To do Clipless or Not to do Clipless ! ?????

[FreshNewbie]

Hey NewbieChick,
It does sound like we have similar problem My boyfriend is also being very supportive and he is a good teacher. Unfortunatelly, none of who I know has the trainer, but I do know that some people put their bikes in between kitchen or room walls so they have something to hold on to from both sides and that's how they learn to clip and unclip. I did try my boyfriend's shoes and his pedals on his bike since we are the same height and shoe size, so I kinda got a feel of what it is like. And just like you i tried the strap pedals in the store and they were so tight on my shoe that I wondered whether going straight to clipless might work better for me. So, its sort of a tough call for me since the whole set of clipless and shoes is pretty expensive. Anyway, let me know if you are going to get them or not

[bouncybouncy]

First of all....straps = bad news! Like ski boots...clipless will allow your feet to release if NEED be! Straps won't.

I was able to get used to clipless on a mountian bike...but before I hit the trail my fiancee made me ride around, and around, and around, stopping, clipping out, clipping in, clipping out, over & over & over & over...

...am I getting my point across? Anyway, I think it was here on this forum I read that someone went to a park (lots of grassy areas) and practiced until she was comfy in her clipless. Once you "get" them you will love them!

Oh yeah...you can adjust (at least mine do) the tightness of the clip. You can tighten them as you get more comfortable.

GoodLuck!!!!

[FreshNewbie]

BouncyBouncy! I think you are right, I tried straps and i did try clipless as I mentioned. I think I will def. go straight to clipless .... Thank you for your advice

[singletrackmind]

I started out with the strappy dealies and later went to clipless.
That necessitated learning two different manuvers to remove my foot from the pedal. I think it would have been easier to just learn clipless right off-sure I would have crashed trying to get my foot off the pedal but I found I did anyway, trying to pull it back like it was toeclips instead of twisting. I crashed while learing to deal with toeclips too, so I would have saved myself one set of crashes.

[bikerchick68]

hiya... the biggest benefit of clipless is that they allow you to use ALL your muscle power to move the bike... with platforms you push down with your quads but have no way to pull up... with clipless, since you're locked in, you push down and then as the pedal comes around you also PULL UP, putting those hamstrings to work as well! Most of your power should come from your core and your glutes... but you definitely will increase speed being able to utilize everything you got...

OK, so that being said, I learned in my garage with my ex-husband holding the bike in place (my personal trainer sorta!) and I would clip in, clip out, clip in, clip out... first couple of rides I stayed back and unclipped WAY in advance of any stop so I was ready... once unclipped it's no different stopping than when you're in platforms...

as you get comfortable too, it is important to learn to unclip BOTH sides and alternate at every stop... this allows you to have first your right foot down and STRETCHED out (gives the IT Band a way to stretch for a minute) and then at the next stop your left foot down so you can give that side a minute to stretch...

After practicing a few times I was fine with them... the only time I have fallen was unrelated... front tire in trolley track= body on pavement

good luck and let us know how it goes if you decide to try 'em!

[julbee]

Hi newbiechick, Freshnewbie and Audio-A!

I am thinking about "clipless," too! I am doing some research on different types, the degrees of float, etc.

Audio-A, that idea ia quite intelligent! I like it! Clipless pedals will demand being even more "present" while riding. This is excellent!

The "practicing on a trainer" is also a great idea!

Thanks for sharing the ideas!

Does anyone have reference to specific info. on the dgrees of float needed to "protect knees?" Does anyone know if there has been research done on this? Any references at all?

Thanks!