First time on cleats. A truly wonderful experience!

[Skywalker83]

As this is my first post I though I would make it a happy one
I've been biking on and off for a number of years and recently got my first road bike. I decided this time to try and get into it a bit more seriously and to give clipless pedals a go. Tonight I went out for my first ride on them....it was magical! I spent a week or so reading about riding with them and it really helped. I had no falls. I need to adjust them slightly,but over all I'm so glad I tried them...it really is a new experience for bike riding for me....I felt so connected to the bike! Can't wait to do a longer run at the weekend.

 

[Hyslop]

Good for you

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

Enjoy..

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

As this is my first post I though I would make it a happy one
I've been biking on and off for a number of years and recently got my first road bike. I decided this time to try and get into it a bit more seriously and to give clipless pedals a go. Tonight I went out for my first ride on them....it was magical! I spent a week or so reading about riding with them and it really helped. I had no falls. I need to adjust them slightly,but over all I'm so glad I tried them...it really is a new experience for bike riding for me....I felt so connected to the bike! Can't wait to do a longer run at the weekend.

I'm hoping to get my first road bike soon, but the thought of clipped in cycling is scary! Everyone I speak to says it's the way to go, but I'm worried that I won't be able to unclip them in time and go ar*e over elbow....did you get to practice unclipping before or did you just go for it?

 

[wheresthetorch]

I clipped in and out a few times holding onto the garge wall, and then just went for it.

All went well until I got home, unclipped my left foot and turned right into the driveway at low speed. Eventually managed to extricate myself from the plants!

 

[BigCoops]

Almost everyone will have a 'moment', even those experienced users. They generally happen at low speed when coming to a stop and are more embarrassing than anything else, but once you get use to clipping and unclipping, IMHO there's no better way to ride than clipped in.

For someone starting out, buy a pedal with an adjuster screw and set to the lightest tension possible, also, pre planning is key, this may sound a little 'boring', but it's more about awareness of what is in the near distance, (junctions, roundabouts, lights etc.) If you can think about unclipping before you absolutely need to, you'll not do the falling tree thing

 

[mjr]

Almost everyone will have a 'moment', even those experienced users. They generally happen at low speed when coming to a stop and are more embarrassing than anything else, but once you get use to clipping and unclipping, IMHO there's no better way to ride than clipped in.

More often embarrassing but a small fraction of falls end with broken bones or other nasty injury that was completely avoidable.

Pre planning is key? Seems rather contrary to the freedom which is the best bit of cycling for many people. I understand some enjoy technical challenges but surely more people are of the type often seen in pictures freewheeling down hills, feet kicked out with a big grin?

 

[Skywalker83]

My first ride was just in a quiet park. I took my Allen key with me so I could adjust the tension. I've been out twice since on 25mile rides. And still enjoying them. There is still a bit of adjusting to be done as my outer left foot gets a it sore after about 45mins of riding.

 

[BigCoops]

More often embarrassing but a small fraction of falls end with broken bones or other nasty injury that was completely avoidable.

Pre planning is key? Seems rather contrary to the freedom which is the best bit of cycling for many people. I understand some enjoy technical challenges but surely more people are of the type often seen in pictures freewheeling down hills, feet kicked out with a big grin?

I'm all for freewheeling downhill making a gleeful 'wheeeeeeeeeeee' noise, but hopefully not a hill with a junction, line of traffic, lights or any other potential need to stop quickly at the bottom of it.

I certainly wouldn't class clipless pedals as a technical challenge, simply put, they require a small amount of thought to avoid the potential for a moment.

 

[FastFlyer]

Well done!

I went clipless just 2 weeks ago. As I approached a junction I felt really pleased with myself that I remembered to unclip. That feeling was soon swept away in the panic when I realised I unclipped my left foot but came to a stop leaning to my right!

 

[G-Zero]

When I first went down this route I had no issues due to the fact that I was concentrating so hard on getting it right and pre-empting unclipping.

I quickly learnt the hard way, when I became a bit complacent and stopped concentrating a little early and ended up on my side.

Second nature now though

 

[screenman]

I cannot remember the last time I thought about unclipping, despite being clipped in on all my bikes.

I brought my SPD pedals on a Saturday and did a cross race on the Sunday, that was a steep learning curve, some 20+ years ago. For any of you who do not know about cross, you can be on an off the bike many times each lap, all at racing pace.

 

[griff488]

My first experience with clipless was a week before I was due to do a 100km event and it was make or break for them as to whether they got used for the event or not. I got on ok with them on the practice so decided to give them a go. Best decision I ever made. Makes climbing easier. My biggest issue at first wasn't the unclipping it was getting clipped in! Spun the cranks around into my shin a few times (which hurts by the way). Plenty of swearing and a bit more practise and by the end of the event I loved them!

 

[wheresthetorch]

My first experience with clipless was a week before I was due to do a 100km event and it was make or break for them as to whether they got used for the event or not. I got on ok with them on the practice so decided to give them a go. Best decision I ever made. Makes climbing easier. My biggest issue at first wasn't the unclipping it was getting clipped in! Spun the cranks around into my shin a few times (which hurts by the way). Plenty of swearing and a bit more practise and by the end of the event I loved them!

Yes, I've found I have more problems clipping in than out. Thought I was clipped in the other day pulling out from a junction, stood up on the pedals, only to find my left foot wasn't clipped in. Managed to stay up, but it wasn't very graceful!

 

[mustang1]

I didn't fall for the first three months of using cleats. Then after that, I feel off every day for a week.

That sucked.