Maiden Voyage with Clipless Pedals

[Bad JuJu]

I find that my biggest challenge with the clips is to remember they're there. The clipping in and out is easy, but since I can't feel the straps around my feet, I tend to forget I'm clipped in.

But what really drives me crazy is the terminology. I have to clip in and clip out of my clipless pedals. That's just so wrong.

[KnottedYet]

Yay Bad Juju!


Well, you could just change the words a little: "clicking in and out of your cleated pedals" or something like that.

[DebW]

But what really drives me crazy is the terminology. I have to clip in and clip out of my clipless pedals. That's just so wrong.

Well, you could just change the words a little: "clicking in and out of your cleated pedals" or something like that.

"click in" or "lock in" or "step in" works. The opposite motion is harder to name. "click out", "unclick", "lock out" (that doesn't work at all), "unlock", "twist out"? "Clipless pedals" could refer to any pedals without toe clips (like a flat rubber or rattrap pedal) as well as pedals with a locking mechanism to engage a cleat. Distinguishing between shoe types that work with the pedal (cleated vs uncleated) makes more sense, except that pedals with toe clips and straps work with or without cleats (if you rember the old style cleats). How about "step in" pedals, or "twist out" pedals? Look, who pioneered modern pedals, originally manufactured ski bindings. What are step in/twist out ski bindings called, to distinguish them from the older bindings that broke legs?

[RoadRaven]

GO GO BadJuJu!!!

Welcome to the club...

[SouthernBelle]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Good job!

[chickwhorips]

congrats on turning to the otherside.

SouthernBelle trust me your not the only one that fell your first time with clipless. i fell more than one time my first time!

[spokewench]

way to go Ju ju. See, it isn't that hard! I don't count falling on my mountain bike with clipless. It took me a year to fall once I got clipless on my roadbike and over I went at an intersection on a group ride (where I didn't know anyone!) Boy did I feel like a putz!

[eclectic]

Hip Hip Hooray! ! ! ! Isn't it fun? ? ? ?

And the new bike sounds like a dream

[LAB]

Is it manditory to fall using a clipless system? Heck, I haven't even put the straps on my road bike and I'm thinking about going clipless! I must be nuts!

Bad JuJu --- congrats are obviously in order (I think!)

Seriously, do people generally fall when using the clipless system? If so, is there a more correct way to fall to prevent injury??????

[aicabsolut]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Yeah, you're not the only one . I fell over in the first 5 seconds because I was in too high a gear and somehow forgot that with the cleat you can pedal with one leg for a while. It went something like: pushoff, coast, wobble, crash. I have a nice white and purple scar on my elbow reminding me of it (about a month ago or so). But that's because I was dumb enough to wait until after I skinned myself to take it to the grass. Luckily I didn't run into a tree! My experiences keep me scared enough of them in stop/start situations that I really think about what I'm doing..keeps me from getting cocky or sloppy about it even though I'm much improved.

[Meaux]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Good job!

I didn't fall on my first clipless ride, but I fell for three rides after that. But I'm normally a HUGE klutz without the bike. When I showed my co-workers the multiple bruises and road rash from my last ride, they said that DH should get me some training wheels for Christmas. HA HA!

[wannaduacentury]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Good job!

Great job JuJu.

SB, I fell over on my first day too after an hour and then had a scraped knee and elbow to go w/it. Fortunately I was on dirt. Jennifer