squirtdad

fwiw..... I have used clipless since 1989....here ie my experience

I used the shimano version of Look pedals (6401) for years. worked great and were even better with the cleats that allow a little float.

I have spd on side/platoform the other side pedals. (performance brand) on my utility commuter.... these are great and the spd in this configuration is totally simple to get in and out and you have no problem pedaling if you are not clipped in...... my recommendation for general use and ease of use

Speedplay, tried these base on reports of ease of use and general good input. I didn't lke them. The cleat is huge, wears rapidly, and really tough to walk even a little bit in. Also you need to lube the pedal and cleats every ride (per instructions). I also got pressure points. A lot of people love them though....so goes to show YMMV

Shimano spd-r .... I replace the speed play with shimano 105 spd-r pedals/cleats. These are really good, easier to clip in thant the original look style and for me than speedplays. The cleats are not impossible to walk in, but as always you would not want do any really walking other than in and out of your favorite coffee place.

beyond that:

have I fallen?...once, slow, looked like a cartoon, no injuries.

have clipless pedals help be avoid falls, and other unsafe situations..... yes or at least I firmly believed so.

Dad 2 3

I bought some Shimano R540's this afternoon. I had talked to a salesman at the LBS about buying these and he wanted me to bring my bike in so that he could install them and put me on the trainer and adjust things. This also allowed me some practice clipping and unclipping as well. I did a short ten mile ride tonight without incident. One thing that had to be adjusted was seat height. I think we raised it about an inch. My leg was very bent at the bottom of the down stroke which I guess is due to the difference in thickness of the cleat and shoe? Any way, I could tell a huge difference in efficiency especially when climbing the very small hill in my neighborhood. I still need to do some fine tuning with cleat position, but I'm sold!

Tom Stormcrowe

I ride fixed and clipless. It's kind of fun watching people's faces if I track stand at a light and just balance in the pedals without unclipping at a dead stop.

DTSCDS

I've considered trying to learn the track stand. The ONLY problem I have with the clipless pedals is getting clipped in from a stop. If I am crossing traffic I am extra cautious and will wait until an opening of inordinate space opens up before I will cross. I don't want to get myself in a situation where I am only functioning with one leg and have cars bearing down on me. It is MUCH worse with 'real' road shoes that have the firm/slick soles on them. With MTB shoes there is enough rubber on the bottom I can get it close and then go easy until I get across the road. With road shoes any pressure on the pedal without clipping in makes me slide right off.
If I could track stand that would cease to be an issue.
I suspect it is a courage issue. I can ride quite slow with no loss of control. It's that last .5 mph that give me the willys.

bbeasley

Go Tom!
I want to be like you when I grow up.

Seattle Forrest

Apart from all the many obvious benefits, it has the side effect of improving your balance and your control over the bike, generally.

jyossarian

It's even more fun when you trackstand in front of some newb scenesters on shiny new FG's and you're on your fredded out FG.

IBOHUNT

Practice pedlin' one legged. Not only helps after stopping but I've found it helps me learn a good pedal stroke.

BionicChris

I bought clipless last night, won't be fitting them until after Sundays group ride though...

jim p

A big advantage of clipless pedals is that you don't have to worry about your feet slipping off the pedals when you are up to speed and hit a bump. If you have ever had your feet jarred off the pedals you can appreciate this.

If I have to chose when I am going to fall, I will chose to fall at slow speed all the time as opposed to falling at high speed.

I suggest to step way out the side with the unclipped foot and to go ahead and unclip the other foot as soon as possible unless you are planning to starting forward again very soon. Also be very aware that the road shoes may be slick on the bottom and when stepping down onto the pavement try to plant your foot firmly so that your foot does not slip out and cause you to have a very graceful leg split which might pull some muscles.

I have been riding clipless for 4 years and I still am very nervous and aware of unclipping. When I started riding clipless, I had frozen shoulders which were extremely painful. One day I came to a stop and an intersection and put my left foot down with my right foot still clipped in. A truck went by and I watched the truck go to my right and then I realized that I was falling to the right. I tried with all my might to get unclipped but it was a no go. I hit the ground on my sore shoulder and it hurt so much that I was trying to throw up. I had to kick like a dieing bug to get my right foot unclipped and then I hobbled over to a fence post and just held on trying to keep from throwing up as the pain of my shoulders finally decreased. Needless to say this left a lasting impression about making sure to unclip and to also unclip both feet if I needed to wait any time before I could start back up. It has been a long time since I have fallen due to clipless pedals.

