help with going clipless

[KnottedYet]

Speedplay Frogs are pretty cool. No moving parts, and passive release. (love me that passive release!!!!!)

What is passive release?

There is no "click" in or out. No force needed. Passive, so there is nothing actually holding you in. Speedplay Frogs are like the lid of a pickle jar (inset in the shoe, so you walk in them like a regular shoe and don't need cleat covers) and the pedal is like the jar itself. You can slide into them straight on, and to get out you just "unscrew" the jar by turning your heel out. Frogs are self-cleaning, and just clipping in cleans the cleats. I've stepped in lots of interesting things on my commute and never had to actually dig crud out, just slid the cleat onto the pedal, et voila!

Some folks don't like the slippery feel of Frogs. (the pedals, not the amphibians) Staying in them requires posture control, because if you are sloppy you will instantly unclip. LoveDefy1, you have nothing to worry about because you already have good leg awareness and control from riding horses.

Even if you accidentally unclip, the large platform of the Frog works fine to pedal on until you can clip. More often than not, just putting my foot on the platform clips me in anyway.

I like demonstrating how easy Frogs are to get out of by clipping my empty shoe to the pedal. Then I tap the heel of my shoe with the tip of my finger and stand back as my shoe just falls right off the pedal. (again, not good if you need firm external control to keep you lined up, but very nice if you have good control and you'd rather accidentally unclip than accidentally stay clipped)

Edit to Add: Speedplay makes five quite different kinds of pedals. Make sure you know which model (Frogs, Zeros, X, Drillium, Light Action) someone is talking about when they discuss Speedplay pedals. Lots of times folks will just use the short-hand "Speedplays".

[Crankin]

Unless you are racing, I can't imagine not using my cleat covers because they take up too much space! I shove them in my jersey pocket vertically, and can also put my little wallet or cellphone in there, too. And that's just one pocket.
It always surprises me that people don't use cleat covers for Speedplays. While I don't walk far in my road shoes, I do stop and get lunch, use restrooms on my rides. I still replace my cleats once a year and use White Lightening to lubricate them every few rides. My left one, always gets a little finicky, since i always clip out on that side. I know I shouldn't, but it's the way it is. I ride 2,500-3,000 miles a year.
The importance of cleat covers was driven home after we finished a ride that had a lot of rain at the end. We were on a tour and walking into the hotel when my DH slipped and fell in the lobby because of his wet cleats. He had forgotten to put the covers on. After a million employees came to assist him, probably to make sure they wouldn't get sued, he was really mortified. And he had a huge bruise on his hip the next day.
I know many people that use Frogs on their road bikes. It seems to be a good solution for many. My second bike has spds and my knees always feel it when I ride that bike.

[Onix]

light action speed plays!

I just started clipping in as well (two weeks ago). After ten minutes on the trainer practicing getting in and out---I was ready to ride, and since then have not had any problems clipping in or out. The pedals are "self-righting," so the clipping platform is always ready for clipping in. All you do to clip in is press down (no funky ankle twists or thinking about how to enter toe first and what not). To get out, you just sort of pull off. It is intuitive. They are simple to get out of. Good luck!

[RolliePollie]

I have CrankBrothers Quattros and I love them. I was going to write a nice little review of them, but then I looked at the CrankBrothers website and they aren't making them anymore! OH NO!!!!! I guess I better try to find a set from Nashbar or someplace before they're all gone. Wah.

[bikerchic]

I didn't know you had to replace your cleats every so often. Mine are knicked up and scruffy looking but work fine. Do they stop working when they need to be replaced?

I have Speedplay X's and I do lube them when needed other than that they've been great I've done no other maintenance on them.

I also did not know about the cleat covers so I looked them up on Speedplay's website, I'll have to see about getting a pair it does make sense to use them.

My first set of clipless peds were Shimano 747's couldn't ask for a better system to get me started on clipless. Very user friendly I loved them! I only quit using them when I switched to my road bike because they caused heat spots on my feet which I never noticed on my MTB. You might want to check into a set of those and as others have mentioned PRACTICE! Practice in the house on the carpet until you feel totally comfortable clipping in and out oh and check the tension on the ones your hubby gave you possibility they are set tighter for him if he's heavier than you.

Good luck and happy pedaling!

[LoveDefy1]

Thanks so much for all the help...tried the speed play lights on the LBS trainer...liked them....road on my trainer at home for 15 minutes and out on the road alone. Did not want my husband there to see me fall (if I would). Lots of practice on the road clipping in and out. Success on the first few rides. But oh........on my third or forth I unclipped after a 20 mile ride ready to stop and drink ( I have not the courage yet to do this while clipped in and riding).....I came to a stop put my right foot down, but unfortunately released the break too soon, tipped over to the left (where still attached) and guess what.....fell over to the left. Sprained my wrist, laughed and road home. The clips don't scare me anymore, got over the fall (which I hope was the last) and am getting back out there tomorrow with a wrist brace on. At least I can learn from this.....don't let go of the brake when still clipped in with one foot. Thanks again for your support.

[mrhughes]

I'm so glad you found a pedal you like, and it's working out for you. Kudos for sticking with it through the first, jittery rides. Once you are accustomed to riding with clipless pedals, I'm betting you'll agree that having that secure foothold gives you far greater control on the bike, and allows you to harness the power of the pedal stroke, for a faster, smoother ride. Snapping in and out will become second nature, even in urban areas of dense traffic. If I'm going from stoplight to stoplight and the distance is short, I often will ride with my left foot just resting on the pedal and not clipped in. However, it's kind of hard to do that - just pedaling will make my cleat engage.

The advise I got about which foot to leave attached was to alway leave your dominant foot clipped in. For me, that's the right leg - it's the one I want to push off with when I mount the bike. Also, leaving my right foot clipped means I never get the greasy chain "tattoos" on my calf!

Good luck and I'm sure you'll enjoy your Speedplays -
Mary

[mtomm]

To get comfortable in my clipless (after a couple of falls!) I rode around on the grass. It allowed me to get good practice and if I fell it didn't hurt.