MrPlanters

I'm new to clipless pedaling (got my 1st road bike 5 days ago) and I've got a question.

If I try to climb a hill and I stop mid-way, I really dont know how to restart my climbing

I try to clip my right foot, begin to pedal, then try to clip my left, my left foot slip and *crash*, it hurts. I've not damaged the bike yet, but Im a little affraid to...

Any trick I need to know for thoses pesky hills? Sometimes I miss my platforms

Thanks!

badkarma

Either don't stop on hills, or learn to clip in faster (it'll come with increased experience).

If you can't do hills yet without stopping, try conquering smaller hills first.

grahny

The idea is to not stop in the first place Find a comfortable gear that you can spin all the way up.

If you absolutely must stop, then I'd say put it in a middle gear (not tough, but not super easy to spin) to get some momentum and learn to clip in without looking.... the key is 'don't panic'. Just clip in and go... if you miss the pedal trying to clip in the other foot, just spin one legged with the clipped in leg to keep moving and try again.

recursive

Don't stop. If you do, restart by riding parallel to the hill.

This is only until you get the hang of your pedals, at which time, clipping in will be approximately effortless.

indygreg

yeah, if possible avoid larger hills for a while until you get used to clipless. Do not make something slightly challenging into something hard.

Sir Real

How do ride parallel to a hill? That would require another road nearby, wouldn't it?

gmharle

I think that he meant perpendicular.

SDRider

Try starting out riding across the hill instead of pointing up it (obviously this won't work if it's a heavily travelled road). Maybe try to stop where a cross street comes in or near a parking lot?

Starting from a stop facing uphill is probably the trickiest but with practice and experience you'll soon master the uphill clip-in.

jschen

If you happen to miss your clip in (still happens to me sometimes), pedal down with the clipping in leg anyway. Then try again when the pedal comes up again as the other leg pedals down again. On flat ground, the suggestion to pedal one legged is fine, but on some hills, it's a bit too steep for me to comfortably pedal around one legged.

bward1028

??

Mouserue

Coast back down to the bottom of the hill where you can clip in. Then try again. A couple times doing this, and you'll do all you can to not stop going uphill.

ezoons

+1.
If the hill is so steep that you cannot gather enought speed to concentrate on clipping in, just push with your unclipped foot as if you were using a platform pedal. It does feel weird, but you'll be stable and it won't need to last more than a rotation or 2.
Also, you may find that you "accidentally" managed to clip in without looking - even better!

waterrockets 

Another thing you can do is to just pedal with one leg until you get your speed up enough to coast and get your other foot in. The clipped-in foot can pull up hard on the pedal to complete the stroke on a climb.

On the road, you can almost always go perpendicular to the fall line to get clipped in though. The one-legged trick is more useful for off-road.

MONGO!

Make sure you are starting off right, put it in a gear that you can pedal comfortably, get one foot clipped in, put the pedal a little above parallel to the ground and push off as hard as you can.
Pedal a few rotations to get balanced before you try to clip the other pedal in.

nismosr

I have the same problem too I'm new to clipless and that happen to me yesterday when I took a rest on a hill and tried to get back and lost my balance boom there I go fell and scratch on the RD and right shifter. But I did get back on the 2nd try. I have an eggbeater and mtb shoes.

piper_chuck

You could also start out downhill, with the brakes on, and once clipped in, pull a u-turn, assuming the road isn't too busy. Of course the suggestions of not stopping, and learning to clip in while going uphill are probably better long term solutions...

SDRider

Yeah, that's what I do for those rare instances where I can't clip in immediately.

Logan B

If you're consiously preparing to stop, choose a gear ratio that will be easy to restart pedaling in.

MAK

I clip in with one foot and then put my heel on the other pedal. After two or three revolutions, I have enough momentum to clip in and continue. This also works when you stop suddenly in a very high gear and need to restart.

Bontrager

Depending on your shoes/pedals you might be able to start pedaling by putting the arch of your foot on the pedal. Once you get your balance and momentum then clip in one foot and then the other.

Alternatively if you have mountain bike shoes then it should be much easier for you since they have grips all the way around.

Regardless, until you're clipped in it might help to point your toes higher than your heel incase your foot slips while you're unclipped - easier to regain your balance if your leg goes forward than down or backwards.

urbanknight

Perpendicular to the road, parallel to the hill.

varunku

I fell a few time trying to clip uphill, now I apply the brakes and go downhill to clip, then ride uphill.

mezza

Don't ride hills.

Sprocket Man

Most of the solutions mentioned are good. Here's another one - if there's a pole or something else you can grab onto, get next to it. Clip in on one side and grab the pole. Once you're stable, clip in on the other side. Push yourself off the pole and pedal away.

This is a desparation move - only do it if you have to. You're better off learning to clip in quickly.

Mose

QFT. It's especially handy to have this skill when you're at a multi lane stop light making a left hand turn with cars behind you.

But yeah, along with the other comments, try coasting down hill long enough to get clipped in and then u turn and head back up. Just watch for traffic.