Ok, now remind me why I should go clipless?

[Fuji Girl]

No problem! If you have any questions at all, ask! That's the only way you'll learn, right? This forum is a great resource; you can ask anything you want without feeling stupid.

A few other tips: turn down the tension on your pedals. There's a little hole on both sides of your pedal, and stick a little hex wrench in there and turn one way or another to increase/decrease the tension. The lower the tension, the easier to unclip. The instructions that came with your pedals should show you how to do this.

Also, when you're approaching a stop sign or something, unclip one shoe first, before you get to the sign. It's a little insurance that you'll have at least one foot free. When you're slowing down and about to stop, turn AWAY just slightly from the unclipped foot. For example, if your right foot is unclipped and ready to be put on the ground, turn the front wheel to the left ever so slightly. That way, you'll lean to the right a little, towards your free foot. Practice this a little on a quiet street. Before I figured this out, it was a crap shoot which side I'd fall on, and it always gave me so much anxiety.

[allabouteva]

Hey uforgot

Yep, I agree with fujigirl re the tension on the pedals. Have the clips on the easiest and loosiest setting. That makes a huge psychological difference in that you'll know it's a lot easier to get out of them. Then when you get better and more confident you can tighten them up, because if the tension is too loose, you might accidently unclip when you're cycling, and that can be a little disconcerting.

But for me, I always lean my bike on the side of my unclipped foot, it's closer to the ground then for the unclipped foot to rest on. (opposite to fujigirl!) But do what works. And I always unclip my left foot, I think it's because in Australia where I live, you drive on the left hand side of the road, and when there's a stop sign or red light, I always like to go right up to the kerb and rest my foot on the little ledge thing that sticks up so that I can keep my bike upright.

And don't worry about falling. EVERYONE does that. It just takes time to adjust, so don't be too hard on yourself.