Clipless question...

[zoom-zoom]

I don't know how tight your clips are, but it might help to loosen them so it takes almost nothing to get your foot out. It really screwed me up having to think about rotating my foot with so much pressure when trying to stop.

Ditto this. I have Shimano SPD pedals and have them as loose as I can, which still seems to hold my cleats in just fine, as I haven't had any issues with cleats disengaging. So far, so good. I had a few clipless pedal falls years ago with a cheaper pair of SPDs that were harder to adjust, but this time around have been doing OK. *knock on wood* I think it helps a lot that I spent the entire Winter pedaling on the trainer and being able to become accustomed to clipping in and out without risk of a fall.

[Catrin]

Ditto this. I have Shimano SPD pedals and have them as loose as I can, which still seems to hold my cleats in just fine, as I haven't had any issues with cleats disengaging. So far, so good. I had a few clipless pedal falls years ago with a cheaper pair of SPDs that were harder to adjust, but this time around have been doing OK. *knock on wood* I think it helps a lot that I spent the entire Winter pedaling on the trainer and being able to become accustomed to clipping in and out without risk of a fall.

Cool, I will remember this. I did not have any problems unclipping, I think that my clipless "gymnastics" were more related to muscle memory issues. I am new to riding and must think about everything related to stopping. It isn't an issue with platform pedals, but at this time I think the clipless pedals simply added another level of complexity.

At this point I am going to wait until at least July to try it again, and of course to ride as much as possible before then I am back to having fun and refuse to worry over-much about what pedals I am using right now! I would think that by July stopping should be automatic...but I will decide in July if it is time to try again.

[zoom-zoom]

Cool, I will remember this. I did not have any problems unclipping, I think that my clipless "gymnastics" were more related to muscle memory issues. I am new to riding and must think about everything related to stopping. It isn't an issue with platform pedals, but at this time I think the clipless pedals simply added another level of complexity.

I get this...I still have a few moments where I definitely don't feel like unclipping is second-nature (and have had a few moments where I am certain that an extra second of hesitation would have had me on the ground--still clipped-in ). At this point I am really picking routes where I know where all the stops are and won't have to stop too often. I'm starting to feel a bit braver, but still want to be as cautious as possible until I feel that I've mastered the clipless pedals thing. I think you are smart to work into them slowly...whatever makes you feel confident and safe on your bike is important.