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

[dawnagrace]

When I first got clipless I crashed several times and each time I did my fear and anxiety levels would rise. I even got to the point of having panic attacks that would force me to turn back home after a couple miles. I searched every "how to" every "tutorial" read everything I could on the "right way" to unclip...but still I would fall. So I started thinking about how I used to bring my bike to a stop before I put on the clipless and I realized that I would always stand up with one foot and place the opposite foot on the ground. When I switched to clipless I spent so much time thinking about my foot that I forgot to focus on the rest of my body. From then on I started using this technique; See a stop ahead, unclip one foot at the top of the pedal stroke, stand with the foot still clipped in, balance the bike with your body and gently place your unclipped foot on the ground. At first this was the mental checklist I would run through but now it's muscle memory and I just do it without thinking and haven't had a clipless crash since. Good luck.

[zoom-zoom]

These wouldn't happen to be Shimano SPD-SL pedals, would they...?

[zoom-zoom]

These wouldn't happen to be Shimano SPD-SL pedals, would they...?

Ooh, here's the thing with those...they tend to start tight, even in the lowest setting, but will loosen-up pretty fast with use. Don't give up...you may just need to give them more time. If they were the SPD-SL road pedals I'd advise to maybe try something else. I am one of at least 4 women I know who all had issues with the SPD-SLs -- and none of use are small, dainty, featherweight gals, either.