Fear of Clipless Pedals

[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

[Owlie]

I have a lovely fresh scar on my left knee from when I fell the first time I rode with both feet clipped in. It happens...and multiple times to some of us. I just got my SPDs two weeks ago. Yeah, I was terrified that first ride. BF had to talk me through it after I sent a freaking-out text message to him at 1 am. I ended up riding with one regular shoe and one bike shoe (and somehow did that for 20 miles...), then tried riding around my neighborhood with both feet attached to the bike.

[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!

[BikerDar]

I second or third the recommendation to pick one leg/side as your clip out side. This helps you remember to always LEAN in the same direction too.
One of my first falls was coming to a stop in front of a group of experienced cycling friends and saying 'look at me I'm clipless', then promptly leaning in the direction I had NOT clipped out of. ooops.

Besides picking the side, the other thing I tell my trainees when they are first starting out is, if you even think you might need to stop for any reason, or it starts to cross your mind to touch your brakes, clip out. If you're in traffic and approaching a light you don't know the timing of, if you're on a bike path and coming up on some unpredictable peds, if a rider in front of you is being squirrelly, etc etc, clip out. and yes yes yes to loose tension.

I'm a big fan of Speedplay pedals. You get a little side to side motion before you disconnect which is great for folks with knee issues. For some folks the lack of play in other pedal systems causes problems. The only downside is that the pedals are very small, they are just a small lollipop sort of thing, and you may be tentative about standing up on them initially when climbing, but once you get used to them and their lightness and ease of use, you may just be as hooked as I.

There was a great article in Bicycling Magazine about clipless pedals. I'm going to try to attach it here, not sure if it will work. It was just a few months ago. I found it really interesting and helpful AND persuasive.

[HipGnosis6]

Okay... so I just had a set of campus pedals put on my bike and was feeling pretty good about it. I was confident that I'd be able to use the platform side to keep my bike functional and usable without fear until I was more comfortable clipping in and out - but the actuality is different! I'm scared that I'll have the wrong side of the pedal up and clip in when I don't intend to.

I guess it's "find somewhere grassy, put on a long-sleeved t-shirt, and don't worry about looking like a complete idiot" for me. If any of the Seattle locals want to come help me out/offer moral support/have a good laugh - let me know!

[tctrek]

If you want to ride clipless, you have to have a "system". You have to always clip in/clip out exactly the same way. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes. Most of us fall at least once, but a skinned knee or bruised pride is all that happens. Pay attention to what you are doing and stay focused until you are confident.

For me, I start out clipping in my right foot. Make sure you are holding the brake down while you get the foot clipped in so that the bike doesn't roll away on you. Then I raise up my right foot to about 2 o'clock and push off on my right pedal, hoisting myself up into the saddle. Then I clip in my left foot. Try not to look down or lean to the left when clipping in the left foot... feel for the pedal and clip in. If you can't get it on the first try, you can usually turn the crank once or twice without actually being clipped in. I've crossed a four lane highway with only right foot clipped in, so you can do it if you are focused.

When I need to stop, I unclip my left foot first while braking. I sometimes let my left foot hang down a bit without hitting the ground if I am coasting up to a stop sign or light. When I've fully braked, I put down my left foot. Make sure you have control of the bike.. don't let go of the brake until you are firmly planted. Don't lean the bike to the right or you may take off like a one-legged girl on a skateboard... I know, 'cause I've done that!
So, now you are stopped, right foot still clipped in, left foot solidly planted. Time to go, raise up the right foot to 2 o'clock, push off, hoist up in the saddle, clip left foot.

If you always do it this way, you will be astonished how natural it becomes... a good habit. And if you have to stop fast or on a hill, you can pull that left foot out really fast, plant it, make sure you are applying enough brake to stop rolling and don't lean to the right!

Make it a mantra that you say to yourself over and over until you are unconsciously competent! Practice, but most of all stay focused...not enough brake or leaning the bike are the 2 main reasons you will fall.

[tiva]

When I first started with clipless pedals last month, I always recited a mantra in my head whenever I braked or downshifted: "Braking, do I need to unclip?" and "Downshifting, do I need to unclip??" By forcing myself to pay attention each time I braked or downshifted, I kept from spacing out and falling over. Soon it became second nature.

[islandgirl2]

I know the original post here is from last month, but I am having a problem with my clipless too. I am SO scared to get on them right now. I bought the Speedplay Frogs because of all the feedback on how easy they were to get in/out of. I have Specialized MotoDiva shoes and am using the set up on my Trek Madone Road Bike so I can have shoes we can walk in. I have used spd but only on a spin bike which is obviously not the same, so I am new to clipless....

I knew I wanted to get into clipless (using toe clips right now) so I made myself try it this past weekend. getting clipped in wasn't a problem, even when it didn't go in immediately, I was able to ride for a few sec until it did clip in, but unfortunately I was having a hard time clipping out. My husband put it to it's loosest setting and I still was not doing so great. I figured it was because I was trying to clip out with my right foot at 12, that is just how I always pull my leg out of the toe clips, I guess a bad habit.

I just can't seem to get the rotation to get my foot out unless I really pull hard. I fell once because I clipped out with my left foot (which I never usually put down) and I leaned to the right. Ugh- how annoying- it was this slow motion fall haha! I went out again the same day and didn't fall the second time (only rode around my neighborhood- but anytime I couldn't unclip I just went around the block again. It was really nerve wracking. I don't know how I will be okay with it. My husband doesn't understand why it is so hard for me to get out of the pedal, he is using the Frogs too and finds it so easy. I just keep wondering what I am doing wrong? When I am on the bike standing still just practicing clipping in/out, I don't have an issues, but when I get on the bike and ride is where it all falls apart. Should I switch to a different pedal? I heard the Frogs were the easiest but maybe something else would be better for me?

I don't know if I can take it out on the trail because there are so many stops everywhere and I just don't feel confident. He did just buy a trainer for me, so I guess I can try on there, but I still feel it will be different vs being out there with the real potential to fall. I guess I should also mention that I shattered my elbow in a fall a few years ago (not cycling though) so I am pretty scared of breaking it again. So the fear of the clipless and the fear of falling are both leaving me frightened to get back on the bike with the clipless right now. I put my toe clips on for now again and am trying to get some confidence to try again.....I almost feel like taking the Frogs back to the store. I need some help- talk me off the clipless Ledge! ugh!