I tried clipless pedals on Saturday

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have a question concerning clipins... I am trying to adjust the shoes so that I can get maximum output from my input...do you all find it is better to be clipped in closer towards the front of the foot or a little further back.

First, welcome to the board!

I'd highly recommend getting a fitting so that you can get your bike and the cleats set up to match you. Jim Langley's bike fit page recommends "The cleat should be positioned so that the balls of your feet rest over the centers of the pedals (the axles) when you’re pedaling" and also says "Ideally, your cleat position allows resting your feet in a natural position on the pedals. Otherwise, you could injure your knees". Here's a link to his article on bike fit: http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html.

Happy cycling!

--- Denise

[SandyLS]

Sorry to hear about the wrist. I started to ride clipless about mid-way through the summer last year. I was quite proud that I had not taken a fall. You know the saying that goes something like "Pride goeth before the fall", well, this week came the fall. No real dammage done, just some pretty bruises. I landed softly on grass with my bike on top of me. I had unclipped the right foot and remembered what I had read here about turning the tire towards the unclipped foot. I guess I must have panicked when I couldn't get the left one unclipped and somehow fell toward the unclipped side. I guess I just need to practice some more.
Safe biking to all.
Sandy

[gilly]

The weather here is perfect for cycling Hopefully, tomorrow we will try me on the tandem.

It is however, helping my resolve to not use the car so often.. I can't drive either

My feelings and thoughts on the unclipping are exactly those of yours Audio-A. I can't wait to get on and try again, if I can unclip at the top of the stroke then perhaps it won't feel so alien.

Thank you all for the virtual hugs, and helium balloons

[spazzdog]

Gilly, do you have an indoor trainer? You could put the bike on it and sit straight up (look ma! no hands) and just pedal... and practice:

Mr Miyoshi say: clip in, clip out, clip in, clip out... pedal big circle.

spazz (a "karate kid" fan)

[gilly]

I found out yesterday that I am likely to be in plaster for around another 12 weeks So yes, Spazzdog, the indoor trainer is an excellent idea and on nice days, I'll have DH put it in the garden for me

I have decided though.. after what will be 3+ months off the bike, I won't be going back to clipless

[cruziegirl]

I found out yesterday that I am likely to be in plaster for around another 12 weeks So yes, Spazzdog, the indoor trainer is an excellent idea and on nice days, I'll have DH put it in the garden for me

I have decided though.. after what will be 3+ months off the bike, I won't be going back to clipless

Very sorry to hear you had problems with clipless. Sounds like just about all of us have fallen over as a result of them at least one time or another. You might consider going to Speedplay pedals. The Frogs work really well if a) you're doing any mountain biking or, b) you need to be able to walk around very much. The Zeros are what I use and you end up with this enormous cleat on the bottom of your shoe which makes walking a bit of a challenge but the platform for your foot on the bike is great. The reason I suggest Speedplays is that they're much easier to get in and out of than SPD's. I have found that the "panic stop, rip your foot out of the pedal" is much, much easier with Speedplays. Not that I do panic stops often... Anyway, I wish you speedy healing.