clipless for scaredy cats?

[roshelleuop]

Renee,

Don't be afraid. To give you some light at the end of the tunnel, I was also scared of going clipless (like everyone is). But I bit the bullet, put them on my bike and took some spins around the park (on grass). Sure I fell a couple of times while getting used to them, but it was on grass and it didn't hurt! Just take it slow and the first couple times you ride have someone come with you to remind you to clip out! I think it took me a good 3 weeks before it became a habit where I didn't even have to think about it.

Now that I have fully transitioned to cilpless, I can honestly say that I'd BE A SCAREDY CAT TO GO BACK. You couldn't pay me to go back to regular pedals or cages or straps or any other pedal. Clipless may be scary at first, but after you use them for awhile they not only improve your performance, i believe they are alot safer.

Sorry, I use road cycle clipless pedals on both my road bike and cycle cross, so I can't help with the differences between them and the road. But I will say that you can adjust your clips to as tight and to as loose as you want to make it easier to clip out. On my road bike, I keep them as loose as they can go just about so i can easily clip out. On my cycle-cross I keep them pretty loose, but a little tighter because of the terrain. They are still both really easy to clip out.

Roshelle from Milwaukee
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[midgetcycler]

I bought Shimano SPD-M505 mountain bike pedals and mountain bike shoes at the suggestion of my father. He didn't mention being any easier to get in and out of them as a reason, though. He just said it would be a good idea to get the mountain shoes because they actually have some tread on the bottoms, whereas road bike shoes are smooth. As I am not necessarily interested in speed (road bike shoes are smooth so they have less wind resistance/drag), I agreed. I didn't want to be one of those at the Stop N Go busting their butt on that hard tile floor!

[mimitabby]

I agree with Midget
everyone in my house rides road bikes but wears MTB shoes.

[Melstar]

From what i've read around and about, everyone is saying that an "initiation" fall is unavoidable... URGH... but i wanna get me some clipless!.. but the fall... clipless!! the falll... the fall the fall fall fall....NOO000oooo....

[ReneeLynne]

thanks all for the advice!!!! The link to Bike South was particularly helpful.

On the FALL, it sounds to me like the fall is likely to happen at a slow speed -- like as you come up to a stop sign and brake but forget to unclip....so that's not so bad, right? embarrassing at worst....nothing like the bad fall I took earlier this year. I hate being embarrassed, though....

[Melstar]

Some wise guy claimed he fell at the traffic lights and got stuck with the bike between his legs and couldn't unclip cuz he was side on.... but that guy i know talks crap 24/7 so its probably not true anyway...

[Kano]

For what it's worth, six weeks into clipless, I haven't had any of the "obligatory falls." Not even when I dropped my chain one day on a hill.

I try to see ahead a bit -- if I'm coming to an intersection, as I slow down, I clip my "ground foot" out so that if there's traffic and I need to stop, I'm ready for it. Clipping back in is pretty quick and easy, and that extra moment is well worth the joy of staying upright!

I've noticed reading that it seems like most of those falls are people who clip out with the wrong foot. If you're a left foot down person, it does you no good to clip out of the right pedal. Another thing that I've seen is what sounds like people trying to balance while stopped with their butts on the saddle and barely a toe on the ground. Off the seat, foot flat (and for me, making sure it's a little out from the bike) gives you a "three point" stance, which is usually pretty stable (one foot, two wheels, three points!)

Neat thing about this knowledge was figuring out before I did clipless pedals which foot wants to land on the ground first, and, well, since my foot doesn't reach the ground anyway, getting off the saddle every time I stop was an easy one to practice before the pedals!

Karen in Boise

[midgetcycler]

When I switched to clipless, my Dad told me you *WILL* fall at least twice.

I fell the first day. I did great on my whole ride, clipping out well in advance, yada, yada, and then just as I was pulling into the driveway, I unclipped and put my left foot down. Everything is great right?? Well, apparently my right foot clipped back in without me knowing it, and when I went to put my right foot down, I was still stuck to the bike. So down I went. I managed to get my foot out before hitting the ground, though, so no permanent damage. I am still to this day very thankful DH was not where he could see me. He would probably still be laughing.

I have yet to have my second fall. I know it's coming, and I know there's nothing I can do about it but wait for it to come. I just hope I'm alone.