Quote Originally Posted by GenHawk
Since I'm new to "modern" cycling and clipless seems to be popular topic I thought I'd post my experience.

Since I'm an impoverished grad student, and still don't know if I want to do clipless, I bought shoes on eBay and pedals on internet clearance. Which meant I had to set it up myself, since I wouldn't ask the LBS to install something I didn't buy there. It wasn't very hard to get it all put together.

I tried it out in my kitchen doorway, first one foot clipped in - and out - then the other - then both... and lost my balance at tipped right over. Bounced off the stove and onto the tile floor; luckily I broke the fall with my wrist.

Today I rode to the LBS (about 1.5 miles) and back with no problems. It didn't feel any different than without them, tomorrow I will be going on a longer ride. Anyway, now I'm thinking "gee, that wasn't so bad," although I'm still deathly afraid of tipping over onto San Mateo (busy street).

Gen
Grats on your success! The first few weeks in clipless are definitely ... exciting.

I feel the need to be a party-pooper and add a note of caution. Part of using clipless pedals and cleats is to get the cleat angle right for your particular foot. If you start experiencing knee pain on longer rides, you may want to play with the angles or even talk to a fitter. But I'm sure many people do fine without angle adjustments, so this is just me being a worry wart!