Touring - Clipless Pedals 101

Hello,

My question tells you that I'm quite the novice when it comes to serious road cycling. Anyway, 'ere tis:

I just purchased my very first set of clipless pedals, the Shimano SPD-520, as recommended by my favorite local bike shop. Because it's still winter, I've only used them on my trainer a few times. They feel pretty good, and I'm anxious to use them for real as soon as the snow melts. Also, they will be used on my upcoming, multi-month tour, beginning around mid-May.

I'd like to hear of any tips, tricks, suggestions, , etc, for learning/using the pedals properly. Also, any info regarding maintenance and especially to what extent they can improve one's performance. Any info whatsover. . ..

Thanks!
Wolfy

Tip #1: Remember to unclip before you get to the stop light.

Tip #2: After you forget Tip #1, pick yourself up off the ground and smile sheepishly.

There's not much else to it. Practice clipping in and out on your trainer so you get a feel for how to line up the cleats to the pedals. Other than that, just do what's natural and remember Tip #1 above.

Hi,
look around for a gym that has a spinning class. Spinning classes
usually have pedals that take spd cleats. You can practise there.
Show up early, the class I take always sells out.

Supcom's Rule #1 is the biggie. Problem is, you will ride 10 or 20 miles, and pull up to a light and forget all about it. And then you will fall. So make a big point of unclipping early and often. You are fighting a lifetime of habit.

You can adjust the tension of the clips. Just practicing is the best way to get comfortable. I've been riding clipless for at least 15 years, but wouldn't you know it, last fall I couldn't unclip when I came up to a stop sign and, whoop, over I went. That was the first time I had managed to do that in many years. Sheepish grin is a good response.

[QUOTE=supcom] Tip #1: Remember to unclip before you get to the stop light.

Tip #2: After you forget Tip #1, pick yourself up off the ground and smile sheepishly. [QUOTE]


VERY TRUE!!!!!!! I have had clipless for about two or three weeks now. This is the only think you must remember. Also there is no snow in the summer time to fall on to.

Rule #1 does not always apply!!
I've riden a trike for a few years with clipless and never fell over once. Just bought a LWB and the weather was great a couple weeks ago so mounted the clipless peddles and started down the driveway and off the curb and you guessed it - bam down I went

Bentnail

Tip #1: Remember to unclip before you get to the stop light. supsom´s had it. even though i´ve been pedalling with cleats for a while there was once i forgot to unclip and thank god there was nobody around because the bike was not moving, i just sat on the top tube and read the map with left foot on the ground, right clipped, then all of a sudden the handlebar swung to the left and as you can probably guess, the whole bike felt to the right. i was taken by surprise and tried to put the right foot down, but couldn´t.

I remember falling over my fist time with road pedals. To avoid a grain truck (I grew up in rural Illinois), I wandered into some deep gravel and fell over. A couple horse back riders going down the road asked if I needed help. I just acted like this was normal and turned a bright shade of red. I ended up having to take my shoes off. Unfortunately I did have a audience.
Supcom said it best, just let us know how your first clipless flop goes,
Scott

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

Here's a follow up: To what extent does your use of clipless pedals increase your performance and improve your efficiency? How much do they help you on extremely steep uphill climbs? Other thoughts?

Thanks,
David in PA (Wolfy)

supsom´s had it. even though i´ve been pedalling with cleats for a while there was once i forgot to unclip and thank god there was nobody around because the bike was not moving, i just sat on the top tube and read the map with left foot on the ground, right clipped, then all of a sudden the handlebar swung to the left and as you can probably guess, the whole bike felt to the right. i was taken by surprise and tried to put the right foot down, but couldn´t.

This should bring us to -

Rule #1, Corollary #1: Always unclip both feet.

I had a similar experience. We did a family ride to Dairy Queen and I got there just ahead of my wife and son. I stopped, unclipped on foot and was turing to warn them of a road hazard and leaned the other way just a bit and . . . . Boom down I went. I, now, always unclip both feet!

To answer your last question, I can't give you a percentage but it's up there. The big difference is that before you could only really give full power to the down stroke. Now you can power the full circle.

