clipless for scaredy cats?

[mimitabby]

After a long time of spinning with SPDs and knowing how easy it is to get on the bike (usually) but how hard it can be to get OFF, I did not want to get that system for my new road bike. (Frequently, I have no problem clipping in and out to adjust the seat on a spin bike, but by the end of class I'm stuck in at least one pedal. Once, I had to take my foot out of the shoe and kick at the heel of the thing to get it off the pedal (wrenched up the bottom of the shoe as the cleat tried to turn first despite being screwed on tightly).

So I get Look KEO Sprints with the red cleats, because I'd gotten good feedback on those from friends (well, red KEO cleats in general).

I sat on the bike next to my couch and practiced clipping out a million times, especially with the left. But I couldn't practice clipping in with any speed and stationary tires. I tried to sneak in some practice at the bike shop when I went for a fitting with the pedal system, but the mechanic kept holding the back break until I was clipped in, saying "Wait, you're not in on this side." Duh. I'm trying to figure out if I can do it while pedaling.

I think my problem is not knowing how to pedal with one leg while staying upright, going forward from a stop, and simultaneously trying to stomp down with the other leg. So first 3 seconds on the bike ended with slamming into pavement in the parking lot, of course falling over on the clipped-in side. With a bloody elbow, I move my experiment over to the grass, where I proceed to keep falling over. There, the ground is soft, but I can't get good momentum before clipping in. My problem is getting a hang of nudging the pedal with my toe so that it's right side up and the clip in process is started. Once it happens, I generally have enough power to keep on pedaling (once, on a hill, I didn't, slow-mo fall to the other side).

These things are so slippery if I can't hit it right, how do I get going and get my other foot clipped in without getting lucky right away?

Fall 3 broke the tip off the right cleat, so now it's super loose (I had the springs already as loose as they'd go, which is not loose at all!), and I'm keeping it like that for now, being careful -- no standing, no big hills, so it can be my emergency release get a foot down leg.

Surprisingly, my practice paid off for unclipping with the left, and I didn't fall at all while stopping. I gave myself PLENTY of time, though, as my default coasting position is not my ideal unclipping position. The problem is getting started again. I think I'll get better at stopping, and I'm not going to be riding in traffic anytime soon with all the toppling over. Right now, I'm still pulling off in the grass to stop (just in case) and to start, though getting momentum in the grass is impossible, so if I'm doing this wrong, I'm never going to learn right--particularly since pulling up with the broken cleat is now hard. I could put on the gray ones, but those are so tight. Having a broken cleat kept me vertical even if stationary.

Am I using the wrong system? I thought these platform-like road pedals would be great. My new (non spin class) shoes will not take SPDs, and I don't want to go there. Someone suggested lollipops, but those are so tiny, I'm sure I'd miss those as well. I hope to get the hang of this without removing more skin and causing more bruises.. at least until these heal some.

Thanks for listening to my story.

Hi girl, I read every word. I hope you heal up soon and get the hang of those silly things. please introduce yourself on the getting to know you thread, it sounds like you'll fit right in with the rest of us!