Less than two years ago, I could barely ride a bike. I used flats for the first few months of regular riding until my confidence built, then went with the deep clips shown above. Last summer, after much pros and cons research, I tried out a set of used Crank Bros. Eggbeaters a friend gave me. I was very scared at first and fell down once when a car pulled in front of me, but all four of my bikes now sport them (two road bikes, a 29+ mntn bike, and a cargo bike). I chose to stay with the Eggbeaters because they are always automatically 'up' so I don't have to look at them in order to clip in.

Keith

I forgot to mention, the Eggbeater cleats are very small, and do not interfere with walking if used with a shoe with recessed sole.

Keith

Yep. Agree that SPDs are the way to go. A good local bike shop (lbs) should set you up on a trainer and have you practice clipping and unclipping. Then they can watch you outside a few times. That's the way my wife learned.

By the way more people should be corgis. They are nice dogs, not very big, and don't chase cyclists! Even if they did, they are easy to outrun

OP: When I was first starting with clipless, I had a few of those oopsy moments. Then I came across a mnemonic that really helped me, as I drive a standard transmission car: think of unclipping as similar to the clutch on your car: whenever you're slowing down or Ina situation where you might need to stop, unclip the foot you usually put down while standing. Once I heard that, I never got caught clipped in again. It became just as second-nature to me as using the clutch.

This is menmonic might help your wife if she's familiar with driving a manual car.

I ride every day; it is how I get around. I use BMX platform pedals with adjustable length screws (Wellgo/Diamondback) and any shoe I happen to be wearing. Although, I kinda prefer skate board shoes because of their sticky flat rubber soles and stiffness. Both my full suspension mountain bikes are fitted with these pedals. One is my trail bike and the other my every-day street bike fitted with slick tires.

My road bike has Shimano SPD “Click’R” pedals with the tension set rather low. The low tension springs in the Click’Rs still retain my shoes yet release very easily.

I’ve used most types of pedals, shoes and retention systems and have settled on the platforms with rubber soles and SPD + MTB shoes.

The advantages of platform pedals are obvious and I’d probably use them even for touring. However, they’re fiddly to get my feet in the best place. The SPD pedal/shoe combination, on the other hand, positively locates my feet where I want I them to be and I prefer the SPDs when riding on a road with few stops.

Joe

The best ones for you likely will be ones different than what you tried last time. I don't think any one design is better than the others when it comes to MTB pedals. For road pedals I do think that for some riders some are better than others.

Power Grip serves me well on both my road bikes > 3yrs. and thousands of miles. After a "tombay" experience w/ Look tried PG. Shimano wide MTB shoes w/o cleats fit my 12 EEE feet and work fine.

Regular runner who splits his bike time between clipless and cliplessness. (That transition on different bikes is particularly dangerous because there is no getting away with unconscious stopping.)

Anyway, I really like VP's SPD pedals (v61?) because the aggressive spring seems to launch your foot out of the clip with just a slight twist. Also, SPDs shoes are what's used in spin class, sort of a basic universal choice. Note, the VPs I mention are one-sided, lots of people prefer two sided.

That said, clipless systems are 80% hype; half clips, cages, power grips and fixie straps work just as well. However, platforms just don't look cool on my $3K carbon bike.

An alternative would be to go to a different style of toe clip. My wife didn't want to click in and was afraid of falling, so I installed the plastic toe clips. It keeps her foot in place and is easy when she needs to put her foot down.

A couple of points:

1. The cleat on your shoe makes a world of difference. You might think that worn cleats would unclip more easily but you'd be wrong. Brand new cleats release much better than ole worn ones. Mrs. Grouch just bought a new pair of cycling shoes this morning and I insisted that she get new cleats to go with them.

2. Shimano offers SPD pedals in at least a couple of different price points. It might be just us but both me and Mrs. Grouch immediately felt a more crisp release when we upgraded our pedals.

Not to get into an argument about clipless vs. other options but I deliberately put double sided pedals on my beater bike. For anything over about 3 miles I strongly prefer to change shoes and ride clipped in. That's just one data point but I think that my opinion is as just valid as anyone's. How does one quantify 80% hype?

Ones with an adjustment screw , the release tension adjustment can be backed Off ... Welgo, shimano ..

