the ultimate folly - clipless Lesson

[mimitabby]

hi guys, Today at 4pm i have a lesson at cycle U where I am going to learn to go clipless.

It's kind of ironic, because I have been communicating with Kent Peterson about my power straps... he's a guy who has ridden thousands and thousands of miles and has a blog

owell. I'm an equal opportunity learner.
Let's hope it isn't pouring out this afternoon.

[bmccasland]

I found clipping in wasn't a problem, it was getting used to clipping out BEFORE I stopped. Contributed to blood spots on the front steps at the office and a broken nose to prove it - provided excitement for the security guard sitting there watching a bank of TV screens.

[DrBee]

I still have some really nice scars on my right leg from September. I was coming to a stop sign and the car in front of me didn't go. I was totally balanced at a full stop and then realized I was stopped and then the "oh no - must unclip" thought came to mind. Unfortunately I was toppling over at the time. The chainring and I became well-acquainted.

I'm with you FN - cages look much scarier to me.

What kind of pedals are you going with? Tell us! Tell us! Good luck with the lessons!

[FreshNewbie]

Awsome, did you already pick your pedals? I never tried cages but to me they always looked much more intimidating than clipless pedals

[violette]

I also agree...getting in is no problem, but getting out before you stop can be tricky. Make SURE you know ahead of time when you're going to stop, because you'll fall fast.

[mimitabby]

well, ladies, that's why I'm going for a lesson. I don't have any trouble clipping IN either. It's getting out in time, getting the timing and coordination
down, and getting over the terror that I am going to try to combat with this lesson.

PS I don't want to break my nose or my ribs or...

[FreshNewbie]

You will be just fine, first couple of times you will want to unclip way before the stop but then you will know how to react and will be doing it closer to the stop. What I always do is if I see some situation that might require a stop, I put my left leg (which I unclip) at 12 o'clock and ready to snap out, that way I feel i am ready to stop. Good luck with the lesson, please report on your choice of pedals

P.S. try speedplays

[Chile Pepper]

I love my look pedals. Some days they are the only thing that can get me up a hill--as in, oh my god I'm going to fall over if I don't get to the top. Very motivational. Good luck!

[SadieKate]

Mimi, there is no guarantee that you will fall. DO NOT GO INTO THIS BELIEVING YOU WILL FALL! Can I shout that loud enough? If you believe this and are nervous and tense, it will be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Learn to coast standing up on the clipped in foot. See how that feels? What it takes to balance the bike? Can you make gentle turns with your weight only on the one foot? Yes, right? You're halfway there.

[Grog]

PS I don't want to break my nose or my ribs or...

I'm with SK: don't go in there thinking that you would fall.

Being attentive - not talking to others - when you brake is also a good trick. DOn't worry about being rude by interrupting a conversation!!

Think about unclipping both feet (and reclipping your sweet leg before starting off again, for strength).

And if you do fall, which you won't, of course: TUCK the stuff that sticks out IN. Like elbows, hands/wrists, knees. You want to maximize the surface on which you fall, not whang your elbow on the pavement. I've practiced that with my bike club (in the gym, and on the grass) and it too me from:
- a first crash (nothing to do with clipless) scratching my elbow and knee,
- to a clipless fall directly on my knee cap (as I was doing bike skills exercises at extremely low speed)
- to a recent, and still mysterious, authentic clipless 'timmmmmmmmmmmber' fall that I absorbed with the whole length of my left tight and upper arm. That body fat on the thighs has to be for something!!!! It will also protect your ribs. I stayed on the pavement laughing very hard (I was leading that ride...) instead of hurting, for once.

Good luck! You'll be awesome.

[SadieKate]

And if you do fall, which you won't, of course: TUCK the stuff that sticks out IN. . . . .
- to a recent, and still mysterious, authentic clipless 'timmmmmmmmmmmber' fall that I absorbed with the whole length of my left tight and upper arm. That body fat on the thighs has to be for something!!!! It will also protect your ribs. I stayed on the pavement laughing very hard (I was leading that ride...) instead of hurting, for once.

It's very important to go for style points. More points are awarded for keeping "the stuff that sticks out IN."

If you can land with your hands over your hand and "stick the landing", artistic merit goes skyhigh.

[missymaya]

when I got my first set of clipless peddles, I practiced in an empty parking lot of just clipping in, pedaling a little, and then clipping out while still moving, really not using the breaks. It helped 'feel' the clips when coming out. After getting comfortable doing that, I practiced the "what if I had to stop quickly" clip out, hitting the breaks and unclipping. I found it easier to do a transition like that.
Also, another thing to remember, if you feel like your not unclipped and your stuck, do a little downstroke to keep yourself upright a little longer. There were moments where I did some slow timber falls just clipping in, pretty funny looking back on it, not thinking that all I had to do was a little pedal stroke or rachet with my other foot. pretty funny looking back on it.

Hope all goes well and have fun

[mimitabby]

I'm with SK: don't go in there thinking that you would fall.


And if you do fall, which you won't, of course: TUCK the stuff that sticks out IN. Like elbows, hands/wrists, knees. You want to maximize the surface on which you fall, not whang your elbow on the pavement. I've practiced that with my bike club (in the gym, and on the grass) and it too me from:
- a first crash (nothing to do with clipless) scratching my elbow and knee,
- to a clipless fall directly on my knee cap (as I was doing bike skills exercises at extremely low speed)
- to a recent, and still mysterious, authentic clipless 'timmmmmmmmmmmber' fall that I absorbed with the whole length of my left tight and upper arm. That body fat on the thighs has to be for something!!!! It will also protect your ribs. I stayed on the pavement laughing very hard (I was leading that ride...) instead of hurting, for once.

Good luck! You'll be awesome.

hmm, how do you tuck your hip bones in? That's where I landed and it hurt!

I'll tell you all about the lesson later.