I tried them out today, gezz i was freaked out. I got shimano spd505 pedals and specialized shoes. I need to get a smaller metric allen wrench set so i can losen them up. They are kinda hard to snap in and out. thats probably why i got so freaked out. I rode up and down the street as soon as i got them to practice both cliping in and out.
What advice can you give to a newbie to clipless to get used to them quicker. Im going to be one scared cookie on the weekend when i hit the trials. But hopefully wheni do loosen then it wont be to bad.
Thanks

one more thing. is the thread on the inside of the shoe where you screw the cleats to metal? Do i tighten them as tight as i can or will it be stripped. And if needed can you replace the piece thats in the shoe?

Im not sure if you can replace the part tahts in the shoe but the threads are metal.

As for it being hard to clip in and out, I think thats one thing that SPD's are known for. You should loosen them a little and practice clipping in and out with one foot on the ground.

There is a metal plate on the inside of the shoe. With most shoes, (all that I've ever seen) if you take out your insole, you will see a flap. Lift that and you will see a flat figure 8 type plate in there with the backing plate of the cleat.

As far as tips for learning, don't do any really difficult trails your first day out. Do what you are doing and ride up and down the street clipping in and out. Practice cliping out quickly with both feet simultaneously.

Also, realize, you WILL fall three times initially with clipless pedals! It's one of those wierd unwritten natural rules of mountain biking. One of those three will be as you ride up to a group of friends at the trailhead or an intersection or during a rest stop. You will ride up to the group, forget you're clipped in, and fall over in slow motion. It's a right of passage sort of thing.

L8R

I use Look and SPD. Initially, I found a quite parking lot and rode about when no traffic was present. Took about one hour of riding before I felt somewhat comfortable and about a month before it felt Totally natural. First couple rides, I would feel intidimated by it, and recall unclipping with one foot out of some kind of silly fear.
But with enough rides it will seem second natured and riding with straps seems redicilious.
Just ride in low traffic, drill clipping and unclipping until it seems as natural as walking. It will occur quickly after a couple rides. You must get the tension correct immediately.
Never fear. You will make a mistake the first couple rides.I think on about the third ride, it was still unnatural..My falling incident was in front of the post office entrance, in front of the whole world..Until we become more polished on basic riding habits such as this; No wonder the public thinks us nuts.

Try not to fall in front of pretty women, #1 ego deflator.

Make sure you keep your feet level when unclipping. Don't pull up, don't push down, just rotate. I found I had a tendency to raise my heel, once I counter that, I found it much easier (Looks and Eggbeaters).

And practice, practice, practice. Get good at unclipping (and clipping) regardless of crank position.

After they stop laughing, providing blood is evident, the mothering factor comes in, so Don't worry about that.
I have been using clipless for 10 years or so can't really tell you about starting with them. From what I remember, First Time I clipped in, I had to find a wall to stop by, and then unlace the shoes to get my feet out, and then Take the pedals apart to get the shoes out. (set up too tight).
As I have said, Using them for 10 years, and have just had my second topple this year, by forgetting to unclip when stopping. I normally do this about three times a year, and it is always when I am on pavement, so generraly hurts, with the blood somewhere, but no females the last time to help me back on my feet.

Just set the pedals up loose, and practice. I'm certain that that is where I went wrong.

Hilarious!

Could one conceivably prepare for one's first time clipping in like this?: Ride your favorite trail, count the number of times you have to dab (put your foot down), and then know that the first time you ride the trail clipless, you'll fall down at least that many times? Or is that too pessimistic?

I had the exact same pedals (505) on my bike. Let me tell you, those pedals SUCK. Get some new ones, seriously. They are 100 times harder to clip out than any pedal I've tried. I think I cracked my sternum last year on my second day with those pedals. I couldn't clip out and I fell on the end of my handlebars on my sternum, perpendicular to the trail. OUCH.

I have Ritchey's now.

No, this doesn't work. Your clipless pedals will help you clear sections you previously had troubles with, as you know that, "Heck, my feet aren't coming out of these dern contraptions, so I better make that technical climb, or I'm gonna die!". Then you fall over when you hit a pebble!

L8R

Thanks for all your comments. Ill take a fairly easy but long trial this weekend to try them out till i get used to them. Thanks again.

You might also want to consider practicing in the park on grass. Find a park that has some rolling grassy hills or something akin to grass-covered moguls and ride them at different speeds while attempting different maneauvers all the time try unclipping at various points and getting used to what kind of motions it will take to disengage and dab your foot.

id like to report that after purchasing a 3mm allen wrench and loosening the tension on the pedals. I hit the trails ( for a very short while, at my house it wasnt that cold so i left in a teeshirt and shorts. got the the mountain and it was freezing.)
Well anyhow Id like to report that i fell exaclty 2 times because of the pedals.
Tomorrow if weather permits ill do a full trail and see how that goes. But after loosening them a bit they are alot easier to snap out.
Again thanks for all your comments.

Once you get the clips on the shoes worn in a bit, they will feel alot better. I have the 505's and 515's, and bother were sticky at first. Now that the cleats are worn a bit, im ready to tighten the pedals a tad so I dont have any sudden releases with them. All of us who run clipless can sympathize with you. We have all fallen and still will from time to time. You will get used to them and really enjoy the benefits of them.