Clipless pedals

iuangina

What is the best way to practice learning how to ride with clipless pedals? I just switched my platform pedals over to Look pedals and I've already got a nice bruise from falling over.

trijoe

Yikes! What did you get the bruise from, exactly? Clipping out? Clipping in? Trying to clip out then failing miserably?

Clipping out is an odd skill that sadly, takes practice and bruises to master. I've yet to meet somebody who honestly (I know a few bozos who've lied) has mastered the skill without falling. I fell once on a triathlon club group ride, in front of about a dozen people. Twice. It was so embarrassing. Luckily, a bunch of people took pity on me and shared their stories.

Eventually you start getting the hang of it. You basically have to get up off the seat on your pedals, with one foot down, one foot up. All while breaking. Quickly dislodge the foot that's up, and bring it to the ground. Lean your bike toward the side with the foot on the ground, and finish breaking.

You'd be advised to actually practice this technique till you feel like you have it down pretty well. It's not pleasant falling in say a parking lot, but it's terrible falling in traffic.

Good luck!!!

OH! And once you get the hang of them, you'll LOVE LOVE LOVE your clipless pedals. It makes pedaling so much smoother and easier. Totally worth the beginners' issues.

hkulbacki

If you're just starting out with the clipless pedals you may want to adjust the tightness of them to where you can unclip pretty effortlessly. Mine must be looser than trijoe's, I've never gotten up off the seat to unclip. I can easily pop either foot out at any point in the rotation, yet they are tight enough that they don't pop out when I don't want them to. You definatley want to shift your weight to the foot that is headed to the ground though. I can't tell you how many times I've unclipped one foot and my balance has gone to the other side. But at least the scars on both my knees from hitting the pavement match LOL

crux

trijoe & hslater nailed the technique advice... I'll just add that try to always unclip the same foot first and try to anticipate the stop/unclip. it soon becomes automatic

iuangina

Thanks for the tips. I had a great time yesterday trying to ride around the neighborhood. Not only did I drop my chain, but then I couldn't unclip fast enough to avoid falling over. I'm sure the neighbors had a good laugh at my expensive. I'm getting better, but it's still a work in progress. I already feel a little more secure and I'm hoping that my weekend ride goes smoothly on Saturday.

BTW, the bruise came from falling over into the wall (my tri coach told me to practice clipping in and out in a door frame - big mistake and the pretty colors on my hip remind me of that mistake)

ATT949

I had fun with clipless - I kept falling 'cause I couldn't get my foot out fast enough.

I took my stuff back to the LBS and the dip**** that sold me my shoes hadn't tightened up the cleat on my shoe!

:-)

Clipless is the only way to go!

Oh, if you're dropping your chain, I belong to that club, too! Unless your drivetrain is out of whack, it's mainly a lack of finesse. I switched to an XT front derailleur and that helped a little but, from everything I was told, it's practice, practice, practice!

copa2251

I fell over the first day I got my bike! The shop had left the bike in a big gear and I set off up my steep driveway and quickly stalled and down I went!
It actually hurt more than I was expecting.
I haven't had a problem since, I was told to clip out by twisting your heel out away from the bike, seems to work well for me.
If you're struggling ride around on a flat grassy area and just keep unclipping until it feels easy

freezerburn2012

I never get off the seat to unclip. All you need to do is twist your heel outwards and you should unclip. If this is difficult, your pedals need adjusting.

I fell a couple of times when I first started using them but now it's like second nature.

SelkieDiver

You all are making me feel much better! I took my new bike out yesterday for the first time and fell over when I had to stop sort of short on a hill. Could not for the life of me get my foot out fast enough. The second fall was even more spectacular. I got the first foot out and the promptly over-balanced and fell to the side where I was still clipped. Better luck next ride!