Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Considering Dumping the Clipless

I went clipless mid last year. I fell in love with them. I also, had my probationary clipless falls. All at zero speed and all "HURT like hell":cry:. Today, after weeks off the bike because ice, snow and cold, I got the new Peace 9R out. Planned ride was 17 miles of country road with lots of hills. I rest about every 4-5 miles and this was my 3rd stop. At the 12 mile point, I pulled into a driveway to take a rest and for the 3rd time in 7 months, unclipped the right......and leaned to the left. I guess I am clipless impaired?

Anyway, this fall was not good. I tucked and landed on my left side and my elbow and ribs connected. I have either seriously bruised or mildly fractured a rib or ribs on the left side:( The worst part of this is, I somehow managed to seriously bend my back rim on my brand new bike:notamused:

So, back to the clipless thing. As much as I like that added assist I get when climbing, I am seriously considering going back to platforms. I do not and never will ride for speed. There are no bike paths here, and frequent stops are the norm. I made an agreement with myself this year to just ride. Very little planning of routes and any concern for time is not going to happen. So, with that in mind, and the need for fine tuned efficiency does not exist, I think I am heading back to the platform. I swear that I remember my first year platform rides were fun.

We will see. I am just toying with the idea right now. I'll let ya know. Maybe you can get a good deal on a pair of shoes and pedals :thumb:

The Cliplessly impaired One

Do you have them adjusted as lightly as you can? You should be able to pull 'em out from just about any position.

I'll never go back!

That bites about the wheel though.....

what model pedals are you using?

Are you using SPD's? Make sure the tension is not too tight. After I adjusted mine, I noticed they tightened up after a week or two. Had to go back and readjust. Seems to happen to just about every set I get.

I bet you try the platforms then return to clipless again. When I first went clipless I didn't install them on the tandem. After riding the clips on the tandem, I felt myh ffot slipping around., That's when I realized clipless is the way to go!:thumb:

Sometimes you don't know what you've got till it's gone!:D

I think you're answering your own question. If they aren't comfortable to you and they are a problem put the regular platform pedals on.

I have a number of bikes and only two of them have clipless pedals on them. One road bike and one mountain bike. The other more or less errand bikes have platforms. There are MANY times I want to ride a bike wearing a certain kind of clothing (i.e. Dockers) and not have some goofy looking clipless shoes on. I need to get off the bike and go to work or go in the store or whatever. And I need to do this spontaneously. I don't always have time to plan it all out and I'm not buying a hundred pairs of shoes.

If I just pedal from point A to B for transportation I don't care about being clipped in. Now when I'm hammering out a 2 hour road ride for max exercise, that's different.

When I'm trying to climb that muddy, steep hill on my mountain bike, that's different.

Be safe and secure. You're not a lesser rider for doing it your way or your style.

John

what model pedals are you using?

Nashbar Highlander off road pedals. I have them adjusted very light. I have played with the adjustments and when not under duress (falling), I can just barely twist and they come out. I think it is more a "Paralysis" problem. When I realize I am going down, I freeze. Funny thing is, that is so unlike me in most situations. But on the bike it is the first feeling I get as I head over. (that and "Oh Crap, who is watching this stupidity?") Sulley Sullengerg I am not.

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/500/NS-HLP-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

I've got several pair of clipless pedals. The Shimano SPDs are the easiest to get out of. My wife stole my M520s for her road bike and will not let me put anything different on it. She has come close to falling a couple of times but always got her foot out and down.

I have A520s on my commuter and M505s on my MTB (replacing the stolen M520s) and have never gone down with either of these. I have a pair of VP SPDs and they can be an issue geting into and out of. I have Nashbar ARC compatible pedals on my road bike and have gone down with them once. They are a bit tricky to get out of. Once I wear out the 2 pair of cleats I have for them, they will be replaced with Shimano SPD/SLs.

I'd recommend getting a pair of M520s, set them at the lowest release tenson and see if that doesn't solve your problem. There really is a difference between Shimanos and the knockoffs.

Sounds like you made your decision. Are you going to platforms, or did you mean flat pedals? Flat pedals are identical both sides, platforms only have one side. Big difference.

