Fear of Clipless Pedals

[ny biker]

Hmm, let's see, there was somewhere on the cleat that you can use a 2mm wrench to make it easier to unclip? I think....? or maybe I am wrong. I know I need more practice, just have to find a place with a big field that I can practice and not look like a fool! I just can't seem to get enough turn to pull my foot out. It is pretty easy when my leg is down at the bottom of my pedal stroke.

Forget about how you look. Just find a big field. Don't worry about anyone who sees what you're doing. Ignore them. Just practice and you'll get it.

[yellowrose93]

I was also afraid of the whole clipping and unclipping. We have a trainer so I practiced a lot on that first. Then, I went around the neighborhood with dh. You should have seen me the first time trying to get clipped. Good thing the neighbor kids weren't out. Even though I felt like I had it down, I still fell on our first big ride together. Unclipped one foot and not the other, and fell to the clipped side. I now unclip both feet to help prevent that.

I would suggest making sure the clips/cleats really are adjusted properly. I have different kinds than my dh so he had to look online how to adjust them. At first they were so tight I couldn't even get clipped in while he tried to help! Once you know for sure they are adjusted properly, practice a lot! If you have a trainer that is a great place to start. If not, I like the grassy field idea. Even pedaling around the neighborhood, unclipping and stopping a lot, would be good.

Give yourself time to adjust. They are awesome! I'm almost over my fear, although stopping still makes me think. Falling over once was more than enough for me! Good luck!!

BTW, I also have the SPD style cleat, although mine are Shimano SM-SH55 and my shoes are Nike.

[schnitzle]

This is a great thread, I've really learned a lot! I'm just starting out on a hybrid, so it will be a while until I move to clipless pedals, but I do have a question...

TCTrek mentioned dual platform pedals so you can easily ride with one foot clipped in, one out for practice. They sound ideal to me, but is it hard to find the clip side of the pedal when you're trying to get your cleat in? Do you have to look down every time? I can imagine that would get old once you're experienced and want to ride clipped in all the time.

[trista]

TCTrek mentioned dual platform pedals so you can easily ride with one foot clipped in, one out for practice. They sound ideal to me, but is it hard to find the clip side of the pedal when you're trying to get your cleat in? Do you have to look down every time? I can imagine that would get old once you're experienced and want to ride clipped in all the time.

This is what my dh and I both use and really like them. It's not hard at all to find the desired side. You know it by feel, and if you don't get the right side when you take off, you let the pedal go one turn and it comes back on the other side. I don't ever have to look down. I really like having the option to go clipless or not. Maybe some day i'll always want to go clipless, and if that happens I'll just get new pedals. The dual-sided ones were only $25 so it wasn't like a huge investment or anything