First clipless ride

[PaulSecteur]

I recieved my shimano m520 pedels this morning, fitted them and the cleats and went for a short ride originally about 5 miles, but ended up being 14.

I had set the release tension to their lowest settings and tried them out while leaning up a wall, all tickerty-boo. I decided not to try them out on the front yard as I had heard most people do and get spooked by the lack of space and panic, then end up horizontal.

Once on my way and clipped in and cruising it didnt seem much different, however, come the first bit of a hill and being able to pull one leg up as well as pushinf down really seemed to lessen the effort required as well as seeming to smooth out the power pulses from just pushing down.

For the first mile and a bit I was constntly reminding myself I was clipped in but didnt have to stop, so that little naggin voice was silenced... For a while, it was soon screaming as I have a moment with a van pulling out of an industrial unit, I had a bit of a panic, forgot I was clipped in and by luck got my feet out in time. Im not sure if I swung the heel out or if I just managed to pull it out but that was the only "moment" on the ride.

I havent used them enough to pass a real judgement put I think they will be staying on my bike, Although Im not sure I would like double sided ones if I were a commuter with alot of stopping, but I supose you could get used to them.

Looking forward till they become second nature.

 

[MLC]

Well done

can't comment on clipless as I am getting a new bike end of march and won't be able buy clipless pedals until my funds recoup a bit but did have a "clipless" moment with footstraps on a group ride which was highly embarrasing

 

[youngoldbloke]

Once on my way and clipped in and cruising it didnt seem much different, however, come the first bit of a hill and being able to pull one leg up as well as pushinf down really seemed to lessen the effort required as well as seeming to smooth out the power pulses from just pushing down.

Yes - once you are used to them its really strange to ride without cleats - your feet seem to float away from the pedals on the upstroke.

Looking forward till they become second nature. - it won't take long!

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Although Im not sure I would like double sided ones if I were a commuter with alot of stopping, but I supose you could get used to them.

I'm a commuter with a lot of stopping and I started with those platform/cleat combination pedals. Now I ride double sided and find it so much easier to clip straight in without having to flick a heavy cage around before clipping in.

Your clipless moment will come, just when you get confident with them...that's when it happens!

 

[hongokongo]

I've recently gone clipless, and find it harder getting the shoes on the peddles rather than off. is there a guide somewhere that explains how to adjust etc?

 

[Chrisc]

You already found the benefit of being able to pull up. Just wait till those muscles develop, you'll really feel the difference and then you'll never want to ride without them again.
I've been using mine for a few months now and it feels so odd riding a bike with no connections.

 

[Banjo]

You already found the benefit of being able to pull up. Just wait till those muscles develop, you'll really feel the difference and then you'll never want to ride without them again.
I've been using mine for a few months now and it feels so odd riding a bike with no connections.

I wimped out and went back to flat pedals.I havent noticed any difference in my average speeds and I am more relaxed in traffic .

Maybe I am just clumsy but I came off a few times before enough was enough.

 

[Moodyman]

I also used the M520s for the first time this morning. – Previously using Wellgos clipless, which were knackered.

The M520s are a joy – they transfer far more power to the drivetrain than the Wellgos did.

Hongokongo – try loosening the tension – There’s an Allen key bolt on the pedals. Also try getting your foot in from an angle.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

i'd been off the bike over winter and had been commuting clipless before i stopped. I was worried when i started commuting a few weeks ago about clipping in and out in traffic again so put flat pedals back on my road bike. It felt weird riding without being clipped in. I did feel more relaxed. But the loss in power on hills was very noticeable to me. So i put the look pedals back on and thought i'm gonna stick at it. Partly because i ride at weekends with clipless pedals so didn't want to be using it some days and then not on others i thought this was only going to make the chances of me having a clipless moment more likely and believe me i had a few last year. Since riding the last few weeks my confidence is back up. I think if your feeling the benefit from it stick with them. Everybody has there moments and fall off. You've just got to get back on and keep at it. It will become second nature before you know it.

 

[PaulSecteur]

I've recently gone clipless, and find it harder getting the shoes on the peddles rather than off. is there a guide somewhere that explains how to adjust etc?

The technique I use is to put my foot on the pedal slightly to the rear of where I think it should clip in, slide it forward untill it stops then press down and bring the heel down too.

I have times where I miss the clip compleatly too, I just carry
no pedalling with the pedal under either my toes or arch of my foot.

I have mine set to "easiest release" and dont really see a nedd to adjust it at the monent, perhaps later to compenstate for wear.

 

[Riverman]

I will eventually go clipless oneday, well once I get a decent bike.

I can ride at a fraction of walking pace without falling off, so without getting too bigheaded I imagine going clipless won't be that hard.

Famous last words? :-)

 

[Barbelier]

My first experience of using clips last Saturday when I fitted Shimano M424 SPD Pedals and I really like them.

Setting the tension to almost the minimum and, after the intial anxiety when approaching junctions, I was amazed at how quickly I got used to them. I always set down the left foot on stopping, so I clip in the right, set off and then clip in the left. 90% of the time the left clip goes straight in and, on the few occasions it doesn't, I just keep moving the foot around until it goes. What really surprised me after only 10-15 miuntes was that I found myself unclipping on the left without even realising I'd done it and only using the same effort as if there were no clips.

I like the stability and the fact that your feet no longer move around on the pedal as you cycle and could definately feel more power and a smoother action on the climbs. All I need to do now is develop the right muscles to be able to pull up more!

 

[PaulSecteur]

I like the stability and the fact that your feet no longer move around on the pedal as you cycle

I was worried that with clipless I would be "locked" into a set position of feet parallel to teh frame as I usually ride with toes pointing out a bit. With the clips there is a bit of play before limits are reached or you unclip.

 

[Chrisc]

I was worried that with clipless I would be "locked" into a set position of feet parallel to teh frame as I usually ride with toes pointing out a bit. With the clips there is a bit of play before limits are reached or you unclip.

yes, different types of clipless system give you more or less 'float' My spd's have a bit , about 8 degrees I think then there are speedplay pedal that are totall y free floating and would, if your knee happened to turn 360, let you do it!
Also set up your cleats so your feet land at their natural angle, mine also point out a bit naturally.

 

[Barbelier]

I was worried that with clipless I would be "locked" into a set position of feet parallel to teh frame as I usually ride with toes pointing out a bit. With the clips there is a bit of play before limits are reached or you unclip.

Yeap I experienced something similiar. Only when I was clipped in did I realise that normally when unclipped I had been angling my right leg outwards away from the chain. My foot was aching a bit when clipped because I was still trying to do this. However, after about an hour I got used to, relaxed the foot and now feel I had a slightly better riding position and pedalling action.