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

[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.

[ny biker]

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.

Before you start moving, have one foot clipped in. For me it's the left foot, because I always clip out first and step on the ground with my right foot. Have the bike in an easy gear.

Have the clipped-in foot near the top of the pedal stroke, around 2:00. Starting high gives you more momentum from the first stroke.

As you push the pedal with the clipped-in foot, slide your butt onto the saddle. This is important -- you are much more stable while you are seated.

While continuing the pedal stroke with the clipped-in foot, clip in your other foot. If you miss the first try, that's okay, because you're seated and you got a decent amount of momentum from that first clipped-in stroke. If necessary, you can pedal around again with that clipped-in foot (which is easier to do since you're in an easy gear) so you can try again with the other foot.

Once you're riding, as you approach an intersection or anyplace where it looks like you'll have to clip out, shift to an easier gear so you'll be ready when you start up again.

As mentioned before, practicing on an indoor trainer and on a grassy field helps a lot. There's no traffic to worry about and falling on the grass is much better than falling on pavement.

[Jo-n-NY]

I just switched from Speedplay Frogs to Light Action after 7 years. I got the Frogs for one reason, they were highly liked here on the forum especially to someone new to clippless. There is no spring so you just turn your foot and out you come. I never accidently clipped out. Clipping in was effortless. And yes I had mtn bike shoes as others have mentioned.

I just switched to the Speedplay Light Actions because I wanted a roadshoe for my new bike. As of now although ready to switch over, I have them on the bike I use on the trainer to get use to them only because I am not good with change. But they really are not difficult to clip out of. I just have to give a little umf when I turn where like as I mentioned with the frogs there was no resistance.

[Jo-n-NY]

BTW...my husband says to no matter whether you are a lefty or righty, always clip out on the right away from traffic in case of falling over for one reason or another. That is just his suggestion that he tells his customers.

[Possegal]

BTW...my husband says to no matter whether you are a lefty or righty, always clip out on the right away from traffic in case of falling over for one reason or another. That is just his suggestion that he tells his customers.

Which doesn't necessarily work for someone like me. My original frequent falling was always falling over to the left, with my right leg unclipped. Luckily never in a heavily trafficked area or I'd have been falling right into traffic. Not an issue now, but it was comical how often I was doing that in the beginning. I'm really a hazard to myself.

[Seajay]

It sounds like you need to be able to predict which direction the bike is going to lean when you stop. You can do this with countersteering. You already know it as part of riding. You just want to make it active not passive.
The physics of a bike makes it so if you "steer" the bar to the RIGHT...the bike will always LEAN TO THE LEFT. (or vice versa)
So if you want to unclip from the left pedal, in the last few inches of stopping and you have your left foot down....steer the front wheel to the right. This will assure you drop onto your left foot.

[Maye]

Ladies thanks a ton for all the great advices!! Yesterday I bought the Speedplay Light pedals and I'm practicing clipping in and out using the trainer. These pedals are definitively easier to clip out for sure!! Still learning the trick on how to clip in without "thinking" about it. But so far I like them very much.