Cathryn's going clipless....

[dellzeqq]

Well....Liesl is now pinioned in the turbo....

you certainly know how to gain a chap's attention!

 

[nilling]

Are all SPDs (excluding the M324) double-sided?

 

[Christopher]

hi Cathryn
Glad to hear you are joining the club. Clipless - what could go wrong? Lots of sound advice in this thread, I will just add: be careful that you are trying to force your foot into the clip side of the pedal, otherwise your foot could shoot off and end up in the front wheel. Seems obvious but it still happens to me - usually on the fixed when I am trying to avoid traffic, ride straight and clip in all at the same time.

oh and I would advise, for pedals used outdoors, to take the axle out and regrease at least annually. Ironically cheaper SPD pedals need a special tool for this, the better Shimano ones just need a spanner

 

[fossyant]

Are all SPDs (excluding the M324) double-sided?

All MTB ones are double sided, unless it's a specific platform one side/SPD the other.

Road SPD or SPD-SL as they are known are single sided, but use a big triangular cleat like Look.

MTB SPD's are great for commuting - I use Look on my road bikes, but will be using MTB SPD's on my fixed.

 

[Cathryn]

So much good advice. Just off to sit on the turbo for a bit and practise again!

 

[Dayvo]

So much good advice. Just off to sit on the turbo for a bit and practise again!

No time like the present! Come on, it's like riding a bike!

 

[fossyant]

Turbo - get on the road...flippin eck.....

 

[ComedyPilot]

It'll all end in tears....there'll be bits of Liesel strewn round the house

 

[HLaB]

When I changed to clipless I found that raising the saddle seemed to help with clipping in. The thing I like about my spd pedals if I miss its no big issue and I can clip in when I feel its safe. I've not got the hang of SPD-SL's yet

 

[Abitrary]

When I changed to clipless I found that raising the saddle seemed to help with clipping in. The thing I like about my spd pedals if I miss its no big issue and I can clip in when I feel its safe. I've not got the hang of SPD-SL's yet

It probably takes 2 whole days of cycling with an allen key to adjust:

-cleat fore/aft and angle
-seat position accordingly

The reason people can't clip out properly is because they're not set up right. It should be as natural as giving a curious kitten a gentle swipe with your heel.

 

[rich p]

No time like the present! Come on, it's like riding a bike!

Quite right, as my old man used to say, it's as easy as falling off a bike

 

[Cathryn]

Well....I made it!

Went out today and managed 1) to clip in, 2) to clip out, 3) not to fall over!!

It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be - clipping out was quite easy, I struggled more clipping in actually, but we got there!!

HLaB - I think you're right, I might need to raise the seat post a bit.

Hurrah...I'm a proper cyclist now!

 

[Willow]

Well....I made it!

Went out today and managed 1) to clip in, 2) to clip out, 3) not to fall over!!

It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be - clipping out was quite easy, I struggled more clipping in actually, but we got there!!

HLaB - I think you're right, I might need to raise the seat post a bit.

Hurrah...I'm a proper cyclist now!

Well done you, did it make much difference

 

[fossyant]

Well done !

 

[Cathryn]

Willow, I honestly am not sure it made much difference. I kept forgetting to 'pull up' on the pedal rotation so I may not have changed my technique to get the full benefit.

Clipless people, how does it make a difference?