My progress + clipless moments

[cyana13]

This morning, I set off to work at around 7:00. I was late, in a hurry, sleepy and wearing clipless pedals
Quite close to my house, I failed to clip in my right foot (I always clip in the left one first), lost my balance and fell off again. This is my 4th one. I should start wearing knee protectors.
Apart from that, I have managed to ride about 160 miles in the last 3 weeks .
My main goal now is to get faster when doing my daily commute and gain more strength (I get tired easily).

 

[RWright]

160 miles in 3 weeks is not bad at all IMO. I think that is a great start, endurance normally comes with saddle time. As far as struggling with the clipless pedals, just keep pedaling with the other foot to keep your momentum. It sounds like you have the determination and I bet you will get stronger and faster. Just be careful with the pedals and traffic. You can always go to flat pedals for a while, if you have a short commute that may be a solution. If I were doing a short commute I doubt if I would use clipless just for the fact I would probably have to be changing shoes at work. I would just use clippless on recreational and fitness rides.

 

[Biker Joe]

Hi cyana13
Try not to rush at the clipping in process. Do it in a calm and deliberate manner and clip the right foot in once you have the momentum.
As RWright says, time in the saddle rather than speed will develop your strength. As you get stronger the speed will come of it's own accord.
You're doing very well and I wish you well.

 

[Roadrider48]

Joe is dead right. Don't rush too much. I live in central London and when I first went clipless I thought it was a form of cycling torture. But if you persevere it will become a non issue and you will unclip and clip-in without thinking.
I personally like being attached to my bike, but I do agree with some that clipless may not be the best thing for short commutes or busy London riding. But good luck anyway with whatever you decide.

 

[Mello]

Most of us have experienced it. You pull up in traffic and your brain fails to engage. Suddenly you think, I haven't unclipped! you panic and forget how to unclip. You hit the deck. You feel everybody is looking at you. They are. You think I wont do that again.......but you probably will!

Practice in a car park or a quite road. Try stopping and balancing on you bike for as long as possible before unclipping. Soon it will become second nature........I hope!

Well done on the mileage. Keep it up!

 

[Nomadski]

@cyana13 - If your using SPDs get the Shimano multi release cleats then it wont ever happen again. Even if you forget to unclip and start tipping, in a panic your foot will come out to the rescue.

Had my multi release clips since I went clipless and had about 3 little "moments" but my foot has never failed to get to the floor before the rest of me. They don't come out while your pedaling, just when you want your foot off the pedal, you don't even have to think about it.

If your running SPD-SL pedals, cant help there.

 

[stevey]

If your using SPDs get the Shimano multi release cleats then it wont ever happen again.

Mmm interesting my LBS reckons i should stay away from these when i went and purchased my bike, how do you find them @Nomadski?

 

[Nomadski]

I have no idea why your LBS would say that. They were recommended to me in the main clipless pedals thread and Ive never looked back. Certainly would never switch to normal cleats.

Easy to clip in, easy to clip out, don't unclip accidentally (while your pedaling), in moments where you forget to unclip and stop, the movement from your foot will release the clip, as it will in any "panic" situation. You can unclip to the outside, to the inside, and from the heel with the natural jerky movement that happens when you are heading to the ground!

Whats not to like? I'd go as far to say its as easy as using flat pedals, okay should add clipping in sometimes takes time to master, just like any clipless cleat combo.

 

[stevey]

I have no idea why your LBS would say that. They were recommended to me in the main clipless pedals thread and Ive never looked back. Certainly would never switch to normal cleats.

Easy to clip in, easy to clip out, don't unclip accidentally (while your pedaling), in moments where you forget to unclip and stop, the movement from your foot will release the clip, as it will in any "panic" situation. You can unclip to the outside, to the inside, and from the heel with the natural jerky movement that happens when you are heading to the ground!

Whats not to like? I'd go as far to say its as easy as using flat pedals, okay should add clipping in sometimes takes time to master, just like any clipless cleat combo.

Thanks dude will be looking at some in the near future

 

[Nomadski]

They are only about £11 a pop so you cant go wrong bud.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Mmm interesting my LBS reckons i should stay away from these when i went and purchased my bike, how do you find them @Nomadski?

I agree with Nomadski - these are excellent cleats.

Maybe your LBS is a strong as an Ox roadie or at least talks like one. Apparently when pulling up on the pedal some people can pull out of multi-release cleats and I think that is the issue.

I've tried and I can't - they stay put as intended and release in any direction very easily. IMHO they should be the default choice of any beginner and some way beyond.

 

[Nomadski]

I agree with Nomadski - these are excellent cleats.

Maybe your LBS is a strong as an Ox roadie or at least talks like one. Apparently when pulling up on the pedal some people can pull out of multi-release cleats and I think that is the issue.

I've tried and I can't - they stay put as intended and release in any direction very easily. IMHO they should be the default choice of any beginner and some way beyond.

Even then you can tighten the actual pedal tension to compensate. Your right, they should be the default cleats, people wouldn't have so many things to discuss on cleat threads though if they did!

 

[cyana13]

Thanks for the advice. Time went by and I had managed to ride over 1000 miles. I have got used to my clipless pedals (even though I've changed from SPD-SL to SPD - because the shoes are more comfortable). However, I have stopped using them for commuting.

 

[antnee]

Yes I can only agree re the ease of use with SPD muli release cleats I fitted them and haven't looked back since day one Plus I can walk in the shoes too and don't have to waddle (as my son does in his SPD SL's) Though I have found, but only on a couple of rare times that I've pulled out of the cleat on an upstroke But as someone already has commented the tension can be increased simply.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

This morning, I set off to work at around 7:00. I was late, in a hurry, sleepy and wearing clipless pedals
Quite close to my house, I failed to clip in my right foot (I always clip in the left one first), lost my balance and fell off again. This is my 4th one. I should start wearing knee protectors.
Apart from that, I have managed to ride about 160 miles in the last 3 weeks .
My main goal now is to get faster when doing my daily commute and gain more strength (I get tired easily).

It's fitness that you will be improving, you already have the strength. I bet you can push most of your gear just not for very long in the higher ones, as your fitness increases you will be able to push them longer, though it better to spin faster in a lower gear and again with fitness this will increase in terms of your cadence increasing and duration you can keep it up.