Feeling like a clipless idiot!

**drdwin** · 11-15-2009, 12:01 PM

OK....so I've had clipless pedals for 6 weeks now and still don't seem to get it. I did what the LBS advised and used flat pedals on my new bike for 3 weeks to get used to the bike. At the same time I purchased my shoes and cleats and used them on my spin bike at home that has clipless pedals. Feeling quite comfortable with the road bike after 3 weeks I went for the clipless pedals. The LBS gave me some pointers and warned me that I WILL fall. OK...that I get. I practiced in my driveway a few times and stopped in the grass - and yes fell - however that I expected.

DH and I then set out for the road. He had the idea that at the end of the ride (we chose a ride without any stop signs / lights) he would ride ahead and "spot" me in case I couldn't release in time. That's exactly what happened. I stopped with both feet firmly clipped in and he caught me (great guy). The next time I went solo....nicely got my left foot released and in a premature celebration of success forgot to unclip the right and went down again. Since that time my DH has been "spotting" me and I've been having no trouble for the past several rides and decided to go solo again today. So I'm coming up the to stop - successfully clipped my left foot out about 200 ft ahead - I always give myself plenty of time - came to a stop and I don't know how I did it but when I went to put my left foot down I caught the pedal and it clipped back in - you all know what happened next.

At this point I'm about ready to take the bike back to the LBS and get flat pedals back. I however love riding with the clipless pedals and it gives me just enough of an advantage over my DH who rides with flat pedals to keep up with him. I'm so frustrated!!!

**tctrek** · 11-15-2009, 12:22 PM

The thing about riding clipless is that you have to focus and always do it exactly the same way. You have to be somewhat compulsive in the beginning to always clip in/clip out, start/stop the same so that it becomes like breathing...

I have found that unclipping left foot first works best for me. You can unclip it in advance of the stop. Try to unclip and just let your left leg hang down a little in front of the pedal, you are braking/coasting to the spot where you want to stop. Right foot is still clipped in and most likely in the down pedal position. When you are ready to stop, fully engage the brake and just put your left foot down to complete stop. Obviously, you have to leave the saddle to get your left foot all the way down on the road. Leave your right foot clipped if you are just stopping for a stop sign or some obstacle. Make sure to keep your brake engaged so you don't roll off with your right foot clipped... you are a one legged girl on a skateboard at that point! Bike is leaning a little to the left.

When you're ready to go, just lift your right foot to about 2 o'clock position, push off on your right and hoist yourself back into the saddle. Now you're rolling and can clip in your left foot again. I have found that I sometimes have to make one or two pedal strokes to get my darn left foot re-clipped. That's ok, cause your right foot can make slow revolutions while you get the left foot clipped again.

If you repeat this over an over an always do it exactly the same, eventually it becomes a habit and clipping in/out is natural.

You can do this fast as well, if you don't know in advance that you have to stop, you can quickly unclip left, apply full brake, hop down from saddle and plant your left foot leaving right foot clipped in.

I have seen people unclipping on the right and even unclipping both feet at once and hopping down and it looks incredibly difficult to me... maybe because I am now brainwashed to unclip on the left. Also, on the trainer or spinning bike, it's opposite for me, unclip on the right.. but I'm used to that as well.

**Kalidurga** · 11-15-2009, 12:35 PM

Excellent descriptions, tctrek. The only thing I'd add is to be careful of how you lean your weight as you come to a stop. I also unclip and stop with the left foot, but every now and then I'll accidentally lean my weight to the right as I put on the brakes. Fortunately, each time I've been able to get my right foot loose and down in time to catch myself.

Whichever side you're comfortable unclipping and stopping on, be sure to lean your weight in that direction as you come to a stop. That way you end up as a tripod composed of two wheels and whichever foot you've put down.

**lph** · 11-15-2009, 12:42 PM

My first commute with clipless I must have unclipped 200 times... whenever I slowed down, whenever I stopped, whenever I thought I might have to stop, whenever I even thought about stopping, and just for practice...

