Life Changing Moment - SPD Pedals at Last!

[JtB]

After many years I've finally put SPD pedals on my bike today and spent most of the afternoon practicing clipping and unclipping. Had a few scary moments but not actually fallen off ... yet! Common sense tells me that having the feet physically attached to pedals is a bad idea, but like a fly drawn to a light at night, I just can't help myself. Anyway, went for a short ride this evening and remembered to unclip ok at the junctions. Question though for all those who've had clipless moments, what is it you learn from the experience? and what is it you do differently afterwards to ensure it never happens again? Just wondering if I can learn from your experiences without having a clipless moment myself.

 

[Spinney]

I haven't had a true clipless moment (yet!) but the couple of times I have come closest have both been approaching give way lines where I thought the road I was entering was clear, and then saw a car coming at the last moment. I normally unclip my right foot and put that down when I stop, but both times I was about to turn left so putting the left foot down was the most natural. But it was still clipped in.... The bike reached a fair angle from the vertical before I got my foot out!

 

[ColinJ]

All I can suggest is that you set the release tensions to minimum so you can unclip in a hurry when you need to. Don't make the mistake I made on my new pedals recently - I got distracted when lowering the tension settings and missed one. As a result, I ended up so firmly attached to my bike on Ajay's South Lakes forum ride that I had to ask him to unclip my foot for me! Could have been really nasty if I'd toppled in that direction ...

 

[I like Skol]

....... the couple of times I have come closest have both been approaching give way lines where I thought the road I was entering was clear, and then saw a car coming at the last moment........

20yrs riding with SPD's and I had a clipless moment/fall about 10 days ago (knee now almost completely healed!). Just as above, I was setting off a a T-junction when a car came speeding up the road so I changed my mind. I don't think my foot was actually clipped in but the rear of the cleat felt as if it hooked onto the pedal clips and i toppled slowly to my right onto the sodden, rain soaked road.

This just goes to show, despite their brilliance, SPD's can bite at any time.

 

[ohnovino]

Question though for all those who've had clipless moments, what is it you learn from the experience? and what is it you do differently afterwards to ensure it never happens again?

If there's a 1% chance you'll need to unclip, do it.

As others have said, the classic moment comes when you stay clipped in because you're almost certain you'll get away with it, then at the last moment you realise you can't.

 

[Cubist]

Get yourself a mountainbike and ride offroad with SPDs,. Having to unclip once or twice during a commute doesn't actually compare with the number of times you clip in and out during a XC ride.

 

[JtB]

On my first ride yesterday with SPD pedals I found out 2 things. 1) When in front of other road users I get nervous trying to reclip and 2) I can't pedal unclipped. Both these things made me reluctant to unclip which I can see from your experiences is going to result sooner or later in my downfall.

 

[ColinJ]

It's easy to get the first foot clipped in so use that to get you started and take your time to clip the other side in. The problem comes when you try to do that on a steep climb! My trick in that situation is to turn across the road and clip in before turning up it. If the road is also too narrow then try hanging on to a fence or wall and clip both feet in before launching yourself upwards!

 

[stu1903]

I always clip one foot out, the left in my case? 10-20 yards from any junction but leave my foot in the pedal. That way if it's clear I just pedal away and my foot automatically clips back in.

If there's something coming I just put my foot down as I've been in clipped in plenty time.

 

[baldycyclist]

filtering in a RAB with traffic situation is always dodgy, especially it is it a flyover and you need speed to get through a second set of lights. Select a nice gear...but juggling with a car about ten meters ahead is always tough......select a big primary position.....and if you are lucky you can just go for it if your gears are nicely clicking in for you......

 

[Rob500]

Getting my second foot clipped in hasn't been any hassle since I did that .... 'sit on a a table and dangle your legs over the side' routine. I had had no pain issues but just felt that things could even more comfortable. I had to turn the left cleat slightly but, surprisingly, the right one quite a bit. Ever since that my unclipped foot just seems to clip in easy as anything. Doesn't matter which foot as I don't have favoured side that I unclip all the time.

 

[Willo]

For what it's worth, as someone who struggled initially with going clipless, a couple of things have been key for me after a couple of falls (one on the patio and one in front of a busy bus stop!)

Firstly, anticipation is key for me and, as others have said, clipping out one foot as I approach junctions has become second nature now rather than leaving it until I really need to stop and there are other distrations.

I also found it easier with multi-directional cleats - since switching to them, I have never clipped out unintentionally but they have saved me a couple of times when in a panic and my random leg movements have succeeded in unclipping my foot when a single direction cleat may well have seen me struggling.

Being aware of your gears so as not to set off in too high a gear which can lead to a dodgy moment when setting off from a junction or starting off on a hill.

Finally, a little WD40 on the pedals every now and then keeps me clipping in and out nice and smoothly.

Oh, and don't try and start up a conversation with a passer by while virtually track standing and weaving through those waiting at a bus stop outside a busy train station. That caused my last clipless moment and the embarrassment outweighed any pain!

 

[JtB]

I tried unclipping one foot and leaving it on the pedal, but just as my bike stopped at the junction my foot unintentionally clipped back in and I had to unclip it rapidly as the bike started to tilt. My heart missed a beat but that was all, however I think I'll leave the advanced techniques for a while until I've had more practice and rely for the time being on anticipation. One thing I've noticed is that my times aren't any faster yet using SPD pedals. I think I must be using new muscles because the fronts of my legs are aching quite a bit and that's stopping me really putting my back into it.