Just got a sweet new road bike...trying to get used to clipless is killing me though!

[TigerMom]

Maybe some confidence building rides to get used to the pedals. Some place you can practice, like an empty parking lot, or low traffic area.

Personally being clipped in on hills scares me more than anywhere else. I imagine myself stalling out uphill and the bike starting to roll backwards while I'm still clipped :-)

My recommendation is to exchange pedals with your current road bike and your old steel commuter bike.

This way, you can use the 2sided pedals on your current road bike because you have been using those for years. You can immediately enjoy riding the new road bike that you just bought because you are used to your old pedals.

Ride the old steel commuter bike with the clipless only pedals so that you can practice on your old bike. If you fall and scratchup your old bike, not as big of a deal.

When you are comfortable with the clipless only pedals on your steel commuter bike, THEN put them on the new road bike.

VOILA!

Congrats on your new road bike!

[Boudicca]

Advice I got when I went clipless for the first time was to take the bike to a park, and clip and out 10 times with each foot before I even started riding. The idea is to make it feel completely like second nature, and you can unclip in almost the time it takes you to take your feet off the pedals. Give it a try, even if you've been using the two-sided pedals for a while. It may help.

Otherwise, use the 2-sided pedals. Whatever works.

[luvmyguys]

My recommendation is to exchange pedals with your current road bike and your old steel commuter bike.

This way, you can use the 2sided pedals on your current road bike because you have been using those for years. You can immediately enjoy riding the new road bike that you just bought because you are used to your old pedals.

Ride the old steel commuter bike with the clipless only pedals so that you can practice on your old bike. If you fall and scratchup your old bike, not as big of a deal.

When you are comfortable with the clipless only pedals on your steel commuter bike, THEN put them on the new road bike.

VOILA!

Congrats on your new road bike!

+1

I had a disastrous experience when I first went clipless. My gut instinct told me to get the double sided pedals, but I let the LBS guy talk me into a very nice set of clipless only pedals. After that first hideous ride, I ordered the double sided pedals, which allowed me to feel like I could enjoy the bike without worrying about taking my life into my own hands. It took me a few months before I was ready to conquer the clipless pedals again, but I felt like having the platform side was a good safety net. So yes, switch the pedals out. If you're going to plan on going back to the current pair of clipless pedals, though, I'd avoid wasting the money and just exchange the pedals on the two bikes, like TigerMom suggested.

Have fun with your new ride!