Clipping in/out

[xanesdoc]

Well, I am new to road biking. I have had some experience with a hybrid bike but never rode with bike shoes. How long does it usually take to get comfortable clipping in and out (and not fall)? I recently turned 50 and would hate to injure/break my wrist, elbow ...or even just my pride.

I have been unclipping my right foot prior to stopping, but I don't have the left foot down, tilt the bike to the right side, technique down yet. Any suggestions?

[ttaylor508]

When I first started with clipless pedals, I would unclip both feet when ever I started to brake or in anticipation of a stop. Now that I have been riding with them for years, I usually only unclip one foot.

[tctrek]

There's a jillion posts out there on clipping in/out. What's most important is to focus and do it exactly the same every time. I unclip my left foot first as I am braking and put my foot down at the moment that I am at a full stop. Make sure you lean towards the planted foot -- either right or left. If you lean towards the foot that is still clipped you will probably fall. Keep a firm grip on the brake until you have full control of your stop or you will roll away with one foot clipped in and probably fall.

When you go to take off again, raise up the foot that is clipped in (for me it's the right) before you start. This give you a little step up to stand on while you lift yourself up to the saddle. You need to be able to pedal a stroke or two with your other foot just in case you don't get clipped in on the first try. Usually, you can rotate the crank a few times while you clip in the other foot. You may need to glance down at the pedal, but try to do it by feel. Glancing down could put you off balance.

If you have a nice grassy field you can practice in, try that. If you have the kind of cleats that work on a spinning bike (SPD), you could go to a spinning class and practice. Or put your bike on a trainer and practice.

Everyone falls. It is inevitable. I have had two falls in the past 1.5 years and both of them when I was just about stopped. I lost focus, leaned to the wrong side and down I went. Zero miles per hour fall, but still lots of road rash.

Good luck!

p.s. I am 58 and would hate to break a hip, too!!!

[nolemom]

Be sure that your clips are set loosely so that it is easier to unclip. Once, I had that squared away with my newest bike the falls disappeared. After that, it is just practice. I am 46 and I ride with a few men who are close to 70. We have all fallen at one time or another. (I have fallen a grand total of 7 times - 3 with my first bike, 4 with my current bike). Fortunately, I have always fallen when I was almost completely stopped. I forgot to unclip or leaned to the wrong side. The good news is that none of us have suffered a serious injury from those falls. A few scrapes from contact with the asphalt and bruises. Just remember that it is usually when you are tired or distracted that you will forget to unclip. It was all I thought about at first, but now it is a natural reaction. Good luck!

[BeeLady]

One reason to unclip only the left foot, and make that a habit, is it will discourage always wanting to stop at the curb and put your right foot on the curb.

If you ride at all in traffic, being right on the curb encourages cars to make right hand turns in front of you, thereby cutting you off, and to sometimes come to close to you. They also tend to notice someone lounging against the curb.

I started clipping in when I was past 50 and it took over a year of accident-free riding before I had two tip-overs close together: one caused by a dog and the other when I was at an intersection with a 4-way stop. The "good samaritan" kept encouraging me to go even though it wasn't my turn, it threw off my timing and I tipped over. The good samaritan finally drove off after I was sprawled on the ground! As you mentioned, hurt pride was the only damage!

[redrhodie]

I don't have the left foot down, tilt the bike to the right side, technique down yet. Any suggestions?

You want to tilt the bike in the same direction you're unclipping in, not the opposite. Left foot, left tip. Here's a good video showing how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5SjHvHDuxg

[szsz]

...or even just my pride.

Forget about the pride -- just be prepared to laugh. You will fall, and then you will gain confidence. It is SO worth it.

[Ann G]

When I first got clipless pedals, I spent about 20 minutes in an empty parking lot, starting and stopping, clipping in and clipping out. I'm really glad that I did. I was able to avoid falling, and I think that 20 minutes worth of practice is the reason.

[Biciclista]

when you're 50, falling isn't a laughing matter.. well, sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't.
I took a lesson from someone at BikeUniversity here in my town, and i never fell once. We practiced riding WITHOUT clipping in, then clipping in and out, one foot, then both feet.
When i rode down the road back then i practiced constantly, taking them out, putting them back in, and noticed which foot i took out first. we're all different some people do right and some do left.
practice.

[szsz]

Sorry, I'm 47. I have to laugh. Maybe it will be different in 3 years?

[xanesdoc]

Thanks for the suggestions! My scraped elbow is healing nicely and I plan in getting back on the bike tomorrow. I have been mentally visualizing how I will be unclipping and think I am ready to give it a go at a local parking lot. Then off to some quiet streets.