Road Cycling - How much longer?

Before the breaking in period ends with my new spd's? :-/ :)

I haven't been clipless for a few years, and now, I've got two bikes requiring LOOK and spd. I am so bruised from falling that I'm beginning to hate these clipless shoes. Whenever I make a sudden stop for some reason or another (ie- today, I dropped my cell phone when riding, so I just stopped and that's when I fell), I keep forgetting that I've got the freakin' shoes on. I thought I had a plan of action- mentally, I review with myself every ride that if I ever need to suddenly stop, I will unclip the right foot. I even practice it (my first practice session was a little spontaneous, so I still have bruises from that one too!), but I still forget. Then as I'm falling, my mind registers that I'm clipped in, and by the time I start yanking, I'm already hitting the pavement (or gravel, or cement, or whatever). I've got bruises from my chest all the way to my ankles, and I swear, if people didn't know better, they'd think I got beat up or something. I'm black and blue all over. My ankle hurts too, so I'm hoping that's going to be temporary, but if it's not, this may be a problem for me.

Ok, sorry. I'm just feeling a bit frustrated.

Koffee

Oh, dear. I just got my first clipless setup (Shimano PD-M520 pedals & mtn bike shoes). This isn't encouraging. ;) It's been mini-monsoon season since I got my gear and I've been practicing **CLICK-chuck, CLICK-chuck** in a doorway inside. Can't wait to get out and hurt myself!

oops, i'm editing this cause i though tyou said you HAVE been doing this for a few years. but since you haven't, just hang in there. give yourself a good 300+ rides and 3-500 times clipping/unclipping. pretty soon it'll become instinct. and nothing remembers and reacts to pain better than the body... before u know it u'll be fine. i wanna mention, though, every time i unclip it's a very conscious decision.. even when there's little time to, i go into RED ALERT TWIST LEG RED ALERT TWIST LEG mode..

sd

I fell twice my first week in clipless and that's all it took. The pain was nothing compared to the embarassment! Everytime I have to stop, I prepare by unclipping my right foot well ahead of time. Both times I fell, I lost balance and fell to the left on the still clipped in side. I now make extra sure that I am balanced, unclipped on the right, and read to stop. It took some practice, but now, after two months, it is second nature.

Of course, having said that, I'll probably fall tomorrow!

Ahh the beauty of clip pedals, no mental thought processes, no real learning curve, never suffered falls from learning, never have to worry about the unit getting clogged with dirt; I laugh in your faces...hahahahahahahah!

I fell twice my first week in clipless and that's all it took. The pain was nothing compared to the embarassment! Everytime I have to stop, I prepare by unclipping my right foot well ahead of time. Both times I fell, I lost balance and fell to the left on the still clipped in side. I now make extra sure that I am balanced, unclipped on the right, and read to stop. It took some practice, but now, after two months, it is second nature.

Of course, having said that, I'll probably fall tomorrow!

See You once again fell (pun intended)victim of the left conspiracy :D

It might help to loosen the tension on your SPD's a bit. New cleats can be a bit tight, which makes unclipping difficult especially when you're already falling. Your leg muscles will eventually remember to twist out before lifting up your foot, so it shouldn't take too long to adjust. When I first started, I had to fall numerous times at the busiest intersections before I got used to the clipless pedals. I think it was my acute fear of embarrassment that really helped me to remember to unclip before stopping.

Have fun!

-Kevin

this is half serious: the day these guys stop using clips is day I'll consider clipless
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/apr04/austracknats04/index.php?id=day4/JVmsprint5

Ahh the beauty of clip pedals, no mental thought processes, no real learning curve, never suffered falls from learning, never have to worry about the unit getting clogged with dirt; I laugh in your faces...hahahahahahahah!

I got clipless for the first time a few months ago, and I doubt
I'll ever go back to clip pedals. So much more power from the
clipless! I cruise up hills that used to be a real chore. My legs
are much more relaxed, too, since I use the muscles differently,
particularly at the top and bottom of the circle.

Didn't have the slightest problem getting used to them, either:
I was a little paranoid about it at first, but I set the lock-in
mechanism to be extra loose. A panicked yank of my foot would
unsnap. I have gradually tightened the lock since then to get
more advantage from the mechanism.

