Clipless pedals

I have read the earlier postings on clipless pedals and appreciate the info, but my situation is a bit different.

I have been riding cross crountry for almost 2 years. I started from not being able to ride in a parking lot from passing 4 guys on an expert loop last weekend! I am pretty proud of myself but I am still on flat pedals. I would like to clip in, but I have enough problems dodging trees without having to worry about how to ditch my bike. My husband, who could ride a bike before he could walk, thinks that it is time and will help with my climbing. He is suggesting I put clips on my old bike to practice on the pavement and the eventually to easy trails. Keeping my newer bike with flat pedals so I still have a way to really RIDE.


Long story short...Is it to late? I wish I would have just started with clipless.

Any words of wisdom?:D

go for it. I wen t clipless after a few years.. it's nice to wait until you are comfortable on the trail so you have one less thing to think about. They will help with climbing and power distribution a lot.

I'd go ahead and put them on your regular bike, but set the clips reallly loose. I mean, loose. Practive in the yard, in the park and then hit a trail you know well. EVeryone is different in how long it takes to get used to them, I got it in a day, others take longer. I'd never go back to flats and cages now. Evnetually it will be second nature, dont' be afraid of them. There are a lot of different types, depending on where you live you might want one that shed's mud. I use SPDs type, and I still keep them pretty loose, but i never come out unless I need to

Irulan

Yes, sorry to say, you're way too old for clipless:D

I rode my road bike for 2 years before I went clipless. I'll never go back. At least for my road bike. Get your LBS to put your bike on a stand and practice clipping in & out. Don't leave until you are 110% happy with it.

(I'm not good enough on my mtb yet to go clipless. I still like to do silly (read = really fun!) things that make me have to get my feet down fast. And sometimes I still biff it. )

Dogmama, don't let falls and biffs stop you... clips made a huge impact on my riding, my level went up almost immediatley due to less wasted power. And YOu do get the hang of it. The only time I wreck based on my ckips is when they are full of mud, which is rare around here.

Irulan

mtb chick,

You're never too old! Sounds like you do quite well on your bike. To me that says you have good skills, good balance. I doubt that getting the hang of clipless pedals would take you long at all. If you start with the clips as loose as they can be, I don't think getting out quickly will be a problem at all. Climbing steep hills will defintely be easier with clips. If you are riding in a hilly area, taking the time to get the hang of the clips will be well worth your while. I was used to being clipped in from riding on the road so when I started off-road, I could hardly wait to get clipped in. I'm way much more comfortable with my feet securely on the pedals than just sitting on a platform. So it's all in what you are accustomed to. You could get accustomed to clipless. :) Then you'll pass even more people!

I agree with everyone that it's never too late. I waited many years before going clipless and I am SO happy I did. I shopped around and paid attention to all the reviews on mtbreview.com. I ended up getting Time ATAC Carbon and LOVE them! There is no adjustment necessary and I have, aside from when I was first learning to use them, never gotten *stuck* in them. My partner has some Bontragers (I don't the exact model) and they are pretty terrible as far as shedding mud and gunk and she gets caught in them all the time. Lots of badges of courage because of them. She still loves being clipless but she's decided to try a different brand... probably Time also. Anyway, just remember there are differences among the peddles so make sure you get what will work best for your purposes and with your skills. :)

Thanks for all of your replies! You guys are the best.

My husband warns me that I should prepare myself to wreck. I just got to a point that I am NOT covered in bruises after a ride and I really don't wan't to start that again. I hate to fall. I know he not trying to discourage me, but it has made me think twice. He seems to think that my biggest problem will be getting in to the clips.

Thanks again for all of your info and support! It really help me make an informed decision!

I've wreck lots more times on my mtb than on my road bike. But mtb wrecks are usually more forgiving. Road wrecks are the pavement+speed=nasty road rash. MTB wrecks are bruises & scrapes. And we have cactus here...ouch!

At some point, you'll probably fall ag. But that happens with cages, flat peddles and clipless. It's just part of the sport. If you shop around for peddles and get some that allow loosening, you'll be fine during that learning curve. Once you start getting comfortable with them, if they are adjustable you can start tightening them. Though they aren't adjustable, I can't say enough about how easy it was to adapt to the Time ATACs.

If you have a local bike shop that rents bikes, you might be able to convince them to loan you some peddles to try out. That would also mean borrowing shoes. So it could get to be too much of a hassle. But don't let anyone discourage from going to that next level with clipless just because it might be difficult at first. We've all got scratches, bruises and scars from our various skill building exercise. :D

And if you're lucky, one of your first times out, you'll be standing still on the trail with one foot clipped in and some how, some way, you will lose your balance, not be able to think fast enough to get "unclipped" and fall to the side you are clipped into. Just hope you are quick-witted enough to holler "TIMBER" as you fall over... I've been there and done that. :o But seriously, clipless is great!

