Fear of Clipless Pedals

[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.

[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?