I DID it! Clipless revisited

[Catrin]

Talk about anticlimactic! (though that is a good thing in this situation). I apologize in advance for the book

I knew I'd get no real mileage today as I was helping a friend to feel comfortable riding in my favorite park - she is terrified doing anything outdoors by herself but she really wants to ride. So I went with her and she did great! I am hoping this will eventually decrease her fear, but I digress.

After she left I rode back to my car and changed shoes, drew in a deep breath, crossed myself a few times and began. I started with the parking lot I was in, clipped in just one foot at first, rode a few feet, stopped and unclipped. Rinse and repeated a few times No falling over - or even close to it Time to try both feet...Again no falling over or instability

As mentioned in the earlier thread my fitter has the tension adjusted extremely light - especially for my right foot. I just think about it and THAT foot clips or unclips. Left foot only requires slightly more effort. After about 15 minutes with no falling over, I decided to hit the roads in the park.

It was great! With each stop without falling over my confidence grew - and I also noticed that the harder gears seemed to require less effort and I was less out of breath at the top of a hill. I was, however, a little concerned that as light as the tension is for my right cleat that I might accidentally unclip during intervals or going uphill.

With this in mind I tried some intervals, and while there is a pretty good hill in that park - it requires much less effort than some other hills I know of. I think it will be fine. I did, however, learn that I can't use the platform side with these shoes - they are Bontrager Inform women's MTB shoes and the soles are plastic - they slip on the metal grippers on the platform side.

Part of me wants to just toss caution to the wind and clip in for my 75-78 mile ride tomorrow - but that is probably too much too soon. I am, however, considering doing the flat portion of my route first (clipped in) and then return to my car and change shoes to use the platform for the rest. The miles are more important right now than what pedals I am using...

I wanted to practice longer with them, but the park was really filling up with cars and dogs and children in bikes - didn't seem time to spend all evening practicing new pedals... Still though - got over an hour in with no falling over

[MyRubyE]

That's great Catrin! So proud of you. Keep it up and before you know it you will be a clipless expert.

[Crankin]

Mazal Tov!
I knew you could do it.

[huffandpuff]

Congrats Catrin! I am amazed at the mileage you do on flat pedals. Can't imagine what you will do now that you're clipped in!

[Catrin]

Ok, odd question. Do clipless pedals use additional muscles than platforms? It just seems to me that since they allow us to use the entire stroke rather than just the down part - that this would make sense.

Any chance this can cause soreness at first? Am considering clipping in for the first 30 or so flattish miles tomorrow (outside of 3 hills), then changing to my trusty Keene Commuters and the platforms for the remaining hilly....(well, less flat with some quite steep yet short hills) 45 miles.

I want a little more practice clipping in on hills before committing to 45 miles of them, but I really want to try them on the rural flat roads tomorrow. Does this seem a bit much for my second time going clipless? Trying to push myself without overdoing it...

[bluejellybean]

woo hoo, way to go! That's a huge accomplishment because once you're in, you won't be coming out...it just gets better from here!!

[DarcyInOregon]

Catrin, try the entire ride being clipped in, the hills too. While you are riding the flats, practice clipping out while cycling and switching over to the flat part of the pedal, doing it a few times to get the hang of it. When you get to the hills, if you eyeball a hill as you are coming to it and it looks like Mt. Everest to you, then unclip and switch over to the flat pedal to go up the grade. Otherwise being clipped in for the hills will increase your pedaling efficiency and decrease muscle fatigue. If you think you have a lot of hills, like you mentioned, then you will get proficient with climbing hills while being clipped in on this one ride, and it will be behind you and you won't have to worry about it anymore.

You will like 75 miles. It is my favorite distance.

[jessmarimba]

They do use additional muscles. It isn't nearly as drastic as going from running to barefoot running, but I wouldn't recommend going immediately for a hilly 75 mile ride entirely clipped in.

That said, congrats!! I'm interested in reviews of the dual pedals, since I don't think I'll be able to ride solely clipless during my first few months back.

[Rebecca19804]

Great going!!

Catrin, try the entire ride being clipped in, the hills too. While you are riding the flats, practice clipping out while cycling and switching over to the flat part of the pedal, doing it a few times to get the hang of it. When you get to the hills, if you eyeball a hill as you are coming to it and it looks like Mt. Everest to you, then unclip and switch over to the flat pedal to go up the grade.

Not sure that's an option, given what Catrin has said about her slippy MTB shoes...? Unless maybe Catrin you can carry your Keens with you so if you try a few hills clipped in but decide it's outside your comfort zone right now, you can change shoes?
Good luck!

[hebe]

Brilliant! That must feel really good

[Catrin]

Can't use my cleated shoes on the platform side - I should have had them install the cleats on my Commuters as well and I will be rectifying that but of course that doesn't help me today. I will go with my original idea of doing the flattest portion on my route clipped in, then change and continue clipped in. Wish the combination of plastic and metal wasn't so....slippery!

While my bike will be in the shop for a day or so this week to have fenders installed there should be a chance to get more clipless practice in this week and then, perhaps, I will do my long ride next week fully clipped

Hebe it feels great - especially considering what happened the LAST time I tried At that time my skills were just not ready for me to attach myself to the bike - though having them adjusted properly is huge!

Edited: Of course I meant that I won't be clipped in for the 45 mile second part of my route...

[OakLeaf]

Woohoo! I knew you could do it.

[Bike Chick]

Good job, Catrin! It won't be long before it will be second nature and you won't give it a single thought.

[Biciclista]

once you got it, you got it. You don't need to work your way into it. Carry the other shoes and pedals if you want, but you won't need them.

[malkin]

Way to go!