Little 'WAHOO' and a Shoe Question

[artifactos]

My feet have no pain. It's a marvel. I'm not totally out of the woods on my pedals though. I'm switching pedals and cleats with my husband as his seem easier to clip out of.

When I first learned to ride with toeclips, I left the straps completely loose until I felt confident and could reach down and cinch them up like it was second nature. I wish the clipless pedals had a training version. Even with the tension on lowest setting, it still seems to require more "jerk" than I have.

I'm determined though.

Are your pedals and cleats both new? Mine were IMPOSSIBLE for me to clip in (I weigh about 120 lbs) for the first time, even with my LBS owner pounding on my feet to try to get them to clip in. He ended up having to put on my tiny shoes, get on my little bike, and clip them in and out a few times to sort of "break them in" for me. It was hilarious, and I wish I would have taken a picture.

Either way, cleats often do need some break in time. Unfortunately, this is usually when you are learning how to use them, so it can be a bit of a pain. My Speedplays took maybe 10 bouts of in/out before they were pretty easy to get in and out of, and I cleaned and dry-lubed them yesterday since they were getting a little gritty and harder to get in and out of again.

I've found that SPDs have been pretty easy to get in and out of for me, but I always miss the float and slightly larger pressure base of my Speedplays when I use the SPDs - I tend to get hot spots with the SPDs.

[AMP]

Artifactos, you just gave me a thought: By switching pedals with my husband, I'll get his great weight and strength to break them in and then switch them back! He has Mavick and I have Shimano Ultegra. Either way both clips and pedals will be broken in effortlessly.

Oh and I tend to clip out consantly on my right because I'm stronger and use that side to pivit off of. I should force myself to practice on the left not just for me, but for the pedal.

[arielmoon]

Ok so now I am here reading here how many of you clip out right thinking that I must be in the minority that clips out left. My only stall and fall happened when I had clipped out left but accidentally leaned right. Crankin, I am the same way with my speedplays. It is automatic!

The tension on many pedals are adjustable. On the mtn bike I was loaned they made me nervous because they were so tight but a few turns with the allen wrench and it was much better.

[sundial]

I unclip the left first and steer slightly to the left before I stop. The times I have fallen it's because I couldn't get my right foot unclipped fast enough.

[Faster Pussycat]

I clip out only the the left as well. This was just how I was taught as my right leg is my stronger side.

Also, in Australia we ride and drive on the left hand side so your gutters, poles etc are on the left.

I have tried practicing unclipping and stopping with my right foot and it just confuses me. If I was in an emergency I would unclip left and then just tip over until my foot touched the ground.

On my first road ride I stopped at a set of lights, put my left foot on the ground and still had a soft fall to the right. I have no idea how it happened!