ideas about clipless pedals and cleated shoes are not necessarily accurate. I've heard a lot of complaints here about various pedal systems (and I've had my own issues in the past with Speedplay Zeros and Eggbeaters Candies), but I've yet to meet anyone who's tried them who doesn't like/love Speedplay Frogs. :D

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Originally Posted by alpinerabbit

SPD pedals should be very easy to get out of.

The whole clipless experience is not designed to be painful... to talk to the store you bought them from.

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Right on. I've used a couple models of SPDs and prefer them because they are so easy to get out of. You must make sure the tension is set to the easiest setting, for real. It may help to stop into your trusty bike shop for some assistance. :-)

Also, if you're riding in muddy conditions, that can make it difficult to clip out. Just kick the pedal to knock the mud off.

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Lisa,

Your picture is fabulous! You sure look great on your lovely new bike! :) However, I do think you have some misapprehensions about clipless pedals and the shoes that go with them. :rolleyes:

I'm a purely recreational cyclist these days, enjoying short trail/fire road rides on my mountain bike for fitness and fun, not speed or distance (been there, done that back in my roadie days), and I love, love, love my Speedplay Frogs! They are incredibly easy to clip into and out of, and the shoes I have are VERY, VERY comfy. Mountain bike shoes come in all types, from a Cannondale pair I have that look remarkably like your hiking boots, to sleek models that look like road shoes (I have a pair of those too), or the cool Keen Commuter sandals my riding buddy has and loves with her Eggbeater pedals. I got both of my pairs on sale, so they were not very pricey ($39 and $65) and have held up well. My shoes aren't so tight that I can't wear a variety of socks, from thin summer socks to thicker wool winter socks, and having the recessed cleats, walkability is not an issue as it is with road shoes/clips. Sure, I probably wouldn't want to walk in wet mud with cleats, but I don't really ride in it either!

The cleats definitely give me more power and speed on the hills, and they are so easy to clip into and out of that doing so at stops is just no big deal at all, no bigger than it would be to get into and out of Powergrips, I'd imagine.

I definitely believe in live and let live, so I respect your choice of Powergrips over clipless. It's definitely the more frugal choice. I just wanted to point out that some of your ideas about clipless pedals and cleated shoes are not necessarily accurate. I've heard a lot of complaints here about various pedal systems (and I've had my own issues in the past with Speedplay Zeros and Eggbeaters Candies), but I've yet to meet anyone who's tried them who doesn't like/love Speedplay Frogs. :D

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Hey I hear what you are saying Emily. :) I know there are lots of combos of clipless pedals and shoes that people find to be comfy and easy to use. I have indeed heard that Frogs are much easier than many other types, and that mtn bike clipless shoes are comfier too.
For me, it's been a personal decision. I work at home and I'm often hopping on and off my bike at any given time of day to do errands, shop, perhaps spontaneously combining errands with a 20 mile road ride, meet someone for lunch on my bike, go to the PO, dentist, etc. I always ride directly from home, I don't drive to a destination in order to ride like many bikers have to do- so the idea of having to change my shoes or boots when I want to jump on my bike (and then possibly having to haul the change of shoes around on my bike too) is a real turn off for me- especially when it's dreadfully cold out. I see many of my friends spend an awful lot of time on their various clipless 'issues' and changing shoes constantly. More power to them! :D
For me all that seems needlessly fussy and just doesn't fit into my particular lifestyle. I am totally happy and comfortable wearing my favorite everyday shoes and boots on my bike. In fact, on most days literally half of what I wear for the day is already bike-ready...wool leggings, merino turtlenecks and Ibex Shaks....most times all I need to do is pull some padded shorts on right over my wool leggings and throw on a hi-vis vest to be instantly ready for a ride. :D I like it that way, I just don't feel I want to add changing into special biking shoes to the preparations of getting on my bike. I know you must understand.
Sometimes I feel I should never contribute to clipless discussions, since it always winds up with people assuring me I would embrace them joyfully if I'd only try them. (not meaning you here)
My name is Lisa and I rejoice in being clipless free! :D

