Platform pedals

[VeloVT]

Sandra, I'll give you my usual 'new to clipless' advice. Even while using your platform pedals, pretend you're clipped in. Every time you stop, click out your heel, as if you were unclipping (use the one that you normally put down first when you stop). This way, that motion becomes automatic, so you won't have to think about it. For me, as soon as I grab the brakes, my heel automatically clicks out.

Wow, this is an excellent idea.

Up in the beginning riders section I've read a few threads lately from people who've just gotten clipless pedals and apparently didn't need any time to adjust to them. Not so with me! It probably took me at least a month after putting the pedals on that I reached my previous comfort level on the bike again. I was extremely nervous when I first got clipless pedals. Really, looking back, I should have waited until I was more comfortable on the bike generally. I was a nervous nelly when I first got my bike for some reason, my balance wasn't very good yet and all sorts of things freaked me out -- riding on dirt/gravel, having to take any kind of evasive action quickly, etc., and I got clipless pedals just a few weeks after getting the bike because it seemed the thing to do, which just compounded my problems.

Luckily it all worked out in the end !