Thoughts re: clipless after 3 months

[Hatti]

I've been using my cleats for about a month and love them - especially the noise they make when you clip in and out. I was terrified to try them, but rode around in the shoes first and mentally rehearsed situations when I would need to clip out. Once I had done that for a couple of weeks and not forgotten, then I felt confident enough to use them. One thing: I unclip on my right side but find it impossible to unclip by swinging my heel out - it has to move in, which means at the top of the stroke. I had a hip replacement on that side this time last year so it might be that or maybe a tight iliotibial band? I don't think it's dangerous but can anyone tell me?

Have fallen off clipped in, on a particularly steep climb when I wanted to stop. Thrilled with myself as it felt like a rite of passage - had a soft landing on a grassy verge.

[antimony]

I've been using my cleats for about a month and love them - especially the noise they make when you clip in and out. I was terrified to try them, but rode around in the shoes first and mentally rehearsed situations when I would need to clip out. Once I had done that for a couple of weeks and not forgotten, then I felt confident enough to use them. One thing: I unclip on my right side but find it impossible to unclip by swinging my heel out - it has to move in, which means at the top of the stroke. I had a hip replacement on that side this time last year so it might be that or maybe a tight iliotibial band? I don't think it's dangerous but can anyone tell me?

Have fallen off clipped in, on a particularly steep climb when I wanted to stop. Thrilled with myself as it felt like a rite of passage - had a soft landing on a grassy verge.

I used to clip out inwards, at the top of the stroke, not because of injury but because it was easier and felt more natural. I've been teaching myself to go the other way because I was hitting the tire occasionally and wearing holes through my shoes. But I never hit it hard enough to feel like I could actually be unsafe from the motion -- it was just eating the shoes. Check the inside of that shoe for scuffs or damage, and if there isn't any, I think you're golden.