"Here's a follow up: To what extent does your use of clipless pedals increase your performance and improve your efficiency? How much do they help you on extremely steep uphill climbs? Other thoughts?"

As soon as you get over the fear of getting stuck in the pedals there is no going back. Its hard to describe, its just better. More efficient, better going up shallow hills, extremely steep hills, downhills, over bumps, in the air (if you choose to learn how to jump road kill), etc...
scott

indeed, my foot don´t slip anymore off the pedals, well, there´s a downside to it as well, depends on when...

Thanks again to all of you for the feedback.

Here's an update on my new experiences with my new clipless pedals:

* I did fall the first time I used them. Unbelievable, but funny I thought for the motorists behind me at the traffic light. It must have looked like something out of a Charlie Chaplin movie.

* What's especially weird is that I thought consciously about the possibility of falling throughout the ride that day. Maybe I'm slipping mentally. :)

* I swear my avg MPH has increased a bit when using them.

* Climbing hills does seem easier.

* I love that I don't have to adjust the location of my feet on the pedals. They're always in the perfect place.

Anyway, I've been initiated. I believe the clipless pedals will definitely help me in my upcoming tour.

Wolfy

So far my experience has been similar to yours, David in PA. I tried mine for the first time last night, on the way to pool. I was consciously aware of my feet being attached to the bike for the entire ride - and had no problems.

Which brings me to Mel Wade's comment:

Rule #1, Corollary #1: Always unclip both feet.

Upon arriving at my destination, I did indeed unclip both feet. But I did so prior to coming to a complete stop. In the process of stopping, I managed to - unbeknownst to me - reclip into the left pedal. I didn't go all the way over, but it was a close one. :)

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

Here's a follow up: To what extent does your use of clipless pedals increase your performance and improve your efficiency? How much do they help you on extremely steep uphill climbs? Other thoughts?

Thanks,
David in PA (Wolfy)I noticed a big improvement in using clipless (over platforms) AFTER I learned to use them properly. It may seem obvious to some veterans, but just cliping in is not enough. You need to work at using your legs on the upstroke. My performance did not improve until I consciously thought about peddling in circles, pulling up on the up stroke and making like I was "scrapping mud from my shoe".

One more thing - the leg muscles you use to pull up are not the same as those used to push down. When I first started REALLY using clipless, the muscles in the front of my upper legs were sore.

That being said I noticed that it is much easier to climb with clipless pedals.

So far my experience has been similar to yours, David in PA. I tried mine for the first time last night, on the way to pool. I was consciously aware of my feet being attached to the bike for the entire ride - and had no problems.

Which brings me to Mel Wade's comment:


Upon arriving at my destination, I did indeed unclip both feet. But I did so prior to coming to a complete stop. In the process of stopping, I managed to - unbeknownst to me - reclip into the left pedal. I didn't go all the way over, but it was a close one. :)You may fall when you are first learning to clip in. I practiced on the grass for an hour. While my kids laughed and took pictures. Usually beginners get so focused on getting their 2nd foot clipped in that they don't get going well and fall over. The goal should be to clip in foot 1, get going, keep going (even it only one foot is clipped), let the second foot clip in while pedaling.

After you learn to clip in, you will not at first forget to unclip when stopping because you are still new, and it is fresh in you mind. The biggest danger comes when you get familiar with clippless and forget about it. That’s when you will go over at a stop sign, and always in front others.

After a while longer, unclipping will become so second nature that you will not have to think of it. Once I was going slowly down a rough road. I hit a tree root and the front wheal turned suddenly, sending me sailing off the bike. As I was falling I noticed that my legs instinctively unclipped themselves.

I hit a tree root and the front wheal turned suddenly, sending me sailing off the bike. As I was falling I noticed that my legs instinctively unclipped themselves.

Mike,

Those flights are too short, and their cost too high, to pass the time thinking about your shoes! Enjoy the feeling of it all, and do try not to think about the oncoming pavement.

After you learn to clip in, you will not at first forget to unclip when stopping because you are still new, and it is fresh in you mind. The biggest danger comes when you get familiar with clippless and forget about it. That’s when you will go over at a stop sign, and always in front others.