~ Wendi

Hey if I can conquer clipless, ANYBODY can. Just make sure those springs are VERY loose and don't listen to any supercilious ******* at your LBS.

Also, I was thinking I wish I would have borrowed some shinguards and wristguards from a rollerblader or something, cuz you are most certainly going to go down a few times!

Finally got it and am now comfortable but actually wondering if its worth it for city riding. Boston city riding is just stop/go stop/go anyway, why bother. At least in winter that's for sure.

Ok, so I just put my new pedals on that Santa bought me - and yes, I am bruised...but hey, that is part of it -

Any tips for more root-laden trails? I keep getting, um, for a lack of better word...stuck.

momentum... if you keep getting hung up you are going too slow.

Irulan

I know the faster I go, the easier it is...BUT...the area is very 'curvy' - the part of the trail is called the "corkscrew"...

Thanks for the tips....

For what its worth, and I am just a road rider, but clipless is the only way to go. But then I don't MTB much (although I do have one) but only a couple times a year or when I need hill work. (Live at base of mountian on BLM road going up said mt.) I would think it would be like having them on my RB more power ect. But like I said I don't MTB much. Its the down hill part I have a problem with.
Any way clipless is best. And didn't take long to get the hang of them, a day or so if that. But then again they are not on a MTB. Desided that I would put them on the MTB if I ever got over the down hill thing.
Have fun and a great new year everone.

Dea

Thanks for the reply - I agree, much more power with my new friends (and less pedal marks on my shins - OWWW)...

I will stick to the trails - can't do the road thing...It would give me too much time to think LOL!!!

A safe and happy new year to you as well

I too want to try clipless this year. Right now we are in the throes of winter, wish I could just throw it away, I have got pretty sick of the trainer, snowshoing is fine, but I miss my bike...anyway, I think I would like to put the pedals on my bike while I train indoors to get a bit used to how they feel. I also need advice on what shoes/pedals seem to be a good combo, I know not all shoes are compatible with all pedals, but other than that it's all new to me. I have a wide foot at the front, small bunion on rt foot , so those thin shoes are scary to look at. Any suggestions and advice would be much welcomed. I have a hybrid bike, devinci, which I love. I am truly envious of those who can ride year round. The cold didn't stop me this year, many days in Dec were just -10 or so, but way too much snow and ice, hoping for early spring Happy New Year to all paintgirl04

Clipless will definitely help your climbing. Here are a few suggestions for a clipless beginner.

1. Set your clips really loose.
2. Practice with your bike on a bike stand.
3. They make some pedals that are big platform pedals that have a clip. The platform is big enough to stand on unclipped. This is good for a beginner. You can upclip on technical down-hill sections until your confidence grows. I think there are also some that have a clip on one side and not the other. The problem with these is that you can't just clip in instantly, you have to look to see which side has the clip.
4. Keep your pedals clean and lubed. If you don't lube them, they get harder to "clip out"
5. You WILL fall. :eek: Be prepared. As you start to do the "timber" thing, try try try not to put your arm out to break your fall (broken wrist or worse yet, collar bone). Try to tuck your arms in and roll onto your shoulder. I know it goes against your natural instincts, but you will probably be better off.
6. To see how much the clips will help, try taking a spin class with and without clips. You can tell how much more efficient your stroke is if you make "circles" with your feet instead of just mashing down on the pedals.

Good luck and go have fun!

mtb chick you will love clipless and hubby is right they will help you with climbing.

One thing to do is practice, put them on and go out on the grass, hold onto a tree or fence and practice clipping in and out then let 'er rip........pedal and get the feel stay on the grass the fall (if) won't hurt so much. Practice, practice, practice........you won't need that much it's really easy once you get the hang of remembering to clip out at a stop, LOL.

I actually did all my practicing in doors as I didn't have grass to go out on, it didn't take long. You'll love it and never look back.

Enjoy! Keep challenging yourself.

Kate

You just have to take the plunge and do it. It's a case of bark being worse than bite. And as soon as you have your first few pedals up a hill with them you'll kick yourself that you procastinated so long over them. You are wasting so much power without them...just do it ;)

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Originally posted by paintgirl
I I also need advice on what shoes/pedals seem to be a good combo, I know not all shoes are compatible with all pedals, but other than that it's all new to me. I have a wide foot at the front, small bunion on rt foot , so those thin shoes are scary to look at. Any suggestions and advice would be much welcomed.

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I bought Sidi's with the velcro straps - bottom of the line, but the toe box is much wider than the higher priced Sidi's. I, too, have duck feet & those narrow shoes do not work at all.

Check out Specialized body geometry range of shoes, I wear them and swear by them. They have a lift under the ball of your foot that both reduces numbness from the pressure of peadling and inso also transfers more power. Strange at first but soon becomes very comfortable.