Try the Shimano 324s. There was a world of difference compared to the Nashbar Rodeo equivalents(Welgo). I, too, was ready to pitch them, and was talked into trying the Shimano - I'm really glad I did.

You can get just as good of a work out with powergrips (http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/pedals_and_so_on#product=14-046) or toe clips as you can with clipless pedals. I've got powergrips on a couple of my bikes and really like them a lot. I often ride with just normal Teva sandals and powergrips. It is very easy getting out quickly. If you don't care about riding for speed and you'd like to get out easily, try the powergrips. You can also buy them already attached to pedals from Nashbar, but they'll fit to many platform pedals that can often be found at minimal cost.

Use whatever makes you happy.

I think I am heading back to the platform. I swear that I remember my first year platform rides were fun.


There's nothing bad about platform pedals. There are a handful of serious Long Distance cyclists on the LD forum that do double centuries on platforms. When starting on a steep hill, platforms are far superior, also platforms allow for many foot positions which can alleviate foot and leg cramps and fatigue. I have platforms on my MTB and so do most professional MTB racers.

http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/images/prod_3396.jpg

First off, xrays say small cracks in two on the left side. Holy CRAP does this hurt:cry: I am not getting much sympathy around the house either. Downfall of not having a cycling spouse.

Thanks all for the insights. I think I am going to go back to the platforms for a month and see how I feel after that.

For those of you who do use platforms (Mtn bikes), do you back out those allen studs or spikes or do you run with them? I was considering backing them out on one side. This would allow the pedal to fall with the studs down for most rides (round town stuff) and yet still be there for trails.

For those of you who do use platforms (Mtn bikes), do you back out those allen studs or spikes or do you run with them?

I left mine alone, I like being able to put my muddy shoe on the pedal and not having it slide off.

I don't ride fast or care anything about performance, but I have to have clipless. I resisted for many years, and used powergrips for a long time (which aren't bad). For me it's like having a seat belt on, I guess I'm clumsy but I fell off the platforms sometimes and that's not any more fun than falling clipped in. I fell off the platforms much more than I've fallen clipped in so...

As others have said, don't judge all clipless by the ones you have tried, they're all different.

bb

My wife rides only occasionally and is afraid of clipless. So she uses platforms with toe clips, but I have removed the straps and cut off about half of the toe clip. Just the part that comes up and around the front of the foot remains. It still holds her foot on the pedal fairly well, but she can pull out quickly. It's a petty good compromise.

First off, xrays say small cracks in two on the left side. Holy CRAP does this hurt:cry: I am not getting much sympathy around the house either. Downfall of not having a cycling spouse.

Thanks all for the insights. I think I am going to go back to the platforms for a month and see how I feel after that.

For those of you who do use platforms (Mtn bikes), do you back out those allen studs or spikes or do you run with them? I was considering backing them out on one side. This would allow the pedal to fall with the studs down for most rides (round town stuff) and yet still be there for trails.

Hi Jay,

I'm sorry to read about the accident. Even with medication, you'll have to grit your teeth for a couple weeks until the cracked ribs set.

I think you'll find you don't lose much, if anything, going back to platforms, and gain a heck of a lot.

My wife rides only occasionally and is afraid of clipless. So she uses platforms with toe clips, but I have removed the straps and cut off about half of the toe clip. Just the part that comes up and around the front of the foot remains. It still holds her foot on the pedal fairly well, but she can pull out quickly. It's a petty good compromise.

Sounds like she needs miniclips. :D They make them, by the way.

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=details&PageID=30&SKU=TC1129

Nothing will ever help you if you unclip on one side and then lean on the other. You would have the same problem with toe clips.

Even people who don't ride for speed benefit from either toe clips or clipless pedals, but if you really can't adapt to either, then try to find a regular pedal and civilian shoe combination that will at least grip and hold the sole as you pedal. By that, I mean a pedal with sharp enough teeth, and a sole that's soft enough for them to grip into. Another alternative might be half clips. They have no straps and there is virtually nothing to impede the sideways removal of your foot from the pedal, but you get most of the benefits of a toe clip (more than good enough for most riding).