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Originally Posted by DMB

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and quick replies. I spent the better part of the morning reading the horror stories of going clipless from men and women, and now I'm not sure I should do this at all! I ride about 20 miles a day, 6x a week - by myself. On path, off a path, down a bumpy street, on dirt, wherever I want to go.......now I'm wondering if clipless is even something I should consider. I'm not going to race, don't really enjoy riding with groups - and if I do anything it's a Randonneur ride where the only one you're racing against is....yourself. I use toe clips now - and like them very much. I also have to tell you that I'm no spring chicken (55) and an injury now would probably take forever to heal and I would be soooooo depressed. So - I guess my question is - what's the reason for going clipless? any real benefit if you're not racing. The toe clips I use now hold my foot in the perfect spot - and that in itself was a challenge - especially locating the correct pedal to go along with it. Small feet are cute and all but ......geesh! ;)thanks again

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gosh do not go back!! stay with clipless... you wont be sorry. it's just hard to get used to at first... but soon it will become second nature to clip in and out. you might have the tension too tight and some other adjustments... you need to read like you've been doing. i can't imagine riding in anything but clipless. once you get used to them and do longer rides on them, you will wonder how your rode a bike any other way. hang in there... anything new takes time to get used to:D

oh and yes you do have to clean them!! when you wash your bike, wash your pedals. dust and dirt get in there and sometimes make it difficult to clip in and out... so keep them clean just like the rest of your bike :)

I wish I had an answer for you on your shoes and the frogs, but I know that they're designed for a 2-hole shoe and you have a 3-hole shoe and I don't know if there's an adapter. But before you go out and buy a new pair of shoes thinking that Frogs will fix everything, keep in mind that no pedal is perfect for everyone. I'm selling mine with only about 20 miles on them b/c I had major knee issues with them. They are a "great for most" pedal, not a "great for all" pedal.

I second the recommendation to consider the Crank Bros Quattros. They will work with your shoes, they are easy to get in and out of, they have a reasonable amount of float, two-sided, etc. I love my Candies and have never had a hard time getting out (there is a wear in period where you'll want to clip in and out over and over to make them easier, but even when I first got them I had no issues).

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Hey I hear what you are saying Emily. :) I know there are lots of combos of clipless pedals and shoes that people find to be comfy and easy to use. I have indeed heard that Frogs are much easier than many other types, and that mtn bike clipless shoes are comfier too.
For me, it's been a personal decision. I work at home and I'm often hopping on and off my bike at any given time of day to do errands, shop, perhaps spontaneously combining errands with a 20 mile road ride, meet someone for lunch on my bike, go to the PO, dentist, etc. I always ride directly from home, I don't drive to a destination in order to ride like many bikers have to do- so the idea of having to change my shoes or boots when I want to jump on my bike (and then possibly having to haul the change of shoes around on my bike too) is a real turn off for me- especially when it's dreadfully cold out. I see many of my friends spend an awful lot of time on their various clipless 'issues' and changing shoes constantly. More power to them! :D
For me all that seems needlessly fussy and just doesn't fit into my particular lifestyle. I am totally happy and comfortable wearing my favorite everyday shoes and boots on my bike. In fact, on most days literally half of what I wear for the day is already bike-ready...wool leggings, merino turtlenecks and Ibex Shaks....most times all I need to do is pull some padded shorts on right over my wool leggings and throw on a hi-vis vest to be instantly ready for a ride. :D I like it that way, I just don't feel I want to add changing into special biking shoes to the preparations of getting on my bike. I know you must understand.
Sometimes I feel I should never contribute to clipless discussions, since it always winds up with people assuring me I would embrace them joyfully if I'd only try them. (not meaning you here)
My name is Lisa and I rejoice in being clipless free! :D

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Totally understood, Lisa! I am very envious of your lifestyle and wish I could bike so many places right from my home! I hope to live in such a place someday when I am retired and be able to be car-free or as close to that as possible. I agree that your shoes and Powergrips make total sense in your situation.

And I don't think you should stop contributing on clipless threads, since you offer an option that a new rider might not even be aware of. I think Powergrips could be a good interim step for someone who wants to go clipless but is fearful initially, just to give them the feeling of being attached (kinda!) to the pedal.

There are, as we always say here, different strokes for different folks, and none of them wrong. :)

I second (third?) the Crank Bros. pedal option. They don't have a tension adjustment, but they're extremely easy to clip in/out of to start with, and as you ride, the loosen up a bit. I also agree that practicing while stationary is good; I spent quite a while just sitting on my bike, clipping in and out, before I tried going on the road.

