SPD Encouragement needed

[Catrin]

I feel somewhat nervous about putting the double-sided pedals on my bike tomorrow (Shimano - platform/SPD reversable). My fitter is installing them and adjusting things properly.

My trainer suggested that I could just wear my shoes with cleats and start out by clipping in for shorter stretches of straight/flat road as I gradually get used to them, then clip out/switch sides for more challenging bits of road for now until I get more confident. Does this sound a reasonable approach?

I have to admit that I am a little afraid of doing this - but it is absolutely related to my many, many falls in late winter the last time I tried this - and I needed a new helmet before it was over

I really want to figure this out though - and I keep reminding myself that while I am still in my first year, my skills have certainly advanced since late Feb/early March when I tried it last time

Basically I need some encouragement. I know me, and the longer I put this off - the greater the chance that I will never try them again. That would be a shame, because on those rare occasions when I didn't fall over last time, I could see the advantage of being attached to the bike!

I do hope that I can bet comfortable enough with them so I can be clipped in for my brevet in October...

It is kind of funny though - I have no problem at all with pointing my bike on very long routes on roads I do not know - and the idea of new pedals make me nervous...

[Crankin]

Yes, you *can* do this. Believe me, Catrin, I am not coordinated and have real spatial issues. There of lots of things about cycling that I still am not great at, but I *can* use clipless pedals and it was not the worst thing I've had to learn.
Your trainer has a good strategy. It's essentially what I did. I rode around flat streets with one foot clipped in, once I knew I could get on and off the bike with the pedals. Then I started clipping the second foot in and out for short periods, until I thought, "OK, this is stupid, just keep the second foot in." I think this phase lasted 2-3 weeks after the initial day my son took me out at 6 AM on a Sunday to learn.
The riding on the grass thing didn't do it for me. I crashed every time and was worried about riding my skinny tires on grass.

[hirakukibou]

Hi Catrin,
You go! And you *can* do this, as Crankin said. I don't know if you have a stationary trainer for you bike, but it helped me when the shop put my bike on a trainer and just let me clip in and out a zillion times before I went out on the road.

I have the SPD platform/SPD pedals on my touring bike. One of the issues I have with them, unlike double sided SPDs or my Speedplay Light Action pedals, is that sometimes I have a hard time getting the right side to clip into. It can be a pain to flip the pedal. But I like being able to use regular shoes on occasion and my guess is that it will be helpful for learning. Please check back with how it goes!

[Catrin]

Thanks for the encouragement, I need all that I can get

I have been clipping in for spinning class since last October - but it just isn't the same on a moving bike - neither the spinning or trainer can fall over

However, I am much more confident than I was earlier this year, and if I can manage to get through a couple of rides without falling over or injury (got a small concussion last time) then that will go far to ease any anxiety over the change. I KNOW it will be worth it

[deskrider]

I'm asking because I will be in a similar situation. I tried clipless pedals about 20 years ago and never got past the creepy feeling I had about wanting to get my feet out fast. Half the time I rode with one foot out, which was dumb because it made my other leg work harder. Having not ridden in at least a decade I decided to buy a bike and try again so I know the pedal issue will come up again. Surely these things work better than what I had 20years ago, but I want to try the best/easiest to start with. The SPD that you described sounds good, but are there others I should consider?

[Biciclista]

I found someone to give me a lesson. It cost $90.00 but it was money well spent. I had already fallen and it hurt BADLY.
What I really had to learn was to unclip before I applied the brake. That's the main part i needed know. After 100 years of riding a bike, I knew I had to apply the brakes first to stop. that's the whole sequence. But now I had to learn a new thing.
So try just clipping in one foot. and for goodness sake, make sure the things are at their loosest set point. worry about tightening them up later (I like them loose!)
When i was first learning this, i clipped and unclipped constantly.
And in an emergency, if you can't just pull free, they're too tight!
i hope this helps. It took me years to get to the point that i was comfortable with my SPD's

[ny biker]

My trainer suggested that I could just wear my shoes with cleats and start out by clipping in for shorter stretches of straight/flat road as I gradually get used to them, then clip out/switch sides for more challenging bits of road for now until I get more confident. Does this sound a reasonable approach?

What makes the "challenging bits of road" challenging? Why would you anticipate needing to stop and put your foot down on these roads?

[indysteel]

Catrin, when I first started with clipless pedals, I used the dual-sided SPDs that you're planning to use, and I did more or less what you have in mind. I sometimes rode clipped in, others times I didn't or with only one foot clipped in. Before I truly got used to using them religiously, however, I bought my road bike and had Look Keos pedals installed immediately. That's when I truly learned to use clipless pedals--primarily because I had no other choice at that point. From there, I mostly did what Muirenn did. I went to a parking lot and practiced stopping over and over and over again.

