Fear, fear, fear, plain old fear to clip and unclip. Advice please!

[Maye]

Ladies thanks a ton for all the great advices!! Yesterday I bought the Speedplay Light pedals and I'm practicing clipping in and out using the trainer. These pedals are definitively easier to clip out for sure!! Still learning the trick on how to clip in without "thinking" about it. But so far I like them very much.

[Jo-n-NY]

That is great Maye. Being comfortable and confident with your pedals will help. The trainer is a great way to practice. They say clip in and out about 20times to get the hang of it.

[Maye]

OMG look what I found for my new speed plays! the best of two worlds:
2012 Speedplay platformers!! LOL.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...6330.31.1.html

[Maye]

Update: today I went for my first ride with the new Speedplay Light pedals and I came to the conclusion that the problem is not the pedals, is the piece behind the saddle I caught myself again doing the same mistake: completely stopped, me standing over the top tube, right leg unclipped, on the floor and then again I moved the left leg like it was unclipped making me loose balance and control of the bike by shifting the bike to the left with my body weight. BUT, I moved the bike handlebars immediately to the right side which prevented the fall. At least that's good but after the incident I was nervous and lost my confidence completely. Needless to say (but I will say it) that after a few minutes, I walked back to my car with my "tail" between my legs like a doggie running away. Tomorrow I'll try it again

[murielalex]

You'll get it! Lord knows if I can, you can.

BTW, I'm getting a set of those Speedplay platforms so I can ride my bike to the gym, just two miles from home, and wear my regular sneakers. Thanks for the link.

[Maye]

You'll get it! Lord knows if I can, you can.

BTW, I'm getting a set of those Speedplay platforms so I can ride my bike to the gym, just two miles from home, and wear my regular sneakers. Thanks for the link.

Thanks for the vote of confidence

I'm getting the platforms via mail, hopefully tomorrow. They look cool and practical.

[Jo-n-NY]

Me too. I am usually a spaz when it comes to things like this. Cycling is my only athletic ability I ever had. If I can master it, believe me so can you.

[ny biker]

Update: today I went for my first ride with the new Speedplay Light pedals and I came to the conclusion that the problem is not the pedals, is the piece behind the saddle I caught myself again doing the same mistake: completely stopped, me standing over the top tube, right leg unclipped, on the floor and then again I moved the left leg like it was unclipped making me loose balance and control of the bike by shifting the bike to the left with my body weight. BUT, I moved the bike handlebars immediately to the right side which prevented the fall. At least that's good but after the incident I was nervous and lost my confidence completely. Needless to say (but I will say it) that after a few minutes, I walked back to my car with my "tail" between my legs like a doggie running away. Tomorrow I'll try it again

There is muscle memory involved. The more you do it right, the more it will be an instinct to do it right. So, you really had a good experience -- you did it right and you didn't fall.

[Catrin]

It does take time to train/retrain our muscle memory. The main reason I clip in on the road is that my knees are far happier with me than when I do not...

[indigoiis]

Try this in a big, quiet, flat paved area:

Put a flat (regular) pedal on the left side for this practice.


1. As you roll forward, push the right pedal forward until it is all the way down.

2. Stand up with the weight on your right foot.

3. Brake to slow

4. Take your left foot off the flat pedal and place it on the ground.

5. While stopped, move your right foot to the up position (back pedal)

6. Push your right foot down to get going again

7. Put your weight on the right pedal, standing

8. Put your left foot back on the left pedal.

Repeat.

Do this until you are comfortable with this action, and then replace the flat pedal with a clipped, and practice again, this time unclipping the left.

It is far better (in my opinion) to clip out to the left in traffic. At a stoplight, if you are clipping out on the right, you are leaning to the right, often very close to the curb, where drivers don't really "see" you. I make sure, when I am approaching a light, to get as much in the lane as possible and clip out to the left so that the drivers know I am there.