the ultimate folly - clipless Lesson

[mimitabby]

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


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.

hmm, how do you tuck your hip bones in? That's where I landed and it hurt!

I'll tell you all about the lesson later.

[DrBee]

Pedals mimi - what kind of pedals did you pick?

Good luck this afternoon! You'll do great!

[HappyAnika]

You will love it and never look back! I've had two close calls, but technically no falls at 1,100 miles and counting. Just practice, then it becomes instinct. I now make the clipping out motion when riding my beater mtb with cages in tennis shoes, its just habbit. Have fun!

[mimitabby]

Pedals mimi - what kind of pedals did you pick?

Good luck this afternoon! You'll do great!

I have very nice SPD's after considerable research. Since DH and both sons all use this kind it made sense to have the same kind; I also got the cleats that unclip in multi directions.

[SouthernBelle]

Actually the falling wasn't that bad. Maybe I was graceful at it.

Mims, it's really not that hard. Our horror stories have built this up to a huge thing in your head is all. I ended up laughing at myself like an idiot.


Hmm. Maybe I am an idiot. Nah.

[mimitabby]

Just remember i'm in the Really Scared thread too. For some people, this
is an easier transition than others.

[SouthernBelle]

Mimi, a thought.

tonight can you set your bike up, like in a trainer or rack, and just sit on it and clip, unclip while you watch TV?

[snapdragen]

mimi - here's what I did when learning to ride clipless. I kept one foot unclipped all the time, in my case the right foot. Once I was comfortable I started clipping both feet. When I knew a stop was coming, I'd unclip long before the stop. After awhile, it became second nature.

You can do this! Make sure your pedals are adjusted to the loosest setting.