After a while longer, unclipping will become so second nature that you will not have to think of it. Once I was going slowly down a rough road. I hit a tree root and the front wheal turned suddenly, sending me sailing off the bike. As I was falling I noticed that my legs instinctively unclipped themselves.

I keep telling myself that I am accustomed to a heel-first exit from the pedals, as I used to ride with toe-clips, but without straps. We'll see if that theory has any merit!

I hit a tree root and the front wheal turned suddenly, sending me sailing off the bike. As I was falling I noticed that my legs instinctively unclipped themselves.

That happened to me, except I hit a bumps and went flying over the handlebars. It was magic: my feet unclipped fast. I don't remember becoming unclipped, but after my face hit the ground I noticed my feet weren't caught in the pedals.

something I was told and am now trying as a newbie...keep your heels down during the rotational pedal cycle. It is suppose to facilitate the pulling action. I switched to the clipless after earning my name with the stirrup type pedal gear on a MTB keep up the work Dave in Pa.

I've introduced a few people to clipless pedals in the last few years. In each case what seems to work well is to put the pedals on the bike and have them put on the appropriate shoes. (If the clips have an easy release setting I usually start them out using that too).

Walk the bike over to a nearby building wall and ask them to get on the bike while leaving one hand against the wall. Have them unclip thirty to forty times in a roll and through creative use of the backpedal you can have them try uncliping at various points in the pedal rotation.

Have them dismount from the bike and turn the bike around so that they can repeat the same operation on the other pedal.

Once those two drills are complete then get them to ride in a traffic free or low traffic area and come to a stop every thirty or forty feet alternately feet when doing so. In this way they get more used to the action of getting out of the pedals before they are in the middle of traffic or on technical singletrack.

Personally I equate clipless pedals to giving you another gear on the bike. They seem to make a much greater difference for me then straps did.

~Jamie N
www.bicycletouring101.com

Jamie's suggestions are great. Another thing I did with my oldest boy was, as we were riding, occasionaly just yell at him to unclip. Just a sharp "unclip" and instantly he would pop his shoe out. This might not work with someone who is not your child :-) but it worked for us. It got him to the point that at 12 YO he feels very comfortable in clipless pedals.
D

I keep telling myself that I am accustomed to a heel-first exit from the pedals, as I used to ride with toe-clips, but without straps. We'll see if that theory has any merit!If you used clips then you will adjust to clopless fast.

Another thing for newbees - don't start on an uphill until you have some experience.

Mike,

Those flights are too short, and their cost too high, to pass the time thinking about your shoes! Enjoy the feeling of it all, and do try not to think about the oncoming pavement.YEp! The fall dosn't hurt, It's the sudden stop at the end that hurts!
;)

Here's another update on my first several uses of clipless pedals.

I have no longer fallen just by stopping. But I did fall--twice--due to dogs. Embarrassing.

Each time, I'm minding my own business and enjoying the ride. Suddenly, a dog comes out of nowhere, barking and making all kinds of noise. It startled me so much that I hit the brakes, as I hadn't yet determined how big or mean the dog was. But of course I forgot to unclip, and boink. Well duh. Even more embarrassing, the dog was fairly small and not a real threat.

Man, I hope that doesn't happen again. :) I now have all the bruises I need.

David

Here's another update on my first several uses of clipless pedals.

I have no longer fallen just by stopping. But I did fall--twice--due to dogs. Embarrassing.

Each time, I'm minding my own business and enjoying the ride. Suddenly, a dog comes out of nowhere, barking and making all kinds of noise. It startled me so much that I hit the brakes, as I hadn't yet determined how big or mean the dog was. But of course I forgot to unclip, and boink. Well duh. Even more embarrassing, the dog was fairly small and not a real threat.

Man, I hope that doesn't happen again. :) I now have all the bruises I need.

David


Did the dog give you kisses as you lay tangled in your bike?

Here's another update on my first several uses of clipless pedals.

I have no longer fallen just by stopping. But I did fall--twice--due to dogs. Embarrassing.

Each time, I'm minding my own business and enjoying the ride. Suddenly, a dog comes out of nowhere, barking and making all kinds of noise. It startled me so much that I hit the brakes, as I hadn't yet determined how big or mean the dog was. But of course I forgot to unclip, and boink. Well duh. Even more embarrassing, the dog was fairly small and not a real threat.