I am using the shimano clipless, so I don't know if other kinds
of cleat mechanisms are harder to adjust.

Well, it's nice to know others went through what I'm going through. It is a pain in the butt... literally and figuratively! I've got a huge gash in my back, a big black splotch/lumpy bruise on my chest, two big purple bruises on my left leg, big scratches on both shins, the outside of my left foot is feeling a little pained, and I am finding new scratches on both my hands and arms every day.

*sigh* I'm mostly hoping that I'll be able to do my upcoming cycling trip. I've decided to take a break from riding tomorrow and spend time healing up.

Thanks for the good words.

Koffee

Not sure if this has been suggested yet, but when I got my first SPD/clipless set, the LBS I bought it from gave me a really good explanation/demonstration of how to clip and unclip and even watched me practice. Suffice to say, I didn't really have a "breaking-in" period, apart from one stupid exercise in vanity at Kirra Beach four years later, which left me unharmed in anycase. Is there anyone over there who may be able to offer you similar assistance?

Of course, it might also be the tension in the cleats.

Ahh the beauty of clip pedals, no mental thought processes, no real learning curve, never suffered falls from learning, never have to worry about the unit getting clogged with dirt; I laugh in your faces...hahahahahahahah!

I learned to ride clipless after riding with clips and straps offroad. Let me tell you, I had much more crashes with clips and straps than I ever did with clipless. After about a month of riding, clipless was second nature and I never again caught an exposed strap on a branch or a clip on a rock (which of course causes me to do nasty things like endo or rip the bike out from under me) while attempting to get clipped in. I'll vote for clipless over toeclips any day.

Koffee........in a couple weeks you'll be thinking to yourself how in the hell you rode for many years without going clipless.

Ahh the beauty of clip pedals, no mental thought processes, no real learning curve, never suffered falls from learning, never have to worry about the unit getting clogged with dirt; I laugh in your faces...hahahahahahahah!


And the joy of a broken ankle when your foot doesn't come out in a crash. Ahhhh clips. :p

Whenever I make a sudden stop for some reason or another (ie- today, I dropped my cell phone when riding, so I just stopped and that's when I fell), I keep forgetting that I've got the freakin' shoes on.
Who the heck is calling you while you are riding? :)

55/Rad

I am quite confused. There are two types of road pedals. The standard cage pedal with toe clips and straps and the "clip in" pedals which are anything but clipless. The riders in the images supplied by 531 Aussie are using clip in pedals. I don't understand how this name "clipless" ever got started since it is ambiguous and opposite to the facts.

there are two types of pedals, the type with a cage a strap and CLIP that kinda clips and locks around the toe part of your shoe..

An then there are the type of pedals that do not have those clips, and those are called "clipless" cause you don't have to bend over and reach to clips your foot in or out of the cage pedal...

Some people use the term "clip in" or "clip out" of clipless pedal.. which causes the confusion and is an oxymoron.. :)

The suggestion about tension is an important one. Keep the tension loose enough so that the lightest twist unclips you. I've been riding with clipless pedals every since I've been riding (10ish years) and never had a problem. However, I recently bought a mountain bike and have increased the tension on my SPDs to more than I was used to. As a result of this, I found it difficult to unclip from my pedals. Since it wasn't so easy, i.e. it took a very hard twist to unclip, I found I too was falling over more than usual as I had to make a conscience effort to think about twist out hard. So, it is not just a beginner problem (i.e. don't feel bad or get discouraged), it is just a matter of the proper adjustment. Start off extra easy on the tension and as you get more comfortable, increase the tension slightly to where you feel secure in the pedals but can also get out of them in an emergency.

Well, it's nice to know others went through what I'm going through. It is a pain in the butt... literally and figuratively! I've got a huge gash in my back, a big black splotch/lumpy bruise on my chest, two big purple bruises on my left leg, big scratches on both shins, the outside of my left foot is feeling a little pained, and I am finding new scratches on both my hands and arms every day.

*sigh* I'm mostly hoping that I'll be able to do my upcoming cycling trip. I've decided to take a break from riding tomorrow and spend time healing up.

Thanks for the good words.

