I rode clipless for a couple years before falling over for the first time, I just got lazy at an intersection, stopped behind my wife, forgot to un-clip, and proceeded to roll over still clipped in. I couldn't help but laugh, plenty of people in their cars were lauging too, so I took a bow. and got a couple honks and thumbs up. good times.

I got mine during the winter, so my bike was already mounted on the trainer. It was much easier to transition to the real world after practicing on the trainer.

Just don't forget you're clipped in! I've almost forgotten a couple of times.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everybody who made a post on this forum. I recently got road shoes. I did a combination of all the things suggested on this thread. First i took my bike to the park near my apartment and road around in circles on my bike on the grass and practices falling over and also clipping in. After i was confident i had the hang of it i transitioned to the sidewalk and every time i would come close to a bench in the park i would pretend it was a stop sign and stop so i could practice clipping in and out. Eventually i fell on the grass and the chain on my gears fell off so i was kinda stranded but i fixed it and was back to practicing. Then i walked back to my apartment and grabbed a backpack and the regular shoes i was wearing when i would go bicycling, i switched completely into my old shoes for my ride Down University avenue here in Berkeley until i reached the Exclusive San francisco Bay trail at buchanan street in Albany then i switched my shoes again completely back to my cycling shoes and clicked in did most of my usual trip then on the way back when i had made my loop and got back to buchanan i switched my shoes but i only switched my left shoe back to a regular shoe but kept my other cycling shoe on my right foot on then i road all the way back up university avenue and once i got onto shattuck in downtown Berkeley past dwight way i switched completely back to my cycling shoes and went back home going through the stop signs on the bicycle boulevard. I think in a few more days ill be fully acclimated with the shoes and able to make my massive 54 mile bike ride from Berkeley to Union city and back. of the times I've fallen usually im able to catch myself typically only damaging the plastic cleats. its amazing how fragile these shoes are you cant walk in them practically at all even a little bit so i guess that means i need to stay out of the east bay hills or bring a change of shoes in a backpack like i did tonight. Though i feel a bit silly switching my shoes in the middle of a bike ride on the side of the road im glad i have the option to. I think for me i just need to shift my way of thinking and make sure i clip out whenever i think i might need to but i know im going to run into an idiot motorist who causes me to fall because they cant fallow simple california traffic laws. So anyways thats what i did this is basically my second day having the Comp road shoes and Look classic pedals so im feeling a lot more confident than i did 4 hours ago and am looking forward to practicing more with these pedals this is basically my holy grail being able to use these shoes will mean to me that im no longer a novice bicyclist. Also it helped me not to think about the fact that i could fall and get hurt really bad, if you think negatively and think you will fall you will, dont let the anxiety get to you just trust that you will be able to successfully clip in and out like a fluidic machine! =]

Set the clips to be as loose as possible and if you're going with Shimano SPD pedals go for the multi-release cleats. They are the ones that let you release by twisting in all sorts of ways, rather than the one single way required by the single release cleats.

If you can find a way of supporting yourself on the bike practise pedalling backwards so you can be stationary and under some form of control while you practise clipping in and out. As you get used to riding with them you can tighten the clips as you see fit.

When I bought mine the guy at the bike shop had a large box I could lean on to practise. Then he said to lean on his shoulders so I could adopt a more upright position (rather than leaning to one side). Unfortunately he's about half my size, so it wasn't entirely surprising to find he couldn't keep me steady. Still, that gave me my first practise at unclipping in a hurry...

This is the best tip so far. Get the bike started with just one foot (or none) clipped in. Then once the bicycle is going, snap in and go. Don't lean against door frames, fences or hold onto anything. A bike is most stable when it is moving. So move it first then put those cleats in.

Ride somewhere soft or practice on the trainer for a few minutes.
As far as falling. I think I fell 2-3 times since I started riding clipless 3 years ago. It happens.

it's not about practice or learning. The time I fell was when I got used to doing it and then didn't pay attention.

People always say "you'll fall a bunch of times." I have yet to fall. I've had a couple of close calls, but always manage to unclip. Practice, practice practice, and when you think you have it, practice some more!

I practiced just around my apartment complex, but there were still times I fell on the street. It didn't hurt anything but my pride.

Here is an excellent video for all newcomers to clipless pedals.

I alternate feet to equalize cleat wear on my Speedplays. Also, always unclipping one side can lead to the inability to respond to unexpected circumstances. For example, a panic stop where you weight is falling to the other side. Or if you come to a stop on the downhill side of a sloped surface and (using) your right foot would cause you to fall over. Been there, done that and decided to start alternating sides. I think it's fine to do it when your just starting out, but I would start alternating sides as soon as you get comfortable.

