First time going clipless - how to avoid the road rash?
Originally Posted by
mackgoo
If you can maneuver with clips, clip less will be a breeze. Just remember to unclip when you come to a stop.
My advice after a few falls, the first three within about a couple months after starting is
unclip one foot, for me the right foot next to a curb, if you even think about stopping.
BTW, I previously posted:
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
"Clipless pedals or not"'
On further reading, I noted the right vs left unclipping discussion. We have plenty of curbs and I unclip right. In fact, when I'm on the left side of the road, left foot unclipping seems awkward.
I first to thought about it when I started riding with a regular companion, and he always unclipped left..
After a few early falls when learning to ride with clipless pedals,I now unclip the right foot when there is the least anticipation of stopping.
Originally Posted by
grizzly59
I had to beat this into my head-
Any issues downshifting when going uphill, unclip immediately.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
...
Sometimes though on an incline upwards, from a stop with both feet free and unclipped, it can be a problem to get enough forward momentum to rotate the pedal and clip in, and the cleat is slippery on the wrong side of the pedal. On a couple of occasions I banged my shin on the pedal..
I tried riding with cleat covers for traction on such short distances, but I’ve lost two separate cleat covers doing that...
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
Earlier on this thread I posted: On the various clipless pedal threads I have read over the years, I don't recall reading about slippery pedals until recently.
When I'm on an incline upwards my usual solution to proceed from a stopped completely unclipped position is to turn around and descend to engage the clips, then do a U-turn upwards, usually at the flat road surface before the hill.
BTW FYA,
on the 50+ Cycling Forum is an honorary society for those learning clipless pedals,
Club Tombay (link).
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-06-20 at 06:33 AM.
Reason: added quote about slippery pedals