Koffee

Gashes, bruises, splotches, scratches, YIKES!! Well, I don't exactly FEEL YOUR PAIN but you have my sympathy. It hurts even reading that.

Hopefully, you will be well on the way on the learning curve and be out of this. Unclipping is one of the first things I do in the "stopping process". I even unclip, if I think I might have to stop.

See You once again fell (pun intended)victim of the left conspiracy :D


:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Ahh the beauty of clip pedals, no mental thought processes, no real learning curve, never suffered falls from learning, never have to worry about the unit getting clogged with dirt; I laugh in your faces...hahahahahahahah!


There are two types of cyclists, those who have fallen and those who will fall. Those in the latter category who laugh at those of us in the former are destined for the hardest fall of all; toppling off your monumental hubris.

As others have suggested, loosen the tension on the spd's. Also, practice on bike paths rather than on Chicago city streets. If you fall and get run over by a great dane on a leash or a rollerblader you will suffer less damage than getting hit by a bus.

Used the clipless setup for the first time this morning -- I'm in love!

My pedals are set very loose and the folks at Bikeworld (http://www.bikeworldky.com) made sure that I was ready for 'em. I was advised to practice in a doorway at home, but beforehand they put my bike on a trainer and made sure that I knew how to clip in and out before leaving the store. Good thing, or else I probably would've been trying to clip in at the top of the stroke and clip out at the bottom.

I haven't had a bike accident of any sort (unless you count the Huffy purchase) since '96 when I ran into a left-hooking car. My last self-induced accident was in '93 on a steep downhill when a shoulder bag dropped down my arm, hit the front tire, and I found myself suddenly on my back. :o I'm overdue for a boo-boo.

some reason or another (ie- today, I dropped my cell phone when riding, so I just stopped and that's when I fell), I keep forgetting that I've got the freakin' shoes on. I thought I had a plan of action-

Koffee

Is the problem the fact that you can't get unclipped or the simple fact that you forget that you are clipped in?

Who the heck is calling you while you are riding? :)

55/Rad

I carry a cell phone as part of my "flat pack". Basically, I carry two tubes and two C02 cartrigies. If I flat more then twice, or have a mechanical problem in the middle of nowhere, then I really dont have much of a choice but to call for a ride.

Anyway, on the main issue, Koffee, you will get used to it. how is your pedal stroke? I consiously try to pull all the way around the circle, and I never forget that I am clipped in.

Also, I second the notion about loosening the tension if you can. I belive it can be done on all SPDs, but I'm not sure about looks. not all of them have adjustable tension.

Plus, it is not just about standing in a doorway clipping in an out. you have to do it in a real life situation. try taking a short loop around your neighborhood, and stop at all of the stop signs. Just clip one foot out, and practice leaning to the side that you are clipped out of. Eventually, it will become second nature.

Nobody I know has had as much difficulty getting acclimated to clipless pedals as I did. At one point I considered switching back because I got tired of providing the entertainment for the guys that I was mountain biking with.

What eventually worked for me was a combination of Shimano mountain-style SPD pedals along with the silver, multi release, cleat. Genuine Shimano pedals seem to work better than the clones and 747 pedals operate much more crisply than the less expensive ones. I haven't bought pedals in a while so I don't know about the newer models.

When I stand normally and look down at my feet, they splay outward with about a 45 degree angle at the heels. The outside edges of the heels of my shoes wear out first. Sking isn't a fun activity for me because I have to concentrate on keeping my ties pointed straight and that puts pressure on my knees.

My theory is that, in addition to my feet pointing outward, they are also at an angle with the horizontal that puts the release mechanism in a bind and makes it harder to release. Angeling the cleat on my shoe didn't help and placing a wedge under the cleat wasn't successful. I'm glad that I finally found a combination that works for me. I think sometimes about trying other pedals like Speedplay, Look, or Crank Bros., but I'm reluctant to make the investment since I've had so much trouble finding the Shimano combination that works for me.

One pedal type I've found that is VERY easy for beginners is the Time ATACs which will allow you to unclip in a variety of ways... including sliding your feet sideways. Curiously enough, they're also the most secure pedal system I've used because even with a high degree of body/bike english, I've never accidently come out of them.

