hills while clipless

[cyclebum]

I went clipless for the first time only a few weeks ago, but weather and other factors meant I didn't get out again till this week. Monday I did 23 miles without too much difficulty and managed to stay on! However on thursday I tried a rather steep hill (they don't call it the killer mile for nothing!) and at a particularly steep and narrow bit I heard a truck coming up behind me and as I was beginning to loose momentum I got nervous and unclipped my right foot and instantly ended up in the hedge, (and no, the truck driver didn't stop to check if I was ok!!!!)
It is now less than 2 weeks till I go to Central America for my charity challenge and there are hills, and so Im getting pretty nervous. Any suggestions on tackling hills while clippless without falling off, or do I just give in and go back to flats?????

 

[MattHB]

Don't give in! You do get used to it trust me. What type of cleats are you using? Some are easier to get out of than others. SPD SH56's for instance will release by turning your foot at almost any angle so if you panic you'll find your foot on the floor before you know it. Also loosen the spring tension as much as you can and still stay in, that'll help for emergency releases as well.

 

[colly]

What Matt said. It really is just a matter of getting accustomed to using them, and having ones that are predictable when releasing.
I bought a pair of new pedals after years of using clipless but only used them a few times because I found them unpredictable. I went back to my old pedals and then bought new ones of the same ilk.

Practice too, the more you use them the more it will become automatic to get in and out of them. So much so that using flats will seem odd and even feel insecure.

 

[fossyant]

Mow cop by chance. The steep bit is by the pub, and there are no hedges. The key is not to stop. If you do ned to stop unclip in plenty of time. Panic probably caused you to topple over.

 

[Holy Warrior]

I went out for this first time with clipless pedals yesterday. They say to do one thing everyday that scares you, I think I achieved that yesterday!

I only did around 20 miles but for the first 15 or so it was very shaky but the last 5 seemed quite steady. The last 5 was also quite a lot of city work so happy with that.

I only hit one real hill and I kind of know what you mean, you do really feel that if the pedals stop turning then you're gonna be tasting ashphalt! Thanfully that didn't happen for me.

Another observation i've found it was pretty hard to put any power down. It is a different ride position to what I was doing, I could feel my legs trying to go ways that it wouldn't let me. That doesn't surprise me because I run in a weird way, I could easily have been cycling in an irregular manner too! My legs hurt during the ride just above the knees, new ride position to get used, maybe i've grown a little over the summer too so my saddle might have to go up half an inch. Also do you find that you seem to be trying to ride on your toes? Like before the pedal was bang in the centre of my foot, now it seems to be further forward?

 

[oldfatfool]

Another observation i've found it was pretty hard to put any power down. It is a different ride position to what I was doing, I could feel my legs trying to go ways that it wouldn't let me. That doesn't surprise me because I run in a weird way, I could easily have been cycling in an irregular manner too! My legs hurt during the ride just above the knees, new ride position to get used, maybe i've grown a little over the summer too so my saddle might have to go up half an inch. Also do you find that you seem to be trying to ride on your toes? Like before the pedal was bang in the centre of my foot, now it seems to be further forward?

I would suggest that you need to work on the position of your cleats. With flats your feet will naturally assume the position which is most comfortable and natural for the pedaling action. You need to replicate this position whilst clipped in. You will not be able to adapt to a new position it will just create more pain.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Also do you find that you seem to be trying to ride on your toes? Like before the pedal was bang in the centre of my foot, now it seems to be further forward?

Check the position of your cleats, it sounds like they need some adjustment. With your pedals horizontal, drop a plumb line from the base of your knee. Theoretically it should fall through the ball of your foot and pedal axle (presuming your saddle is correct). Some decent vids on Utube to give better guidance.
Get the set up correct sooner rather than later to minimise the risk of injury and you will be fine.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I have never had too much of a problem getting a foot out of a cleat on a hill, getting a foot back IN is sometimes the difficult bit. Generally DON'T PANIC, and if you have to fall, fall LEFT, preferably onto a soft verge.

 

[briantrumpet]

With flats your feet will naturally assume the position which is most comfortable and natural for the pedaling action. You need to replicate this position whilst clipped in.

Hmm, I don't think this is necessarily true, judging by the number of people I see who use the arches of their feet on the pedals! It looks darned uncomfortable to me, but it obviously suits them well enough!!

 

[oldfatfool]

Hmm, I don't think this is necessarily true, judging by the number of people I see who use the arches of their feet on the pedals! It looks darned uncomfortable to me, but it obviously suits them well enough!!

Sorry I was referring more to the angle of the foot on the pedal than front to back with the naturally occurs comment as mentioned the spindle should be through the ball of the foot.

I don't think anyone cycling with the pedal in the arch can do many miles at a time

 

[HLaB]

Cyclebum keep at it IMO clipless will make hills easier in the end. When ever I've had new pedals I run with them at quite a low setting and tightening up gradually in the following weeks if I find my self pulling out of them. Also practice helps, I've found that my Lidl shoes with my M424 pedals take a more deliberate ankle swing to release, whereas the same pedals with other shoes its more relaxed.
HW, the theory with the cleat under the ball of your foot (or slightly behind) is that it is more efficient, you should find improvement over time (my self I now find pedalling with the middle of my foot weird). KOPs is a bit of a myth though. I found the guides by Bikeradar and Parktools useful and more important for finding a more comfortable position.

 

[cyclebum]

Thanks for all this advice. Yes Fossyant, it was Mow Cop. Never had a problem from the Horseshoe end, nor the Biddulph end, but this was first time up the killer. I was still at the first third just as it narrows before it opens out. That but just steepens slightly more and I got nervous of the truck coming behind me. Needless to say I made 2 attempts to get back on but ended up pushing! (great ride down after though!)

I have Time pedals that after long discussion with the guy I bought them from, was decided on as my best option. He fitted both the pedals and the cleats for me, the springs are I think are at their loosest and my right foot is now usually quite easy to release (left is still a bit stiff). I think in my nervousness I had just slowed down too much, lost momentum and also confidence. Perhaps I should avoid the big ones until I am more used to the pedals. But I do need the hill practice and there are times I am finding the hills harder clipless not easier. I set off for my challenge a week on thursday, do I have enough time to get used to them by them, or should I just concentrate on flats and get back on these when I return?