General Cycling Discussion - Question about clip on pedals?

I am a beginner at cycling. Right now I'm my bike just has the old standard pedals. I was just wondering, as a beginner, would it be wise to get clip on pedals now or just wait till I become more comfortable with the sport to get them? How difficult is it to ride with the clip on pedals?

lynnette

If you have had a bike as a kid and are comfortable with most aspects of riding then get the clipless pedals. It is not difficult to ride with them. In fact, I would submit that once you get the advantages of clipless incorporated into your regular routine, you would hate riding without them!

You don’t need them until you find yourself wishing you could get more power into your spin.

if you choose to go with clipless pedals, just be sure to loosen them up a bit and practice putting each foot in while not riding first. Adjsut asneeded until you find the right release tension and cleat placement.

I love clipless, I won't ride any other way anymore.

You need some proficiency at bike handling, esp at low speed. Most riders who have converted to clipless were already good riders. Ideally you should be able to do a track stand, that is balance without any forward movement as you would at a junction.
Clipless pedals are more useful if you ride longer distances, or with more power. For less athletic riding styles the advantages are not so clear-cut.

It depends on your intended use of the bike. If you want to pull the bike out on a moments notice and zip down to the local quick-mart, clipless might not be for you as they require special shoes. If you intend to “gear up” and go for a ride then absolutely get clipless.

I still cant do a track stand, and I still get use from clipless pedals. One of the best advantages of it, is how you can pull off higher cadences (esp sprinting) without fear of losing hte pedal and having it dig right into your calves. It's also a godsend on hills.

The day I got them, I had this "feet of god" feeling...it's being able to use both legs at once ofr power that makes htese so awesome...better acceleration, better climbing, easier spinning....just great.

How difficult is it to ride with the clip on pedals? lynnette

Hi lynnette

It's not difficult at all to ride with clip on pedals. I've been riding with clips and straps for 20 years. Most of my riding consists of knocking out base miles. If I was more into racing I would seriously consider going clipless. Clipless or clips: it's all about keeping your feet firmly connected to the pedals during the power stroke. It's just a matter of preference.

You need some proficiency at bike handling, esp at low speed. Most riders who have converted to clipless were already good riders. Ideally you should be able to do a track stand, that is balance without any forward movement as you would at a junction.
Clipless pedals are more useful if you ride longer distances, or with more power. For less athletic riding styles the advantages are not so clear-cut.

You should be able to do a track stand!!!!! For less athletic riding styles the advantages are not so clear cut!!!!! Boy, it sure is easy to pick out the posters who are trolling.....I have not had such a good laugh in a long time! Keep it up!

You should be able to do a track stand!!!!! For less athletic riding styles the advantages are not so clear cut!!!!! Boy, it sure is easy to pick out the posters who are trolling.....I have not had such a good laugh in a long time! Keep it up!



Ideally you should be able to do a track stand, that is balance without any forward movement as you would at a junction. Clipless pedals are more useful if you ride longer distances, or with more power. For less athletic riding styles the advantages are not so clear-cut.

No, actually those are good points. He didn't say track stands were required training before you clip in. Also, beginner/ultra-casual riders are not going to get the same performance increase as person who has good fundamentals. Settle down a bit or go play Mr. Internet tough guy elsewhere.

Boy, it sure is easy to pick out the posters who are trolling.....I have not had such a good laugh in a long time! Keep it up!

Seriously!!

I rode mountain bikes for years before SPDs (the first real mountain clipless) came out, and I can tell you I fell way more times because I couldn’t get out of a toe clip than I ever did because I couldn't get out of a clipless pedal. Just the thought of trying to flip that thing around and jam my foot in is enough to give me the willies. Riding on regular pedals with no clips is almost worse IMO—no solid connection to the bike--unless you just hit jumps or only ride downhill.

As for road riding, unless you have some serious coordination issues, you’ll figure it out before you come to a stop at the light. It's not that hard.

One other thought. You didn’t say if you’re riding on the road or off road. If you are riding on the road, you might consider using a double sided mountain bike style pedal and shoe to start with. Its much easier to get in the pedal and you can actually walk on your shoes when not strapped in. My wife has been riding clipless for ten years, most of those years with a single sided Look pedal, and even though she could get in and out of the Looks just fine, she now runs double sided mountain bike pedals on her road bike for the reasons I mention here (mostly so she can run into Pete’s and get a cup of coffe with her cycling shoes on)

The LBS that sold me my bike two years ago, with clip-in pedals, made me promise faithfully to take it to a quiet park and clip each foot in and out 10 times before i tried riding. I did, and I haven't fallen (yet?). Another tip is to make sure you can clip out with either foot if you need to. I always take my right foot out when I stop, and had to change track pdq when my laces got caught in the right pedal, and I had to unclip with the left. It worked, but was something of a wake-up call. Enjoy.