Worse Day of the Year Ride

[oxysback]

Great picture!! I wish I could have ridden with you.

Is that a guy in a bear costume in the background of your pic?

Suzy: Sorry to hear you're having a tough time with the pedals. I hope you get used to them soon!! It's no fun feeling like you're going to fall. I'm sorry I don't have any better advice to give you other than don't give up!

Darcy, glad those street skills came back to you! I would be a bit nervous riding the streets of Portland, as well.

Way to go, gals!!

[Batbike]

Suzie, from the photo it looks like you have SPD pedals. I completely understand your fear of SPD because I have them on my mountain bike. It was difficult to clip/unclip until I learned you could adjust the tension on the SPD's so that it is easier to get in and out of ... in fact, after time it got too easy and I had to readjust to keep my foot clipped better! Have you tried loosing the tension to make it easier to unclip?!

Also, when I got my road bike, I changed the pedal system from SPD-R's (a once popular version of SPD's for road bikes) to Speedplay because I found it MUCH easier to get in and out of pedals. Speedplays are not for everyone, but makes me wonder if you changed your SPD system to something else if it would be easier and give you more confidence on quick stops and hills ... just a thought.

Good luck!

[Kitsune06]

How did I miss this ride?! Nooooo!!!!
I guess there's always next year.

[East Hill]

I went down to Portland yesterday and had forgotten all about the Worst Day Ride.

I was at the Expo Center with my husband, and had brought down a blue Peugeot mixte to re-home with a gentleman who I know via BF (he came down on the Yellow Line and mentioned that he had seen a number of cyclists out and did not know what the ride was--hey, he's been busy, give the man a break!).

If I'd known...but on the other hand, I was not there to ride, but to get the Peugeot mixte to someone who would love her, and I also picked up my new bike commute trailer. I'm getting ready to test the waters with the trailer today.

East Hill

[KSH]

Also, when I got my road bike, I changed the pedal system from SPD-R's (a once popular version of SPD's for road bikes) to Speedplay because I found it MUCH easier to get in and out of pedals. Speedplays are not for everyone, but makes me wonder if you changed your SPD system to something else if it would be easier and give you more confidence on quick stops and hills ... just a thought.

You sound exactly like me.

Speedplays are so much easier to get in and out of. I love them.

Suzie, you might also try practicing quick stops. Imagine you have to stop quickly and practice getting out quickly.

Otherwise, it might be a good idea for you to stay out of situations that will put stress on you. Try to stay away from riding in groups, around dogs and kids, and cars. Try to ride in a controlled environment and get your confidence up on getting clipped out, before throwing in other "obstacles".

Good luck Suzie!

[chickwhorips]

congrats you two!

love the picture. thanks for sharing!!

[texascyclist]

GREAT Picture! Seeing both of you makes me really anxious for my first ride of 2007, which will be Tour Dallas in April.

Suzie...Reading about your falls kinda makes me a little nervous. I'm in the process of getting my new bike and going clipless too. My DH has finally convinced me to give it a try. He is wanting to get the SPD's for my bike but after reading this post, now I'm wondering if Speedplay might not be the better choice for a first timer. If it is, which would y'all recommend? I notice on thier website their are different ones to choose from.

[Jo-n-NY]

I went from SPD's to Speedplay Frogs (upon the recommondations for many gals here). I use a Specialized mtn shoe but ride a roadbike. I there is no tention what so ever to unclip, just turn the heel out and lift. However, they do not unclip when your not suppose to. It is hard to explain, (anyone else chime in that uses frogs), but they are so easy to use.

I always have one foot clipped in (my left) and always clip my right foot in while pedaling. It just slides right in. Like I said they are just so easy to use. I will add, that I practiced on a trainer and at this time of year it what I solely use. Every so often I will practice clipping and unclipping really fast just to know that I can do it should I need to. Sort of a confidence builder.

Just my two cents, hope it helps.

~ JoAnn

[emily_in_nc]

GREAT Picture!He is wanting to get the SPD's for my bike but after reading this post, now I'm wondering if Speedplay might not be the better choice for a first timer. If it is, which would y'all recommend? I notice on thier website their are different ones to choose from.

It depends on whether you want to use road shoes or mountain shoes. If you want a recessed cleat and walkable shoes, you want mountain shoes, and you would use Speedplay Frog pedals. Like JoAnn said, they are VERY easy to use! I recently changed from Crank Bros. Candies on my mtb to Frogs and love them. I had a tough time clipping in on the second foot with the Candies.

