Well THAT didn't go well (clipless pedals)

[dottigirl]

After reading this (and watching youtube clips - seriously not recommended, just don't), I was almost crying in trepidation before my first ride. I have joint problems and a bad hip so had put off getting them until after my first fall (25mph, got some lovely chainring scars). Eventually I succumbed and bought Motodivas with SPDs.

At home, I got my turbo out and sat on it in front of the telly, clipping in and....hang on, I can't get my feet out!

Lots of mental and physical anguish later, I discover I haven't tighted the cleats enough, so they moved and made unclipping near-impossible. I'm so glad this didn't happen on a ride. Once I got them right, it was much easier.

A month or so later, I've had a couple of tumbles but nothing major. I still unclip both at most junctions and I'm getting better at restarting. What helps as I can feel the 'tug' of the shoe so I rarely forget it.

OP - why are you hopping out of the saddle and leaning? Not sure what you mean.

[laura*]

OP - why are you hopping out of the saddle and leaning? Not sure what you mean.

Her proper saddle height likely means that she can't reach the ground while seated on the saddle. This means that when she stops, she needs to both unclip and get out of the saddle. She might even need to lean the bike slightly so that she can straddle the top tube while standing on the ground - or while standing with one foot on the ground and the other foot clipped in.

[luvmyguys]

OP - why are you hopping out of the saddle and leaning? Not sure what you mean.

Her proper saddle height likely means that she can't reach the ground while seated on the saddle. This means that when she stops, she needs to both unclip and get out of the saddle. She might even need to lean the bike slightly so that she can straddle the top tube while standing on the ground - or while standing with one foot on the ground and the other foot clipped in.

Pretty close to that, yes. My proper saddle height has my toes barely hitting the ground. I can straddle the top tube with no issue. Honestly, though, I'm noticing that when I'm riding without clipping in, I tend to stay in the saddle and my left foot is the first one to come off the pedal, and I lean slightly left. My right foot comes off relatively quickly, and I usually end up balancing on both toes for a second (this was where I was having trouble with clipless). I then get my right foot ready to push off and stay on the left until I can go (like at a light).

The advice that I had seen on previous threads here, as well as what the guy at the LBS told me, was that one tends to fall less if you come out of the saddle as you stop, simply because for most people, your feet hit the ground more securely than if your tush is still in the saddle. Since I tend to stay in the saddle when not clipped in, I do find that I'm countering with the other side fairly quickly. Most people keep one foot clipped in, so obviously, you want to lean to the unclipped foot, because if you lean the other way, you'll be kissing pavement (as I found out numerous times two weeks ago).

I'm trying to get a better picture of what I'm doing naturally, and then I'll see what new habits I'll need to develop. Like I said, I can take it at my own pace with the A530's on the bike.

[dottigirl]

Thanks.

Hmmm, I must do that but I don't notice it. My bike is a 48cm Dolce, so pretty small anyway. If possible, I try to rest one foot on the kerb when I stop at lights, which means I don't need to shift from the saddle. I've never really thought about getting off the seat before stopping, I'll have to try it to see if I feel more or less secure.

[luvmyguys]

An update, since one of my 2013 goals is to tackle the pedals . . .

I didn't go far, I didn't go fast, but I also didn't kiss pavement once! Don't know if I'm ready to use them on a group ride just yet, but definite progress has been made! I got over the mental block of clipless pedal = attack on my person, which was probably the biggest hurdle.

Happy New Year!

[marmac]

after spending some time getting used to my new road bike (which had the 530's on) i put the cleats on... not pretty. i could not reliably unclip. so put on the multi release cleats and that made a world of difference. i was resistant to the idea of riding clipless but was told that if your feet slip off your pedals when going at speed your feet can end up somewhere that can result in a serious fall... getting out of the saddle and extending the unclipped foot helps. if i can do it, anyone can.