Fifty Plus (50+) - Clipping in vs clipping out

I have absolutely no problem clipping in or clipping out EXCEPT when I am trying to clip in and to show someone how to clip in or I know that someone is watching me and I want to impress them by doing it smoothly and quickly.

Then, I push and pull my foot around trying to find that magic spot, which seems to have moved several inches from where I thought it was. Sometimes I end up pedaling off unclipped, only to clip in quite easily as soon as I am out of sight!! :)

Anyone else?

No

Clipping in under pressure is similar to making a 3 foot put to win the hole or the golf tournament. You just have to make it. Try clipping in at the start of a race knowing that if you do not, you will lose position in the pack. Under pressure, I never miss. It is a matter of concentration and practice.

Most people I see having trouble clipping in the second foot are trying to do it at the top of the pedal stroke where they often find the pedal is inverted. Make sure the second pedal is at the bottom of the stroke and I am sure most issues will go away.

A similar problem when I try to teach someone a specific passage on the guitar. I get blocked on what comes next.... brain and thinking get in the way. I suspect you're experiencing the same thing.

Performance anxiety? ;)

Sure, when someone else is watching it’s always more difficult.

Last weekend we watched my son-in-law compete in a Triathlon. They were required to push/walk/run their bikes over the pad that recorded their chips and then go a couple of yards further before mounting their bikes. That put them on a slight incline to mount up and start the ride. I don’t know if it was the incline, nerves, trying to hurry, being tired from the swim or trying to start with their bikes in too high a gear but a LOT of them had trouble getting clipped in. We saw quite a few near accidents as riders wove all over the path trying to clip in and get started.

Performance anxiety? ;)

Would Viagra help? :)

:lol:

That might make for a pretty uncomfortable ride. Unless you're into that stuff.

:lol:

That might make for a pretty uncomfortable ride. Unless you're into that stuff.

Ummm...okay!

Stop lights, with cars around me. I almost always fumble the clip in there - spin the pedal, miss the clip, whatever. Red face!

Ummm...okay!

Stop lights, with cars around me. I almost always fumble the clip in there - spin the pedal, miss the clip, whatever. Red face!

Yeah, that's when I always miss. When I'm stopped at a light, and need(want) to get a jump on the cars so I have a place in the lane, the pedal is always the wrong way, or I'm trying to clip inn my heel. Of course then I have to look to find out what in the heck my foot is trying to do.
As opposed to the times when I DON"T want to be clipped in, and the cleat and pedal line up like magic, and I don't even feel going into the pedal.

Performance anxiety? ;)

That can happen if you lose your composure clipping out too. Can you say Tombayyyyyyyyy?

I can put these things on my really long list of why I ride toe clips and straps.....no cleats..Thanks!
Bud

My thinking is that as long as I have a healthy distrust things will be okay. Kind of like using a tablesaw. Just never get too comfortable.

+3 on stop lights, road crossings.

It's always hardest when you think about it.

How about when you clip out preparing to stop, then realize you need to pedal one or two more strokes, and clip back in unintentionally?

Under pressure, I never miss. It is a matter of concentration and practice.

That's the only time I do miss. It's a good thing that I don't race crits.

I've been using the same pedals for about 50,000 miles and I still miss clipping in when it counts.

I can put these things on my really long list of why I ride toe clips and straps.....
toe clips and straps = death traps

Dnvr, maybe you need different pedals. I use SPD-SL.

toe clips and straps = death traps

Dnvr, maybe you need different pedals. I use SPD-SL.

I was just sort of joking there. However, my OP was taken seriously. My bad. Sorry. I thought I put a smiley there??

Why don't people blame the pedals when they have a problem clipping in?

When there is any issue unclipping, the pedal gets the blame, even if the problem stems from ones faulty memory.
If theres an issue clipping in, its a given that the rider was at fault.

It seems the lowest percentage of problems stemming from either clipping in or out are mechanical in nature.

The dirty little secret we are all keeping is that our bikes function much more reliably than we do.

Old SPDs. No problems clipping out quickly.

Clipping in often takes me a bit of hunting. Maybe in your setting you can set the example just being relaxed until pedal and cleat happen to meet.

P.S. Would you please, pretty please change your avatar? You know why.

No problem with clipping in or out on most days. I have Shimano M520 MTB pedals on my road bike and having the clips on both sides helps with not having the clips in the right position. Where I do have a problem is when I stop for a light and the light turns green just as I dismount and the pedal on my kick off leg is in the wrong position, usually too high to get a good clip. I end up putting the arch of the shoe on the pedal to kick off but then the cleat goes in very quickly.