help with going clipless

[leathela]

Going clipless is always a bit daunting for a new rider. The impression is one of confinement, when the reality is that you're barely, but effectively, attached to your pedals. A simple flick of the heel, like Dorothy did to go home to Kansas, will get you out. As far as the fear of falling over - it can, and most likely will happen - ONCE. Of all the accidents you can have on a bike, falling over at a complete stop is the least damaging, except to your pride, of course, because it never fails that you'll do it in front of everyone!

As a road biker, my priority in pedals is to have the largest footbed possible. I will be attached for hours at a time, and pedals with smaller connection points (Shimano SPDs, for instance) start to "drill holes" in the bottom of my feet. I tried several designs before settling on Look KEOs. The KEO design has a smaller, thinner cleat that doesn't stick out the sides of my shoes the way traditional Looks do. It gives me a large enough footbed to ride comfortably.

SpeedPlays are also a popular choice in my area. My only complaint with them was the cleat collected a lot of debris when walking around, and then wouldn't clip in until they were cleaned.

Whatever design you prefer, please expect to change your cleats at least once a year. They are meant to be disposable. And as they wear, it gets more difficult to clip in and out. I don't use cleat covers (because I don't want to use up valuable pocket space to carry them) so my cleats wear out about twice a year. But I ride about 3,500 miles a year, so you may have different results.

This is all really good advice! Like many others, I was initially really nervous about going clipless, because I too was afraid of confinement. Now that I have been riding clipless for quite awhile, I can't imagine it any other way. Like anything else, it takes some time to adjust. Practice clipping in and disconnecting in a safe area (no traffic), and preferably on the grass. There's a good chance that you will topple over as you become familiar with the pedals, but you will soon acclimate to them and not feel confined in the least.

On my Myka, I have pedals with a platform side and a side that allows me to clip in. I find these very useful, especially if I'm riding for any point in time through a high traffic area. I'd suggest you look into this sort of arrangement if you're not comfortable right now with converting solely to clipless. (They're Shimano M324, and I've really liked them).

http://www.rei.com/product/668198

This may or may not work for you, depending on your riding style, etc., but is something to possibly consider. Good luck!