Fear of Clipless Pedals

[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!

[KnottedYet]

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.

Ummm, what "loosest setting?" I've had Frogs for 4 years and never knew that they had settings.

Practice getting your foot out at all clock positions. I generally unclip my right foot at 12 and keep my left at 6 (left stays on the bike, right goes to the ground). So, exactly what you do.

Go to a big grassy field and ride clipping in and out and pedalling with one foot in, one out, one foot alone, unclipping both at once (that's fun!) and so on.

I can't say enough for how useful it was for me to learn clipless in a big grassy field!

[islandgirl2]

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.

[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.

[Crankin]

[QUOTE=islandgirl2;523457. It is pretty easy when my leg is down at the bottom of my pedal stroke.[/QUOTE]

You shouldn't be trying to unclip when your leg is anywhere but the bottom of the stroke, fully extended. I can't imagine trying to unclip with my leg pulled up and not at the bottom of the stroke.
I have Speedplays (though not the Frogs) and it is really much much easier to unclip than with spds, which I started with and I have on my hybrid and mountain bike. Since they are free float, you should be able to just rotate your heel outward.
I know sometimes there are misconceptions about clipless... my son just got them and he thought you had to clip in both feet at the same time , until he figured it out, after falling twice. I told him to put a little voice in his head to say "unclip" when he is approaching an intersection or any situation where he might need to put a foot down. After awhile, it becomes second nature. Muscle memory plays a big part here.
And for what it's worth, the grass thing didn't help me at all. I found it hard to ride my road bike on grass and that was getting in my way... I went on the road on a Sunday morning early, and rode around with just one foot clipped in. I did that for about 2 weeks and that was it. And, I am very uncoordinated, so anyone can do it, with practice.

[islandgirl2]

Thanks for the tips and comments. I went by the lbs today and talked to several people there too. I heard lots of stories of frequent fallswith first time clipless. I heard to always unclip at the bottom from one and then also that there are several people that unclip more at the top too, so I guess it is just practice. One of the guys just told me to clip in and just let myself fall to that side in the grass, just so I get over the fear of falling. (Not so sure if I will really do that, but I am sure I will fall anyway!) I guess there isn't any tension since it is a Speedplay so I am not exactly sure what adjusting that one area on the cleat does? I will have to ask my husband.

I know all it takes is practice, the fear is just getting to me this time. I don't want to give up... I just need to get myself back out there and try again. It's just such a horrible feeling being scared and shaking while you are trying to come to a stop. Last time I was so shaken up, I just put my toe clips on and went for a 20 mile ride to remind myself I was fine on my bike, it's the clipless pedals freaking me out! Did a 22 mile ride this morning with the toe clips but I know I HAVE to get myself to try the Frogs again this weekend.

[tctrek]

The fear in and of itself can make you fall! The first time I went out clipless, I fell in a creek that ran alongside the trail. I had been clipping/unclipping for 25 miles. We stopped for a quick rest and I left one foot clipped in, but didn't brake, leaned and took off and rolled down a bank of rocks and into the creek. No less than 10 riders standing there watching me make a you-know-what out of myself.

After that, I took the clips off and rode on platform pedals for about 3 months. Then I did the double-sided pedals for about 2 months. Then went to Speedplays... I've fallen a few times with my Speedplays, but always when I'm not focused and always when I don't have complete control of the bike.

So, it's important to be able to relax and focus... if you are all bunched up with fear, falling will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Remember, we ride for FUN, right?

[ny biker]

You shouldn't be trying to unclip when your leg is anywhere but the bottom of the stroke, fully extended. I can't imagine trying to unclip with my leg pulled up and not at the bottom of the stroke.
I have Speedplays (though not the Frogs) and it is really much much easier to unclip than with spds, which I started with and I have on my hybrid and mountain bike. Since they are free float, you should be able to just rotate your heel outward.

I generally don't disagree with this, but for me, I have to unclip with my right foot by turning my heel inward at the top of the stroke. It's related to (a) scar tissue from ankle surgery many years ago and (b) being too uncoordinated to unclip with my left foot and put that down first without falling. And this works fine for me. So it is possible, and preferable for some. You should hear everyone's advice, and then see what works best for you.

[Owlie]

Crankin--really? What's the reason for that? I've always been told to unclip at the top of the stroke, and everyone who I know personally does the same thing. It feels wobbly if I try to unclip at the bottom.

Islandgirl--If it makes you feel any better, the night before I went on my first clipless ride, I sent a panicking text message to my boyfriend at 3AM. He had to call me to calm me down about riding with the dratted things. I did a 23 mile ride with my right foot clipped in and a tennis shoe on my other foot. The four mile completely-clipped in ride I did, I fell twice. The second time, I fell once and landed on my feet. The last time I fell I found myself sitting ON my horizontal bike. If you fall, it'll be low speed, so you're only likely to bruise or scrape yourself.

What helped me, like everyone else, was to say to myself "Okay, stop sign. Unclip, hit brakes, lean right, foot down" and other things like that. Eventually it becomes second nature.

[Crankin]

Maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean by the bottom of the stroke?
I mean when my leg is fully extended, pedal all the way down by the ground. I have had to clip out when my leg is about half way up the stroke (knee bent) in weird situations, and while I could do it, it's not fun. So, I think, no wonder it is hard for a new rider, if that's what you are trying to do.
All I know is I just turn my heel out, and there's no tension at all with the Speedplays.. I understand that turning your heel in would achieve the same thing, if that is what you need to do.
I find when I ride with my campus pedals (dual sided spd on one side, flat on the other), I have to make a much more concerted effort to clip out, even with the tension on the lowest setting. It's not *hard*, but I do think about it more. Personally, I don't even need to think with the Speedplays.

[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

[Owlie]

Maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean by the bottom of the stroke?
I mean when my leg is fully extended, pedal all the way down by the ground. I have had to clip out when my leg is about half way up the stroke (knee bent) in weird situations, and while I could do it, it's not fun. So, I think, no wonder it is hard for a new rider, if that's what you are trying to do.

See, I unclip knee bent, with the pedal at about 12 o'clock, and that's how I've always been told (or observed) to do it.
Whatever works, right?