I also have found that I feel safer and I enjoy riding more with the clipless pedals than with toe clips, for the following reasons:

1. Your clipless shoes don't usually have laces, so that eliminates the whole "did I tuck my laces in?" concern
2. My Crank Bros. eggbeaters are actually easier and more intuitive to get out of than regular toe clips. The motion -- twisting your heel out -- is one you're going to make anyway when putting your foot down, whereas pulling your foot backwards to remove it from the cage is an extra step.
2.a. They're also easier to get in to from a stop. Just press your foot down and in, rather than having to flip your pedal upright and get your toe in real quick.
3. You get better control and more power when clipped in. If hills play any part in your riding, seriously consider continuing to give clipless pedals a try. They give you that ability to pull up and make a full circle with the pedals that is lacking even with cages.
4. The stiff sole supports your foot better than, say, a flexible tennis shoe sole. This means you don't waste energy keeping your foot stiff, and it also means when you stand up on the pedal, it's supporting your whole foot securely.

Talk about dumb. Took me a while to figure out how to get back here. More great posts and suggestions, thank you all so very much! Well, I guess my biggest fear of going clipless is an injury. I'm enjoying this way too much and an injury would probably send me into a deep depression if I couldn't ride every day. I'm also old, and an injury would take forever to heal. Seriously. Riding has become an addiction, and I don't care - as far as I'm concerned it's a good one to have. :D
Anyway - many of you are mentioning "clipless is especially good for hills" - well, I'm in southern CA, Canyon Country........and you might as well call it Hill City. My rides have been limited to where I can go because of my bike and the hills. I've been test riding a lot of bikes but because I'm small (5'1, 115#) they're giving me all these WSD bikes to try and it's like....WHERE'S THE BIKE?? they're tiny, squirelly, wiggly - and these are the Intermediates, not entry level bikes. I'll just have to keep looking. So - I'm thinking of putting narrower, slicks on my Raliegh Venture 7 speed bike for now - and going to clipless - hopefully, less friction, more speed and easier climbs, no? Going to REI to see if they have the frogs and the Cranks? that were mentioned. I'm pretty sure I can return the shoes. thanks again everyone!

Don't assume that you automatically need a WSD bike because you're small. If you have a relatively long torso, you may be better on non-WSD bike if you can find one small enough.

I have noticed that a lot of WSD bike come stock with very tiny stems. (80mm and smaller sometimes). This can make a bike twitchy feeling -- you might pay attention to that and ask if you can try a bike with a stem that is 90mm or so (I would guess most of the bikes in your size won't come stock with anything much longer than that). Remember that this is something that is easy and inexpensive to change. What you might find on WSD bikes that might be important for you -- short-reach shifters and shorter cranks.

But otherwise, fast bike + quick handling = good :D! With the 5-10 lb weightloss and lots of extra gears, you'll fly up (and down!) those hills!

thanks Liza, so much to think about and learn..........what an adventure! :D

Define old.

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I've yet to meet anyone who's tried them who doesn't like/love Speedplay Frogs.

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My husband. He has a knee injury (with a huge titanium plate running down his shin) that makes it impossible for him to unclip from Frogs. They are supposed to be good for bad knees, but not his bad knee. He tried mine and literally could not use them.

He used SPDs for years and now uses Look style pedals, I think. He loves clipless pedals, but not Frogs (or other Speedplays).

I am a failure at clipless pedals ... I finally got them down, after an injury that scared me away from them for a while, but then I got pregnant, stopped riding my road bike for a while, and haven't gone back to them since my road bike is currently set up to haul a trailer and I'd just as soon have my feet free for that. Once my new trailer-puller is set up (probably with toe clips) I am going to put the Frogs back on my Bianchi and this time they aren't coming back off.

I did find Frogs to be a thousand times easier than SPDs, which I could never clip into, much less out of.

Yes, define old....
I've had a few injuries, nothing major and it didn't take me a long time to heal. You just can't be afraid of getting hurt. I mean, I am a cautious rider, but i expect that as in any sport, there will be injuries. I have crashed pretty hard, once going down a 20% grade hill. Other than road rash and soreness (not to mention embarrassment), I was fine. I've learned to treat these things on my own. One of my first cycling injuries was when I was still riding the old Voodoo mtb on the road. I was going up a hill, when my son came down the hill on his cross bike, heading for the woods. He asked me to hand him my water bottle for a drink and I did. But when he went to give it back to me, I freaked and went down. About 5 days later I woke up with a huge lump on my knee. I did go to an ortho doc for that, but it turned out to be nothing but a hematoma. In other words, a huge bruise. I stretched, iced and took Advil and was riding again in 2 weeks.
I am going to be 55 in 2 weeks and while that might be old to some, it's not to me.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Yes, define old....
I am going to be 55 in 2 weeks and while that might be old to some, it's not to me.

