Clip ins. Two rides, two falls.
Replies
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Ben_Likes_Beer wrote: »Yeah falling over when you've just started using clipless pedals is totally a thing. I'm kind of sad for you that no one warned you. It is, thankfully, not a steep learning curve. Also know that you can adjust the tension on the pedals.
I was warned but I thought, "Yeah, nah mate, I'll be right"
As for the tension on the pedals, I'm sh1t scared to frick with in case my foot comes unclipped at a bad time unintentionally.
The only time this has happened to me was when my cleats were way too worn and needed to be replaced (Look style cleats), Your fear is pretty unfounded.
I've been using clipless pedals at least ten years. I've only ever accidently clipped out with SPD cleats, and only on the steepest hills.0 -
OldAssDude wrote: »I'm just wondering why one day somebody thought... hey... i'm going to invent something that locks my feet to the pedals, so that way, when i fall, i will not be able to stop myself.
And i'm really wondering why other people thought... hey that looks cool... and bought them.
I do ride a bike during the warm months, but i never got into the lock pedals or the little stretchy outfits.
I guess there are reasons for all that stuff though.
They're a safety feature. No matter how fit (or not) a cyclist is, they can go very fast down a hill. Imagined what could happen if your foot slipped off the pedal while you're turning at high speed.
They work very much like ski bindings, only easier to get out of.
After a while, moving your heel outward to unclip becomes as second-nature as applying the brakes. You don't think about it, you just do it.1 -
OldAssDude wrote: »I'm just wondering why one day somebody thought... hey... i'm going to invent something that locks my feet to the pedals, so that way, when i fall, i will not be able to stop myself.
And i'm really wondering why other people thought... hey that looks cool... and bought them.
I do ride a bike during the warm months, but i never got into the lock pedals or the little stretchy outfits.
I guess there are reasons for all that stuff though.
Well given that before clipless pedals (what people are talking about here) there were (and still are) pedals with toe clips and straps, clipless pedals are a rather large improvement in my opinion. I also have a significantly easier time using clipless systems than toe clips, both in terms of getting in and getting out. Despite this, I still see people with toe clips (those cages that look like this) on a daily basis and professional/elite track cyclists use pedals that are both clipless and have a strap (because if transfering power is important for anyone it's going to be them).
The stretchy outfits are comfortable comparatively speaking but that's just me. I'm also the person who will gladly wear tights to rowing practices.1 -
I rode when toe clips/straps were the thing. That was a real pain compared to clipless, you actually had to reach down and loosen the straps to get your foot out. Unanticipated/emergency stops almost always resulted in a fall. After a few falls, I ditched the straps and just used the toe clips (I wasn’t racing, and nowhere near an elite cyclist - just a recreational rider).Well given that before clipless pedals (what people are talking about here) there were (and still are) pedals with toe clips and straps, clipless pedals are a rather large improvement in my opinion. I also have a significantly easier time using clipless systems than toe clips, both in terms of getting in and getting out...1 -
Toe clips were legitimately dangerous. Unless you wore them so loose they didn't really do anything.3
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I rode when toe clips/straps were the thing. That was a real pain compared to clipless, you actually had to reach down and loosen the straps to get your foot out. Unanticipated/emergency stops almost always resulted in a fall. After a few falls, I ditched the straps and just used the toe clips (I wasn’t racing, and nowhere near an elite cyclist - just a recreational rider).Well given that before clipless pedals (what people are talking about here) there were (and still are) pedals with toe clips and straps, clipless pedals are a rather large improvement in my opinion. I also have a significantly easier time using clipless systems than toe clips, both in terms of getting in and getting out...
Exactly - I've used toe clips before...that was a poor decision.2 -
I hate clip-ins. After years of mountain biking, I'm still riding with regular old flat pedals. I don't even care if it's not cool.
But yeah, most people get over it. You'll learn. 
As a road cyclist, CX and occasional mountain biker and having taken off, been knocked off and simply fallen off all of them I can certainly recommend gloves and a decent helmet! And certainly try to avoid doing it in front of moving traffic - can ruin your day!
But cleats are a necessity on a road bike; much more power, much more efficient and WAY cooler.....
Mountain biking is still to Catch up with proper cycling (light the touch paper)😳0 -
I am considering getting clips...and afraid! For the reasons described above! Was thinking of starting with cages to test my capabilities. I do want to be faster and more efficient though...