I will go ahead an unloosen the screws. It's not that I don't know how to clip out... I just forget that I am clipped in. I only forget if I make a sudden stop, like when my cell phone dropped. And no... I wasn't making a phone call! I keep my phone hanging around my neck, and I thought I saw it fall out, so I just impulsively stopped, and as soon as I did, I realized I was still clipped in, and I started tugging, but it was too late, so I ended up skidding onto the ground. I've been practicing only on the paths so far- the streets are usually so crazy I would probably get run over by a taxi! So I think I will be ok, I just need to unloosen my screws a little and just be patient (and nurse my wounds!).

Thanks!

Koffee

Koffee I just had a recall of that SPD sandals thread.....
Well ??? How do you like them ?

Other than the falling and the pain, they're pretty good- they feel super light, and my feet are definitely cooler with them. And when people see me clipping in with sandals, they freak... I had no idea how many people have no idea that there are clipless sandals. I'm glad I got mine now, because I'm sure folks will be running over to get them this summer.

Koffee

Now they just need to make sandals that are LOOK compatiable for the rest of us!!

I will be real happy when Teva makes a bike sandal

Thought you would have been black & white & read all over like a newspaper lol..only joking :)
Maybe it would be a sensible idea to sellotape a piece of paper to your handlebars informing you about the urgent need to unclip the cleat from the pedal mechanism therefore diverting impending disaster.
No i definitely haven't any plans to buy clipless sandels. I do have my reputation to think about you know. The blokes in the cycling club would never stop creasing up if i wore them on a ride.

Provence,
I spend too much time riding in Florida. Every ounce of material that can come off of your body, especially your feet, is greatly appreciated. Now if they could just design the shoes with little air conditioners in them, I'd be all set!!

One pedal type I've found that is VERY easy for beginners is the Time ATACs which will allow you to unclip in a variety of ways... including sliding your feet sideways. Curiously enough, they're also the most secure pedal system I've used because even with a high degree of body/bike english, I've never accidently come out of them.

word to the time ATACs. i used them for roughly a year on one of my track bikes, and had old triangle 105s on my road bike without a second thought. then one day, i just decided to try out the times on the roadie and i've never gone back. so much more power transfer on the road bike. i still prefer clips and straps on my track bikes though, because i've popped out of the times at least twice while skidding to stop, and the only times i've ever came out of my clips 'n' straps was when i was only running one strap per clip. since i added the one that goes around my toes at the front of the pedal, i haven't had any problems.

koffee, i'd suggest that you spend some time on the bike inside, in just normal street shoes learning track stands for lights. they help a lot if you need an extra second of "upright" time at a light. or if it's that you're forgetting that you're clipped in, slllllloooooow down your reaction time for trivial things like dropping the phone. you gotta somehow add the step in your thought process that tells you to unclip...i was super worried about falling over when i first got my times, but i spent a couple minutes inside, clipping in and out, and practicing track stands, then i went to a parking lot in the middle of the night and rode around a bit. i was super nervous the first time i took the bike out during the day, but i made it without falling at a single light. i think i still have yet to experience that....i'm sure it's coming, and i know i'll feel like a dumbass when it happens, but it's part of life...feeling like a dumbass, that is. ;)

I fell three times when I was learning how to use clipless.

I also tried both Looks and SPD and found I prefered SPD. I also discovered I prefer my SPDs pretty loose.

And um . . . what were you doing using a cellphone while riding anyway? One of the reasons I ride is to get away from people.

I will go ahead an unloosen the screws.

Gah!!! What screws are you talking about? I hope not the ones on the cleat! You can adjust the tension on the pedal, you knew that right? I'm sure you do, never mind, I'm a dick... ;)

Like someone else said already a good rule of thumb is that if you even think you might have to unclip then do it. During a commute into work I routinely clip out even if the light in the near distance is green. As my luck usually has it, it will change by the time I get there.

ST.

Koffe,
Do you have small feet? The reason I ask is on another forum a woman was having problems getting out of Look pedals. She discovered that smaller feet have more problems clipping out of Looks. When she switched to speedplays she had no more problems.
I have a small foot and started with spds and switched to speedplays. The only times I've had problems was due to my own stupidity.
Kathi