I tried clipless pedals on Saturday

[KSH]

OUCH! Sorry to hear it!

Yea... you must always THINK of unclipping BEFORE you even apply your brakes.

[Bike Goddess]

I rode my road bike with clipless pedals (the Look variety) and tennis shoes for a month before I tried clipping in. I wanted to get used to the bike handling and speed before I did anything else. Fortuneately when I did eventually clip in, I did pretty well the first time. I practiced clipping and unclipping first on one side then the other as I was riding down a level street with no traffic. After that, I fell at a couple of stops- either didn't get unclipped fast enough or was going so slowly up hill that when I stopped I couldn't get going again by clipping in. I have since learned that on a hill if I have to stop, better to go down a bit and then clip in- little trick of the trade!

So moral of the story- it takes a lot of practice, but once you've mastered it, you'll love the outcome!

[gilly]

Thank you ladies
Right now the biggest pain is not being able to ride

Yes I got the pine cone, my husband picked it up for me

I loved the feel of pedalling with clipless, and I think I'll do okay when I get back on my bike.

I think my main problem is that when I'm in toe clips (loose) I always leave (stop) off the same pedal, but at the 'top' of the stroke.. obviously, this doesn't work with clipless.

I had actually unclipped before I hit the ground. `Unfortunately, I had stopped - realised my pedal was at the top, back pedalled to get to the bottom and unclipped - sadly, none of this was fast enough, and 'back' pedalling when your facing up hill at a standstill is not the recommended thing to do. lol

Still, the 35 minute walk to work (and back again of course ) will keep me fit.

[CorsairMac]

actually Gilly - I unclip at the top of the stroke. The thing I have to remember is to make sure my front tire is turned in the direction of the "unclipped" foot, especially if on a hill. That way if you lose your balance, you'll "fall" on the unclipped foot.

[gilly]

actually Gilly - I unclip at the top of the stroke. The thing I have to remember is to make sure my front tire is turned in the direction of the "unclipped" foot, especially if on a hill. That way if you lose your balance, you'll "fall" on the unclipped foot.

What pedals do you use CM? I was on Time ATAC. I did fall toward the unclipped foot, it just hadn't unclipped quite quickly enough
Although I can unclip at the top of the stroke, it's not as fluid as at the bottom.

[shewhobikes]

Oh dooky, so sorry about your fall. I have no better advice than what you've already been given here, just know that we've all been there (i'm a newbie), as you will discover if you do a search on "clipless" and "falls" or some such! Only antidote is practice, other than the key issue of how tight your clips are. I had a couple of ugly pavement incidents until I had the LBS loosen the tension on my pedals so I could get in and out with more ease. After that, it was a cinch. Keep at it!

[spazzdog]

For me, if I'm going down (and I do at least once per season) I keep my hands on the bars and kinda round my shoulders into the fall. I always land on the round of my back that way... a sort of "roll". I end up on my back with my bike still attached to me, only we be upside down

After the initial "oh s**t" moment, I crack up so much I can hardly get up... it's sooooo Artie Johnson. But that's why we call me spazz

spazzdog - whose middle name ain't "Grace"

[CorsairMac]

What pedals do you use CM? I was on Time ATAC. I did fall toward the unclipped foot, it just hadn't unclipped quite quickly enough
Although I can unclip at the top of the stroke, it's not as fluid as at the bottom.

I use Shimano SPDs - I don't remember which ones. I'm sitting here thinking about the unclipping at the bottom and I don't know if I could do that! LOL......I always unclip as I'm coming to a stop and I unclip at the top of the stroke so if I Don't have to stop I can just clip back in right away and use that leg to pedal down with.
man - you got me thinking now, I'll have to play with that going home tonight! It may also come from mounting and dismounting the bike like I would a horse so the clipped in foot needs to be down as I swing the unclipped foot over the saddle.
hmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Pedal Wench]

I was told before I started with clips that I was supposed to clip out at the bottom of my stroke too, but I just don't understand how to do that! If I'm at the bottom, that means my weight and power is on that foot at that moment, and if I unclip, my foot will continue downwards and hit the ground. It seemed particularly weird if I was actually standing in the saddle and trying to unclip. I unclip at the top, my weight on my other foot, ready to stand up and put my foot down.

[Roadrunner]

.That must have hurt . I Hope your wrist heals soon. You'll be back riding in no time. I'm thinking of going clipless soon but I'm still a bit unsure about it as I'm rather accident prone as it is.

[cruziegirl]

I just had a thought for people just going to clipless - maybe try what are called campus pedals. These are pedals with one side that is clipless and the other is just a regular pedal. That way you can clip in just when you want. My sister has always used these because the idea of completely clipless just never appealed - the idea of being in traffic and not being able to unclip, that whole thing. Shimano has a pair that are quite nice. Anyway, this might be a way to ease into the whole clipless thing.

[RoadRaven]

I have never ever heard of pedals where you clip in one side and dont the other!
Wouldn't this mean you use your legs differently? For example, when you try and get up a hill...
I am interested to hear how well this concept works... surely if you don't like to clip in to the pedal, you just avoid cleats and clips?