SPD Encouragement needed

[KnottedYet]

I'm left dominant (hand, leg, eye) and I always put my right foot down first. I always manage my water bottle with my right hand.

My dominant side stays in charge of the bike. I like the bike more than the ground or bottle, I guess!

[Crankin]

I have mixed dominance, which I am sure plays a large part in my messed up perceptual/spatial skills. Right handed for writing, but do a lot of other stuff with my left. Left footed/eyed. Can't even approach my bike on the right side, like if I have to walk it, I can't do it from the right. It just feels wrong. Can only do the water bottle with my left hand, and even that is shaky. When I go down stairs or hike, I use my left foot first, although with running, I switch between both. Thus, I clip/unclip left, although I swear, I started with the right and switched after I read something, which I can't remember. I can unclip right on my mountain bike, which is more for survival, I think!
In the end, it really doesn't matter. Although I pretty much cannot ride without being clipped in. My feet fly off of the pedals and I find it very hard to get started.
I can't imagine unclipping with both feet every time I had to. I am not sure how I would get off the seat and I imagine myself impaling my nether regions on the saddle! The process of unclipping, slowing, and putting my foot down is so automatic and fluid. I really do not feel like I am leaning the bike, although I must be.

[TxDoc]

Every woman should have her own pedal wrench and her own vibrator, and know how to use them.

KnottedYet - LOL!!!
This wins the contest as the best TE Forum quote ever.
Now I have to dry up the keyboard, good thing I was drinking plain water instead of the usual coffee...
There should be a rule or something - "Don't drink and read the TE forum"...

[Catrin]

I now have new SPD double-sided pedals on Mr. Explorer. My fitter took quite some time to adjust the cleats on my shoes and my pedals. It is SO easy to clip in and out that it is amazing! We both think the spring will likely need tightening once I am more accustomed to using them.

The real surprise was what happened on the trainer. My LBS uses a fork-mounted trainer, and while being on any trainer is far from being on the road, the experience with the pedals was outstanding. The fastest I've ever pedaled on my bike when doing intervals as been 19.8. While on the trainer, clipped in, I actually saw my computer break 30mph - and he had me in the hardest gear! I wasn't working all that hard either - though of course part of that was just how much resistance he had the trainer set for.

It was far too windy to go check out the pedals for real tonight, and tomorrow I will not use my cleated shoes for my long ride. Sunday afternoon, however, here I come.

I am kind of excited now

[DarcyInOregon]

Catrin, I am excited for you. When you are out on the roads with no stops for miles, you will perceive the difference and love your new pedals. You will be able to increase your miles more easily.

[Bike Chick]

KnottedYet - LOL!!!
This wins the contest as the best TE Forum quote ever.
Now I have to dry up the keyboard, good thing I was drinking plain water instead of the usual coffee...
There should be a rule or something - "Don't drink and read the TE forum"...

Yep! I love Knot's quote!!!! Rules to live by I say

I unclip so automatic now that I had to think about which foot I unclip with. It's my right but I also unclip with my left if I need to. I practiced unclipping with both feet at the same time until I could do it well in case I have to hop off in a hurry (like when i'm in a bind on a steep climb). It feels weird riding with flat pedals now but I was anxious when I learned to ride clip less too.

Good luck Catrin! Let us know how it goes.

[Catrin]

Yep! I love Knot's quote!!!! Rules to live by I say

I agree - she has the BEST TE quote

I did not try to clip in this morning as I was trying to focus on miles. Tomorrow I am riding a few flat miles with a friend who hasn't been on a bike for a LONG time - after she leaves the park I will change shoes and try it out. My fitter adjusted the pedals/cleats such that on my dominant foot I couldn't even feel the cleat going in the pedal, and the other foot isn't much tighter. This is going to be fun

Today was a little strange riding the platform side. Getting the non-starting foot on the correct pedal side was a little strange, and unsettling a couple of times but it got easier. Just not used to having to pay attention which side of the pedal my foot is on. Quite often I found that the platform was on the bottom, which was a surprise.

Am thinking positive thoughts about tomorrow's trial - I am determined to make this work - I could tell a difference yesterday on the trainer so can't see how there won't be a difference on the bike. Time will tell, first step is to learn how to use them without requiring a new helmet or getting new bruises