I did it! I'm clipless now too!

[Bikingmomof3]

Congratulations! Someday soon I hope to be able to follow.

[Kano]

Congratulations on the clipless!

I found the cleated clipless pedals to be much easier and safer for me than the clips I'd been using for years. (I have Speedplay Frogs.)

Knotted -- I had those clips on my old bike, so knew the value of being connected, but didn't like the interface. Those cages were awkward to use getting in, getting out, just plain pesky! I really like the feel of the clipless pedal! One of those things I wish I'd done a long time ago!

Pascale -- The tires made a difference too --- you might like to get some of those slick tires for your bike, depending on what the rail trails you ride on most are paved with (it's hard to fix what a good sized hill does for my average mph, but aside from that issue, I was really zipping along today!)

Karen in Boise

[emjae]

I believe it now, that toeless clips add control. Everyone's input on this site, the sharing of initial fears and experiences and, most importantly, successes, is inspiring me to believe that clipless pedalling could be my future.

[bigredbike]

I finally broke down and got shoes and clipless pedals last night. This after having ridden 142 miles in 110 degree temps during the Cycle Oregon weekend a few weeks ago, and having had achilles tendon pain (to the extreme since). Just a little background: bought a road bike last fall and trained on it in doors all winter. Have done 30 - 50 mile rides plus lots of smaller ones. Mostly a weekend rider but love being on the bike. Had a 10 speed when I was a kid and went everywhere on it.

The good news: I'm really excited about the power and having made this big step. The bad news: (which really isn't so bad) I was inspired to trip around our neighborhood after having read an uplifting post about clipping in and practicing to great success right away. Well, I bit it in a big way.

Actually, that's even kind of good news as I figured out something very important: even though you manage to clip out, if it's not with the foot you normally step off with (which I now know is my left) you will head straight for the ground. And hard. No biggy but I'm a bit banged up. As my unclipped right foot waved in the wind. Gah! Anyway -- got that one under my belt and I remain psyched about getting on the saddle again!

[Kano]

Kelly, that's an awesome ride you did! And in that heat, oh MY!

Congratulations on your new pedals! I'm sorry to read that you fell down and got scuffed up. So, now you'll think like I do -- left foot off pedal, even if it only looks like stopping may be needed I also make sure to get down off my seat when I stop -- I don't reach the ground very well unless my seat is way too low for comfortable, effective pedaling!

Here's hoping your body learned this lesson quickly, and you won't fall again! (since I haven't yet, and with luck, my body will learn the lesson without it!)

Karen in Boise

[Deb W2]

I'm with emjae...the "loss of control" mental issu comes from the lack of confidence in getting my feet out of the clipless pedal in time to prevent the fall. I tried out clipless last summer...promptly had a nasty fall after not being able to get either foot out in time. They now sit in a bag in my closet. I'm in the process of getting a new bike...I'll try to get myself used to them on the trainer next winter (although that was a goal for last winter...but laziness, then a ski accidet got in the way!).

-Deb

[mimitabby]

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?

[DebW]

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?

Is there a foot you like to start pedaling with? The opposite foot should unclip. When you stand on a moving bike with one pedal up and one pedal down, which is up? The up pedal should unclip, and you coast to a stop while standing on the down pedal. That's assuming you always want to unclip on one foot. I guess some people can go either way, but I'm strictly one-footed (right unclips).

[mimitabby]

Hmm, not sure. I'm a typically confused lefty.
but i'll be in the back of the tandem for the next two days as we ride to Canada, so i will have plenty of time to think about it.

[DebW]

Hmm, not sure. I'm a typically confused lefty.
but i'll be in the back of the tandem for the next two days as we ride to Canada, so i will have plenty of time to think about it.

I presume that you don't have a choice on the tandem. You'd have to unclip the same as your captain. So if you can go either way and your captain always goes one way, maybe you better adopt that for both tandem and single.

[mimitabby]

I presume that you don't have a choice on the tandem. You'd have to unclip the same as your captain. So if you can go either way and your captain always goes one way, maybe you better adopt that for both tandem and single.

it's different on the tandem. I don't have clips on any of my bikes. i have
"power straps" and believe me when the tandem goes down; i don't wait for cues from the captain!!!!!

[Bikingmomof3]

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?

I have no ideas if this is correct procedure, so take it with a grain of salt. I begin pedaling with my right foot and stop/unclip my left foot first-always. I never, ever deviate so I remember start right, stop left.

[eclectic]

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?

For what it's worth

I am left foot dominate so I always leave my right foot clipped in and land and take off with my left.

to find out which foot is dominate stand w/ both feet together and have someone come up from behind and give you a firm push. which ever foot goes out first to catch you is your dominate foot. (usually it is the foot also that you step up with first onto a stool ladder etc.)

It has nothing to do with handedness, I am right hand dominate

[KnottedYet]

Mimi-

I'm a lefty, too. (and can't tell left from right, but that's another story.)
I'm left dominant in hand, foot, and eye. I find that I prefer to keep my left foot clipped in and just use my right to land. Which is kind of the opposite of what I "should" do, but my brain seems to reason that it's more important to control the bike with the dominant side!

I also reach for my water bottle with the right hand, probably for the same reason.

Dominant side controls the bike and stays with the bike in my little world.

Hey, I guess I have my priorities.....

[kiwi girl]

is there an easy way to find out which is the foot you want to land with?

When I first went clipless I was way over analysing this and couldn't work it out. What I did was went for a short round the block ride on my other bike that had platform pedals (well actually the underside of a bike with toeclips) and just noted what came naturally (which is I am a left foot down person)