Little 'WAHOO' and a Shoe Question

[gabriellesca]

I went out for a very tiny 3 mile ride around my sister's neighborhood which has less traffic and easy roads. I clipped in and out - practiced stopping - unclipping going up a little hill really slow and down. Over and over and I felt good. Surprisingly I didn't feel nervous or scared. Just went with it and it feel good. I was surprised at how I was able to get in and out so easily. Maybe that fall the other day really got me down. Only a few times was I not able to unclip on the first try.

So ... WAHOOOOOO!!

But question - my right foot - the foot I don't unclip with while riding - right stays clipped in - it KILLED after my 2nd mile. I assume this is just because I'm tense and probably putting all my energy/stress on that foot and it won't always ache like that? LOVE my shoes - they're uber comfy.

[MartianDestiny]

It's possible that the cleats need to be adjusted. A slight tweak to cleat positioning can make a HUGE difference in foot comfort (or pain if you go the wrong way!). If your shop has a trained fit person on staff they can likely help you out with making sure the cleats are at least close.

But yes, also possible that it's tension to some extent. I try to make a conscious effort to wiggle my toes every so often and that helps me (but my problem tends to be numbness down the outside of my foot).

[gabriellesca]

Thanks Martian ... my left foot didn't ache at all - just the right. But I guess its possible each foot is different so I can't base it on how my left foot felt. I guess I'll ride on it for a while and see if it feels better. I did notice that when I was riding my knees feel different - tension where there wasn't any before - but I did feel increased strength.

All part of getting used to it, I guess.

Man - just a huge thanks to everyone. You all gave me the little bit of confidence I needed to at least get back on. Now just one ride at a time and hope that my confidence grows!

[artifactos]

I'm not sure why you only unclip with one foot (you may have a reason mentioned in another post I haven't read), but you should probably practice with both. I have been in a few situations where I've come thisclose to a crash because I couldn't unclip on my usual side (i.e. being on the very edge of a slope with the drop off on the side where I usually unclip, forcing me to unclip on the other to take my weight to that side so I don't tumble down the hill), so practicing with both sides has been really important to me.

[ny biker]

FWIW, I only unclip with the right foot. I guess in an I'm-falling-to-my-left emergency I would try to get the left foot out so I could stop the fall. But unless I'm falling left, I always put my right foot down first.

I think for someone just starting with clipless pedals, it makes sense to focus on getting the most common motions in place first. Work on the other foot later.

Also, I had to have my cleats adjusted when I first went clipless because I started to get knee pains after riding for about an hour. And the right cleat needs to be at a sharper angle than the left -- in my case this is the result of ankle surgery that I had years ago. But it's possible there are slight differences in your feet/ankles/knees etc. that require slightly different positions.

Oh, and good for you!!!! Wahooo!!

[marni]

the only time I have had a problem recently with unclipping is because I do practice on both feet and I will slow down and dither about which foot it is I am going to unclip, and in doing so, either topple over like the little old man on the trike in laugh in or end up with both feet unclipped and bonking myhself in a vulnerable spot on the cross bar as I try to stipe down on both sides at once. Most days I really miss my brain.

marni

[artifactos]

Me being accident prone means that if I practice with just one foot, all of the emergency situations I'll get into will require unclipping with the other foot. It just works that way, so I practice with both.

Usually I only unclip with one, and it's usually the right (often so I can lean on a curb at a stoplight), so I don't have to make a decision about which to unclip too often. That would take me all day!