Big benefits of going clipless?

[sundial]

Thanks Sundial - the shoe I'm looking at is a mtn bike shoe with the recessed cleats - but the pedal type is interesting - I don't understand how you clip it in though looking at the pic on amazon.

With BMX pedals you don't clip in--your sole just hangs on for dear life. If you decide to go the route of BMX platform pedal, be forewarned that if you sprint and your shoe slips off the pedal, you'll see stars as you either strike the back of your calf with the pedal or land on the top tube. Ask me how I know.

[TrekTheKaty]

Clipless pedals can help PREVENT a wreck. My sis came to a screeching stop in front of me. I laid on the brakes, and the back wheel came off the ground (picture a reverse wheelie!) If I hadn't been clipped in, my feet would have come off the pedals and I probably would have wrecked for sure. However, I was able to get my body weight back and pedal a few more strokes before properly dismounting.

You don't realize how nice cycling shoes are until you switch back to sneakers for a ride. They help reduce foot/leg fatigue for me.

[Crankin]

Like a few others, I never fell while learning to use clipless. I started with mountain bike shoes/spd pedals at the gym, in spin class. After I had been riding for about a year and a half on a mountain bike in bike shoes without cleats, I bought a road bike with dual sided spd pedals (not sure which kind) and put the cleats on. I practiced early in the morning in my neighborhood, and rode around for about 2-3 weeks with one foot clipped out half of the time. I did try practicing on the grass, but I found I was too worried about riding with road tires on grass... so I just went out and did it.
I am totally uncoordinated, so if I could learn, you can. When I got my second road bike, I switched to Speedplays and now I can barely ride without clipping in. In fact, I almost fell on my azz in traffic, while riding to the train station in regular shoes last year. My hybrid and mountain bikes have the dual sided, one side spd, one side flat pedals. I would not recommend them as others have noted, because the pedal is always weighted to the flat side and you have to flip it over half the time to clip in. I got them after I was experienced, so it's more of a pain in the rear than dangerous, though.

[Kano]

I've got those shimano pedals you mentioned on two of my bikes, and I like them -- don't know from anything else, but they've worked well for me from the beginning of my "clipless life."

The second set I bought weren't in the package, I think maybe someone had tried them and not liked them. That was okay with me -- a little cheaper, y'know? That set came with a pair of clip in platforms for those non-clipped days.

As mentioned, it's not all that delightful to have the two sided thing going on, cuz, yeah, they're never the direction I want them to be. When I want flat, they're on the other side, when I want to clip in, they're the other way. I haven't used them much in the three years or so that I've had this pair of pedals. I put them on my "grocery bike" pedals this year because I anticipate lots of neighborhood riding with my grandkids this summer. I'm finding that sometimes it's half a pedal stroke and I'm off the bike again to pick someone up, wait for him to catch up, or fix some sort of technical issue, making the good shoes and efficient pedaling pretty much not worth doing, y'know?

Karen in Boise

[gabriellesca]

Thanks guys so much - more great answers and tips.

I'm going to pick my bike up tonight - they put the pedals with clips on both sides on and I'm just going to jump in and give it a try! I'm going to buy Specialized Mountain Bike Shoes - and I think I'm going to do exactly what you did Crankin - leave it clipped out 1/2 the time until I'm totally used to it and feel comfortable.

Mostly I feel silly for being so scared and nervous about it. Which makes me want to conquer it even more. So I'm also trying to get over my mental hurdle.

So I'll just jump in and hope for the best. Now I'm bummed that we're expecting rain all day tomorrow - but I will try to find a place to ride late this afternoon when I get the bike - and hopefully ride on Sunday.

Thanks guys - I'll let you know how it goes!