I'm the opposite... my feet look like rulers. Narrow B width. I didn't have any issues with toe clips/strap pedals....I'd use jogging shoes with them and never had any trouble. If I had to choose between toe clip/straps and flats... I'd definitely go with flats.

Yeah, I've never noticed the "pulling up" to be much of a thing. Maybe that's one of the things that makes spinning smoother, but I don't ever feel myself *trying* to generate power by pulling up. Probably there is a certain amount of "pulling up" that automatically happens biomechanically because you're securely attached to the pedal, And likely that does add something to the power of your pedal stroke, however minuscule, but for me it's the least of clipless's benefits.

I never really moved past the "let me try and jump this" stage...

I too took my first ride with clipless pedals yesterday. It was a very interesting experience. One of the reasons that I switched is that over a period of time, my foot would hang off the side of the pedal. The clipless pedals feel like they hold my feet in place for what feels like proper form. I did notice that in high gear, I could pull back at the end of the down stroke which was not possible without clipless pedals.

I ride clipless because it feels so much better on my knees. Even a few laps around the bike shop parking lot unclipped on a test ride reminded me how much I prefer to be clicked in. It initially took a couple of weeks of minor tweaking, but after I got it just right it was like everything fell into alignment. Maybe I'm not "pulling up" but I do make a point to activate my hamstrings sometimes to relax my quads and relieve some knee pressure. Probably wrong, but works for me. One thing I don't see mentioned much that also helps me is watching my heel position.

I am completely "unschooled" in cycling technique, but I notice that when I'm pedalling & want to pick up the cadence I instinctively start pulling up with my clipless for a few rotations.

I made the jump to clipless (SPD-SL) this spring, and I love it. It's mainly a security thing - I feel much more confident standing and moving around on climbs/descents, in part because I'm trusting the shoe to support my stupid skinny feet while the pedal just does its thing. I also find the clipless system easier to get into than other types of foot retention (though unclipping is a different story).

It's funny because my husband - a huge fan of oldschool clips and straps - first got me into using foot retention, but now I get made fun of for my "special fancy bike riding shoes."

Interesting thread. It took me a while to realize that "clipless" was not what I thought it was. I'm old but thought about trying these, but since my accident last fall (broken femur, non-cycling related) I must admit I'm pretty damn sensitive to anything that might relate to a repeat. If I wanted to give this a try, would a trainer be a good way to try them?

You could use a trainer or going to the local soccer field might be an option.

Grass is softer than pavement.

Yep. Also try the Click'R pedals first, they have a much easier release. Make sure you use SH56 cleats, which are silver, they release in all directions.

Or do what I did, I used a (paved in my case) trailed with grass on both sides. I for example rode on the right side of the trail, slowed down and unclipped my left foot. If I fell, I would have fallen on my right, onto the grass. Rode several passes on both the right and left side to train unclipping from both sides.

Or just ride to work.


-Tim-

Yeah, did that first. Didn't go too well. Bruised knee and elbow... Turns out grass is softer than pavement

It is what I did at first, it was good for learning the mechanics of unclipping and getting tension set right. Clipping in it didn't simulate as well, having to balance while moving to get the second foot in, that just involved riding.