Ok, now remind me why I should go clipless?

[uforgot]

Did only the right one tonight. Propped my bike next to the couch, and practiced. Went outside, the first run was good, turned my bike around and down I went!!! Just didn't get out fast enough and I only have it on one foot! Tell me it will get better... Here's a question also. I find it easier to turn my heel IN instead of out. I've been dancing since I was 8 and my toes naturally turn out. I can't even snow ski because I can't get my toes to turn in like they need to. Anyone else unclip like this or do I need to prop up on the couch again and try to get it going out?

Gee, the fall on top of my yearly physical, if you know what I mean. What a day!

[RoadRaven]

Well... keep on trying, UForgot... try on soft surfaces like grass/lawn... practice is the only way...

You'll find the best way to twist your foot out - I don't do it "text-book" either but it works for me...

Remember when you twist you unclip, turn the wheel away from the foot that will end up on the ground first...

[uforgot]

Thanks for the encouragement! I should have stuck to the grass, but was feeling like I had it...and I DIDN'T! lol I was laying on the road thinking "I can't believe people really do this", and was ready to take the pedals off. (Of course those thoughts came right after "Gee, I hope no one saw me") I'll remember about turning the wheel. That makes sense. Guess I'm just smarting from my first fall from a bike ever, on asphalt no less. I can do this, I can do this...

[Joy]

An indoor trainer helps a lot with the learning the clipless pedals. But they are boring for indoor rides.

[CyclaSutra]

Remind me why I should go clipless?

Because you'll be saving so much energy! By pulling up instead of just pushing down, you'll

• Have a more efficient pedal stroke
• Develop stronger hamstring muscles
• Save your knees. If you go down unexpectedly at a high speed, you won't plant a foot and blow out a knee like I did without clipless...
• Look cooler

AND the main reason people blow out ACL ligaments is that they have a strength imbalance, with stronger quads than hamstrings. The hamstrings "protect" your ACL by opposing the force of your quadriceps. By using clipless pedals and pulling up each stroke, you'll be strengthening important muscles and your legs will be smokin'!

(Says Johanna whose hammies are not yet smokin', but she's working on it)

[DebW]

I'm another one whose feet naturally turn out. When I used Look pedals years back, I always unclipped by turning my heel in with the pedal at the top. It worked for me, but is probably not recommended. When I switched to Speedplays, I had no choice but to turn my heels out to unclip. I can barely turn far enough to unclip (add my 20 degrees of natural toe-out to the 35 degrees required by the pedal). But I manage and haven't fallen over with them yet. After you do it enough, it becomes automatic. Anticipate your stops and unclip a few seconds early.

[Quillfred]

Wow CyclaSutra

Thanks for this information. I have longed for info to help preserve my ACLs.

AND the main reason people blow out ACL ligaments is that they have a strength imbalance, with stronger quads than hamstrings. The hamstrings "protect" your ACL by opposing the force of your quadriceps. By using clipless pedals and pulling up each stroke, you'll be strengthening important muscles and your legs will be smokin'!

Uforgot,

Don't despair. I have a silly not-so-distant memory of myself getting stuck in my overly tight SPDs which resulting in a slo-mo spill. The ride resulting in a walk up to my house in socks with the shoe stuck on the cleat. I had installed the cleats (incorrectly) myself.

(Says Johanna whose hammies are not yet smokin', but she's working on it)[/QUOTE]

[Fuji Girl]

So these are the multi-directional cleats that I was talking about (I have M540 double-sided SPD pedals and use these):

http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1142712153554

[happy~biker]

I can relate...I am just starting to ride with these clip on pedals too for my first time AND live in the middle of nowhere.

What I was told that really gave me comfort was that if you are going to fall...the cleats will slide out which ever direction you are leaning. However...I'm not positive that works, as I have been VERY careful. I give mine just a little twist and I pop right out of them. I have a harder time getting them on! But...it is getting easier and it definetly makes me pay more attention while I am riding.

Good luck!

[uforgot]

Well, I couldn't stay away from them yesterday. Went downtown, (well, a hooterville kind of downtown where I have to wave at every car or they get mad), so there are no intersection issues, and when I finally relaxed, I realized that my effort was going into making leg circles, not pushing down. A weird feeling at first, but it makes a difference. I'm thinking that these are a go... can't wait until my students see these little pedals on my bike. (I commute to school) I'm already the weird bike lady around here...

[btchance]

Did only the right one tonight. Propped my bike next to the couch, and practiced. Went outside, the first run was good, turned my bike around and down I went!!! Just didn't get out fast enough and I only have it on one foot! Tell me it will get better... Here's a question also. I find it easier to turn my heel IN instead of out. I've been dancing since I was 8 and my toes naturally turn out. I can't even snow ski because I can't get my toes to turn in like they need to. Anyone else unclip like this or do I need to prop up on the couch again and try to get it going out?

Gee, the fall on top of my yearly physical, if you know what I mean. What a day!

Im also a former dancer and have a hard time turning my toes in and heel out. (I have to fight to keep my knees straight ahead when pedaling) I have on occasion clipped out by turning my toes out (only on the trail in desperate situations) but for the rest of the time I do twist my heels outwards like "normal" and haven't had any problems, but my pedals are adjusted so loosely it's very easy to get out of them. Anways, I always think about turning my whole leg in from the hip in a short and sweet movement, which we occasionally did in dance. I don't know if this makes any sense, but I hope it does. Don't give up, once you get the hang of it (says the person who's currently rubbing the sore place on her leg from falling two days ago ) it is well worth it.

[uforgot]

Well, I got up today ready to start again. I can't believe I climbed back on, (but man am I sore!) and am finally getting the hang of it! There is another issue I'd like to know if anyone else has...I'm very claustrophobic, so its really bothering me being "clipped" in. Will this go away? Is it common? Thanks for letting me ask my crazy questions. I live in the middle of nowhere and have no one else to ask!

[Fuji Girl]

Keep at it! You won't regret it in the end.

What kind of pedals and cleats do you have? I have SPDs and they have different kinds of cleats. The ones that comes with the pedals are SH-51 and are uni-directional release (ie, you HAVE to turn your heel out to release), but I bought SH-56 cleats which are multi-directional (can release by turning your heel in OR out). The SH-56 cleats are gold, not black or silver. You can get them at Performance or online.

[uforgot]

I'm going to look into those. Should take care of the "trapped" issues.