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

[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.

[KSH]

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.

Hello! Welcome!

I guess I am of the mind set... that you do whatever you THINK you can do.

Use the clip pedals for a YEAR? Then switch? I would have laughed at those men... no offense. You can get comfy riding your bike in less than a year... once you are comfy riding... SWITCH!

Then again, if you know that you can handle it... then just do it.

I did clipless from day 1... and I have only fallen down clipped in... once. That was 10 month ago.

Best of luck... and know that you do whatever you set your mind to!

[Nycool]

if you are aware enough and can keep your wits about you if suddenly you need to get out of your clips then go clipless. SO MUCH EASIER than those toe cage things. I was TERRIFIED of the clips cause I heard of so many people falling over etc. I am glad I went straight to them. I think they are so much faster to get out of than the straps.

If you have a good relationship with a local shop have them install them then set the bike up on a trainer so you can get use to the feel etc.

[Technotart]

To me, it makes the most sense to just use what you know you are going to want.

It would be harder - I think - to get used to just being able to whip your foot off the pedal whenever you wanted and then to switch to clipless than to just start out on clipless right from the beginning.

I had clipless pedals put on my bike before it left the shop - I have never ridden it any other way. I have fallen twice - once while standing at a light with one foot unclipped, the wind hit a 40 mph gust and blew me over, and once while moving VERY slowly in a parking lot where I should never have been clipped in to begin with.

There are 3 kinds of cyclists - those who have fallen, those who will fall, and those who will fall again. That holds true wether you are talking clipless or not!

I'd laugh those guys out off the course and go clipless!

[julbee]

Hi to all!

Thanks for the reminder "techno!" ("...those who will fall... those who have fallen.. those who will fall again....")

I am quite frightened of falling! I didn't used to be... many years ago!
I am, however, in chronic severe pain. I have had extensive pain management treatment and am on very potent pain meds every single day.

I still ride.. now that TE has inspired me to try it again anyway!

My pain is overall and so severe, docs don't expect to ever get complete pain control. It doesn't take much to exacerbate the pain to "excruciating,"
despite several types of main meds combined!

I will fall... sometime... because I am going to continue to ride. It is actually easier and less painful for me to ride a bike than to walk!

Does anyone have any tips on methods of "breaking the fall?"

So... many have the initial fear of clipless pedals and the "fall." I wonder if it's helpful to discuss any possible techniques for minimizing the impact of the fall?

Thanks!

[Technotart]

I am told that the Bike Medic program in Houston puts all of their trainees through a "How to fall" course. These guys have to ride in where ambulances can't go, they climb steps in cities on bikes, they cruise into ravines that are very steep and wooded. I am sure there are techniques to reduce the chances of pain or injury after a fall, I would think that the primary thing would be to spread the impact out over as large an area as possible. Don't throw your hand out to catch yourself, just ball yourself up as much as possible when you go over. Easier said than done. That kind of falling takes practice. Got an old mattress you can throw out in the back yard?

[CorsairMac]

Hi to all!

Thanks for the reminder "techno!" ("...those who will fall... those who have fallen.. those who will fall again....")

I am quite frightened of falling! I didn't used to be... many years ago!
I am, however, in chronic severe pain. I have had extensive pain management treatment and am on very potent pain meds every single day.

I still ride.. now that TE has inspired me to try it again anyway!

My pain is overall and so severe, docs don't expect to ever get complete pain control. It doesn't take much to exacerbate the pain to "excruciating,"
despite several types of main meds combined!

I will fall... sometime... because I am going to continue to ride. It is actually easier and less painful for me to ride a bike than to walk!

Does anyone have any tips on methods of "breaking the fall?"

So... many have the initial fear of clipless pedals and the "fall." I wonder if it's helpful to discuss any possible techniques for minimizing the impact of the fall?

Thanks!

One of the best pieces of advice I got when I started MTB'ng: we found a big sandy patch and I fell - several times. It's the intial fear of falling that scares most people - once you've done it you know A) how you'll react {as a rule} and B) what it feels like. That being said, up there with Techo, Don't throw your hand out to try and "catch" you. I tend to relax when I fall and just let the fall happen so the damage is minimized but I also have no fear of falling. I just assume it's going to happen and each day it doesn't is a "good" day!