Fear of Clipless Pedals

[Loraura]

I would spend a week or 2 getting comfortable on the bike in general if you are not accustomed to riding this type of bike.

I would have a LBS check the tension on the pedals and set them to the losest setting.

When you clip out, are you clipping out on only one foot to set it down? That's how most do it. When I go for a ride my left foot clips in at the beginning (before I ever start peddaling) and i stays clipped in until I get off the bike. (Don't make the same mistake I did and learn to clip out with the right foot, it makes chain ring tattoos on me all the time! Clip out on the left while you are learning so it becomes second nature). It may take some practice for balancing the lean. Do this in your non-clip shoes. Try leaving the right foot on the pedal, and only putting your left foot down. Gently lean a LITTLE to the left as you do so that the bike will lean in the direction of your free foot.

Soon enough it will be in your muscle memory to lean the right way, which will avoud toppling over toward the clipped in foot.

I can't say I recommend this BUT when I was learning, I didn't have anyone to teach me the "right" way. So I learned to clip out by actually rotating my foot TOWARD the bike, rather than outward. For some reason I was stronger in that motion. Not sure this works with your type of pedals, but on SPD's it does. I try to swing the foot outward to clip out now, but if I'm in a hurry to unclip, muscle memory takes over, and I swing toward the bike and pop right out.

It sounds like you are fine on the trainer, so you need to practice the leaning of the bike with one foot still on the pedals.

When I come to a stop, I unclip the foot and hang it downward off the pedal. I squeeze the brakes to time my stop to wear my clipped in foot will stop at the bottom of the pedal stroke. As I'm slowing and my clipped in foot is rotating downward I stand up a little, clearing my rear end from the saddle so that I land my clipped out foot down on the ground and I'm standing over the bike, but in front of the saddle. I can not place a foot flat on the ground while still in the saddle. If I tried to, I'm pretty sure I'd fall over.

[colorisnt]

I am good now, guys. I listened to your advice and the advice of my ride group and did great. I went to my grandmother's church (where the parking lot is big, open, and quiet) and talked to myself a lot. I practiced a million times in my tennis shoes. Then, I put on clip on (the left, the one I first put on and take out) and left the other out. That was really simple. I then put on my other and didn't fall NOT ONCE!

It was the tilt of the bike and the tension of those clips that became a problem. I put them on the loosest setting with a 2.5mm Allen Wrench like they told me and life was GOOOOOOD. I rode all over town and even crossed a busy road. I remembered to down shift and pull that left foot out every single time, so I think it is working.

[Catrin]

I am good now, guys. I listened to your advice and the advice of my ride group and did great. I went to my grandmother's church (where the parking lot is big, open, and quiet) and talked to myself a lot. I practiced a million times in my tennis shoes. Then, I put on clip on (the left, the one I first put on and take out) and left the other out. That was really simple. I then put on my other and didn't fall NOT ONCE!

It was the tilt of the bike and the tension of those clips that became a problem. I put them on the loosest setting with a 2.5mm Allen Wrench like they told me and life was GOOOOOOD. I rode all over town and even crossed a busy road. I remembered to down shift and pull that left foot out every single time, so I think it is working.

Yay for you! I am so glad that this worked for you!

[lisathew8lifter]

THANK YOU so much for posting this. I came here with the intention to put something similar because of my own anxiety over clip pedals.

I have been mountain biking for several years and have never once thought about clip pedals despite everyone saying how great they are. I bought my first road bike yesterday and am planning to switch to clip pedals but I'm terrified. This post was extremely helpful and I will take the advice to get used to the bike for a few weeks and then go to a parking lot with a grassy area and go for it.

[tiva]

THANK YOU so much for posting this. I came here with the intention to put something similar because of my own anxiety over clip pedals.

I have been mountain biking for several years and have never once thought about clip pedals despite everyone saying how great they are. I bought my first road bike yesterday and am planning to switch to clip pedals but I'm terrified. This post was extremely helpful and I will take the advice to get used to the bike for a few weeks and then go to a parking lot with a grassy area and go for it.

Don't be terrified! I freaked myself out and delayed getting them for years, but it took only a few minutes to become comfortable. If you can get your LBS to put them on your bike and make the tension as light as possible at first, adjust your cleats, and let you practice on your bike on their trainer for a while, that will really help. But before you try on the grass, make sure you shift down first!

[Catrin]

lisathew8lifter - Just as an encouragement, I know several life-long avid mountain bikers who say the clipless pedals enhances their skills and helps them to be better mountain bikers.

[annielynn]

Great news! Clipless pedals are the most nerve wracking part of riding IMO. I have the scars to prove how hard it was for me when I first started out. I am very happy to hear that through the advice you got here that you are "rocking it!" WTG

[lisathew8lifter]

lisathew8lifter - Just as an encouragement, I know several life-long avid mountain bikers who say the clipless pedals enhances their skills and helps them to be better mountain bikers.

hi Catrin,
my hubby wears them and swears by them. i have a tendancy to get hung up on rock gardens, tree roots, etc and just have this fear of my feet not coming out! if this works out with the road bike, i may try it. i have enough scars from the pedals on my legs, shins, etc to last me!

[lisathew8lifter]

Don't be terrified! I freaked myself out and delayed getting them for years, but it took only a few minutes to become comfortable. If you can get your LBS to put them on your bike and make the tension as light as possible at first, adjust your cleats, and let you practice on your bike on their trainer for a while, that will really help. But before you try on the grass, make sure you shift down first!

thanks Tiva! i don't have a trainer at home, but i'm planning to stay around the culdesac or even just a LOW traveled area at first. we have some huge hills and i have said i'm not going up those until i am familar with shifting and the pedals.

i need to get shoes since the LBS didn't have any my size, so that is next on the agenda and all recommendations on those are welcome and appreciated!