Please share your stories--tough first time in real bike shoes

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I never really had major issues with clipless pedals until I went from mtn. SPDs to Shimano SPD-SLs. Even on the loosest setting I had a b*tch of a time getting out of those things, much of the time. After 2 bad falls in a 2 week period (this was after riding 3k miles without a single fall with my SPDs) and hearing that 2 other people with the SAME exact model of pedal bought within a week of mine had issues...I sent 'em back. Switched to Look KEO plus and haven't had a single issue--I don't even have them on the loosest setting and they release just fine. I think those 105 pedals I had were just bad news.

[greyhoundluv]

I never really had major issues with clipless pedals until I went from mtn. SPDs to Shimano SPD-SLs. Even on the loosest setting I had a b*tch of a time getting out of those things, much of the time. After 2 bad falls in a 2 week period (this was after riding 3k miles without a single fall with my SPDs) and hearing that 2 other people with the SAME exact model of pedal bought within a week of mine had issues...I sent 'em back. Switched to Look KEO plus and haven't had a single issue--I don't even have them on the loosest setting and they release just fine. I think those 105 pedals I had were just bad news.

This is very interesting!! Can you tell me what the movement to unclip is? Is it still the twist you do on SPDs? A salesman at a bike store I was at a few weeks ago showed me pedals with an open circular area that he thought would be better than the SPDs for me ( after i had already gotten tha spds) and i have been trying to remember their name (they came in different pastelly colors?) but from the pics i just googled i don't think they were the Look brand.

[zoom-zoom]

This is very interesting!! Can you tell me what the movement to unclip is? Is it still the twist you do on SPDs? A salesman at a bike store I was at a few weeks ago showed me pedals with an open circular area that he thought would be better than the SPDs for me ( after i had already gotten tha spds) and i have been trying to remember their name (they came in different pastelly colors?) but from the pics i just googled i don't think they were the Look brand.

Look pedals look a lot like the Shimano SPD-SL style pedals. I'll bet Speedplays are what the guy at the shop was recommending. I stayed away from them after people I talked to said they have issues with sand and grit. Since the entire west side of our state is a big sand dune. I actually know no road riders with Speedplay and I suspect this is why.

I think pretty much all clipless pedals use that circular twist of the heal outwards to release.

[Rebecca19804]

I'll bet Speedplays are what the guy at the shop was recommending. I stayed away from them after people I talked to said they have issues with sand and grit. Since the entire west side of our state is a big sand dune. I actually know no road riders with Speedplay and I suspect this is why.

That surprises me to hear. From the very design of them, dirt/sand/grit are pushed out of the cleat when you push to engage. That's true at least for the Speedplay Frogs - which I use and love! (Can't comment on any other Speedplay models.) The Frogs are highly recommended by lots of TE members, because the (easily adjustable) degree of float and passive nature of the engagement is really easy on the knees.


ETA: I've caught up on the thread now and see a lot of others have pitched in in favour of Frogs!

[Catrin]

This is very interesting!! Can you tell me what the movement to unclip is? Is it still the twist you do on SPDs? A salesman at a bike store I was at a few weeks ago showed me pedals with an open circular area that he thought would be better than the SPDs for me ( after i had already gotten tha spds) and i have been trying to remember their name (they came in different pastelly colors?) but from the pics i just googled i don't think they were the Look brand.

I wonder if they were Candies?

I have Speedplay Frogs myself and like them much better than SPD pedals. They have a passive release system so there is no spring involved - they cannot be "too tight", and there are no accidental unclipping from having the tension too loose as there isn't any tension. I had been a little concerned about ankle flexibility when I heard you have to turn your foot more to get out of them but I can't actually tell the difference.

[Bethany1]

First time I used clipless pedals I fell right over onto the street. I didn't get enough speed going and with both feet clipped in, I tipped right over. Gave myself a concussion, a sore neck and spent the next four days feeling like I do after having a seizure.

ER doc said having my helmet on saved me from cracking my head open. I wear my brain bucket faithfully as I'd like my brain in one piece.

I still can't use them after several attempts and with some badly bruised/scraped knees and ego. When I get more coordinated I'll go back as I do love them. Wearing tennis shoes looks out of place with cycling shorts/jerseys and you don't get the pedal power of clipless shoes.

[greyhoundluv]

First time I used clipless pedals I fell right over onto the street. I didn't get enough speed going and with both feet clipped in, I tipped right over. Gave myself a concussion, a sore neck and spent the next four days feeling like I do after having a seizure.

ER doc said having my helmet on saved me from cracking my head open. I wear my brain bucket faithfully as I'd like my brain in one piece.

I still can't use them after several attempts and with some badly bruised/scraped knees and ego. When I get more coordinated I'll go back as I do love them. Wearing tennis shoes looks out of place with cycling shorts/jerseys and you don't get the pedal power of clipless shoes.

Oh my gosh! That sounds awful!!!
yes, our helmets are life savers, aren't they?
I have an email in to a cycling instructor. Hoping that it helps. I am also thinking of exploring multiple direction unclip types--thinking I will search this forum to see if anyone has experience and would recommend them to a newbie!!

[macski]

My first ride on a new bike with toe clips about 18 years ago - came to the first stop, forgot I had toe clips and just toppled over. Never did it again.

With clipless pedals I've fallen once when I started too slowly and leaned over too far to the wrong side. Hasn't happened again (yet!!!).

I have one bike with SPDs - they are very easy to get in and out of. All of my other bikes have Speedplays - I would never have any other type of pedal. Super easy to get in and out - mine are the light action ones. I've also tried Shimano SPD-SLs (105) and found them okay but I didn't like that I had to look down to get into them. With practice I think this would change but Speedplays are double sided so I never have that problem.

They are also really easy on the knees - my partner had a knee reconstruction about 6 years ago and used to get some knee pain when cycling with Shimano SPD-SLs. When he switched to Speedplay he found that the knee pain disappeared.

[sookiesue]

I love my speedplay frog pedals! Upon encouragement from my bike fitter I tried them out just 3 days before my first big road event (150 miles, 2 days) and I am so glad I did. My DH had been trying to talk me into clipless for months but I was totally gunshy. He was dubious of the speedplays because of the higher price, but he tried them out on my bike (squeezing into my bike shoes!) and he said he thought they were perfect for someone new to clipless.

[Seajay]

Great responses. Espec Velovix.

Here's what we say at our shop...
We don't think falling is a prerequisite to learning clip in pedals. We discourage falling.
It's all about muscle memory. You need to make it automatic to keep your heel down as you twist.

New Bike. Get used to the bike for a week or so first then tackle shoes/pedals
New pedals and shoes. Some pedals come out of the box with the release setting tight. Have someone check that it's loose.
Park your bike next to the couch for an evening of TV, click in and out a bunch. Get used to the motion.
Go to the park and ride in the grass. Clip in and out a bunch more. Stop, start, try little inclines, declines, either foot, etc until you feel confident.
Next is a quiet road same drill.
You should be good to go after that.

Greyhound. The pedal you're thinking of is Speedplay. Their ROAD pedal. They have a light action release version which works well. I wouldn't try to claim that Speedplay road are necessarily easier to get out of than anything else. I think it's a personal thing. IMO Looks are easiest. But again, just an opinion.