Clipless Pedals - Initial Impressions
 

Today, I did my first significant ride with my new clipless pedals (Eggbeater SLs, and Shimano MT40 shoes). Total distance was 7.2 miles, on a park road (the MTB trails were covered with a couple of inches of wet heavy crusty snow that was next to impossible to track through :( ) Yesterday, I did take a short ride around the neighborhood after I installed them.
I was quite impressed with the pedals and shoes. I could definately tell the increased power potential by being clipped in, along with the nice securely attached feeling. It also felt like I could spin at a bit higher cadence when clipped in (usually would hang around the low 90s with platforms, but felt comfortable around 100 with the clipless pedals).
For me, clipping in presented a bit more of a challange than clipping out. It will take some getting used to finding the pedal with the cleat. I could tell that it was getting easier the more I clipped in. I only had one close call with falling; I was stopping and unclipped my left foot. Unfortunately, I started leaning to my right. Luckily I was able to clip my right foot out in time.
I can't wait until spring to be able to put some actual dirt miles on these pedals ;) .

I remember doing that, except I didnt get out in time, but fortunately was on a trail funny as heck now that I look back at it

Yeah my first time out with clipless I fell over waiting for a lady walking her dogs to clear a narrow bridge. Unclipped my right but fell to my left... =P They're much nicer than using platforms, IMO.

everytime i've crashed my road bike it was because of clipless pedals

Once you have a little more time with them you will be able to clip into them without even thinking about it. You will actually start hitting the pedal and kind of rolling into it rather than trying to put your foot straight down on it.

When I first started with clipless I absolutely hated them, I have a couple small scars to prove it. It didn't help that I did it right after I got back into mountain biking so I was falling constantly anyway. At the time I was using Bontrager RE-1's. I wanted to give up on them so many times but I stuck with them. Once I got used to them they were amazing. I couldn't believe the difference when I switched to egg beaters though. The four sided entry is great plus they still work perfect in the mud.

I hv fallen off because of clippless at least 6-8 times - normally going slowly and I need to remember not to put my arm out or my collor bone is going to crack one time.

I really like pedalling in them and will stick with them, but I am convinced a really big fall is going to hurt more when the bike is stuck to my feet when my body is trying to leave it - just can't see how in the split second of a crash you wud get yr feet out....

It's hard to believe but eventually it just happens. One day you won't even have to think about it, it just becomes completley natural.

Exactly, a little while ago I was riding my wife's bike which only has platforms. The trail was pretty icy and slippery and a couple of times I lost it. As the bike was going down and I was jumping away from it, I found myself inadvertently kicking out of the pedals. It was funny because there was no need to unclip with the platforms but my brain is now programmed to do it.

I'm new to clipless too, and the more i ride the happier I am with the decision.

I have a light hard-tail, and when I go really fast on rocky/cobblestone terrain, I'm 100% sure I can hang on and control the bike. I couldn't do that with platforms and have the same confidence. I think I'd end up going slower.

Yeah, I've had a stupid fall here and there, but only when going slowly. Switchbacks are a bit tougher because of this, but it's motivation to 'clean' them better than relying on the fact that I can bail out anytime.

Thanks LowCel,

I'm used to using toe straps on my bikes and recently, needing new shoes decided to go the clipless route(had the pedals already gathering dust) I have actually been wondering if I have made the right decision, after all I keep falling or almost falling and feel really unsteady on my bike. Was debating what to do. maybe I'll keep them on longer and see what happens. I have the tension on the easiest, so when falling and accidently pulling to get my foot off the pedal, I usually manage to get them out this way.

Clipless were the best thing I ever put on my bike. Youn can handle the trail much better with them after you get over the falling stage.

I think this may be especially daunting for long time cage/strap users. You've spent a LONG time learning that motion of literally jumping out of your pedal. No doubt you are frequently trying to "jump out" when you should be "sliding out".

You're mind is CONDITIONED to react in certain situations. There is no other way but to change the conditioning and that requires riding.

Just keep chugging. After a while, you will learn the new way.

