dvdauthority

Ok, I'll try to make this as short as possible (no one wants to read about my woes), but here goes...

My girlfriend and I went biking today, we both got new bikes yesterday and have been wanting to do some trail riding. Luckily for us there are a lot to choose from in the area (Baltimore). I'd been once before and though I had some scary moments (mostly down hills), I never fell down and felt pretty good. Today was different, my new bike has clip in cletes or whatever they're called and it's like you're part of the bike. I kept falling and was getting terribly frustrated (I threw my new Jekyll about fifteen feet after I fell for the fifth time - it's fine, by the way) and I blame a lot of it on these cletes.

I guess what I'm asking is this: does Mountain Biking take a lot of practice? I assumed that if you knew how to ride a bike, this would just be a bit "bumpier". Do the shoe cletes make a difference (I tend to use my feet for leverage and it's extremely difficult to do when you're strapped to the pedals)? And what are some tricks that I need to know (ie. go fast through water, what to do down hills, etc.)

I escaped with what will likely be bruises, but the more I think about it - I could really hurt myself out there.

I know there are a lot of experienced riders out here and I'm asking for your advice. My frustration stems from that fact that I'm very competitive and if I'm not good at something right away, it gets the best of me. Well, my girlfriend really wants to pursue this, so for her I'll stick with it but I'll need some tips from you guys.

Any/all help would be appreciated...

I was wearing my damn helmet and it's about the only part of my body that didn't hit a rock. Go figure. I hate helmets.

Dannihilator

Clipless is tricky, the best way to get used to them is to keep riding them. Don't get frustrated and don't give up on it. Trust the bike and stay calm and stay flexable when going downhill. The worst thing you can do is get frustrated, get panicky and stiffen up.

seely

Ride with people more experienced than you, and practice clipping in/unclipping in a grassy area a lot before you head out. Other tips are find the right gear BEFORE you hit the hill, so you aren't shifting on the hill. If you are REALLY new at this, you may want to hang up the cleats for awhile and go with platforms. Most people don't start out with clipless pedals right away--its a bit much to learn all at once.

Dannihilator

Really good advice as well.

vrkelley

>I kept falling and was getting terribly frustrated (I threw my new Jekyll about fifteen feet after I fell for the fifth time - it's fine, by the way) and I blame a lot of it on these cletes.

Yes. Think of the cleat as a ski binding. If you can't get out of them in a split second, they need adjusting. Around here most shops just put the pedal on without adjusting the release to your particular cleat.

For SPD pedals...You can either *carefully* loosen each screw on the pedal about 1/4 of a turn at a time until your foot releases easily.

Make sure you have the same number of turns on each pedal. Usually about 1 revolution max is enough. Because there's a spring in there... good luck getting the screws back in if you take them all the way out

If you're unsure, ask the shop that sold you the bike to adjust it for you.

Snuffleupagus

Yes it takes practice

Listen to what was posted before, and don't give up, we're all always learning (or we should be anyway)!

Hopper

Just practice riding around in your backyard or out the front with the cleats. Do tight circles, trackstand, get used to how the bike feels. And by doing tight circles you learn how to lean the bike and if you are going to fall over you will be going slow and it won't hurt as much while you are still practicing with the cleats.

RageoftheDragon

Man, I remember very clearly my first time in clipless. I was a wreck by the end of the day. I went with a more experienced buddy, who probably got a few good laughs, but it was the smartest thing I could do, as I got used to clipping in/out in a hurry, and I learned to take falls well in a hurry. It is humiliating, but once you get used to them, so worth it. So much of my biking has improved since using clipless, such as making hard inclines (which I attribute to not wanting to fall while not being able to clip out on the steep hill and going like hell just to make it).

Moral of story: Totally worth it. Keep going with them, soon you'll be dominating your ride. Hells, especially keep going if you have a g-friend who is into biking!!

-RotD

Speedub.Nate

One thing I haven't seen mentioned: Toe your cleats in.

That's right, on the bottom of your shoes, loosen the two bolts and twist each cleat **in** a few degrees towards your big toe.

Doing so will cause you to be closer to release, and it will take much less of a twist to break your foot free.

And like everyone has suggested, practice, practice, practice...

free_pizza

He probably did.

vrkelley

Nobody said you HAD to clip in. When you're doing tight turns or something iffy...leave one or both feet unclipped...then when you come out of the turn/jump or whatever, go ahead and clip back in.

When approaching ice sometimes I still do this. Also it's good to practice just dropping the bike...alone without embarrasment.