When I first went clipless I used the Shimano multi-release cleats which you can clip out in multiple directions, not just twisting. I also set my pedals to about the easiest possible release. As I got better, I tightened the pedals. I still use these on my cyclocross bike because they are really easy to clip out of if I'm going down in the dirt or having some trouble with some tech on the trail.
https://road.cc/content/feature/182513-clipless-pedals-how-shimanos-multi-release-cleats-make-it-easy-get-started
SPDs in general are going to be easier to clip in and out of.1 -
I've been using clipless for a few years, and the only time I've toppled over was a couple of months ago, when i got myself into a very tight situation between the curb and a truck. We both wanted to cross the street and i didn't want to wait for him to go, because stupidity i thought i will be quicker. There was too much oncoming traffic that i couldn't see and i had to stop, except there was no room for me to put my left foot down, as i normally unclip left. I have no skill to unclip on the other side (never needed to?). So down i went. Are you guys able to unclip on either side? Just curious. And it's a question for the roadies, btw 0
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I've been using clipless for a few years, and the only time I've toppled over was a couple of months ago, when i got myself into a very tight situation between the curb and a truck. We both wanted to cross the street and i didn't want to wait for him to go, because stupidity i thought i will be quicker. There was too much oncoming traffic that i couldn't see and i had to stop, except there was no room for me to put my left foot down, as i normally unclip left. I have no skill to unclip on the other side (never needed to?). So down i went. Are you guys able to unclip on either side? Just curious.
I clip out on my right. I took a hard fall a couple of years ago when my front wheel stopped dead, and went over on the left. I got my right foot clipped out but wasn't fast enough with the left. When I got back on the bike 4 months later I spent a lot of time in an empty parking lot practicing clipping out on both sides at once so it would be automatic in an emergency. I still do the drill periodically to make it as instinctive as possible, fortunately I haven't had to test my reflexes.2 -
I've been using clipless for a few years, and the only time I've toppled over was a couple of months ago, when i got myself into a very tight situation between the curb and a truck. We both wanted to cross the street and i didn't want to wait for him to go, because stupidity i thought i will be quicker. There was too much oncoming traffic that i couldn't see and i had to stop, except there was no room for me to put my left foot down, as i normally unclip left. I have no skill to unclip on the other side (never needed to?). So down i went. Are you guys able to unclip on either side? Just curious. And it's a question for the roadies, btw
I can unclip on either side, but I usually clip out on my right when I'm coming to a stop.1 -
I’m ambidextrous as well. Although I prefer right. That is my dominate hand1
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I've been using clipless for a few years, and the only time I've toppled over was a couple of months ago, when i got myself into a very tight situation between the curb and a truck. We both wanted to cross the street and i didn't want to wait for him to go, because stupidity i thought i will be quicker. There was too much oncoming traffic that i couldn't see and i had to stop, except there was no room for me to put my left foot down, as i normally unclip left. I have no skill to unclip on the other side (never needed to?). So down i went. Are you guys able to unclip on either side? Just curious. And it's a question for the roadies, btw
I can and do unclip from both sides but I typically but my right foot down.0 -
I've been using clipless for a few years, and the only time I've toppled over was a couple of months ago, when i got myself into a very tight situation between the curb and a truck. We both wanted to cross the street and i didn't want to wait for him to go, because stupidity i thought i will be quicker. There was too much oncoming traffic that i couldn't see and i had to stop, except there was no room for me to put my left foot down, as i normally unclip left. I have no skill to unclip on the other side (never needed to?). So down i went. Are you guys able to unclip on either side? Just curious. And it's a question for the roadies, btw
Here's the thing ...
I'm old. So I grew up cycling with cages, and for whatever reason I always had the tight cage on my right foot, and the foot I would put down in a stopping situation was my left foot.
When I went to clipless in about 2000, the bicycle shop person told me I'd need to switch feet. That I should clip in with my non-dominant foot (left) and put my right foot down at stops. His reason for that was because I'd find it easier to push off and clip in with the right foot. I believed him, although I found out later it probably wouldn't have mattered.
So ..... not only was I learning how to use the clipless pedals, I was also in the process of "switching feet". And that's one of the reasons I ended up falling 2 or 3 times ... I'd get to a stop situation and my brain would melt down trying to remember which foot I was supposed to work with, and I'd topple over.
Now, 18 years later, I can only clip out with my right foot. I have tried to clip out with my left, but it's all wrong.
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I've been using clipless for a few years, and the only time I've toppled over was a couple of months ago, when i got myself into a very tight situation between the curb and a truck. We both wanted to cross the street and i didn't want to wait for him to go, because stupidity i thought i will be quicker. There was too much oncoming traffic that i couldn't see and i had to stop, except there was no room for me to put my left foot down, as i normally unclip left. I have no skill to unclip on the other side (never needed to?). So down i went. Are you guys able to unclip on either side? Just curious. And it's a question for the roadies, btw
Here's the thing ...
