Is this a bad idea - Mountain Biking??

mstaser
mstaser Posts: 657 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have a 15 mile race tomorrow and a pretty nasty trail. I realized a while back I really need to get clipped in on my bike but never have. Well I just got new pedals and picking up shoes today. I will practice a lot with them tonight. Is this a dumb idea to introduce myself to being clipped in the day before a race?
I have Crank Bros. pedals

Replies

  • HauteP1nk
    HauteP1nk Posts: 2,139 Member
    I have been told that before a big race (running or biking, or even swimming) never introduce anything new. No new ANYTHING...no new shoes, clothing, etc. You need to break things in first and ensure it doesn't affect your performance or give you any chafing/blisters, make you uncomfortable, etc etc....
  • princesspita
    princesspita Posts: 28 Member
    Yes.
  • BootCampC
    BootCampC Posts: 689 Member
    no clips man , you are looking for problems and or injury .. do yourself a favor and enjoy the race instead :) have fun
  • sgabriszeski
    sgabriszeski Posts: 2
    I recently switched from platform pedals to the shimano spd cliples pedals, and I got stuck in them and fell the first time i got on the bike. I realized that I needed to adjust the spring to be all the way loose. Once I did that, I had no problems at all with them. I can clip in and out really easily, and they make a huge difference - I can't imagine riding without them now.

    I'd recommend practicing with them at the loosest setting just around a parking lot or your yard for an hour or so. After that, you'll know if you're ready to race with them. If you're not, just swap them out for the old ones for the race.
  • mstaser
    mstaser Posts: 657 Member
    I will definitely practice with them A LOT tonight. I totally understand the dangers with them in this instance. If I don't feel totally comfortable with them, I won't use them. But I know how much I need them as my feet come off the pedals all the time on hills.
  • mstaser
    mstaser Posts: 657 Member
    These clips don't have tension adjustment that I know of. Can just adjust degree of separation from 15 to 20 degrees. Thats why I chose this style, very simple clean design and very good reviews.
  • sgabriszeski
    sgabriszeski Posts: 2
    I was skeptical of how great they supposedly were at first, but they do make a world of difference, especially on the MTB - when you hit a rock, you stay clipped in and your feet don't go flailing. You're way more stable this way and you have much more power.
  • wifealiciousness
    wifealiciousness Posts: 179 Member
    Enjoy the competition! I'd be vary wary of clipping in for the first time on a competition as you will have other things on your mind!

    I am mainly a road rider, and the first week I got SPDs I fell off twice. Luckily I didn't *really* hurt myself, but mtb is a different matter. I guess if you're competing you are probably a pretty proficient rider, but I'd imagine if you concentrate on technique, you'll be able to keep your feet on the pedals pretty well! Then get the new pedals put on after the comp and aim for the next one....
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If you're not accustomed to riding clipped in adjust them to whatever the maximum float is, my PT suspects that changing pedals and cleats last year shortly before a metric century was a contributing factor to my IT band problems. It takes your body a while to adapt but your mechanical efficiency takes a big jump.
    I am mainly a road rider, and the first week I got SPDs I fell off twice. Luckily I didn't *really* hurt myself, but mtb is a different matter.

    ***snicker*** been there, done that. It's mostly your dignity that is injured when you forget to unclip.:tongue:
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Yes, as an avid cyclist, I would have to say it's a dumb idea. Sorry. I wouldn't even practice with them tonight. Go with what you know.

    I got clipless and managed to keep from falling once. But I think that was mostly luck - most cyclists have a few falls. A few get hurt. And if you hurt yourself practicing tonight, it might affect your race performance tomorrow even if you decide not to wear them tomorrow. I also only rode commute rides and casual rides on them for a couple of months before participating in an event with other people around.

    Having said that, is this a competitive race or one for funsies? How important are the standings to you? How crowded is the field? Trying new gear while trying to compete at any serious level is a bad idea. Trying new gear when failure or mistake can hurt people around you when you fall into them is a worse idea.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    I recently switched from platform pedals to the shimano spd cliples pedals, and I got stuck in them and fell the first time i got on the bike. I realized that I needed to adjust the spring to be all the way loose. Once I did that, I had no problems at all with them. I can clip in and out really easily, and they make a huge difference - I can't imagine riding without them now.

    I love mine, too. One bit of advice I got from my local bike shop was really simple and really helpful.

    1. Find something you can hold yourself upright on the bike with - pole, post, fence, whatever. Make sure it's solid and you can get a grip on it.
    2. Hop up on the bike, mash a brake, put your feet loosely on the pedals while holding on to the post, and clip one foot in (the one on the same side as the post - that way if you tip away from the post you can catch yourself with the loose foot).
    3. Clip in and twist out at least ten times, so you start developing the muscle memory on that side. If it's hard to do, get off and loosen the tension.
    4. Turn the bike around and repeat the process for the other foot.
    5. When you're comfy, hold the post and clip both feet in and practice releasing them.

    Now you've learned clipping and unclipping under circumstances that are actually harder to do than when you are riding, but less likely to hurt you. Don't be afraid to do this for a WHILE while practicing. The process should feel natural and instinctive to you - you should not have to think about it - it's just the way a foot comes off a pedal. Muscle memory is important.

    That way, when things get ugly and you have to get your foot off the pedal, your instinctive mind can handle that little detail while you manage the bigger details like not crashing.
  • maximus184
    maximus184 Posts: 7 Member
    Use ur clips man, if you think about with clips u dont have to work has hard, just make sure u know how to clip out quick.
  • mstaser
    mstaser Posts: 657 Member
    This race is not at all competitive for me. Its a XTERRA triathlon that we are doing a relay on. Just me and a couple others that are just doing it for the fun of it. But, 90% of the others there will be out for the win.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    This race is not at all competitive for me. Its a XTERRA triathlon that we are doing a relay on. Just me and a couple others that are just doing it for the fun of it. But, 90% of the others there will be out for the win.

    Then if you use the clipless make sure you are near the back of the pack where a fall won't take a serious rider out or put them in a position of having to cost them seconds to avoid you. Because they WILL run over your *kitten* if it means a few seconds. LOL.

    I'm not a competitive cyclist, but I know quite a few.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    for me, mountain biking itself would be a bad idea (tried once, and ended up with a bruise covering more than half my thigh - guess i was lucky not to have broken anything).
    anyhow, the idea of being attached to the pedals seems a bit scary, and i wouldn't even go on a 15k ride with them until i'd have gotten used to them properly. but i am clumsy, and the bike is so NOT my sport - I am still waiting for the day i manage to injure myself on a stationery bike. :wink:
  • mstaser
    mstaser Posts: 657 Member


    Then if you use the clipless make sure you are near the back of the pack where a fall won't take a serious rider out or put them in a position of having to cost them seconds to avoid you. Because they WILL run over your *kitten* if it means a few seconds. LOL.

    I'm not a competitive cyclist, but I know quite a few.

    haha, I know what you mean. We will be starting from the back of the pack at the start. The awards will be going on before we get back. LOL
  • mstaser
    mstaser Posts: 657 Member
    Well, I reluctantly raced with the new pedals. All clipped in and nervous. It felt very weird and I was nervous during most of the 15 miles of trails. I did fall a few times because I couldn't get my feet to the ground fast enough or at all. I did fall a few times because I had no choice. haha. But all and all, just a couple scrapes and a little blood. It was a real benefit to be clipped in.

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