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I'm 53. We're just babies.

Well, okay - I'll be 57 in December. That's like ALMOST 60!!! Maybe I'm reading too many bike magazines? All those 20ish people. I just have to be smart about this. I have to admit that most of the people I see riding around are really not that young. I'm just afraid of an injury. I ride by myself and just act pretty foolish sometimes (go fast, jump over things, go faster than fast, wiggle from side to side on the painted lines (as if going through an obstacle course) on the bike path.....while going really fast) and I always say....stop that, you shouldn't be doing that, you're going to hurt yourself. I think I found my lost childhood or something. Anyway, All these stories of people falling down with clipless just has me worried. However, I WON'T GIVE UP....I'm sure if I felt confident and at ease with the motion I'll take on the challenge. Everyone has been so nice and helpful here - I wish I had found this site when my seriousness about biking began this spring. I probably would have saved myself a lot of grief. I have to tell you - I did fall down once. I mean right in the middle of a busy intersection after I crossed the street. There were people and cars everywhere. Somehow my tire got caught in a rut and there was nothing I could do but go down. Hit my head on the cement, just laid there - dazed. Do you know that no one, not one single person asked me if I was okay - and I laid there a good 5 minutes or so. That really scared me. So, all this talk about falling down while you learn to go clipless - well, kinda scary. Now that I know there are easier ones I'll give it a try for sure. I like those egg beater ones, they do look easy. I'll let you all know for sure.

50's are the new 40's.

Women who are in their 50's and live a healthy lifestyle and exercise are like "regular/typical" women in their 40's.....I just made that up, but it sure seems that way to me!

I'm 54 and never felt better in my life- not by a longshot. I'm still waiting to peak. :D

Go ahead and do all of those goofy things. Where else ya gonna do em?!

Wasn't sure if because I started this thread here I was supposed to continue here? or start a new one? How does that work?
ANYWAY - I did go to REI yesterday and the people there are really GREAT about explaining things to you. I returned the Izumi road bike shoes with the 3 holes and got these Pearl Izumi Quest Mountain Bike Shoes ($90. AND they had my size again...37). I also got the Crank Bros Quattros pedals - only $20.!! and the brass clips. So - today I practice, practice, practice - and well, I guess we'll see. Thanks again for all the advice and help. OH, BTW - thought you all might like to know this about REI. I've been shopping for a new bike for a while now - they will let you buy a bike, take it home and ride it for a while and return it for a full refund if you don't like it. They then sell returned bikes in one of their 4x a year "garage sales" as a used bike. I talked to 3 or 4 people and they all said that REI's 100% Customer Satisfaction is no lie. They have WSD Cannondale Road bikes on sale right now, I'm thinking of doing this OR just waiting until January for their "after the holidays" garage sale.

I, like Lisa, choose not to ride clipped in. Just too uncoordinated. BUT advise given me at the time I was "learning" which I found to be very good, is to start out with just one foot clipped in. That way you have one free for 'stability." (wear a regular shoe on the other foot.) Then, switch off feet. Then, both together. Kinda like "clipless training wheels" - It helped me feel more in control but ultimately, clipping in is not my thing. I value my life too much (the whole uncoordinated thing.) :D

Thanks for the tip Lisa - I agree though, if this at all feels too uncomfortable, or unsafe, I'm not going to do it. I know I sound like an REI rep here (I'm not) but they even told me that if I try the shoes and clips for a while and don't like them I can return everything. Certainly can't beat that.

sorry about that.

Well, you certainly can't say I didn't give it a try. I really did. Didn't even have any dumps or anything. I just don't like the way it feels. I don't feel in control, I feel too confined. Guess I have issues.:confused: I do, however, like my toe clips (no cages) though. They hold my foot in the perfect place and getting in and out is a breeze. I don't race or ride with groups so the clipless thing was an experiment just to satisfy my curiousity. I can certainly see where you get a little more power behind your pedal, but I've since learned about efficient pedaling via Joe Friel and that has helped immensely. Thanks again for all your help and advice, I just thought I'd let you all know how this played out. :D