Should I start rightoff with clipless or start with cages??

[woodlandsrider]

Hey gals...well I am going for my first ever fitting for my first road bike tonight and I have the clipless and shoes as well as cages and wondered if I should just start out with the clipless or what should I do? I will be doing a lot of trainer work as well as weekend rides. I am doing the 2008 MS 150 houston the austin...but have been nudged to just start right off with the clipless but not sure...whats your opinion

Angel

[alpinerabbit]

clipless. I will ride clipless on the trainer as well (just got one).
It's better for your legs than platforms and I can't imagine cages are as good in letting you pull up, and then there's the release problem.

[Jo-n-NY]

I also agree to go clipless right from the start. It is even better that you are on the trainer which is the perfect way to practice.

~ JoAnn

[indysteel]

I agree. Start with clipless. Practice in a doorway, then in a parking lot. Back the tension on the pedals off so that it's easy to get in and out. There is a learning curve, but it's not bad.

[mimitabby]

You know, since you've never been on the bike before and it is brand new; you might try the cages first.

i don't agree with the other two. Introduce 1 new variable at a time.

I just got a really expensive new bike. I had been riding clipless for 6 months and felt pretty confident. I bought a new pair of shoes and tried them and the new bike at the same time. you ought to see the nasty ding i put into the paint job floundering around there trying to get clipped in.
Try the bike with cages, get confident, then go for the clipless.
congrats on the new bike

[alpinerabbit]

I had a friend who let me try his expensive tri bike, clipless and all, all on my own. I've never fallen. (knock on wood). It's not that hard, you just have to keep it in mind.

[bike4ever]

My vote is clipless. I regularly suggest to customers to either use a plain platform pedal or go clipless. I believe the toe cages are more challenging to get in and out of - especially at an intersection.

[firenze11]

I had the same dilemma when I went to get my new bike. I'm a complete newbie and was questioning going straight to clipless. My LBS guy asked if I wanted to try the straps first, but suggested against it. He said the straps have to be pretty tight to help your stroke become more efficient/powerful and then you have the problem of getting out of them if they are too tight during an emergency. So he convinced me of going clipless, although I haven't gone in to get my pedals/shoes yet so I haven't had the joys of falling over or even really trying them out.

Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time on your new bike.

~E.

[HoosierGiant]

I vote for clipless. When I got my first road bike two years ago I figured I might as well start there rather than learning a different system and then having to change later -- I hate change! Sure, it takes concentration at first, but you'll be amazed at how quickly the whole process becomes second-nature.

[SadieKate]

My vote is clipless. I regularly suggest to customers to either use a plain platform pedal or go clipless. I believe the toe cages are more challenging to get in and out of - especially at an intersection.

Plus one from me.

Since you already have the clipless, have you tried them yet?

Cages are very challenging and, I think, harder to get in and out of if they're tightened down to where they are any help at all. Plus, you have to learn a completely unnatural motion to get out of them. Swinging your foot to the side to release from a clipless pedal is instinctual (you just have to remember to do it before you stop).

Plain jane platforms for a few short rides to get used to the new bike and then go clipless.

[redrhodie]

I went with cages at first. Making the switch to clipless was really easy once my riding skills were honed. I never fell with either. For me, cages were a good step in the process.

[Zen]

The movement used in release is entirely different in both. Cages aren't like training wheels for clipless.

[redrhodie]

I want to add, if you go with cages, don't tighten them all the way. Once you're confident in your riding skills, and feel ready to tighten the cages, go clipless instead.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I use PowerGrip straps. I love them.
They go diagonally over the foot, so it's the same motion getting in and out as clipless (turn heel out to get in or out, then straighten foot and it snugs up and holds your foot). I don't feel much "trapped" a difficult situation like stopping on a steep hill or a sudden stop. I started with them rather loose and felt safer that way, but now I have them quite snug so I can pull up on the pedals if I choose.
DH uses cages and he loves those.

Just to cause trouble and present a totally different point of view:
http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

[onimity]

I'm with those that recommend platform pedals -> clipless.

If this is your first road bike, you will have lots of things to get used to, probably new shifters, a new position, etc., and it will be easy to forget that you have to unclip. Why add another variable into the mix?

While I learned some things about riding clipless with cages (I used them before clipless was common) I don't see them as a step along the path, exactly.

The cages have a learning curve too, and I at least have fallen more with them than with clipless.

Anne