Clipless- oh dear
- Thread starter porridge
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Ranger
New Member
- Location
- Fife borders
Also look at what cleats you have, I am similarly challenged when it comes to co-ordination and find the multi-directional release cleats (they have an M on them) solved all the difficulties
Thanks for all the advice, i'll give them another go over the weekend, however, I do have a real concern !, im a bit worried that I will increase my chances of having more serious injuries from still being attached to the bike if I do come off or get hit ?
i fell off 3 times before i realised why and this could be your problem.
i find it naturally easier to unclip my foot when it's in the 6 o'clock position.
so, say i unclip my left for in the 6 o'clock position, this leaves my right foot still clipped in at the 12 o'clock position.
the thing is, it is (due to balance) a natural thing to put the foot down that is in the 12 o'clock position. (try it on normal pedals and you will see) so therefore for a while i was unclipping my left foot in the 6 o'clock position and then trying to put my right foot down because that was the foot in the 12 o'clock position, thus unbalancing myself because i was still clipped in.
so now i unclip my left foot at the 6 o'clock position, spin the pedals backwards for a half turn, and then naturally i put my left foot down.
so basically remember, the unclipped foot should be in the 12 o'clock position when you come to a stop and then you will naturally put that foot down. and then stop falling off
i find it naturally easier to unclip my foot when it's in the 6 o'clock position.
so, say i unclip my left for in the 6 o'clock position, this leaves my right foot still clipped in at the 12 o'clock position.
the thing is, it is (due to balance) a natural thing to put the foot down that is in the 12 o'clock position. (try it on normal pedals and you will see) so therefore for a while i was unclipping my left foot in the 6 o'clock position and then trying to put my right foot down because that was the foot in the 12 o'clock position, thus unbalancing myself because i was still clipped in.
so now i unclip my left foot at the 6 o'clock position, spin the pedals backwards for a half turn, and then naturally i put my left foot down.
so basically remember, the unclipped foot should be in the 12 o'clock position when you come to a stop and then you will naturally put that foot down. and then stop falling off
Jim_Noir
New Member
porridge said:
IMHO, when you first fall and hurt yourself your body quickly lears how to avoid it... when I frist started Jiu Jitsu I was lazy at breaking my fall, untill I got winded... then from that day on every break fall was 100%
I have bought shoes, and have a pair of 520s on order, so I will fall at one point next week
youngoldbloke
The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
lukesdad said:
Toeclips are clips, Toestraps are straps. Clipless pedals do not have toeclips, (or straps), but the shoes have cleats, which clip onto/into the pedals. The pedals are without toeclips and are therefore clipless. Clear?
beachcaster
Active Member
- Location
- sussex
I have found that with my new clipless they are ok when everything is happening slow and predictable.......when a dog ran into the front wheel on a small track
there was just no time to act. ....
Its the unusual things that happen fast........chain jamming etc that makes them difficult for me...and I dont bounce well these days.
Ive gone back to flats for a while and find I am much more relaxed and enjoying my cycling. I started off just trying to loose weight and get a bit fitter. ( lost 2 stone up to today ) I reckon if flats are harder work thats ok with me ......the harder the work the more it hurts....the more it hurts the more weight I lose.
An odd logic...........seems to work for me
barry
there was just no time to act. ....
Its the unusual things that happen fast........chain jamming etc that makes them difficult for me...and I dont bounce well these days.
Ive gone back to flats for a while and find I am much more relaxed and enjoying my cycling. I started off just trying to loose weight and get a bit fitter. ( lost 2 stone up to today ) I reckon if flats are harder work thats ok with me ......the harder the work the more it hurts....the more it hurts the more weight I lose.
An odd logic...........seems to work for me
barry
Went for a long ride on the clipless today, a varied route and no falls, however, I think i'll be refitting flats, I can see why people like them, but as "Beachcaster" says "Its the unusual things that happen fast........", I also think that I would cycle far more relaxed, im not a lycra speed king and as another earlier poster said, sometimes one wants to just jump on the bike.
good luck to the clipless converts, but im going back to the flats.
good luck to the clipless converts, but im going back to the flats.
