I guess it's NOT a good idea to go for a 40 mile jaunt through the Bronx into Manhattan and back...maybe I oughta drive to a nearby park, that's gonna be empty, has a nice 4 mile loop, and I oughta just get myself acquainted- with the ground, a few times?

Oh joy!

Practice makes perfect and the more you unclip the more it will be second nature. That said, I think riding anywhere in NYC requires a lot rider skill. I was there a few months ago and I could not imagine riding on the streets. Most people will say that you will fall over when transitioning to clipless but I've yet to fall over after 6 months of clipless riding. Good luck.

Did you practice on a trainer?

For about 10 minutes at the shop. Actually, getting out didn't seem all that big of a deal. Getting in is a feel thing I'm going to need to better learn.

NYC is frikkin' crazy, but there are plenty of bike paths as well. Though when in traffic, you really need to have it together. People drive like idiots here.

My military brain is already flipping around an SOP mantra. I don't want to hurt the bike. lmao

You're better off riding somewhere like the city where you have to unclip frequently. You're more likely to have problems if you go for a long ride without having to unclip and then come to a stop without thinking about what you need to do to prevent embarrassing yourself

I have yet to fall in 6 years of clipless use. I started riding to work mostly, so lots of stop and go to practice clipping and unclipping.
If I only did long club rides where there were lots of pedalling between stops; I may have forgotten that I was clipped in and had
tumbled over - like some of my fellow club members have done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFyXx...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

Practice, Practice. For the first couple of days, every time I came to a stop I did it in the grass. I also unclip early. Gives you plenty of time to figure out exactly where you're stoping.

Falls can happen for a variety of reasons, but I've never fallen because I forgot to unclip.

Oh, and don't worry about "embarrassing" yourself. There are two kinds of riders using clipless: those who have fallen, and those who will fall someday. The recurring catalyst in the falls I've had are loose dogs.

Well, I don't see what the fuss is all about. I just rode through 3 boroughs and back clipping in and out with no problem... Bronx, down the west side, lower Manhattan, across the Brooklyn Bridge, and back...

Clipless....pfffft. easy-peasy.

Ahhhhhh 1st time clipless brings back memories! Of busting arse that is!!!! Hey, I fell over in the middle of the road when I first went this way and I mean in the middle in a curve and thankfully no cars coming!!!!

It can't be worst than people in Florida especially in Orlando.

When I first started my clipless about a month ago, I always remembered to prepare to unclip like 100 yds away from a potential stop (stop signs, traffic lights, etc.) so I can assure myself I won't fall over and make a fool of myself After a couple of weeks, it became second nature (like some have said) to me and I can unclip even in sudden stops. One thing to remember is to loosen the tension in your pedals so it would be easier to unclip.

Hey John...I can't imagine anywhere worse than NYC as far as urban driving...but you say Orlando huh? I guess anywhere you have a lot of people behind the wheel...

I'm lucky, this whole clipless thing is just a non-issue for me...I nearly wrecked for other reasons yesterday, ice under a bridge, and unclipping was the least of my worries...going across the Brooklyn Bridge I had to get in and out of the clips at least 15 times, really crowded and people walk aimlessly in the bike lane, so good practice! Manhattan Bridge for me from now on.

I really like the feel of the attachment to the bike. One thing I noticed right off the bat is a whole other set of muscles I seemed to be all of a sudden using because I can and they hurt today! I really need to dive deep into pedal stroke technique now.


I do need to be wary of my right knee (old injuries...). I still need to adjust the cleat there, something isn't exactly copacetic but it's marginal at the moment. So many things to work on, posture being another one, arching my back, keeping my position on the saddle, arms relaxed... I guess I'll internalize it sooner or later. My elbows were hurting just from handlebar shock yesterday...

This is so much fun...

It's like learning to drive a stick shift.

Go to a parking lot and practice starting/stopping.

Florida has some of the worst drivers in the country. Adding tourists (not just people from other countries, people from out of state as well) to the mix doesn't make it any better. I guess our horrible drivers is equivalent to your mixture of icy roads, overcrowded areas and people walking on bike lanes lol.

As far as getting used to stroking technique down, I'm still sometimes don't pedal the complete motion. Keep in mind I'm still new to it myself, I would only remember to pedal the complete motion when I'm climbing as I remember someone telling me it gives me more power. When I'm on the flats, I have to remind myself to do pedal the whole 360 motion.

Y'old fate-tempter!

It'll get ya when you least expect it.... drop a chain going slow on a steep uphill, have a WTF?! moment while you process the sudden lack of power to the wheel, and tim-berrrrr! over you go because you can't just stick your leg out. Or some other emergency-save situation where things happen fast and your flat-peddler instincts would've saved you but instead betray you.

What got me was coming up to a stop sign and suddenly realizing I needed to stop, when I hadn't been planning on it. But it healed fast.

When I first got clipless, I thought it was super easy. Why would I fall? I got used to it and didn't think about it. Then a lightwas about to change one day so I clipped in. Well the light didn't change soon enough and I tried to put my foot down. It didn't unclip, and the whole bike went down. Embarrassing haha.

Note that not all clipless pedals are the same. SPD's are much more fall prone than Look Keo's. I have been riding both and the difference is like night and day. When you ride with the Keo's you can just unclip with a counter clockwise (I always put my right foot down) motion of your ankle which is the reflex move with platform pedals. I have never failed to unclip with my Keo's even on emergency stops it just unclips.

One other thing you should consider is looking out for objects to hold on to a few seconds before you stop. Look for light posts or traffic signs, fire hydrants, shoulders of attractive ladies, roofs of cars that are not that expensive which have drivers with friendly looking faces inside. The list goes by.

When approaching an intersection or traffic lights, wait (don't stop) at the tail of the second car in the line and proceed very slowly. This way you will be able to waste 10-15 seconds before the light turns green or the road clears up. Remember to chose the right gear and you'll be able to drop any car without problems.

Anger not the gods of cycling. They can only be appeased by a blood offering.

I've used SPDs for years with no problems, so naturally I felt compelled to change over to SPD-SLs. I almost bagged it twice this weekend. Multi-release cleats they are not.

I'm sure I'm doomed from the get-go...the best I can hope for is style points...

I do have some medial pain on the inside of my right knee...not much but, my foot is rotated externally, I probably oughta adjust for less of an angle relative to centerline. Left knee is great..

True. Almost as bad as saying "I haven't flatted since..."

Reminds me of a certain one who shall not be mentioned who never fell because of a clipless pedal, until he did.

What pedal? Different pedals have different options for float. In addition to alligning your cleat, you may want to add float.

Nice! ...And true!

Shimano XTR PD-M985 Trail Pedals... No float that I'm aware of...