First Time with SPD blog

[BrumJim]

OK, latest update:

I've been clipless for a while now. No clipless moments yet.

Yes, I know someone has done some research which tells me that they are no benefit at all, but I am sure that I can accelerate faster, and I am so much more confident and powerful out of my saddle and tackling hills. I believe that I can really feel the extra force that I can apply by using both pedals. Maybe once travelling they don't make much difference - my heart and lungs are still the same size, and are the limiting factor on power output, but hitting hills and getting speed up are SO different.

More advice?
Don't be frightened of clipping and unclipping those feet from the pedals. The more you do it, the more practice you get in getting it right, and the more it becomes natural to unclip when it looks like you are going to stop. At the beginning I was trying to unclip as little as possible - now I do it whenever I feel like it. If your foot hasn't moved much, it will clip back in again very easily.

I generally have poor proprioception (the ability to kick a football accurately without looking at it), but find that 50% of the time the foot slips into the cleats within the first pedal stroke and without looking down.

Yes, still a big fan.

 

[harry dunn]

Practice propped up against a sturdy object ie. hallwall or some thing that wont move before going out .Then take a ride around a park , GRASS IS SOFTER THAN TARMAC.
Dont go straight on to roads until u can at least get one foot out safely and back in to the pedal again , think about junctions, temporary traffic lights etc. when aproaching give yourself time to get foot out of cleat. Youl feel stupid lying in the road clipped in and a string of cars laughing at u.
Dont advise messing with tensions unless youve got realy weak legs .
PRACTICE .

 

[BrumJim]

March 2010. Still no "clipless moment".
Tightened up the spring from about 1/3 to nearer 2/3. Yes, wear does make them much more loose over time - it now feels much like when I first used them at the 1/3 level. Hopefully I won't pull my feet out of the cleat when trying to muscle my way up a short, steep bit, now that the tension is much higher.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Young Mr William Carling, of cleft chin and England rugby fame, has had his first clipless moment as recounted here.

It is a rite of passage most of us survive.

 

[Downward]

Never noticed you had clipless ones - What sort of pedals do you have ?

 

[BrumJim]

Shimano M324 SPD - Clipless MTB Pedals

 

[Downward]

Oh right the 2 sided so you can pedal with normal shoes too ?

 

[BrumJim]

Yes - also using MTB type shoes, so you wouldn't notice that they have the cleats unless you listen for the tell-tale clicking of metal on tarmac.

Love them - cycle to football in my astro boots, cycle to work in the cycle shoes, and can go out for a quick spin in my work shoes. Although I don't.