Worse Day of the Year Ride

[mimitabby]

Two things for you, Mimi (and remember, I'm only slightly ahead of you on the curve, having ridden clipless with spds for only a couple months now):

1. Do you really have your pedals adjusted as loose as you need them? You say you "tug" them out, and I never feel like I'm exerting much effort unclipping- I just turn my foot and I'm out. If you can make 'em looser, try it. I never unclip unintentionally, and mine are set about as loose as they can go.

2. My learning curve was flat (and painful- fell three times because I tilted over to my clipped in side from a stopped position), then a big peak. In other words, I had to always think about the fact that I was clipped in for about the first 2 months, then all of a sudden, it became instinctive. I think your body just gets it at some point. Unless, of course, the pedals you have just aren't comfortable because of your particular body type.

It will get instinctive to unclip, I promise.

Thanks Ace. DH said they are as loose as they go. Since I toe out, it is hard for me to turn my toe in to unclip particularly on my weaker, more turned out right side.

I will hold you to that promise. I hope to do some riding in the tandem
clipping in and out a lot. That should help because DH is holding the bike up, not me.

[ace]

I do promise you that you will clip in and out instinctively.

Now you promise me that I will be able to learn how to use integrated shifting when I get my road bike without having a really bad accident.....

[mimitabby]

Integrated shifting? I'm not sure what that is. It has taken me about a year and I am just now getting more comfortable with having 3 chain rings in front and 9 (or 10?) gears in the back.
There are some I never use (they don't tell you that in the LBS)
the higher gears on the smallest front chain ring
the lowest gears on the big chain ring.
In the middle chain ring you can go anywhere in the gears.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

There are some I never use (they don't tell you that in the LBS)
the higher gears on the smallest front chain ring
the lowest gears on the big chain ring.
In the middle chain ring you can go anywhere in the gears.

Mimi,
It helps to think of it this way instead:
It's not that there are GEARS that you don't use. It's that there are gear COMBINATIONS that you don't use, because those combinations will make your chain too crooked between your front and rear gears (cross-chaining) and that bad chain angle will cause your chain to scrape against the derailleurs and/or jump off and other bad stuff.

[mimitabby]

Mimi,
It helps to think of it this way instead:
It's not that there are GEARS that you don't use. It's that there are gear COMBINATIONS that you don't use, because those combinations will make your chain too crooked between your front and rear gears (cross-chaining) and that bad chain angle will cause your chain to scrape against the derailleurs and/or jump off and other bad stuff.

yes, that sounds nicer.

[suzieqtwa]

Gears are the only thing I really picked up on quick. After about 3 times on the bike I was fine. I usually stay in the middle gear. Like what Lisa said ,you don't want your chain to fall off ,so it stay in the middle gear till you are comfortable. I can shift going up hills with no problem.
Mimi...you put it in exact words about the stopping with your hands ,and trying to kick your feet out ...the balance (or lack of) and PANIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think straight. I'm taking off about 4 days ,so my body can heal. Ill be back on the bike for some long rides this weekend. I'm done with falling ,and humiliating myself.
Someone mentioned about kicking out real hard. Well I did almost fall at a busy intersection on Saturday ,and right before I thought I was going to fall ,I kicked out real hard ,and didn't fall. Oh, I un clip on the right ,so its always away from traffic.

[mimitabby]

Someone mentioned about kicking out real hard. Well I did almost fall at a busy intersection on Saturday ,and right before I thought I was going to fall ,I kicked out real hard ,and didn't fall. Oh, I un clip on the right ,so its always away from traffic.

Do you mean so you always fall away from traffic by unclipping the right foot first?