For road shoes (non-recessed cleats, harder to walk in), you can choose between Speedplay X series or Zero pedals. I would not recommend the Zeros. I tried them for months before selling them. I had a terrible time clipping into them! They required a huge amount of torque, and I'm really petite, so I could never get it. My DH loves his, though. X series (I ride X-2s on my road bike) are very easy to clip into and out of.

You can definitely use mountain pedals and shoes with a road bike, by the way, but don't try to use road cleats/shoes on a mountain bike....

Good luck!
Emily

[spokewench]

Suzie: I promise you - you will get it! The getting out of pedals trick that is. Yes, you can pedal when you are not clipped in. SPD's are hard for me to pedal in not clipped in because they really are very easy to slip into. you have to be very light on the pedal - don't push down very much and move the cleat forward of the place where your foot will go into the cleat. I agree, try it on a trainer. And, if you have a trainer, get on there and get in and out and in and out. Just keep practicing that when you can't fall over.

Here's the last little tidbit I can give you other than practicing. Learn to jerk your foot out; I remember when I first started using spd's and thought I was a dweeb cause I was having a hard time getting out and realized (it was kind of an AHA) that I just needed to jerk harder when I was in danger of falling over. Kick that heel out and kick it out hard. When you first start using the pedals with cleats you are tentative and you don't use your ability to get out. Just kick out hard! I know this kind of sounds stupid, but once I realized that I really wasn't trying hard enough to get out, I was fine.

[DarcyInOregon]

I think Suzie has road shoes, not mountain bike shoes. I am trying to think of the difference between her and me, because I don't have any problems with clipping, unclipping, or pedaling unclipped, and it is the shoes and the pedals. I wear Pearl Izumi sport shoes, and the cleat is recessed, and there is lots of room on the shoe to pedal without clicking in. I wear this shoe so I can walk in it also, and this is because I am a rural cyclist, and if something happens to me I need to be able to walk however many miles. The pedals I have are Shimano SPD-M520.

Can anyone tell what type of shoe Suzie wears from the photo?

[Batbike]

I think Suzie has road shoes, not mountain bike shoes. I am trying to think of the difference between her and me, because I don't have any problems with clipping, unclipping, or pedaling unclipped, and it is the shoes and the pedals. I wear Pearl Izumi sport shoes, and the cleat is recessed, and there is lots of room on the shoe to pedal without clicking in. I wear this shoe so I can walk in it also, and this is because I am a rural cyclist, and if something happens to me I need to be able to walk however many miles. The pedals I have are Shimano SPD-M520.

Can anyone tell what type of shoe Suzie wears from the photo?

She has SPD pedals, which means her shoes are SPD compatiable and more than likely recessed -- making them mountain bike shoes. However, I have a pair of non-recessed road shoes that has SPD cleats on them that I use for spin classes, so I guess you can put them on either type. BUT, based on how she is standing (complete foot touching ground) it looks like her cleats are recessed, making them mountain bike shoes. Can she walk around in them well -- like normal shoes, not having to "clump" on the cleat?! If yes, moutain bike.

Maybe your tension on cleats is different from hers? If the tension on SPD's is tight, it will be very difficult to unclip, especially when you are not use to it. You can get in, but it is hard to get out. I really feel that loosing the clips and practicing with the loose clips will greatly help Suzie gain confidence in her pedal system!

As for Speedplays (asked by someone else on forum), I have always used the road version -- X series. I will carry cleat covers in my pockets if I plan on getting off bike and walking around. Many people do use the mountain bike pedals, Frogs, so that they can walk around without having to carry anything extra. I know people who do long tours on their road bikes and use Frog pedals -- love them because they are easy to clip in/out, even with a full load, and easy on the knees!

[Fredwina]

another idea that could be causing Suzie's probelms - Make sure the bolts on the shoes are tight. if one is loose, the cleat will rotate around the tight one rather than unclip

[PinkBike]

GREAT Picture! Seeing both of you makes me really anxious for my first ride of 2007, which will be Tour Dallas in April.

Suzie...Reading about your falls kinda makes me a little nervous. I'm in the process of getting my new bike and going clipless too. My DH has finally convinced me to give it a try. He is wanting to get the SPD's for my bike but after reading this post, now I'm wondering if Speedplay might not be the better choice for a first timer. If it is, which would y'all recommend? I notice on thier website their are different ones to choose from.

if this is for a road bike, i suggest the speedplay light action. they're cheap, two-sided, have lots of float, come in several colors and are way easy to get in and out of.

i have speedplay zero titanium which are very expensive, but went to the light action when i saw them in PINK!!

HOWEVER: make SURE you get the covers or you will not be able to walk. when i get more $$ i'll prob'ly gp back to the zero which i see now comes in pink also.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Suzie, be sure to read this thread having to do with clipping in from a stop:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=13427