the ultimate folly - clipless Lesson

[mimitabby]

well, ladies, that's why I'm going for a lesson. I don't have any trouble clipping IN either. It's getting out in time, getting the timing and coordination
down, and getting over the terror that I am going to try to combat with this lesson.

PS I don't want to break my nose or my ribs or...

[FreshNewbie]

You will be just fine, first couple of times you will want to unclip way before the stop but then you will know how to react and will be doing it closer to the stop. What I always do is if I see some situation that might require a stop, I put my left leg (which I unclip) at 12 o'clock and ready to snap out, that way I feel i am ready to stop. Good luck with the lesson, please report on your choice of pedals

P.S. try speedplays

[Chile Pepper]

I love my look pedals. Some days they are the only thing that can get me up a hill--as in, oh my god I'm going to fall over if I don't get to the top. Very motivational. Good luck!

[SadieKate]

Mimi, there is no guarantee that you will fall. DO NOT GO INTO THIS BELIEVING YOU WILL FALL! Can I shout that loud enough? If you believe this and are nervous and tense, it will be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Learn to coast standing up on the clipped in foot. See how that feels? What it takes to balance the bike? Can you make gentle turns with your weight only on the one foot? Yes, right? You're halfway there.

[ace]

You're going to do great, Mimi, I just know it

Congrats on facing your fear and being so brave!

-Ace

[mimitabby]

I already fell, when i tried it in the school parking lot. There are a lot of years of braking that I have to grapple with and relearn how to do it.

[SadieKate]

Doesn't mean you're going to fall again.

Hint: until you can clip out instinctively, don't talk to anyone but yourself while stopping. Talking to yourself through the motion is a good thing.

[sgtiger]

Good luck on learning to use clipless. I think you'll like them once you get the hang of it. I'm with FreshNewbie, try the speedplays.

[DrBee]

Mimi, there is no guarantee that you will fall. DO NOT GO INTO THIS BELIEVING YOU WILL FALL! Can I shout that loud enough? If you believe this and are nervous and tense, it will be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

So true SK - I rode for hundreds of miles before I fell. And, it was just a case of not paying attention (which is not uncommon for me).

(unrelated sidenote - SK - check your PM's)

[maillotpois]

Hijack: Fish! Bee! Nice to see you.

Returning to falling thread.

SK and Fish are right - don't assume you're going to fall.

[SadieKate]

(unrelated sidenote - SK - check your PM's)

Check yours. It's been a hectic week. Sorry!

[Grog]

PS I don't want to break my nose or my ribs or...

I'm with SK: don't go in there thinking that you would fall.

Being attentive - not talking to others - when you brake is also a good trick. DOn't worry about being rude by interrupting a conversation!!

Think about unclipping both feet (and reclipping your sweet leg before starting off again, for strength).

And if you do fall, which you won't, of course: TUCK the stuff that sticks out IN. Like elbows, hands/wrists, knees. You want to maximize the surface on which you fall, not whang your elbow on the pavement. I've practiced that with my bike club (in the gym, and on the grass) and it too me from:
- a first crash (nothing to do with clipless) scratching my elbow and knee,
- to a clipless fall directly on my knee cap (as I was doing bike skills exercises at extremely low speed)
- to a recent, and still mysterious, authentic clipless 'timmmmmmmmmmmber' fall that I absorbed with the whole length of my left tight and upper arm. That body fat on the thighs has to be for something!!!! It will also protect your ribs. I stayed on the pavement laughing very hard (I was leading that ride...) instead of hurting, for once.

Good luck! You'll be awesome.

[SadieKate]

And if you do fall, which you won't, of course: TUCK the stuff that sticks out IN. . . . .
- to a recent, and still mysterious, authentic clipless 'timmmmmmmmmmmber' fall that I absorbed with the whole length of my left tight and upper arm. That body fat on the thighs has to be for something!!!! It will also protect your ribs. I stayed on the pavement laughing very hard (I was leading that ride...) instead of hurting, for once.

It's very important to go for style points. More points are awarded for keeping "the stuff that sticks out IN."

If you can land with your hands over your hand and "stick the landing", artistic merit goes skyhigh.

[silver]

It's very important to go for style points. More points are awarded for keeping "the stuff that sticks out IN."

If you can land with your hands over your hand and "stick the landing", artistic merit goes skyhigh.

I'd give more technical points to the one that lands with your hands over your head WITH the bike in them to save it from any scratches.

I'm actually pretty good at this.

signed,
mistress of falling

[missymaya]

when I got my first set of clipless peddles, I practiced in an empty parking lot of just clipping in, pedaling a little, and then clipping out while still moving, really not using the breaks. It helped 'feel' the clips when coming out. After getting comfortable doing that, I practiced the "what if I had to stop quickly" clip out, hitting the breaks and unclipping. I found it easier to do a transition like that.
Also, another thing to remember, if you feel like your not unclipped and your stuck, do a little downstroke to keep yourself upright a little longer. There were moments where I did some slow timber falls just clipping in, pretty funny looking back on it, not thinking that all I had to do was a little pedal stroke or rachet with my other foot. pretty funny looking back on it.

Hope all goes well and have fun