Fear, fear, fear, plain old fear to clip and unclip. Advice please!

[Possegal]

I think I know what you did, or at least I've had times where (especially when I'm tired and at the end of a ride, and early in my clipped in learning curve) I would be unclipped with one foot on the ground, off the saddle, but then move as if I think my other foot can just easily move to the ground and forget that I need to twist it. By the time I realize, my body weight is taking me over to the side that is still clipped in. Also, the first few weeks, what I kept doing was unclipping the right, off the saddle but still pretty upright over the top tube, then I'd look over my shoulder, which would throw off my body weight and down I'd go. It got quite comical actually. Now I've learned if I'm only unclipped on one side, I really move my body weight to that side, even so much as sort of leaning the bike towards that side.

Knock wood, I haven't fallen in a couple years.

[Maye]

I think I know what you did, or at least I've had times where (especially when I'm tired and at the end of a ride, and early in my clipped in learning curve) I would be unclipped with one foot on the ground, off the saddle, but then move as if I think my other foot can just easily move to the ground and forget that I need to twist it. By the time I realize, my body weight is taking me over to the side that is still clipped in. Also, the first few weeks, what I kept doing was unclipping the right, off the saddle but still pretty upright over the top tube, then I'd look over my shoulder, which would throw off my body weight and down I'd go. It got quite comical actually. Now I've learned if I'm only unclipped on one side, I really move my body weight to that side, even so much as sort of leaning the bike towards that side.

Knock wood, I haven't fallen in a couple years.

Possegal, THANKS!! That's exactly what happened!! English is not my first language and sometimes I struggle explaining things specially since I'm a newbie in the road cycling world and all the lingo associated to it. Today I learned what a top tube is which I used to call the "long part" of the frame

[Possegal]

You're welcome. It just sounded so familiar when I first read your post that I actually chuckled and thought it sounded just like my early days learning. Plus, you are right that it happens so quickly that you aren't really too sure how you wound up on the ground. No matter what your first language is!

Glad I could help. You may want to either unclip both sides when you are stopped, or do like I do now and really move your body weight to the side that you are unclipped on. And then it does eventually become second nature. It just takes a little time.

[Catrin]

Keep practicing and make certain those pedals are adjusted as loose as possible. SPD's aren't my favorite, but a lot of people do like them. Since you've been riding platforms for so long it is just going to take time to re-train your muscle memory about how to stop. Just try to anticipate when you will need to stop and be intentional about your movements.

Penny4, with SPD pedals at least, you automatically unclip when you fall, it just happens. I fell LOTS when I was learning how to use SPDs the first time and both feet always just unclipped on their own. This may not be true for all pedals, I did have this (not) happen once with my Speedplay Frogs, but that may have been an anomaly.

[Maye]

Keep practicing and make certain those pedals are adjusted as loose as possible. SPD's aren't my favorite, but a lot of people do like them. Since you've been riding platforms for so long it is just going to take time to re-train your muscle memory about how to stop. Just try to anticipate when you will need to stop and be intentional about your movements.

Penny4, with SPD pedals at least, you automatically unclip when you fall, it just happens. I fell LOTS when I was learning how to use SPDs the first time and both feet always just unclipped on their own. This may not be true for all pedals, I did have this (not) happen once with my Speedplay Frogs, but that may have been an anomaly.

Hi Catrin,
Thanks for the advice. I have read a couple of your threads when you where trying to find the perfect pedals for your road bike. How many you tried and for how long after you find the Speedplay Frogs? I have read so many things about the Speedplay Frog and Lights that I'm tempted to give them a try. Thanks in advance!

[Crankin]

Remember, Speedplay Frogs are mountain bike pedals, with recessed cleats.
Speedplay Light Action are road pedals, with cleats that are not recessed. You need cleat covers for walking in the shoes, which some people don't like.
I've been using Speedplay X pedals (road pedals) for around 7 years. I love them and frankly, I don't walk around that much when riding my bike with these pedals; walking into a lunch stop, or using a restroom. I have Frogs on my other bike, which is a road bike, but is used more for slower/touring rides/vacation/shopping and errands, going out to eat, etc. They actually were harder for me to get used to (not clipping in or out), in that I found myself unclipping "accidentally," which caused some issues. From what I've heard, the newer Frogs do have this tendency, if you aren't clipped in all of the way, and sometimes it's a bit hard to hear the "click" with these pedals. They are broken in now, and I've trained myself to really be aware of my foot position, so this doesn't happen. I previously used spds on my hybrid and mountain bikes, and they really caused me to have knee pain. This is why I got the Frogs, because they are free floating.

[Catrin]

Hi Catrin,
Thanks for the advice. I have read a couple of your threads when you where trying to find the perfect pedals for your road bike. How many you tried and for how long after you find the Speedplay Frogs? I have read so many things about the Speedplay Frog and Lights that I'm tempted to give them a try. Thanks in advance!

I love my Speedplay Frogs, but as Crankin pointed out, they are indeed mountain bike pedals. The recessed cleats make it much easier to walk around, and eventually I will use them on my mountain bike...or not. The bottom line is there isn't anything wrong with using mountain bike pedals on the road and you will find differing opinions. My knees LOVE the free floating Frogs, which is why I have them.

I've only tried SPD pedals outside of the Frogs. There are a couple of others that I might like to try someday (Time in particular), but it is an investment to change pedals and I see no reason to fix what isn't broken Speedplay is going to release another version of a mountain bike pedal (with adjustable float) later this year, but they have no plans to stop production on Frogs. Whewww!

I've never had a problem unclipping by accident with my Frogs, and never a problem clipping in. I do "pull up" on my second foot once I am going to make certain it is clipped in all the way but haven't had a problem with it to date.

I don't know anything about road pedals so I can't advise on those

[Bethany1]

I think the hardest part for me was clipping in. The dang things would flip over and over as I'd try to get my shoes in making for dangerous weaves and panic would set in.

I've tried several kinds. One with platforms on side, mountain bike (have them on both sides) and road ones. The road ones were the worst to get in/out of.

I gave up and use the cheapie pedals as I was tired of crashing.

Part of me would like to give it another try, but I don't want to kill myself trying to get the cleats to fit into the pedals while it flips around.