Now on to this track standing. I decided that this would be a good skill to learn. I have a hybrid bike with platform pedals which I thought would be a good learning tool. I would try to stand and I would practice each day. I finally got to where I could stand for a couple of seconds and it didn't look like that I was making any improvement. On this particular day I decided to try for a little longer stand. I had been standing maybe 4 seconds and the next thing I know I am sailing over the handle bars and landing on my shoulder again. I still don't know how the bike shoot out behind me between my legs but it would have been a good thing to have on video. This ended my training on how to do a track stand. If I have been able to ride for 50 years without having to know how to track stand maybe I can make it another 25 years with no great problem. I do respect you guys that have the skill and talent to track stand.

Cyril 

It's easiest to do a track stand with a fixed gear bike.

BionicChris

Fitted them for a short ride today, fell when a dog ran out of a bush and I couldn't unclip in time. I cut my ankle open and bent the shifter. Got going again a few minutes later and did 8 trouble free miles, then I got out of the saddle and my ankle couldn't do it and I lost momentum, then I fell into a load of stinging nettles.

freighttraininguphill

I just bought some Shimano M520 SPD pedals for my road bike. I remember using SPDs 20 years ago, and they definitely improved my climbing. The LBS fitted and installed the cleats and pedals, so I should be good and ready for my Donner Pass Road climb on Saturday

Dad 2 3

I had a slow-mo tip over for the first time on Tuesday which would've been my 10th(?) ride with clipless pedals. I was making a slow tight radius turn around in a driveway when my front tire caught the curb and down I went! Nothing hurt except my pride!

My right pedal has some road rash though.

freighttraininguphill

Posting from a rock about 100' above Donner Pass Road. I just climbed the west side of the mountain with my new clipless system. What a difference! I didn't even have to remind myself to pedal in circles.

After I'm done watching the Donner Summit Time Trial riders suffer up the longer and harder east side, I'm going to climb it. Hopefully I can get a PR. I did last year.

Dad 2 3

I noticed the biggest difference when climbing. I feel like I'm cheating!!

vesteroid

Did you come all the way up from cisco grove?

I left Truckee went west over dinner to Cisco and back a few weeks ago...that's a really nice ride.

Good luck on the pr on the east side...it's a super cool climb, and even better descent.

freighttraininguphill

DID IT! I have to wait until I get home and upload my Garmin data for an exact time, but I was about two minutes faster than last year. This is in spite of gaining 7 pounds since July of last year (143 to 150 lbs), so I'm sure some of that is muscle.

When I climbed the west side, I started at the market in Soda Springs. After watching the time trial riders, I descended to Donner Lake and climbed back up.

I have to give the clipless pedals credit for this too I'm sure they helped quite a bit.

vesteroid

Good job. One of the
prettiest climbs I have ever done

jyossarian

Hold on a sec FTUH, you've been climbing all this time w/o clipless pedals? Or did you switch to a diff type of clipless? I assumed you were using clipless w/ all the climbing you did.

SeanBlader

I got my clipless Shimano SPD and Shimano MTB shoes, so I could wear them off bike if necessary, and the pedals are clipless and platform, so if I just need to ride with my Nike's I can. But I've done like 20 rides without falling yet. I think there's the definite worry that you won't get out when you come to a stop, but what I wasn't aware of could potentially be a problem was getting going from a stoplight. I slipped off the pedals once with each foot, and got myself some nice long back of the calf gashes for my error. Since then I've been a lot more cautious pushing out from a light, whether I clip in, or more likely I just jump on the pedal, either flat or pedal with my arch so the metal pedal is gripped better with the rubber of the sole.

Overall though I like the security of knowing I'm on a pedal, I think the benefit of knowing you're on a pedal after a bump is super handy, that's probably more applicable on a MTB than on my Allez, but it's nice knowing that you're on the pedal and not having to search for your usual comfort spot on the pedal.

freighttraininguphill

Nope, no clipless. I was using toe clips and straps all this time.

Stomper

If you're really apprehensive, try wearing cycling shoes in spinning class before you test them on the road.

Stomper

You could also consider dual pedals such as the Shimano M324. They're heavy but versatile.

Donsell

I've been using Shimano M424 pedals for the past few weeks and finally put the cleats in my mountain bike shoes. I practiced in the drive way for a short while last night and had the first outing with them this morning. I was a little apprehensive about it after reading this thread but I made 50 miles without a major mishap. They do work your leg differently, but they definitely help, especially on climbs. They're much easier to get in and out of than I anticipated.

I do have some pain in my left knee that I'd not experienced before. Hopefully its nothing.