I used to swear by cages and straps. It was a long hard slog for me to train myself into the motion and doing it at the right times. But now I would be loathe to go back.

oh my ... ... well my first experience with clipless was great.. until i started doing wheelies... and when backwards, couldnt clip out and landed directly on my tail bone...

oh was i sore sore sore!!

otherwise clipless rocks

ouch. i havent tried wheelies on clipless, just some short manuals.

no pain no gain ;)

wheelies. That's my biggest beef with clipless. I just can't seem to pull a good wheelie while I'm clipped in. Platforms, no problem. which is wierd. I hope I can get over that because wheelies are obviously very useful. Other than that I like the clipless (had them about 2 months). I like that my feet arent coming off the pedals unless I want them to, as well as the extra power when climbing, etc.

Oh yeah and the first time I had my bike out on the trail with clipless... very first ride, we get up to the trailhead on our bikes, my buddies are stopped there waiting for me, I stop... and hit my side.. lol. I didnt fall one more time all day, but they still tease me when we're close to a trailhead "Carefull! Trailhead!"

yea i did the same thing, rode up next to my dad in the street. and just fell over.

anything for a luagh ;)

Eggbeater SL's were used by Jakub Postrzygacz in his epic 2000K Canning Stock Route ride.
http://www.wildworks.co.nz/csr/photographs.php

will smith I REALLY know what you mean!!! I am sure I am going to feel the same as you after a while.

gmoneyhobbit I stopped mountain biking years ago and have recently been getting back into it, with racing aswell. I tried wheelies on my full suspension and could not beleive how hard it was to do but then again I battled with my HT aswell. I have these plastic platforms that clip into the peadals so I have these on one side so that I can try and get my skills back up. I also decided to get some protective gear to help make me feel comfortable that I am not going to hurt myself.

You'll be even happier the faster you go - on technical singletrack, staying attached to the bike is helpful... ;)

I'm about to enter the 'negotiation' phase on the purchase of a new bike (Trek 4900), and I'm thinkin' that now is the time to go for clipless pedals - hopefully thrown in on the deal. I have been wondering about them for a while now, and all the concerns raised here have been foremost in my mind. But, it seems, practice makes perfect. I'm now prepared for a bit of toppling over sideways, and remaining connected to the bike as I fall off the edge of a mountain :eek: , but assume I'll get used to it after a while.

I know nothing about clipless pedals, but I assume I have to buy special shoes as well? And are one sort of clipless better than others? And one sort of shoe, for that matter?

Here's the best way to learn (and to know WHEN you've learned). Ride slowly to a stop (on grass!), and don't unclip a foot until the bike starts leaning that way. Then unclip the foot in time to catch yourself (or not, at first).

I found that I could quickly grasp the mechanics of unclipping, and could do it at will...as long as I knew which side was coming. This way you learn to instinctively clip out as it's needed.

For some people, me included, it's thinking about it that will get you into trouble. After it becomes second nature, you can really foul yourself up by trying to break your natural habit. It's like that saying about how you can get a centipede to come to a crashing halt: ask it in which order it moves its legs.

NAH, somewhere between OH! and $H!T! your feet just come out. at least thats what Ive found happens to me. Ive even endoed at slow speed( area looked flat but upon riding over it, front tire fell into ditch) and they popped free before I hit the ground. Ive only gotten stuck once. that was a root in a tight curve that had me on the ground super fast and a bunch of guys right behind me.. I had to drag me and the bike out of the way while still attached. it was a riot!!!

So when's the best time to get clipless pedals? I bought myself an old 2nd-hand GT about 6-8 weeks ago, and that was my first ever time on a mountain bike - so I think it's fair to say my mtb riding skills are not all that polished yet. :)

But I'm now upgrading to a decent bike - should I get the pedals at the same time and try to learn everything at once, or stick with platforms and get a bit of experience with riding before trying something potentially lethal like clipless pedals?

I started riding about 6 months ago. I had the same question when I bought my bike. My friends pushed me to go clipless from the start. Their philosophy was that as long as I was adjusting to mountain biking, I might as well adjust to the clipless as well. Seemed like a reasonable idea. I've taken my share of falls due to the fact that I couldn't unclip (including one in a parking lot... not even on the trail) but it has become instinct and unless the fall happens quickly, I'll usually be able to get a leg out.

I say go for the clipless on the new bike. And to answer your earlier question, yes, there are special shoes designed for use with clipless pedals.