Just got a sweet new road bike...trying to get used to clipless is killing me though!
Hey there! I am brand new here so first, hi!
2nd, I have been doing longer rides (20-40 miles, with lots of elevation) for about 4 months now. I have been riding clip less on longer rides for about 2 months now...up until this weekend I was riding my old steel commuter bike (it has 2 sided pedals). This weekend I bought a very nice road bike with clipless only pedals and took it for my first ride. It was great. My main problem is the clipless pedals. Honestly I have laid the bike down one time each time I have used clipless. I think it is more a psychological fear that if I need to stop I won't be able to do so quickly enough and something bad will happen, but it seriously kind of ruined my enjoyment of what would have been a very awesome ride!! Any tips for getting used to it (besides setting low resistance...yes I have done that...)? I am thinking of getting some nicer 2 sided pedals for this bike and that way I can just clip in when I want to use the power for uphills, but not feel like I need to be clipped in all the time, and that will help me get used to it in a safe feeling manner. Anyone have any experience/tips for this problem? Or reccomendations for good pedals?
I have read some other cycling forums where people just decide to forget about clipless and not care what other people think about their cycling cred (lol!), but I genuinely enjoy the increase in power on the uphills...
Re: Just got a sweet new road bike
Maybe some confidence building rides to get used to the pedals. Some place you can practice, like an empty parking lot, or low traffic area.
Personally being clipped in on hills scares me more than anywhere else. I imagine myself stalling out uphill and the bike starting to roll backwards while I'm still clipped :-)
Re: Just got a sweet new road bike
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TigerMom
My recommendation is to exchange pedals with your current road bike and your old steel commuter bike.
This way, you can use the 2sided pedals on your current road bike because you have been using those for years. You can immediately enjoy riding the new road bike that you just bought because you are used to your old pedals.
Ride the old steel commuter bike with the clipless only pedals so that you can practice on your old bike. If you fall and scratchup your old bike, not as big of a deal.
When you are comfortable with the clipless only pedals on your steel commuter bike, THEN put them on the new road bike.
VOILA!
Congrats on your new road bike!
Good idea! I almost cried the first time I fell after putting the clipless on the bike, not because I was hurt, but because of the scratches on my bike.
Just got a sweet new road bike...trying to get used to clipless is killing me t
Thanks for the ideas everyone! I didn't think about putting my old pedals on the new bike. That's a great idea. My plan is to spend 15 minutes or so every night this week clipping in and out on my old bike, alternating both feet in my driveway. Did it tonight and didn't fall over (only almost did once!) lol. Thanks for your encouragement.
Just got a sweet new road bike...trying to get used to clipless is killing me t
No, they are shimano but just SPD. Not SL.
Re: Just got a sweet new road
She said they were just spd, not the sl. Not sure what the difference is, but I didn't find the SLs hard to learn.
Once I learned I was an oddball and had to unclip from the right foot first my life became infinitely easier.
Just got a sweet new road bike...trying to get used to clipless is killing me t
Wow @thekarens I think that is part of my problem! Getting clipless made me realize that I am only comfortable stepping off with my right foot. I have been trying to train myself to be able to do both but the muscle memory is deeply engrained. I think I just have to accept that I'm a right first unclipper too. :)
Re: Just got a sweet new road bike
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zoom-zoom
Oops, I managed to quote myself up there...not sure what I was doing (loose nut on the keyboard).
The SLs are road pedals. The SPD (non-SL) mtn. pedals always have seemed a little stiff to me at first, then after a month or two of regular use I generally find I have to tighten them a crank or two. Never could get my SLs (105s) to loosen, even after riding at least 500 miles in the damned things. I got tired of falling multiple times/week, even after having ridden thousands of fall-free miles. I couldn't get either foot out on numerous occasions, even with the bike on the trainer. I had a few other friends with the same pedals and the same issues.
That's really interesting. My SLs are the cheap ones, a step below the 105s. Now I'm wondering if they've changed them or if the cheaper ones are just easier or both. My partner has eggbeaters on her Madone so she's no help as far as opinions on the SLs. Most of my club uses Speedplay.
You did make me realize that we will never ride tandem. We had talked about it, but I can only unclip right first. She does left. That could be a disaster....or America's Funniest Video. :-)
PS I only know one other person in the group we ride with that unclips right first.
Re: Just got a sweet new road bike
That's funny Crankin. I just told my partner last night a tandem with her would be fun in certain situations. She asked which situations. I told her any that didn't involve downhill. She also likes to fly.
A pink tandem sounds awesome :-)