Man, I hope that doesn't happen again. :) I now have all the bruises I need.

David


This points out my main theory about clipless pedals... Don't unclip only when you have to, rather unclip anytime you think you might need to. I'll try to give an example to show what I mean.

You're riding on a mixed use trail, and there is a pedestrian ahead of you, walking in the same direction you are riding, using just the right edge of the trail. You know there is lots of room to pass, so you stay clipped in, and at the last second the ped suddenly steps in front of you. You hit the brakes, and down you go because in that last split second you panic and forget to unclip. In a case like this, I look ahead on the path and sort of plan for the worst and assume I will need to stop, so I unclip my right foot before I get there. (Before someone mentions that I should have rang a bell, let me say that I do ring the bell, but plenty of times the ped stops, steps into the middle of the path, then turns around to see who's coming. Same result - I still need to stop suddenly)

After a while this becomes second nature, and I find my right foot clipping in and out almost on it's own. Another example: you're riding
along a residential road, and just ahead a car is starting to back out of the driveway in front of you. The car should wait till you go by, the driver appears to have noticed you, but then at the last second he pulls right in front of you, and once again you go down because in that last split second it is so easy to forget to unclip.

I find that as I ride, I am always looking 20 - 50 yards ahead of me to see any possible hazards that might cause me to stop suddenly. If there is any chance that I might have to stop, I click that right foot out automatically, then click back in as I pass the possible hazard.

This points out my main theory about clipless pedals... Don't unclip only when you have to, rather unclip anytime you think you might need to. I'll try to give an example to show what I mean.

You're riding on a mixed use trail, and there is a pedestrian ahead of you, walking in the same direction you are riding, using just the right edge of the trail. You know there is lots of room to pass, so you stay clipped in, and at the last second the ped suddenly steps in front of you. You hit the brakes, and down you go because in that last split second you panic and forget to unclip. In a case like this, I look ahead on the path and sort of plan for the worst and assume I will need to stop, so I unclip my right foot before I get there. (Before someone mentions that I should have rang a bell, let me say that I do ring the bell, but plenty of times the ped stops, steps into the middle of the path, then turns around to see who's coming. Same result - I still need to stop suddenly)

After a while this becomes second nature, and I find my right foot clipping in and out almost on it's own. Another example: you're riding
along a residential road, and just ahead a car is starting to back out of the driveway in front of you. The car should wait till you go by, the driver appears to have noticed you, but then at the last second he pulls right in front of you, and once again you go down because in that last split second it is so easy to forget to unclip.

I find that as I ride, I am always looking 20 - 50 yards ahead of me to see any possible hazards that might cause me to stop suddenly. If there is any chance that I might have to stop, I click that right foot out automatically, then click back in as I pass the possible hazard.

I totally agree. I just became clipless last week and am less of a nervous wreck now because I am learning to anticipate a little better. As Crashtest says, unclip at the first sign of any possible hazard. The only thing that worries me now is the hazard you can't see until it is too late!

There's absolutely nothing wrong and is probably wise and safe to anticipate by unclicking ahead but if you think about it, it only really takes a fraction of a second to unclick. Even if you come to a sudden stop, your bike will stay upright and balanced for a good second or two, giving you plenty of time to unclick. I think most people will have a harder time removing their feet from clips and straps in these situations. :)

Been clipless for 3 months, a little adjustment initially but overall It's been great. Went out for another training ride and reminded myself to 'unclip early' but most times I still wanted to pedal some and found myself clipping back in. IN- OUT- IN- OUT...ended up doing a Marty Shaw 1 mile from home. (Marty Shaw= dirty old man on "Laugh-In" that kept falling over on his trike. Seriously anyone have hints on how not to re-clip in when you don't want to? It's gettin to feel natural

Been clipless for three weeks. I forgot to clip out today - another advantage for spd-sl's - you can get out as you are falling. Emabarassing but ultimately not painful. I was so use to them that I forgot about them for the first time. I'm glad I had the release tension dialed all the way down, trying to put my foot down unclipped them, and I was able to save myself.