In my own personal experience, it's all well and good to ride down a straight road clipped in, but you're likely only going to get proficient at using clipless pedals if you practice coming to a stop with them. The act of unclipping, slowing down, leaning a bit to unclipped side and putting your unclipped foot down has to become largely automatic, And it only becomes automatic by doing it repeatedly. You also have to practice getting moving and clipped in again with them, which can be almost as hard.

The best place to do this, IMO, is on a road/parking lot/route where you're going to have few other distractions. Always unclip with the same foot and otherwise follow the same routine each and every time. In time, it should become automatic.

[Catrin]

What makes the "challenging bits of road" challenging? Why would you anticipate needing to stop and put your foot down on these roads?

The idea is to ease me into it more than anything. That is what he has in mind more than anything - just practicing on straight roads and gradually spending more time clipped in - I am trying to get past residual anxiety more than anything else.

[OakLeaf]

You can do it. Good advice here.

One more thing: initiate the lean by turning your handlebars very slightly AWAY from the foot you're putting down. (I.e., if you're used to putting your left foot down, turn your handlebars to the RIGHT after you unclip but before you try to put your foot down.) That'll ensure that your bike leans in the direction of the foot that's loose.

Don't try to change the foot you put down first. You're used to that now, so don't give yourself something else to think about that you don't need to. If you're used to putting your left foot down first, unclip left; and vice versa.

[Catrin]

Catrin, when I first started with clipless pedals, I used the dual-sided SPDs that you're planning to use, and I did more or less what you have in mind. I sometimes rode clipped in, others times I didn't or with only one foot clipped in. Before I truly got used to using them religiously, however, I bought my road bike and had Look Keos pedals installed immediately. That's when I truly learned to use clipless pedals--primarily because I had no other choice at that point. From there, I mostly did what Muirenn did. I went to a parking lot and practiced stopping over and over and over again.

In my own personal experience, it's all well and good to ride down a straight road clipped in, but you're likely only going to get proficient at using clipless pedals if you practice coming to a stop with them. The act of unclipping, slowing down, leaning a bit to unclipped side and putting your unclipped foot down has to become largely automatic, And it only becomes automatic by doing it repeatedly. You also have to practice getting moving and clipped in again with them, which can be almost as hard.

The best place to do this, IMO, is on a road/parking lot/route where you're going to have few other distractions. Always unclip with the same foot and otherwise follow the same routine each and every time. In time, it should become automatic.

As I remember, it wasn't the getting started that was the problem, until I just got plain gun-shy, but stopping (I had regular SPD pedals at that time - still have them waiting in the wings). I get the pedals installed tomorrow, likely won't clip in for my long ride Saturday, but Sunday afternoon am planning to get out and work with them - both stopping and starting.

I have learned since the last time that I just do not like to start, or stop, with my left foot - so I do both with my right. That knowledge should help this time When I get more confident then I will have my regular pedals installed... this is the more expensive approach but I think this will help!

Thanks!

[DarcyInOregon]

Not everybody does the unclip one foot and lean thing. I don't and I am aware of many other cyclists that don't. So Catrin, do what works best for you. Take the advice in this forum and from your trainer, and figure out what works best for you.

I unclip both feet in advance of the anticipated stop. I have two-bolt SPD pedals, so I wear high end mountain bike shoes or cycling sandals, which means I can pedal on the back end of my shoes and not have pedals that flip over. If I don't have to stop after all, I clip both feet back in quickly and off I go. If I want to approach the intersection slowly, I can pedal very slow or teeter, then clip back in as I cross the intersection. Or I can come to a halt, plant both feet on the ground, and there is no falling over at all. I clip my right foot back in while I am waiting to cross the intersection, then off I go when it is feasible. I unclip one foot and lean when it needs to be an emergency stop.

All I am saying is just because cyclists tell you that you have to unclip one foot and lean, it doesn't mean you have to do it that way. Figure out what works for you, and do it that way.

[OakLeaf]

On a road bike with seat height properly adjusted to protect the rider's knees, neither foot will touch the ground unless they lean. It's hesitation or confusion about which side to lean, that leads to people falling over. I've done it recently, and only ever in that situation.

[indysteel]

When I say "lean," it's actually part of one fluid movement of slowing down/stopping and unseating myself while I plant my unclipped foot on the ground.

Here's a video from REI that offers a good visual:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcSF-7oJ1Ac

[snowroo]

I use multidirectional release cleats. They seem to hold when I need them and just pop out when I don't.