The Jogger
Legendary Member
- Location
- Spain
I think you're right in doing what you feel comfortable with, enjoy relaxed riding !
Clipless
I was too chicken to get the 520s - got the 530s instead with the dual platform. My standard 'traffic' mode is to ride r/f clipped in, l/f on the flat side. Plus I can still ride to the shop in flip-flops
Plus, as everyone else said, I loosened the cleat tension hugely and if I am clipped in both sides, I twist one foot out as soon as I see a hazard.
I actually found that if you had the cleat tension at the loosest on the 530, the motion of 'frantically trying to put your foot down' caused the cleat to release in enough time to get a foot down.
I was too chicken to get the 520s - got the 530s instead with the dual platform. My standard 'traffic' mode is to ride r/f clipped in, l/f on the flat side. Plus I can still ride to the shop in flip-flops
Plus, as everyone else said, I loosened the cleat tension hugely and if I am clipped in both sides, I twist one foot out as soon as I see a hazard.
I actually found that if you had the cleat tension at the loosest on the 530, the motion of 'frantically trying to put your foot down' caused the cleat to release in enough time to get a foot down.
jcb said:I was too chicken to get the 520s - got the 530s instead with the dual platform. My standard 'traffic' mode is to ride r/f clipped in, l/f on the flat side. Plus I can still ride to the shop in flip-flops
Plus, as everyone else said, I loosened the cleat tension hugely and if I am clipped in both sides, I twist one foot out as soon as I see a hazard.
I actually found that if you had the cleat tension at the loosest on the 530, the motion of 'frantically trying to put your foot down' caused the cleat to release in enough time to get a foot down.
I too have the 530's. I find with the tension right down, I can unclip very easily. Today an idiot turned left infront of me and I easily wrenched my foot out of the pedals, by just pulling up very hard.
I have not had a clipless moment yet......
oldgreyandslow
Guru
- Location
- Farnborough
My old style Looks are relatively easy to get in and out of, but like the poster says above, set the tension as low as you can whilst still being able to get some decent pressure on the upstroke for climbing.
When I first had mine I had a particularly embarrasing topple right outside my house, I had to do a sudden stop instead of turning up the drive, I failed to unlcip and fell like a tree still attached, of course the whole family were on hand to watch and laugh. Woops!
When I first had mine I had a particularly embarrasing topple right outside my house, I had to do a sudden stop instead of turning up the drive, I failed to unlcip and fell like a tree still attached, of course the whole family were on hand to watch and laugh. Woops!
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
A word of warning...having the tension set very low can allow your foot to suddenly free itself when you *don't* want it to - as mine did, just after I'd gone round a speed bump at speed, ending up jammed between front wheel and frame. My goriest crash yet.Eviljeem said:
When you first get them, set them at a low tension as has already been suggested. The thing I found hardest to learn was to unclip early (eg while approach traffic lights) rather than waiting for the last moment. Doesn't take long to get used to and once you do you wont fall over again.
You do have to be careful if you drive hard (when pulling up) as the clip may release, not a big problem though really as it usually happens when accelerating from standstill. When I set them first off, I tested the tension before heading out - I found the best was almost at the lowest tension which resulted in less pull-outs. Once you get the hang of unclipping early you can adjust the tension to reduce accidental pull-outs if you want to make the most of your upward drive.
IMO the hardest thing to get used to is using good technique. After a few years of riding in clipless shoes I find I still have to make a concious effort to drive in a circle motion rather than working legs the old way of just pushing down on the pedals. Doing so will eaily result in a 2-3 kph increase of speed.
You do have to be careful if you drive hard (when pulling up) as the clip may release, not a big problem though really as it usually happens when accelerating from standstill. When I set them first off, I tested the tension before heading out - I found the best was almost at the lowest tension which resulted in less pull-outs. Once you get the hang of unclipping early you can adjust the tension to reduce accidental pull-outs if you want to make the most of your upward drive.
IMO the hardest thing to get used to is using good technique. After a few years of riding in clipless shoes I find I still have to make a concious effort to drive in a circle motion rather than working legs the old way of just pushing down on the pedals. Doing so will eaily result in a 2-3 kph increase of speed.