Raiyn

I ride clipless on the road, but I run platforms offroad. No shame in it at all

Killer B

Either choose clipless (like me) or platform. DON'T use the toe straps. They'll ruin your riding experience all together. You'll also have a MUCH harder time of transition going to the clipless pedals if you so choose later on.... Trust me on this one.

ridehard

Honestly, I think tomorow you should go out and buy yourself some desent platform pedals. You do not need clipless. Platforms are just as strong, if not stronger, you can wear any shoe of your choice, and you WILL have a better time right off the bat. Eventually you probably will learn to use the clipless well, but you will never be able to have your foot available as fast as on platforms. And why do you guys use cliplless? just wondering?

Killer B

Control, bunny-hopping, not having your feet fly off the pedals unexpectedly, doubling of my pedal stroke power, need I continue ????

troie

Always?

jdschall

Good shoes and good platforms negate almost your entire arguement there KB. You add control by having the ablity to dab a foot when needed which is especially important during technical riding. Bunny hopping with cleats is not bunny hopping, its just lifting your bike up a few inches and is very inefficient. Real bunny hopping uses leverage created by lifting the front wheel before approaching an obsticle and converting that height into a lifting motion of the back wheel with a flick of the wrists and a contraction off your legs (toes pointed down). Not having your feet fly off unexpectedly is a function of learning to angle the pedals downward slightly so that your hands and feet are pushing in equal yet opposite directions on the bars and pedals respectively which effectively glues you to the bike. Finally while you can't quite double your pedalling power you, can get at least 1.5 times the pedal power by pointing your toes downward and pulling back at the end of your pedal stroke. Need I continue **********

I ride both and think that almost every aspect platforms perform as well as clipless except for key differences in the "dab factor" (platforms better) and the spin factor (clipless better). It just depends on what I'm riding that day.

ridehard

Thank you jdschall. And yes, bunny hopping with cleats Is just pulling up your legs. Bunny hoping with platforms is lifting the front tire into a manual, then using that energy to pop your back end up. Plus you can dab faster. But I gues it will still end up being personal preference.

cobblers2008

Another thing to do is : if you feel experienced enough, you could loosen the springs on the pedals. Also you could oil the pedals with lube.

Scottluebke2004

Mountain biking is about having fun, for many of us, so use the pedals that allow you to have the most fun. Try and not worry about what others are using or riding, just use what works well for you and stay open to trying out new equipment along the way. I have a pretty nice bike and I use $25 platforms. Clipless is still not have favorite and I enjoy myself more with the platforms, as I find myself concerned with unclipping when I use the clipless pedals. Regardless, just have a good time and use what works for you.

Souldriver262

If you are new to this you may first want to go without cleats. Once you've gotten
real confident then switch over. It can be real painfull at first learning with them on

dvdauthority

Thanks for everyone's comments. For the record, I went and bought some "hybrid" pedals that have a graphite platform, but also clips - so I think that'll be the best thing for me (best of both worlds, so to speak). Anyway, I'm going to try some easier trails and then work my way up. Like I said, it was my 2nd time doing MTB, so I don't think it's just something you can just "Do" right off the bat. It'd be like learning to ski one day and then doing a Double Black Diamond the next!

Again, thanks for the comments, they helped a lot.

crashnburn

Watch your speed as well. Many bikers who travel on road and easy trails or paths try to hit higher techincal areas with too much velocity. Slow it down and hone your controll a bit, half clip out as some say and try to anticipate the terrain. It will come natural after some time but right now you need to becaome accustomed to the physics of the sport. Good luck and NO MORE THROWING YOUR BIKE. Tilt (as a gambling term) only serves to provide poor judgement, remember Danielson the sun is warm and the grass is green .

jdschall

I'm not sure what graphite pedals you are talking about. Do they offer any grip to the soles of your shoes? With out a better discription I couldn't say for sure but they sort of sound like something that bike shops will clip on the pedals to let customers try bikes out in the lot if they don't have the right shoes. You should under no circumstances ride around any distance on these as they will break when you least expect it and leave you hurtin'

If I am wrong disregard the following: I'd get a dedicated platform pedal if I were you. They can be had for cheap ($20 or so to as much as you want to pay) Its ridiculously easy to swap pedals back and forth...

Have fun riding. I think you mentioned you were in Baltimore? You might want to check out https://www.more-mtb.org for local rides. They'll have beginner rides and clinics every once and a while if you want to meet other riders and hone your skills.

Good Luck!