Cathryn's going clipless....

[Nicensleazy]

Don't worry, you will get there. I never forget last year, I was riding with a friend of mine who was on a £5000 Cervelo, lovely bike. Anyhow, he's a very experienced rider etc. We had just pulled up at a set of traffic lights and he had a 'Senior moment' and just fell over on his bike! Laugh, I had to stop myself from falling off!

 

[Crackle]

Clipless people, how does it make a difference?

It depends a lot on you and your style and technique. For some, who have a very fluid style and can apply pressure around the stroke, it's a huge advantage.

Personally, I only really notice a big advantage over toe-clips on uphills and spurts of power (did you have toe-clips?). If I'd gone from flats to clipless then there is a distinct advantage.

 

[rich p]

I tried the pulling up technique when I first went clipless but I reckon it's a lot of cock!

 

[Cathryn]

User76 (whose spelling skills are perfect and much appreciated)...I definitely FELT like a cyclist. Found myself looking at people who cycled past to see if they had clipless pedals too. Which is ridiculous and v shallow, but quite funny.

Thank you for all the encouragement everyone. It feels like a big step forward.

 

[Baggy]

Yay! Well done.

Have to say I didn't notice much difference on the flat but hills definitely felt a little bit easier. I don't really pull up either, but tend to try and pedal in circles - pushing forward and round, which is much easier clipless.

 

[Dayvo]

Well done, Cathryn!

Next up is clipless on a fixie in, say, the Lake District!

 

[postman]

Well done.How you have managed to avoid all the pot holes in Headingley is a mystery.So A big WELL DONE

 

[Cathryn]

The rough bit was actually the hill down from Shadwell to Rounday at the ring road? The husband nearly fell off, the road surface was so bad.

Well...no longer a clipless virgin. Just got to improve my techniqe now

 

[fossyant]

Well, now practice going eye balls out in a sprint to beat cars from traffic lights....you can't do that WITHOUT clipless......

You'll soon realise why the hell didn't you switch earlier...... I won't ride a bike that isn't clipped in.

Helps getting up stupid hills that are slippy, steep or you've run out of gears ! (Ahem)

I got funny remarks on a course I did recently... .."Oh you've even brought your bike shoes"...erm ....me....."I can't ride my bike without them" ..... "Oh what happens if you fall off"...me "well.... happens a fair bit...cars run you over, feet come off always..."..................

 

[summerdays]

Well, now practice going eye balls out in a sprint to beat cars from traffic lights....you can't do that WITHOUT clipless......

You can... I do it all the time...well beating them across the junction, but I may have to go clipless to improve the technique ... perhaps that's what I will do the half term week when I'll be doing lots of being near the house with the kids. Or I will probably do what I always do and chicken out.

Well Done Cathryn....

 

[Priscilla Parsley]

ME TOO

Hi Cathryn, I have just gone gone Clipless today too! and i have also got the single sided pedals as i have only one bike and i wear daft shoes sometimes to go out in. I also tried it on the turbo and also found clipping in much harder, but when i got on the road it was much easier and more natural, so super smashing great .......until ended up in one way system and while pondering what to do next i FORGOT i was clippped in and comedy clipless moment follows (IN FRONT OF A BUS LOAD OF PEOPLE!) well i am alive unharmed, blushing a bit, but overall really love being clipless and deffo feel the benefit of more bang for your buck energy wise.

Priscilla (also on her way to feeling like a proper cyclist)

 

[fossyant]

Have fun.....

 

[Cathryn]

Hi Cathryn, I have just gone gone Clipless today too! and i have also got the single sided pedals as i have only one bike and i wear daft shoes sometimes to go out in. I also tried it on the turbo and also found clipping in much harder, but when i got on the road it was much easier and more natural, so super smashing great .......until ended up in one way system and while pondering what to do next i FORGOT i was clippped in and comedy clipless moment follows (IN FRONT OF A BUS LOAD OF PEOPLE!) well i am alive unharmed, blushing a bit, but overall really love being clipless and deffo feel the benefit of more bang for your buck energy wise.

Priscilla (also on her way to feeling like a proper cyclist)

Well done girl!!!! Know exactly what you mean about cycling on silly shoes - loads of fun! Can't believe you fell over as well - at least you've done it now...I'm still waiting for that moment!!

Hurrah - a great weekend for cyclechat girls!

 

[fossyant]

Falling off still clipped in happens to the best of us...... hurts more than getting knocked off by a car at 30 mph.....

 

[HLaB]

Well done on the move girls, I'm sure you won't look back