You can practice by finding a safe stretch where you won't (probably) have to stop, and just clip and unclip, pedal a bit and repeat, over and over. Pedal, unclip and stop, pedal, unclip and stop. It does become second nature, and you don't have to fall over many times. Maybe you've already "done your time" on the ground

**tctrek** · 11-15-2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Excellent descriptions, tctrek. The only thing I'd add is to be careful of how you lean your weight as you come to a stop. I also unclip and stop with the left foot, but every now and then I'll accidentally lean my weight to the right as I put on the brakes.

Oh yeah.. the dreaded lean your bike to the right and roll away with it! That's how I ended up in a creek with mud up to my ankles the first time I rode clipless. Braked, left foot down, let go of the brake, leaned right, coasted into the creek

It was humiliating, but a lesson well learned!!

**Kalidurga** · 11-15-2009, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by tctrek

Oh yeah.. the dreaded lean your bike to the right and roll away with it! That's how I ended up in a creek with mud up to my ankles the first time I rode clipless. Braked, left foot down, let go of the brake, leaned right, coasted into the creek

It was humiliating, but a lesson well learned!!

Hehe... I've never ended up in a creek from leaning the wrong way, but I have done some funny dance moves

**ny biker** · 11-15-2009, 12:56 PM

Leaning the wrong way is what got me this. And I'm still disappointed it didn't leave a scar.

**Kalidurga** · 11-15-2009, 12:59 PM

That would've been a pretty scar. Looks almost like bird's wings.

**Possegal** · 11-15-2009, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Excellent descriptions, tctrek. The only thing I'd add is to be careful of how you lean your weight as you come to a stop. I also unclip and stop with the left foot, but every now and then I'll accidentally lean my weight to the right as I put on the brakes. Fortunately, each time I've been able to get my right foot loose and down in time to catch myself.

Whichever side you're comfortable unclipping and stopping on, be sure to lean your weight in that direction as you come to a stop. That way you end up as a tripod composed of two wheels and whichever foot you've put down.

The first day I used them, THREE, yes THREE times I did the unclip and shift my weight (usually by looking over my shoulder) and BAM, down I went. It's like I had absolutely no learning curve. My niece didn't know whether to laugh with me or worry about me.

I don't make the mistake anymore, but took me a few tumbles to catch on.

**Trek420** · 11-15-2009, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by lph

My first commute with clipless I must have unclipped 200 times... whenever I slowed down, whenever I stopped, whenever I thought I might have to stop, whenever I even thought about stopping, and just for practice...

You can practice by finding a safe stretch where you won't (probably) have to stop, and just clip and unclip, pedal a bit and repeat, over and over. Pedal, unclip and stop, pedal, unclip and stop. It does become second nature, and you don't have to fall over many times. Maybe you've already "done your time" on the ground

What she says. Until it's such a habit that you unclip/turn your foot when getting up from a chair

find a quiet stretch of road and just clip and unclip for no apparent reason, sometimes stopping, sometimes just pedaling and clipping in and out .... left foot, right foot, at the 9 o clock, 6, 3 .... all parts of the pedal stroke.

Does not take long for it to be a habit.

**indigoiis** · 11-15-2009, 02:28 PM

Don't assume you'll fall. Assume it will be easy and then it will be. Practice track standing on the grass.

**Kalidurga** · 11-15-2009, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by indigoiis

Practice track standing on the grass.

That's a whoooole 'nother thread. And one of the things I forgot to work on learning this summer

**tctrek** · 11-15-2009, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by indigoiis

Practice track standing on the grass.

Hmmm... I'm pretty good at clipping in/out these days, but track standing?
DH and I play a game coming up to a red light going as slow as we possibly can hoping we don't have to unclip and stop... I can get down to about 2 mph, but then I have to put a foot down or I'm going over

.

**MommyBird** · 11-15-2009, 03:42 PM

I am very new to clipless pedals too.
My husband has been a cyclist for almost 30 years so I have been exposed to them for years.

Every time I come to a stop I am thankful that my husband told me to lean towards my free foot. I don't know if I would have naturally done that without his instructions.

I have not fallen yet. (I am sure my day will come)

**copperlegend** · 11-15-2009, 03:44 PM

I did great with my clipless pedals at first, but lately I've been having trouble un-clipping. It's like I forgot how to! Practice makes perfect, keep at it!

I totally fell over in my own driveway tonight, right infront of my neighbor's entire family. I KNEW it was happening and just couldn't think fast enough. Lucky you, you have a spotter

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