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

[FreshNewbie]

Hi Everybody! So I am sort of between two fires now. I am really new at riding, but I do know that i am learing to love this sport. I been out on the road only 2 times now, and I am using regular platform pedals on my road bike. However, after reading this forum I learned that many of you started biking using clipless pedals right away. I will be honest, I am scared to think about using them now, but I know once I am better I will be more comfortable with the idea of being attached to the bike. My boyfriend tells me that it will be a good idea to try pedals with straps first and then switch to clipless. GIRLS i need your advice, what should I do????

[Pedal Wench]

This is going to sound ridiculous, but it worked well for me.

Bear with me (or is it 'bare'? I never know!) it's gonna sound funny.

For a month before I tried clipless, I used imaginary clipless pedals. Yup. Imaginary ones. Every stop and start, I pretended I was clipped in and made myself twist my ankle out, and make sure I got a good solid imaginary clip in from a stop. At first, while I was still getting comfortable on the bike, I would forget. No new pedals for me that week. Until I did my entire ride without a mishap, I didn't think I was ready. When that little 'flick' of my ankle became second nature, that's when I knew it was time.

[FreshNewbie]

You know that actually doesn't sound rediculous( my spelling is not so good either). I will give it a try, since i am not losing anything.... why not... Thanx for the advice

[newbiechick]

I'm glad you're here, 'cause it sounds like you and I are in exactly the same situation. I've also been out riding exactly twice (with my fiance, who is wonderfully supportive, encouraging, etc.!). Also wondering how to handle the pedal thing. When I was getting fitted for a bike, one of the bikes I tried had pedals with toe straps and I thought I was going to kill myself; I think that was partly because I have very wide feet, and was wearing very wide running shoes, which seems to want to stick in the strap ... then I couldn't get the pedal turned over and my toe back in to go again. Anyway ... I've decided when it's time to change from the platform pedals I'm going to skip the toe straps and go directly to clipless.

When I found TE just a week or so ago I read thru lots of threads that looked like they'd be helpful to me. On one of them, someone said she used a trainer (which essentially turns your bike into a stationary bike) and practiced until she got used to clipping in and out. Sounded like a great idea to me. Think I'll plan to use my fiance's trainer to do just that. Any chance your boyfriend or another friend might have one you could borrow so you could practice first?

Please let us (me) know how it goes when you take the plunge. I look forward to hearing about all your progress.

[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!!!!

[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!

[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!

[newbiechick]

singletrackmind,

Thanks for the very helpful input ... I read your post and thought, "Duh!!" Why learn one technique when you know you're going to change to another? And who the heck needs another set of crashes?!

Really appreciate going through this learning process with other women--even if only in cyberspace.

[slinkedog]

I had a lot of fear using clipless pedals at first. My main problem was that I would clip out my right foot and my weight would be leaning left and I would fall over even though I did have a foot clipped out. My husband taught me to turn my front wheel AWAY from the clipped out foot (i.e. clip out right, turn wheel to the left) so that the weight of the bike will naturally fall to the side of the clipped out foot. Also, using the trainer really helped me figure out clipping in/out and getting used to switching gears.

[CorsairMac]

They make a platform/clipless pedal combo that you might be interested in. When I first went clipless I did like someone else here said, I rode for awhile on my platforms is if I was riding clipless, when I put the clipless on, I rode around my neighbourhood without stopping, just pedalling around and clippling and unclipping. I have the combo ones on my MTB and I love that idea as a newbie MTB'er.....regular clipless on everything else. I had straps 1 time lonnnnnnnnnng time ago and I would Never had straps again. I could Never get my feet out and the whole "trying to get my feet back in on take off" was just dangerous.

[carback]

I haven't read all the posts so my apologies if what I"m about to say has already been said.

Stay away from straps (aka rat trap pedals) at all costs. I got my foot stuck in one many years ago and ended up shredding my meniscus.

Practice Practice Practice with the clipless. I sat on my bike, in my basement, with one arm on the wall for support and just practiced clipping and unclipping. It does eventually become second nature.

Make sure you buy pedals that have an adjustment. As you become more comfortable with them, and you will, you can tighten them if you need / want to. And if you do get 'stuck' or forget you're clipped in, if they're set at a loose enough tension, you should pop out of them anyhow (much like a downhill ski binding) thus saving your knees & meniscus.

Keep in mind that forgetting you're clipped in and falling is a rite of passage. It happens to everyone. Usually when you're at a stop sign and tons of people in cars can see you.

good luck.

[KSH]

My boyfriend tells me that it will be a good idea to try pedals with straps first and then switch to clipless. GIRLS i need your advice, what should I do????

Eh... personally, I think that is bad advice. No offense to himk... but those stupid straps are HARDER to release from than clipless pedals. Due to those straps... my tennis shoe got caught... and I went over and hit the ground. That was on my TEST RIDE for the bike. Right then and there, I said, "Get my some clipless pedals".

Now, you may want to get comfy on just using the pedal.... without having your foot strapped down at all.

It all comes down to what you feel comfortable and up to doing.

I rode on my bike from day 1 on clipless pedals (recently upgraded to the SpeedPlays), and I have LOVED IT! AND... I have only fallen over once (when I was stopped) due to leaning over and not being unclipped on that side! I didn't hurt myself.

Now, I will tell you, that even a few months later... I STILL have to REMIND myself, "UNCLIP... YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN". I also unclip if I see any situation coming up where I might need a foot down quick.

Best of luck in whatever you decide! And if you do with clipless... always unclip before applying your brakes... and be CONFIDENT in yourself!

PS- I also found the SpeedPlays MUCH easier to get out of than the other cleated type of pedals that I had. It's also nice to be able to move your foot some on the pedal, vs. being locked into one spot!