Brand new to road cycling

[RockyRaquel]

Hi Everyone!
I am living in the Sammamish area and I just got my first road bike the other day. (I used to have a mountain bike when I was a kid through my teen years and have done other sports like the hurdles in track, xc, swim team, working out at the gym, etc.) I am a little overwhelmed right now as I fell 3 times with my new clipless pedals and scuffed up my brand new bike, oh yeah and I got a great crank ring tattoo as well. I know I am getting it down though because I practiced with my boyfriend running beside me in his parking lot for an hour just like when you're learning how to ride a bike and get off training wheels! Anyways, I just wanted to know if there is anything I can do make myself less intimidated by the clipless pedals, and just any advice on starting out in cycling.
Thank you!
Raquel

[Kano]

are they adjusted to be as easy as possible to get out of? I don't have a clue how to do that, but someone else will, and can fill us in!

The guy that installed our pedals for us (the first time -- we moved mine to my road bike when I got that) told us to just stay in one place, holding onto a wall or something and practice the clip/unclip for a while before riding. We did pretty well for a while, then had our tip over falls about the time you start to think "I'm not going to do that ever!"

The scuffs on you AND the bike are badges of honor -- better minor scuffs than big dents!

Those dang tattoos, you can get those any old time...

Karen in Boise

[redrhodie]

Maybe try Speedplay Frogs. I don't use them myself, but they get RAVE reviews here for ease of use. I use SPDs, and like Kano said, have them adjusted so they're loose.

[RockyRaquel]

I got the Keo Elle pedals and the Specialized Women's BG torch Road shoes. They made it so it was pretty easy to get in and out of. I just seem to keep leaning to the opposite side I click out of!!

[mimitabby]

I have SPD's and have them VERY loose works great. After a while, your muscle memory will click in and clicking out will be just as much of a reflex as putting on the brakes is now.

[Pedal Wench]

I got the Keo Elle pedals and the Specialized Women's BG torch Road shoes. They made it so it was pretty easy to get in and out of. I just seem to keep leaning to the opposite side I click out of!!

Then get used to using the other foot. Seriously, most people get in the habit of using the same foot most of the time. Granted, it's best to be able to use either foot, but most folks don't.

[VeloVT]

I think the mistake most people make when they first get clipless pedals is that they practice clipping and unclipping one foot while stopped a few times, then figure they've got it down and it will be easy when they have to do it riding. Then they go for a ride (even a ride around the parking lot), and go to slow down, come to a near stop, and brain goes "wha huh? I'm supposed to do what now?" and over they go. I know I did this um, more than once, and when I took my bf out to try clipless pedals for the first time I forgot to warn him about this, and he fell over the first time he tried to stop (I had ridden his shiny new carbon bike and put him on my less precious bike in case he should fall -- it's nice to have compatible pedals with the person you ride with most -- and sure enough, he fell over and put a big scuff on my hard-to-find pink Arione). However, it was my fault for not giving a pre-lecture about this because I anticipated it...

So here's what I would tell someone now, before they actually got on the bike ...
Your brain needs to be trained to automatically associate slowing/stopping and clipping out -- and by trained, I don't mean "told", because for lots of people anyway, that's not enough -- they know what they're supposed to do but brain just doesn't do it. To teach your brain to do it automatically, you have to practice the process over and over while thinking about the steps consciously. So, every time you see a stop sign or intersection in the distance, instead of thinking, "i'm going to stop out there", you think "ok. Step one: clip out. Step two: slow down. Step three: stop and lean to the same side you clipped out." When you see a stop far enough ahead in the distance, rehearse this in your mind once or twice before you actually do it ("ok, what am I going to do up there? I'm going to clip out, slow down, lean and stop. alright, here it is, clip out, slow down, lean, stop!"). DON"T ever just think "stop" -- think "clip out, slow down, lean & stop." At the beginning, this may mean that you clip out WAY before you need to... this is fine, know that with practice clipping out **will** become subconscious, and you'll be able to sit on your bike clipped in at almost a dead stop as you approach intersections, because you know you'll be able to clip out when/if you have to.

I had a really hard time adjusting to clipless. (I didn't have anyone to help me though). It probably took me two months to really feel comfortable on them. That was two years ago, and it's subconscious for me now. It seems like a lot of people here have had a faster learning curve than I did -- but know that if you're slow getting the hang of it, you're certainly not the only one.

Also though, when people have a hard time with pedals (and I'm not talking about knee issues or injuries, I'm just talking about having a hard time clipping in & out) and their first reaction is "I need a different kind of pedal -- this pedal JUST DOESN'T WORK for me!", I tend to be a little skeptical of that.

So, Good luck!!!!

And no, I'm not this pedantic about everything .

[RockyRaquel]

Thank you all so much for your replies - I am going for a ride tomorrow with my bf and hopefully all goes well!

[nic840]

See if you can go back to the shop and hop on their trainer. I spent a good 20 minutes on the trainer cliping in and out. Its good because you can get you can simulate everything when you ride except for the balance part. Take it slow and trust me you will never want to go back from clipless once you have ridden with them!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Do some searches on these forums and you will find a HUGE amount of good advice for beginner cyclists, clipless tips, etc. Run a search for "clipless" threads on the forum. Look through the older threads- they are a gold mine of exactly the information you are looking for.
Welcome to TE! Lots of good info and encouragement here!

[imdeanna]

Hello fellow Newbie!

I too fell over 3 times...and I also got the chain ring tattoo from catching myself from a close call fall!

I had a hard time with the spd clipless.....I got light action speedplays, and haven't had an issue since! Now...I need to learn how to DRINK and RIDE at the same time ...w/out dropping the water bottle (AGAIN)!! lol

oh...and when during my first left turn with traffic at controlled light....I took my spot in the lane...got going pretty good...and was delighted when I clipped right in like a pro!.....BUT didn't raise high enough when I went to put my butt on the saddle...and the front of the seat actually grabed my shorts and yanked them down....thank goodness for stretchy spandex...otherwise I'd been sideways smiling at the cars behind me!!! LOL.... (took a couple of corrective movements to unhitch my shorts...and from behind.....I must have looked like I was riding a bucking bronco!!!!

[Fujichants]

Hahahaha Imdeanna, that has happened to me several times as well, where my shorts get stuck on the saddle. Its rather embarrassing, but yeah, thank god they are not low rise shorts!

By the way...how do the Look Keo Elle pedals compare to the Look Keo classic pedals? Just curious because i'm looking to get some Look Keo pedals.

[RockyRaquel]

Hey guys, I took your advice and I did not fall once today on my bike ride!! We went for about 2 hours and I'm going again on Sunday. I had so much fun and I feel great! I am really liking my shoes and pedals. (Keo Elle Look pedals).

[NbyNW]

Welcome to the board, Raquel!

Glad you're feeling more comfortable in your pedals. I also just started using clipless last summer and just when I think I'm getting comfortable . . . the other day I was tackling a new steep hill on my ride home, lost momentum, and down I went! Very embarrassing, and a nice lady who was driving by in the opposite direction stopped and offered to help me get up, but I managed to untangle myself and thank her for her offer.

It probably goes to show the value of trying out new riding conditions/terrain in a calm, relaxed setting . . . thank goodness this happened on a quiet street!

I will probably look for a longer, gentler route home until I'm strong enough and skillful enough for that hill.

Hope you continue to have a blast on your new bike!