It is even better for a 50-plusser on a 40-plus bicycle.

It's about efficiency, not coolness.

Straps make my feet numb, especially when it's cold. The cleats used with clips and straps have no float, my knees need float. Clipless pedals are so much better than clips and straps, there's no way I'd ever go back.

I just got a set of MKS Grip King platforms, sweetest pedals I've ever had, no problems clipping in or out, stable, not cool probably but at 65 cool is the least of my concerns, I can wear any pair of shoes or boots in my motley collection with flair!

I have used Spd clipless pedals for many years and have never fallen because of them. I have 6 bikes now with SPD clipless pedals and they are all set at the "lightest" tension setting. Try that. Don't give up, they are worth the effort.

Hey,

Good to know I am not alone!!
I have had clipless for two weeks now and took first tumble the first time I took it for a proper spin and damaged the bike; on concrete. Took my second tumble today, thankfully I fell on grass.
Need to remember to unclip at least 3-4 secs BEFORE bike stopping. One second late and you are eating grass, pheugh!

How about a couple hundred stops!! Actually if you're still not unclipping fast enough you obviously have not fallen enough to keep you from changing your habits. And all your topples will be at slow speeds-otherwise you'd still be upright.

Seriously, always unclip with the same foot first.

AND the 50-y-o guy who's been rolling clipless for 7....

There's a learning curve, and now and then, the fallover. My last few 'mishaps' have been due to other things, and my feet have always readily unclipped (LOVE them thar Time ATAC's!); the trick is anticipation, readying yourself for stopping.

+1 for un-clip the same foot each time. I go for the right foot since I look to catch a curb at a stop light or stop sign. I do obey road signs. Don't believe "I never fallen stories". It happens, it not a matter of if, but when. Most falls are due to distractions. So when the when happens, don't forget to tuck, roll and acknowledge the embarrassment. DON'T stick your hand out!

Yes, that is exactly my experience as well. Clipless were a great invention and for those of us who learned to think ahead when using cleats, toe clips and straps we never had any trouble with the clipless. I agree about the floating cleat as well.

I prefer the left foot because the right side is the chain ring side. In left side of the road countries you get your curb and avoid the chain ring so there the left would seem preferable on all counts. As far as never fallen - I've never fallen because of my failing to un-clip in time, I did fall a couple of times in the pre-clipless days when I didn't loosen the strap in time (see previous post). However, I did fall once because someone else didn't un-clip in time and knocked me over (but they stayed up).

I can see clipless for cycling in situations that have the minimum of stops, but in stop and go urban settings, it's either unclipping or track standing, and since I'm poor at track standing, it would be the former. Since I'm not a fan of falling, and unclipping, looks like the trusty platforms are here to stay on my urban commute. The minimal efficiency gain is also not worth the additional time and effort when working urban traffic.

Second hand Tombay?

This is an interesting concept that was never allowed for in the original charter. Possibly if some other Tombay members would like to drop in sometime, we could have a meeting on it.

I am one of those using platforms with the pins. Tried clipless, and was doing OK unclipping the left foot. Went to stop at an intersection, but the road had a dip which threw me off to the right-so....... Just never really got used to them or the feeling of not having my foot free on the pedal. Being clipped in just wasn't for me, no matter how many times I tried it. But what little efficiency I've lost can't make much difference as I haven't been riding much anyway! Didn't ride much last season at all, for one reason or another. Hoping for a better season this year.

I am a speedplay user and have been for over 10 years. Love the float and lack of knee pain. Yes I fell a few times in the beginning and then I learned to plan my stops. You have already gotten this message from quite a few others, but one more thing. Any of us are subject to a brain fart now and then. I am speaking of the two falls I had last summer. My first falls in years but falls none the less. One time I was really pushing it and very fatigued. Made a stop to catch my breath and I was in the wrong gear on a slight incline. Bad planning. I went to move and stood on the drive side and the bike only moved about 2 inches before I started to topple over to the right. DUH! The other time I was doing a 360 so I wouldn't have to clip out at a light. The light changed at the worst time. Cars came from out of nowhere and in my effort to quickly reduce the radius of my turn I went down in the middel of the road and did my turtle impression stopping all the cars. I laugh at these now because the pictures in my head are from the view point of the drivers and I think I must have looked hysterical. My whole point is that it is no big deal to have a DUH moment now and then and don't worry about what you look like upside down with your feet stuck to the pedals. You look rediculous but who cares?

Anyone else want to share their DUH moments to make Metric Man feel more comfortable?

Greg

And then again, we probably already look ridiculous to most drivers and we haven't even fallen yet.

The trick isn't to avoid falling, it's to fall in a soft spot!

I had the same experience with a modern setup, a slotted cleat fastened with a two bolt pattern on newer shoes. My shoes strap tight with the slot over the pedal edge. I was riding slowly up a modest incline and slammed the front DT shifter to the small ring. It went too far and the chain fell off. I found that at slow speeds with my crank spinning free I couldn't balance enough to reach the straps. I slowed to a stop and did the Laugh-In slow drop to the non-drive side. It was at an intersection in front of a young(er) lady in an SUV.
I had a similar chain failure on a much steeper hill with SPD. At the last millisecond I got my left foot clear and stopped the fall.

Wow...now that this thread is more than two years old, I'm happy to report there have been no more falls. I had one other fall a few weeks after this originally posted but it was due to a flat tire. I probably wouldn't have fallen if I wasn't clipped in, but at least it wasn't because of inattentiveness.

Also, I switched over to SPD 520 pedals about a year ago and like them much better than the Speedplays.

Same here.

I have had three falls but only two because I forgot to clip out. One was a knock down. But I traded my Speed plays for a set of egg beaters. The reason for me was if you walked anywhere there was dirt or grass speed plays would get crud in them and not want to clip in. While the pedal was very light the cleat was not. The bonus was my crank brother cleats work with my time attack pedals as well.

But like others have said if I even think I will have to stop I unclip. If the light turns green when I get there it is simple to push down and clip back in. I just hope talking about it isn’t a bad omen.

Clippless = easier to get out of then old school clips w/2 Binda straps cranked for sprinting and day of the week.

I'll flirt with bad ju ju.....I've never fallen over in my entire life of adult clip/clippelss riding. Just don't understand how so many people do. Get to a soft lawn with sneakers on and practicing track stands would be my advice.

When i went clipless last fall, fall i did like 4 times, all at slow speeds or stopped. Getting used to them has made riding much better. Now when i approach a stop light or stop sign i just do a very slow controlled power roll/track stand, pause then continue without even getting out of the clips. I use my entire leg, my feet don't get tired or sore even when i did my first two metric centuries.