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

[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.

[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....

[Technotart]

Glucosamine is one "alternative" treatment that sctaully has valid studies in the medical arena which support it's use!

Yup - good stuff

[eofelis]

I went from platform pedals to toe clips then on to SPD clipless.

I used toe cages with the straps loose and never had a problem. I still use toeclips occasionally on a commuter bike.

When I went clipless I made sure the tension on the pedals was very loose, I still use them this way. It's easy to unclip, but I have never had them unclip when I didn't want to. I fell once or twice when I first got them. Climbing was a bit scary at first as I could not coast to unclip, but I do fine now and can unclip while pedaling to stop on a hill. If I'm in a rough spot I can unclip one side and just put my foot on the pedal while pedaling if I feel I might need to stop.

My mtn bike is not clipless yet, but I am ready to go clipless on it soon. I have half clips on it, just a little little plastic part that slips over the toe of my shoe and keeps my foot from going off the front of the pedal. These have worked ok, but are sometimes tricky to flip over the pedal and get into while going down a rough spot.

I have a pair of the Nashbar SPD pedals, $20 on sale, on the way to try on the mtn bike and I am going to try the "chicken cleats" that come unclipped very easily.

[KSH]

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

Hee-hee... well, I am not a Doctor or anything... but you will love the SpeedPlays... just because they rock! Ha!

I can't really comment on the creams... I just kind of did my own knee rehab... I backed off on pedaling so fast... started spinning my pedals... dropped my miles... and rested when my knees weren't feeling too great.

A month or so later... my knee pain is barely noticeable anymore... I feel very fortunate.


Also... listen to TechnoTart... she is a nurse and is in school to be a nurse practitioner (??? right???).

[Technotart]

Yup - Yur right! LOL

As for lisnin to me wellllllllllll.....some days I make sense, other days I wonder just what the heck I'm talking about.....

Break a leg on your tri this weekend!

[CR400]

Ok just got on this forum today so take it easy on me. I still use the toe clips on my pedels. My friend that went with me to get my bike told me to use the clip pedels for a year and then make the switch when I was ready. I wanted to buy clipless that day but he told me it was a bad idea and so did the sales person. So this year I went out and bought a set of speedplays but have yet to put them on.

The pedels lost the dumb straps after about a week. I went to stop and forgot about them and just about broke my ankle falling. So I ride with just the toe clip. In fact even did a club crit that way, and have a TT on tap Sunday. Plan on changing out this fall and ride with them this winter on the trainer. I would find someone to hold the bike while you learn or use a nice soft spot in your yard.