Just go for it! That's how I learned. No need to work your way up to it.

Probably don't learn to ride clip less on single track like I did though.... I had a couple of close calls unclipping on accident.

possible noob questions.. why are they called clipless when they are clips?

edit: nvm.. at 5:55 in that video above it explained it.

Lost of good information here. Read all of it and take from it what you think will help you overcome the fear of falling down. I also started with clipless pedals at an older age (64) and was concerned about falls since hip fractures come more easily with age. It bothered me to the point that I fell more times than I wanted to and almost decided to give up all together, but I was too stubborn for that. I concentrated so much on when to unclip that I didn't concentrate on other things when riding and almost crashed several times for reasons other than unclipping. What I did to overcome my problem may or may not work for you, so take it with the same consideration as the advice from other posters. I used platform pedals to make the engaging and disengaging motions until I felt comfortable to change them over to my clipless pedals. When I got to where I could simulate a disengage without thinking about it, I changed the pedals and have not looked back. Except for emergency situations, which you just can't practice for, you'll be fine after a few tries using clipless pedals, regardless of how you go about learning.

Good luck and enjoy your rides.

Hopefully he has practiced for the last 9 years and has it down by now.

agreed.

When my wife was learning I had her start with one regular shoe and one cycling shoe. It wasn't necessary of course but it gave her a sense of confidence and she was using both cycling shoes the next day.

lol - yes this was a necro thread but I'm glad someone revived it. It was just yesterday when I started thinking about going clipless over my current platform. This thread has been a good read.

Be kinda cool if OP showed up and responded. His last post was over two years ago.

I have never fallen on my road bike because of the clipless pedals. I have fallen on my mtb because of the clipless pedal.

This is a great thread for beginners like me. After falling for a few times, I realize that it is all physiological. U could ride on even u have not clipped in. The only thing to remember is not to forget clipping out when stopping. The other thing when starting to use I'd to wear arm and knee paddings like those used for roller skates or even mountain bike, u won't hurt yourself even if you fall when practicing.

For me, I was lucky, got them at Christmas time, so no pressure to go out and ride. I had a large carpeted area inside, so I practiced there and on my trainer. The trainer was very helpful!

If you fall, (I won't say when, although I fell a few times) don't wiper off the blood from your knee. After a few miles you'll stop bleeding, it will dry on your shin, and you will look bad a**.

I practiced on an indoor trainer. My 1 fall so far was when I got done my ride and un-clipped pulling up next to my truck and the bike went and leaned to the other side as I stopped. I now use what I do on my motorcycle at the track and push on the bar on the side that is un-clipped, thus making the bike lean to that side.

I've been riding mtn bikes for years and use the SPD pedals. I recently got into road cycling and am looking at the spd-sl pedals. How much harder are they to hnclip from?

I'm sure many of you have already said this, but really the only way to practice initially is to do it in your driveway several times standing over the bike so it becomes muscle memory on each foot. Then try getting in and out randomly when you are actually riding when there are no stops to get the feel of what it is like to clip in when moving. I try to anticipate stops as best I can, but sometimes it's unavoidable and you have to trust your instincts to clip out. My dad rode with me one time from my apartment and we decided to try a different route that involved us having to ride through many stop lights and intersections. He told me after the ride since he was very new to clipless pedals after I convinced him about their advandages that he had more practice that ride than where he normally goes. Consequently he said he felt much more comfortable getting in and out of his pedals with the real-time scenarios that forced him to clip in and out frequently. I like to push off with my non-dominant foot so I can get into my pedals better as my right leg is my dominant one.

I don't have any real experience with SPD, only a couple times I tried it and found that they are more finicky with dirt and whatnot as it's a smaller cleat. I love my SPD SL cleats, but they only downside is that they are almost always single sided entry. The cleats wear out in about 1500-2000 miles for me, so it's not too bad when they are only 26 bucks each. The ease of clipping is adjustable on SPD SL on my 105 pedals for tension to achieve desired effort. I personally like the wide platform that SPD SL offers so I got less hotspots on my feet.

You will "fall over." (Who around here said that, wasn't me, so no credit here) As soon as you get over confident, and try to track stand at an intersection.. LOL.

Not to be the renegade of the thread but I've had clipless on my bikes for 20 years and I always unclip with my right and never got a greasy leg. Although, I have a weird genetic issue with my left leg so I favor my right leg more. It's habit.

I was ambitious on my first ride and wanted to see how much more efficient it is climbing a hill. Lost momentum and that's when I fell. Luckily it was at a park near my apartment. Glad I didn't fall into some dog poop.

I'm the same. I'm more comfortable unclipping with my right foot than my left. I also don't get a greasy leg.