I'm old. So I grew up cycling with cages, and for whatever reason I always had the tight cage on my right foot, and the foot I would put down in a stopping situation was my left foot.
When I went to clipless in about 2000, the bicycle shop person told me I'd need to switch feet. That I should clip in with my non-dominant foot (left) and put my right foot down at stops. His reason for that was because I'd find it easier to push off and clip in with the right foot. I believed him, although I found out later it probably wouldn't have mattered.
So ..... not only was I learning how to use the clipless pedals, I was also in the process of "switching feet". And that's one of the reasons I ended up falling 2 or 3 times ... I'd get to a stop situation and my brain would melt down trying to remember which foot I was supposed to work with, and I'd topple over.
Now, 18 years later, I can only clip out with my right foot. I have tried to clip out with my left, but it's all wrong.
When I first started riding clipless I was told to clip out with my right foot so if I fell over I would fall away from traffic (US).0 -
I always put my left foot down. I'm right handed, but coast and trackstand with my left foot forward.
I can put my right foot down too, if I weight the bike wrong as I'm coming to a stop. But that's pretty rare.2 -
I find it really uncomfortable to put my right foot down. I'm right handed, but when i play hockey i shoot left. My right leg is dominant though. And unclipping the left foot is a very natural movement, but it seems like a good idea to be able to unclip on both sides, so i will try to learn. Thank you, everyone for your input.1
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NorthCascades wrote: »I always put my left foot down. I'm right handed, but coast and trackstand with my left foot forward.
I can put my right foot down too, if I weight the bike wrong as I'm coming to a stop. But that's pretty rare.
You mount a horse from the left (because right-handed people wore their swords on the left). I expect that's why many people mount & dismount bicycles from the left; and, given that, it only makes sense to coast and trackstand left foot forward.I find it really uncomfortable to put my right foot down. I'm right handed, but when i play hockey i shoot left. My right leg is dominant though. And unclipping the left foot is a very natural movement, but it seems like a good idea to be able to unclip on both sides, so i will try to learn. Thank you, everyone for your input.
It never occurred to me that there was any other way to do it.
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Evelyn_Gorfram wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »I always put my left foot down. I'm right handed, but coast and trackstand with my left foot forward.
I can put my right foot down too, if I weight the bike wrong as I'm coming to a stop. But that's pretty rare.
You mount a horse from the left (because right-handed people wore their swords on the left). I expect that's why many people mount & dismount bicycles from the left; and, given that, it only makes sense to coast and trackstand left foot forward.I find it really uncomfortable to put my right foot down. I'm right handed, but when i play hockey i shoot left. My right leg is dominant though. And unclipping the left foot is a very natural movement, but it seems like a good idea to be able to unclip on both sides, so i will try to learn. Thank you, everyone for your input.
It never occurred to me that there was any other way to do it.
I mount a bike from the left, as we drive on the left so that would be where the pavement is. I've noticed that even on the turbo I'll mount from the left.
I always clip in on the right first, again as the left foot will be kerb side, so push off with the left. Unclipping is left side first as well, as I'm then leaning away from traffic.
On the other hand, on the motorbike I'll mount from the left, but with the gear lever on the left of the engine I'll lift my left foot first, shift into gear then draw away, lifting my right foot last. Right foot down first as well, before disengaging to neutral.0 -
I can unclip from both sides depending on what is needed at the time, but I typically unclip on the right when on the road (foot on a curb, body away from traffic, etc) and on the left on the trail (just preference). I can also mount from both sides, but prefer to mount from the left side of the bike.
I suspect mountain biking has forced me to be more flexible in both senses as road biking rarely requires it.
I will say this, though, just for perspective...
People who are considering making the switch to clipless often worry about falling. Yes, it does/will happen. But remember... you are at or nearing a stop. It's awkward and embarrassing, but not very painful. It's not like you fall going 30mph. IMO, the fear is WAY overblown.2 -
I always clip in on the left and push off with my right foot. I can unclip with either but I am better with the right. I fell over once at a red light (a very busy red light) and learned real quick to think ahead of my stop. I use spds and wear mountain bike shoes so I even unclip and pedal sometimes when I think something may stop me or slow me down
I don't use clips when mountain biking. I use spikes with mtb shoes. Mountain biking is my fun time so I like the option of just jumping off...lol.0
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