1st clipless commute!
 

It was this moning and it was uneventful! I've been practicing on weekend fun rides but the commute has occassional "surprise" unclips so i was a little concerned. A couple of times, I did clip out earlier than I would have pulled out of the power grips but I figured better safe than sorry.

just felt like telling people who would understand and might even care. :D

Congrats! :beer:
Keep at it and it will become second nature to unclip before you stop. I think going from toe clips to clipless is easier than going from just platform pedals to clipless. You already have the instinct that you just can't put you foot down when you are stopping. Way to go!!

You wont need to unclip before you stop, because after a little time, unclipping will just be a part of taking your foot off the pedal. Keep your pedals a cleats cleand and dirt free, so they will always release properly.

1+. Few more days of this and platforms and toe clips are going to seem downright weird to you.

Then you can learn to trackstand and never unclip!
Disclaimer: I'm still working on that one. ugh

2+, after a while you won't even think about it and unclipping will be automatic and instinctive

This is so true. The other day I had a joker walk out between two cars right in front of me. Before I could even think about it, I had a death grip on both brakes and my right heel swung out and unclipped. It wasn't until after I had stopped that I realized I was unclipped.

It was kinda funny too. My rear brake is squeely as all get out. I leave it that way so I can use it as a warning or a "bell".... So here comes this dude on a bike with rear brake squeeling and a look of terror on his face... :o

After a couple of weeks, try a bike with platforms -- it'll seem like the most alien thing you can imagine.

How far is your commute?

My route is 15 miles each way. There is a 16-mile route that is a little faster but it's heavy traffic the whole way. I haven't even considered taking that route in a while.

All in all the clipless commute was uneventful. Thanks for the encouragement from all.

:mad: No commute for me today. I have to take a sick cat to the vet and I'm not looking forward to it. :mad: Off topic warning - I've had three vets refuse to treat him again. I was shocked the first time this happened because he's such a sweet cat. He's a big ole snuggling lap cat. Then one day at the vets I saw it. He went kujo. Damnedest thing I had ever seen. Did you know house cats can roar like a freaking lion? It's crazy. I ended up bleeding profusely from that encounter. I was sure he would recognize me and calm down if I picked him up. He eventually did calm down after I held him for a few minutes. He's big. He's clawed. He doesn't like the vet. I hope he doesn't go kujo on me ....

Just be carefull when riding on platforms again. I got used to toe clips real fast. So fast that when I took my dads platform pedaled Motobecane out I lifted my foot off the pedal and put it into the front wheel. Bent up his wheel a little bit on impact.

Excellent thread.

I've done toe clips in city traffic but not clipless - I'm too chicken.

I have typically used platforms (big bear trap BMX peds to match my fat feet) for commuting with no problems in past save inefficient cadence, but now I am developing numb toes after 20-30 mins. I believe this is from mashing.

When I ride on weekends, I use Speedplay Frogs or Crank Bros. Quattros. If I forget to spin and just mash down I get the same numbness......If I remember to spin, in addition to all the other fitness and performance benefits the pain and numbness go away.

Hence, I have wanted to brave the clipless for the commute but so far haven' had the guts - your posts have given me some much needed encouragement, thanks!

Re The cat - That's too bad!
Maybe you can buy little cycling shoes and clip her feet down to a kid's bike at the vet's?

I've been riding clipless totally since this post. It's been pretty good, I do find that I have a problem unclipping if my foot is at the top of the stroke when I try to unclip it. I developed the habit of pulling out of my power grips with the foot at the top of the stroke, so I need to work on that a little. Otherwise all is well.

I haven't been mountain biking clipless yet though. That's a little scary to me but heck - I fall a lot on the trails anyway! What's going to happen clipless that doesn't already happen anyway?

Re the cat: I'll have to try that with another cat someday. Teach a cat to ride a bicycle... hmmm

actually now that i think about it your cat would probably ride away from the vets at top speed.....

I do understand, and I care. Soon it will feel awkward not being clipped in on clipless pedals.