I just started using SPD type "clippless" pedals and shoes.

Last Sunday I was taking an alternate route and hit a big hill, I shifted down and started to spin my way up it. I got about 3/4 up and started to struggle and wanted to unclip in case I stalled so I would not fall down. I had a hell of a time doing so because I was in a real low granny gear and spinning furiously. I just couldn't manage to swing at least one foot out while maintaining a cadence that was enough to keep me stalling out.

So does anyone have a plan of attack to use in a similar situation? Unclip BEFORE the hill? That would remove the advantage the SPDs have of being able to PULL up on the pedal on a hill.

AND, what's the best way to push on the pedals without accidentally clipping back in? I try to hold center my shoe over the pedal but then it slips around and I've accidentally clipped back in a few times.

I would never unclip unless I was planning on giving up. Pedaling while unclipped is not a good idea, foot will slip off

This. If you do decide to bail, stop pedaling, unclip quickly, and put your feet down. It can be done gracefully... practice in your driveway.

Yep. Being clipped in give me a more secure attachment to the pedals for getting up that hill and provides a bit more power if I pull up on the pedals.

FWIW... when I was first learning on clipless pedals, I reduced the tension to the lowest "workable" tension (one where I wouldn't disengage unintentionally) and slowly increased the tension as I got more comfortable with clipping in and out.

If they are road pedals, a little grease on the back of the pedal where the cleat snaps in will help when starting off

I had a similar situation only I was wearing a waterproof parka in the rain and unclipped one foot in an effort to stop the bike. Unfortunately, the parka caught onto the seat and after three attempts to dislodge the jacket, the bike stopped and I fell over. It felt like a slow motion movie. The good news was that the parker shielded me from scrapes and more serious injury.

Sometimes repositioning your spd clips on the bottom of your shoe may help you unclip more natural, as well as loosening the tension on your pedals.

More experience will reduce your anxieties about clipless pedals. No matter how slow I'm going as long as I'm pedaling I don't have any fears about falling over. Try clipping in from a dead stop on a moderate-to-steep incline in front of a bunch of cars if you want anxiety

+1 on checking the tension, keep-em-loose. Check out the Shimano SPD Multi release cleats. I bought them for my wife who was afraid of going clipless on her road bike, they are a lot easier to get out of. That must be one hell-of-a hill if you cant make it on a triple chainring.

when I restarted mountain biking on a full suspension bike a few years ago, the hardest thing for me was to trust the suspension and just GO FOR IT on rough stuff, and not trying to delicately bunny hop over the roots, rocks, etc. this is especially true on a climb.

I've since given up on it, being 58 and out of shape, the ground hurts too much

Parts of it were a 8-10% grade so not that bad, but terrible for me. I was spinning so fast and had so much tension on the cleats I just could not pedal and twist at the same time. I did make it all the way but man I was panting like crazy at the top.

What do the multi release cleats really do? I can already unhook now by twisting in OR out with my present cleats. Isn't this the way ALL SPD's work? In fact I find that it's easier for me to twist BOTH counterclockwise simultaneously to unclip.

I did manage to get them a bit looser by turning the adjustment screw all the way out till the little bracket nearly fell off then turned them back in till they got enough tension to hold it in. It helps but I'm afraid of trying the hill again. I want to be clipped in to pull up on the pedals but I'm afraid I'll stall and fall over if I do. I know I've got to build up more stamina to take the hills better but that was pretty scary, spinning my heart out and unable to twist out.

It sounds like you were afraid of stalling out and not being able to unclip. Can't say I've ever had that fear myself, even when grinding it out at 6-7mph up a steep hill. Traffic permiting you can always go laterally (across the road) for a short distance to allow yourself to unclip (and the same thing to get clipped back in.)

I have always clipped into SPD by hooking the toe of the cleat then stepping down with my ball til it clicks down. takes a lot of practice at first. I quit using them, my son has my shoes AND my SPD pedals on a pair of his bikes. If I ever get back into road bikes, I'd use them for sure, but on my hybrid, I'm wearing walking shoes and using pin pedals.

my favorite walking shoes...

(new balance mw956)

and... my current hybrid pedals.



maybe you shouldn't be spinning quite so fast, just keep around 60-80 pedals/minute and youll be much more in control. keep your weight forward on a steep grade so you're not popping wheelies, and try and hold your body steady and pedal smoothly, you'll waste less energy.

My experience for sure! The multi-release cleats are very natural to release. Well worth the extra $19 over the single release that came with the pedals.

I did the easy solution. I took off the SPDs and put on Power Grip straps. (I hate clip in pedals....).

I'd say either avoid such steep hills for now, practice and get stronger on lesser (but not too easy) hills until you can confidently ascend that tough one; or, try the pedals with SPD clipless on one side and conventional platform pedal without any attachment on the other side, until your fitness improves where you can take any hill without fear of a stall-out. In the meantime, on your rides, be sure that you are practicing climbing out of the saddle so that your legs, heart and lungs get built up for doing more work and dealing with the pain. I suggest you train your body to the point where just about any hill can be taken sitting down, while using stand-up power to get you thru the steeper sections, to just change position on a tough climb, or to surge away from a mad dog while right in the middle of a steep ascent. Good luck.