Been clipless for 3 months, a little adjustment initially but overall It's been great. Went out for another training ride and reminded myself to 'unclip early' but most times I still wanted to pedal some and found myself clipping back in. IN- OUT- IN- OUT...ended up doing a Marty Shaw 1 mile from home. (Marty Shaw= dirty old man on "Laugh-In" that kept falling over on his trike. Seriously anyone have hints on how not to re-clip in when you don't want to? It's gettin to feel natural

I was thinking about this during my ride today, and paid close attention to how I handle the pedals. To my surprise I found that my right foot, running on auto-pilot, doesn't really do what I had written earlier. It turns out that what my right foot does is get into position to unclip when approaching a possible hazard, but rarely does it actually unclip.

What I mean by this is my right foot comes to the top position, and I coast for a half second while passing the hazard. If I actually have to stop, I unclip my right foot while bringing the bike to a stop, then step down off the seat with my weight on the left foot, and then put my right foot down on the ground.

I'm, sure everyone develops their own style of riding and may not do what I do. The main point to remember is to be aware of what is happening on the road around you, so you are not caught off guard.

I was thinking about this during my ride today, and paid close attention to how I handle the pedals. To my surprise I found that my right foot, running on auto-pilot, doesn't really do what I had written earlier. It turns out that what my right foot does is get into position to unclip when approaching a possible hazard, but rarely does it actually unclip.

What I mean by this is my right foot comes to the top position, and I coast for a half second while passing the hazard. If I actually have to stop, I unclip my right foot while bringing the bike to a stop, then step down off the seat with my weight on the left foot, and then put my right foot down on the ground.

I'm, sure everyone develops their own style of riding and may not do what I do. The main point to remember is to be aware of what is happening on the road around you, so you are not caught off guard.

Have I been unclipping at the wrong point? I see that you unclip when your right foot is at at the top whereas I have been waiting until my right foot is at the bottom where it seems to be easier to twist out by pressing down slightly and then to the right. Looking for some guidance.

Have I been unclipping at the wrong point? I see that you unclip when your right foot is at at the top whereas I have been waiting until my right foot is at the bottom where it seems to be easier to twist out by pressing down slightly and then to the right. Looking for some guidance.

I think that's entirely up to you - I've never heard that there is a right or wrong way to do this. In my case I find I can unclip more easily at the top. Then I can shift my weight to the left foot which is already at the bottom, then step off the seat and down, straddling the cross bar, while my right foot makes contact with the ground. But don't try to do what I do - just do what feels right for you! Actually this might make an interesting poll: Where is your foot when you unclip - top or bottom? I'm guessing we might find more people do it your way.

I'm a novice with clipless, but it would seem that your first foot "waiting" to be unclipped should be lower to the ground. As a result, your body-weight could be shifted more easily to that side, making it easier to touch the ground with that foot. Just a guess.

It seems to me that after unclipping on one side, say the right, you would then have to rotate your pedals until your left foot is at the bottom before you could step down on the right side.

But don't try to do what I do - just do what feels right for you!Exactly.

This thread is starting to sound way too complicated than it should be..... You'll all develop natural release points and unclicking will simply become second nature where you don't have to even 'think' about it.

Exactly.

This thread is starting to sound way too complicated than it should be..... You'll all develop natural release points and unclicking will simply become second nature where you don't have to even 'think' about it.

Agreed. I haven't tried to figure this out in detail before precisely because the whole thing is normally done without any conscious thought or effort.

Did the dog give you kisses as you lay tangled in your bike?

No, but I swear the critter made a sound like laughter.

Anybody used toe clips for a while and care to compare the relative performance of the two? I've used clips and straps for a year and they greatly improve power transfer over plain pedals, as far as I can tell. And if I wear a stiff shoe, a bit more even. Though sometimes when riding fast and I get my blood pumping, the strap pressing on the top of my foot is uncomfortable.

I've been thinking of trying clipless, was gonna go with some cheap Nashbar SPD pedals and shoes...

I guess if you cinch the toe straps tight as they're meant to be, the performance between the two pedal systems would be very similar. But in a sudden stop situation, it's much easier and faster to click out of the pedals than to reach down and loosen the straps so you can pull your feet out.