Clipless For the Timid

[teigyr]

...but my first crash on my first day with the clips really was quite humiliating. I was going up a hill so sloooooooolllly that I ran out of gas and couldn't generate enough momentum to keep upright.
Jan

That is my nightmare. Very scary stuff! Plus when you get tired, your reactions aren't all they could be. At least with me, that is.

[wurkit_gurl]

Yeah, I'm totally freaked out about using clipless pedals and falling over- mostly because I don't want to wreck my bike! She's too pretty! I think, since I'm training for this triathlon anyway, I am going to scour Craigslist for a cheap trainer, and practice on that with the clipless pedals- that way I can practice clipping in and out while I'm upright on the bike.

[nomummytummy]

My only crash so far was exactly for that reason. I had to stop for a car that hadn't seen me, couldn't get my foot out fast enough & crashed. Felt really stupid, hurt my wrist but didn't even get a scratch on my beautiful new bike!!

[mimitabby]

Wurkitgirl
the practice on the trainer is fine, teachs you the movement, but not the coordination with reality.

I rode on my trainer all winter by clipping in and out. First time out on pavement (in a schoolyard; flat; no cars) i fell down almost instantly.

what i did (with a lady teaching me)
was I rode NOT CLIPPED in. THen I clipped in and out. She'd tell me to stop
and then I would unclip and then stop.

some people only do one foot at a time (two kinds of pedals) but if i can do it,
almost ANYONE can.

[amymisk]

I am now on my third style of pedals.

I started with a MTB pedal. Easy in, hard out for me.

Then, I went with a Shimano Ultegra pedal. Less float, felt good riding. I found them to be a pain to get in, the theory behind the pedal rotating to allow for a simple toe in first then clip didn't work for me. I found I had to look at the pedal to get in. Not ideal plus I didn't find them too easy to get out of. I always felt I couldn't get out quickly. Plus, it was hard to pedal unless clipped in.

Now, I have Speedplay Zeros. Much happier. It is hard to get in, but can pedal easily if not clipped fully- great when crossing a busy road that I can ride across and not worry about clipping until I am safely across. Much easier release for me. I feel so much more comfortable clipping in and out.

So, try and try some more. Thankfully, my LBS has a happiness guarantee. I had the shimano pedals for 3 months and they would have given me a refund (in full, no restocking) but DH uses them and we kept them as a spare.