Ok, now remind me why I should go clipless?

[allabouteva]

somewhat off topic, but I managed to fall off my bike not even with clipless pedals but toe clips. Was standing, had a foot still in toe clip, forgot I had toe clip, and slowly I fell over with everyone watching. It was err... a great experience...

Yep! Been there too liksani!!!

My DH doesn't understand my lack of planning!! I blame it on being a newbie, who didn't really master the art of bicycling when a kid!

[MelC]

I'm new to the forum but had to chime in on this thread... I remember the learning curve well. My first (and so far only) tumble due to clipless was also a slo mo - I had just got the pedals (and the bike) and was out for my first long ride. I was slowly navigating around some cow gates on a bridge and failed to remember that there was a steep uphill right after the gates. I didn't have enough momentum to get up the hill and I could feel the bike getting slower and slower and mentally resigning myself to the fact that I was going to go over. Fortunately I mostly hit the grass and suffered little more than a scraped knee and a persistent and annoying chirp on my bike.

The only thing that will make the pedals easier and alleviate that trapped feeling is practice, practice, practice. I solved the issue by sticking SPDs on my commuter too so I had no choice but to use them all the time and since I commute on my bike in an urban environment I did a lot of stopping and starting. At first I unclipped ages before the corner and coasted in but eventually my confidence increased and I now unclip only when necessary.

Just bought my first mountain bike so I expect the learning curve is going to start all over again now

Mel

[betagirl]

I definitely agree with what everyone has said. The difference between clips/clipless is huge. You may even notice that you're working different muscles (aka they'll be sore) in the beginning.

I agree with Fujigirl about unclipping as you approach somewhere you're most likely going to have to stop. I unclip and rest my foot on top of the pedal and coast up to stops. That way I don't slow down too much and then have to try to clip out before I tip over. It's getting down the quick stop/clip out that takes a bit of time. You'll get it eventually. It'll become like a reflex for you. Just keep practicing.

[uforgot]

Well, its been several days, and you guys are right. Thanks to Fuji Girl, I checked that my feet were parallel, and adjusted my seat accordingly, and now its not a problem. I had already loosened the tension per the Shimano directions, and now I'm comfortable with them. I'm a clipless convert!