Time ATAC has 2 release settings... there are 2 different cleats

where you put them on which shoe is the adjustment..
the moving spring is in Front , so I have had some un expected releases pushing the pedal , toes Down.

Have not used Crank Bros , eggbeaters .

I havent even screwed the Time Atac pedals I Own, on a Bike in Many Years ..

My 8 year-old son has crashed because of his foot slipping off the pedal. He is really looking forward to using cleats.

I'm a toeclip & strap person myself. I keep the straps not-tight, so that my foot slips out easily as breathing.

Just plain wrong.

Lots of good advice, SPD pedals, tension set to the minimum.
Practice unclipping BOTH feet. We all have a dominant foot that we'll unclip most of the time. But once in a while you'll need\want to unclip your off-side foot, or both feet at once. Practice so you will panic less when you have to do it.
And remember, you'll only fall when your stopped.

Total nonsense.

I personally feel much safer clipped in. I can ride safer in more situations (stand up and crank hard when I feel like it, etc) without worrying about foot slippage. My commuter bike has toe cages ONLY because I have to wear normal shoes. On wet or icy mornings/evenings foot slippage is a definite risk. Clipped-in would be a huge benefit. On workout rides I would consider nothing else.

(if you ride much at all you must know these things. I suspect you are just trying to stir up discussion)

If you scroll down on this forum you will find a thread titled "How many flat/platform riders are out there". There are different opinions about clipless, toe clips and flat pedals.

The OP seems to think that she has to use clipless pedals; Maybe they really are better for a trained professional, but maybe they aren't necessary for most riders. There are studies that show there is no real advantage to them. If someone thinks clipless is better, go that way. If someone isn't comfortable don't use them. Whatever one uses they'll get to where they are going.

Plus, Eggbeaters can be clipped into from 4 different "edges" per pedal making them easy to clip into! Pretty easy to un-clip too.

Rick / OCRR

I agree with the suggestions of using SPD pedals adjusted loosely. However, a word of caution: setting them too loose will make them hard to clip in to.

I use Speedplay Frog Pedals. Easy to clip in and zero tension to overcome when unclipping. That's why I use them, the other pedals bothered the outside of my knees due to having to overcome even slight spring pressure when unclipping. Have a look, the float is awesome on the pedals, and I can wear mountain bike shoes and walk around without resorting to covers for the cleats.

When you start, I would advocate installing one pedal, opposite the foot you usually put down when you come to a stop. Just do light riding until you get comfortable stopping and starting, over and over. You'll know when to install the other pedal, whatever style you choose. No need to go full monty on the first few days (or months) with clipless pedals.

Good advice there.

I prefer flat pedals, and use them with the half-toe-clip things sometimes.

Speedplay Frogs have no tension, they're the only thing I'll use IF I want clipless. You would need to get the right shoes, I believe these only work with mountain style shoes. But there's no tension to overcome, the foot just slides out to the side.

No one should pay a moment's attention to any pressure to use equipment that will cause you to fall, or to feel vulnerable. There are too many other things to pay attention to while riding. People who like clipless pedals should keep using them. Those who feel nervous with them: you don't need to use them! As others have said, there are no real performance advantages for most riders. Ignore anyone who claims that you must fall a few times since everyone else has, as well as comments about bucking up and practicing more. Ignore store owners who say there are benefits: mostly they benefit the cash register.

There's a bit too much peer pressure to use clipless pedals. Use what makes you enjoy riding.

Speedplay Frogs do have a Little plastic-elastomer piece in the cleat a slight retention force ..

They wont release when used on wide sole shoes . except in a certain portion of the rotation
crank arm gets in the way..

On a trainer is a great way to get a really good feel for it.

Also, I tell people to pivot from the toe like you're killing a cockroach. That seems to give a better twist than "move your heel out."

I agree with this. Unless you want to look like a racer all you need a good set of MKS or similar pedals.

Don't you think that's just a little bit insulting to those of us who use clipless pedals? Look like a racer?
When I started using clipless in the 80s the looks was the last thing I was thinking about. I like foot retention, it helps me spin especially when I am tired. It puts my foot in the correct position, every time.
And, despite what some people say, it allows me to pull up at times and at least unweight the pedal going up.
I'm 61 and a little overweight and have no illusions about how I look. I'm a Fred but I use clipless on every ride on every bike and have for nearly 190,000 miles.