Clipless Pedals
 

First of all, I'm very sorry if I posted in the wrong forum, cause I'm not really sure where to put this topic under.

But anyways, I tried out my new Wellgo Clipless Pedals on my bike (almost everyone started using clipless on their fixed gears so I decided to try it out for myself). The shoes used are Pearl Izumi. The most frustrating thing first of all, is that the SPD cleats are installed directly underneath the shoe so its very hard to walk and to keep my balance. So is there any way of fixing this problem? Also I'm looking for help with clipless. Its somewhat using to clip in and out, but kind of hard to find the cleat part of the shoe and clip in. The first time I tried riding with them, my left foot was already clipped in, I pushed off, and was able to clip in my right foot easy. The next two times, I wasn't able to clip in with my right, and I couldn't clip out of my left so I fell down. I'm scared of riding my bike because I'm scared of falling. So is there any way of helping me with my problems? I admit, I follow the hype of fixed gear in my community by getting clipless but starting to regret it after trying it out only one time. Any help is much appreciated. Again, sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum.

Try holding yourself up against a wall and just clipping in and out. If I were ever to get clipless that's what I'd be doing for at least 30 minutes. Try adjusting the different settings on the pedal as well maybe.

You can adjust the tension on your pedals for easier engagement and disengagement. First time I rode clipless went good and I went on a 40mi ride with no issues. Just give it some time and make sure you unclip before you even need to stop.

learn by doing.

itl get easier the more you do it, but definitely spend time clipping in and out on both sides while leaned up against a wall

when youve got one foot out, lean the bike towards the leg that is unclipped so you dont lose your balance

If you have road shoes, shimano makes an SPD cleat with "pontoons" to make walking suck less.

http://i.imgur.com/I0Xbql3.jpg

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...551_1033419_-1

Ride more, fall less

Bear in mind that I learned to use clipless pedals on a bike with a freewheel, but here's what I did:

1) Loosen tension on pedals all the way.
2) Stand over the bike and practice clipping in and out a bunch of times with one foot, then the other.
3) Ride the bike around deserted streets slowly while clipping in and out with each foot. Don't actually stop, just clip in and out while riding along.

That was about it. I felt pretty comfortable after about five or ten minutes of riding around my neighborhood. The next day I commuted to work and I haven't looked back since. In the beginning I was consciously telling myself to be ready to unclip when I came up to red lights. When I started riding fixed a year ago, I didn't find the transition to clipping into a moving pedal to be all that hard.

Mountain or touring shoes are infinitely more comfortable and walk-able than road shoes...

I found that cleat placement made a big difference to ease of clipping in. Put the cleat where your foot would naturally come onto the pedal and it helps a lot.

You tried 'em, you don't like 'em. Move on. I tried 'em, I didn't like 'em, I moved on. Straps baby!

^ this.
I commute and work all day in PI Mountain Bike shoes with recessed SPD cleats.

Sounds like you got clipless for the wrong reasons.

Don't give up. It gets really easy over time. It took me like a month to fully get comfortable with it. I fell the first time in the shop when adjusting my seat height but the first few rides went fine. Everybody falls, but be careful if you ever go on the sidewalk to cross the street and you make a u turn on the sidewalk. Its easy to fall like that too but after a while you'll get used to that too. I had to use toe cages and straps and I loved moving to clipless. One day I had to use the cages and straps for a few minutes and I hated it after riding clipless. Your feet feel really loose and they feel like they're going to come out of the cages.

If you come to a stop just clip out only one foot and keep that other one in and you won't have problems getting back in.

Most people run their cleats too far forward and many shoes will not even allow a person to run them as far back as they should be... newer shoes are starting to allow for a more rearward position as research and testing shows that this improves performance and really increases comfort.

Placing the cleat too far forward causes you to engage the smaller calf and lower leg muscles more when you should be generating most of your power from you upper legs and glutes.

I totally agree with Sixty Fiver on the positioning. I first put mine at what's considered the standard over ball of foot but my calf muscle got over used (only have one) slid it back a few mm and had no more issues after that.

Really? Bully for you getting out there.

Is that a bikerfox avatar?

Clipless takes some practice, especially on an FG where you have to unclip as the pedal turns. Keep at it.

Yeah I got a powerful shin bone tho. I'm not sure I seen it and thought it was funny.

Poke around (turn the sound down first):

http://www.bikerfox.com

I tried staps 2 years ago and hated it, went back to clipless.

Lmao! That dude is one crazy character . Hey IthaDan I came across this documentry about FBM bike's from your area http://vimeo.com/18094237 NSW . Don't know if you seen it but it's cool.

I'm not here to judge, not gonna judge, nope, not judging at all.

Oh yea. I grew up idolizing those guys (Tag and Crandall were maybe 5 years older than me), they're somewhat infamous around these parts.

One of the flaws for having clipless pedals is that it's hard to walk in. You shouldn't be walking around in them because it wears out your cleats.
I suggest getting cages and straps, for those commuting around town days, and switch it up to clipless when you're actually cycling, and nothing else besides walking into the store to buy a drink or something.
For clipping out, I had a hard time at first, but I unclip my pedals as my cranks are half rotation from a complete stop.
For clipping in, you just get the hang of it as you're riding.
Just like cages and straps right? Not alot of people can get their foot in the straps their first time.

Except for the many, many casual styled SPD shoes with recessed cleats.