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

[SimpleCycle]

I'd go right to clipless. I put clipless on my road bike after a month. I'm glad I didn't mess around with toeclips and straps. I fell a few times learning, but that probably would have happened whenever I made the switch.

I'm a little more conservative in clipping out at stoplights and such than the more experienced riders I ride with, and have to remind myself to lean toward the clipped out foot.

[Nycool]

New here but just wanted to say I was TERRIFIED of the clip pedals. Well went out on my first ride on my new trek and I have to say it makes SUCH a difference. Just have someone there to help you figure out how to get you feet out of them and remember how to unclip quickly

[FreshNewbie]

Hi All!
I think i came up with a final decision - clipless , NO Straps. I yet didnt' see one person on this forum who actuall agreed on strap pedals. As for clipless KSH you said you got speedplays, do you think as a newbie it makes sence to get them right away or i should start with something different??? There is a lot of space train in the park where I ride and it's gressy from both sides, so i have a big chance to fall on a gress if i manage to manuever it well :-) Also, the Canadian goose likes use this grass as a poop field ...... but anyway where we were.... On behalf of all of us newbies huge THANX

Enjoy your summer wednesday

[Pedal Wench]

Another vote for Speedplays.

Double sided entry makes is much easier to engage.

You can unclip but keep your foot on the pedal, ready to stop, when you are going slow, in traffic, or even pedalling uphill. I use this a lot - unclipped, but still able to pedal is a big plus.

My knees have never been happier!

(I use the Zeros with adjustable float - but more important - adjustable release angle. I have it set so that I can release very quickly)

[FreshNewbie]

Hey Audio-A, do you know whats the difference between their frogs and other models and which one would be the best one?

[singletrackmind]

I've got shimano pedals (and I remain neutral as to which pedal to get, these are all I have experience with) and I backed off the tension screw on the pedal to make it a little easier to unclip. Same motion, just a lot more forgiving as far as getting my darned foot out. You do have to remember if you do have them too loose there is a chance your foot could pop out when you pedal which can cause ouchies. Once I got used to getting my foot out I brought the tension back up. That and grassy areas kept me from getting too banged up. I should have tried fields of goose poop-I bet I would have learned faster!!

[ACG]

I had straps, tried for one day, yuk! Went right to clipless.

After a few falls, I rode with one foot clipped in and the other in a tennis shoe, clipped out at every stop but still had the insurance of the other foot. Looks funny but after a few weeks, I was fine. I went on short rides, easy streets, areas I was familiar with and switched back and forth between left and right foots, monday was my right foot day, tuesday my left foot.

Clipless is the best, now I just gotta learn how to spin.

[effulgent]

I rode clipless for the first time this weekend. And man, is it great once you get going. When I was riding with my platforms before I got the clips, I would vizualize twisting my foot and clipping out at stops. I did this for the whole time I was riding with platform pedals (about a month or so). So when I did get clipless, the motion of getting out of the clips was almost second nature. I didn't have one fall on my first ride or even a scary wobble.

Getting in the clips was another story. I'm still having to look down to engage my foot about 1/2 the time. I am hoping that the clipping in becomes second nature soon. It was rather nerve wracking with one clipped in foot and one clipped out foot trying to make it across intersections. Most of the time I gave up and made it through the intersection, then looked down to be able to clip in.

I'm not worried about falling because I can't clip out, but I am worried about eating it in the middle of the intersection because I can't get clipped in and I freak out.

[spazzdog]

If you have a trainer, practice pedaling with one foot clipped in. That way you can pedal through the intersection without worrying about that other foot. I do it all the time, though my pedal of choice is Speedplay. There's not "hunting" for the pedal or the right side... you can pop in on either side.

[KSH]

Hi All!
As for clipless KSH you said you got speedplays, do you think as a newbie it makes sence to get them right away or i should start with something different???

Well, honestly... I wish I had started with the SpeedPlays. Because I didn't... I spent around $200 extra on shoes and pedals that are now in my closet.

I personally have the basic SpeedPlays, I like being able to move my foot on the pedal, while still being clipped in.

If you go up to the more expensive models, above $120... I think that is when you can adjust how much play you have in the pedal.

In the end... for me... being clipped in without being able to move my foot around at all... contributed to my knee pain... because my cleat was positioned wrong.

I have also found it a lot easier to unclip in the SpeedPlays.

But in the end... it's a matter of preference... not how advanced or seasoned you are. It's all about what works for you. Unfortunately, sometimes that becomes expensive though!

[Nycool]

Getting in the clips was another story. I'm still having to look down to engage my foot about 1/2 the time. I am hoping that the clipping in becomes second nature soon. It was rather nerve wracking with one clipped in foot and one clipped out foot trying to make it across intersections. Most of the time I gave up and made it through the intersection, then looked down to be able to clip in.

I'm not worried about falling because I can't clip out, but I am worried about eating it in the middle of the intersection because I can't get clipped in and I freak out.

Big +1 from me haha my left clip is harder than the right to get clipped into.

[Jo-n-NY]

I also put my vote in for Speedplays. I have the Frogs because I use a mtn shoe and the frogs can go on road or mtn shoes.

I originally had shimano's that we had laying around in the garage so I could see if I liked the whole clippless thing. I liked them except for the tention thing and felt I really had to concentrate before coming to a stop to clip out because I had to push through the tension before it released.

The Speedplay Frogs have no tension. Just pivot my heel outward and I am unclipped, but they are not so easy that I unclip while riding. When stopped at a light and then starting again, I do as Audio-A does as my left foot stays clipped in, my right foot is out so when I begin to pedal I just lay my foot on the pedal as platform and clip in as I am pedaling at a momentum.

I almost got Look Keo's like my husband and I am so glad I didn't. He really has to push his heel out with some effort (from what I can tell riding behind him). Of course I found out I couldn't use them anyway unless I switched to a road shoe. Good thing the decision was made for me.

~JoAnn

[FreshNewbie]

KSH, I think based on what you said about speedplays its going to be the ultimate choice for me. Since I been in sports for a long time ( used to be a gymnast when i was around 7) plus running and working out, i can already feel my knees aching, so once i am ready to purchase clipless I will def check the speedplays out. By the way did you use any creams or vitamins for that knee pain you had?? Because sometimes I wonder if I should be taking or applying something. I recently read about some cream that actually heals the inflamation in your joints instead of just taking off the simptoms. If I find the name i will let you all know if you interested.

Friday is tomorrow, yeyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[newbiechick]

I don't know about creams to use for knee pain. However, I've heard good things about taking glucosamine supplements. I've been taking glucosamine for about 2 1/2 years, ever since I started running. I take it for prevention, but I've heard it is can also be taken therapeutically, with very good results. Evidently there are mixed reports on the best supplement to take--there is glucosamine & chondroitin, glucosamine sulfate, and I think another version or two that are more recent additions to the market. Most of the reading I've done seems to indicate that the glucosamine itself is the most effective thing ... so I take glucosamine sulfate since it costs about half of the version with chondroitin. I'm by no means an expert; maybe other people on this list have experience to share. Hope you find relief one way or another.

Shelley
(aka newbiechick)

[RoadRaven]

Glucosamine.... Goooood....