Going clipless tomorrow - need your positive energy!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

...I am suddenly having excruciating pain in my right knee after about 15 miles. This happened on my last longer ride too. I don't think I would've made it back to the car today had I not been able to pull through each pedal stroke with my left leg to help out my right leg. Now I have to go look for threads on knee pain...

Quick easy experiment is to raise your saddle by about a 1/2", see if that helps. You should be "almost" straightening your leg completely on your pedal downstroke- almost, but not quite. You should NOT be able to touch the ground with your feet while still sitting on the saddle. If your knees stay too bent while riding, you will get knee pain in front right above the kneecap.

Congrats on the clipless!! Great going!

[RolliePollie]

Thanks for the knee advice, Lisa. I raised my saddle 1/4"-1/2" about 20 miles into my ride today...seemed a bit low with the new shoes and pedals. But maybe I should raise it a bit more. The thought had crossed my mind that it might be too low because the only thing that made my knee feel better was to stretch it all the way out straight. The pain is more along the inside of my knee, not above my kneecap...it feels like something is out of whack under/beside my kneecap. I've never had knee problems before, but I did have a pretty impressive skiing crash about 3 weeks ago and I'm wondering if that could be the culprit.

[lesliejo]

You will do just fine. I remember the first time I went out....got my new Trek home and just kept looking at it, totally intimidated by the pedals, then thought, "What the hell"...off I went and it has been an amazing ride. I had speedplay frogs on that bike, but since then have moved on to just a speedplay. I was very nervous about those and didn't want to wreck. So.... I would clip out way before I wanted to stop. I did have a few tip overs in the front planters. Me laughing and my daughter looking out her bedroom window and just shaking her head.
You will do fine, just take the plunge, it makes a huge difference in the ride.
Enjoy!

[Suzi-Sue]

hello all! (my first post!)
Was out the first time today on my new SPD's, and it's brilliant!
I'm glad someone else was doing the same
I noticed that my downstoke wasn't as 'long' as usual, so will be adjusting the seat tomorrow to see if that helps.

Glad your ride went well

[RolliePollie]

Welcome, Suzi-Sue! Aren't you proud of yourself for braving the SPDs? I am very proud of myself but my non-cyclist friends at work just don't understand! I never thought I'd be able to go clipless because I'm such a big klutz. I shouldn't get too confident though...only one clipless ride under my belt and I'm heading out for a short ride right now...I better not fall tonight! I think I'll wear my full-length tights just in case

[Suzi-Sue]

lol, the leg warmers still aren't away over in Ireland yet (but i'm quite happy about that at the moment )
Covering the bare skin does make it feel a little better with the spd's though. Hopefully by the time the good weather gets here, the legs will be bare and facing the elements of falling

Hope you made it 2/2 rides today

[northstar]

Hey ladies,

Had to confess about my fall last night. Second fall, pretty much the same thing as the first. Coasted happily up to an intersection, was off in my little happy place, went to put my foot down and couldn't! Timber!

Not a bad idea to make sure to have the knees and shoulders covered while you get used to the pedals!