Unclipping on a hill

[Louise Harley]

Auch, you'd never be able to pick yourself up of the floor with laughing

if I recounted the times I've toppled over cause of clips. In the past I would say control your fall but now I pop my foot out unconsciously. As time creeps on so will your skill.
(Touching the top my head) It's been quite I while since I hit the deck.

Thanks nice when others admit to it and don't make you feel silly. Only time will tell then and technique will come

 

[zizou]

Never really thought about unclipping on a hill, clipping in on one is the tricky part for me!

What you might find helpful is finding a quiet hill and riding up it slowly so you almost come to a stop (but dont) then accelerate a little to get momentum again then repeat this a few times. It will be easier doing the slow bit out of the saddle so you can move your body weight around. Once you gain some confidence going slow you can then start unclipping as you come to a stop. Doing the unclipping part before you actually stop makes it easier.

 

[Louise Harley]

Had a few falls the first few times, but these days I don't even think about it. Clipping in again still requires a little bit of attention though.

Thanks

 

[Louise Harley]

Never really thought about unclipping on a hill, clipping in on one is the tricky part for me!

What you might find helpful is finding a quiet hill and riding up it slowly so you almost come to a stop (but dont) then accelerate a little to get momentum again then repeat this a few times. It will be easier doing the slow bit out of the saddle so you can move your body weight around. Once you gain some confidence going slow you can then start unclipping as you come to a stop. Doing the unclipping part before you actually stop makes it easier.

Sounds like a plan, although not sure how the not stopping is going to help, think I am being dense now!

 

[Louise Harley]

think perhaps I might try unclipping out of the saddle on the turbo, that might help me get the technique without fear of falling over to start with

 

[Louise Harley]

Had a few falls the first few times, but these days I don't even think about it. Clipping in again still requires a little bit of attention though.

Surely you would just clip in with one foot and get a bit of momentum and then clip other in when you feel comfortable?

 

[axwj29]

I find I can't unclip going up a steepish hill, as I don't have the strength in my legs (at the minute) to keep going and twist hard enough to unclip. I am going to see if I can loosen the clips before I next go out. I have one particular junction at the top of a steep hill that is a bit of a bug bear. Otherwise I'm getting more confident as I get used to them.

 

[MikeW-71]

Surely you would just clip in with one foot and get a bit of momentum and then clip other in when you feel comfortable?

Depends which clipless system you are using. SPDs are easy, Looks or SPD-SLs are not so easy.

I had to stop on a steep climb, would have been 15% at that point. I was on the bike with the Look pedals and I dreaded having to stop on a hill with them. As soon as I knew I would have to stop, I planned where I would stop, sat down, got the left foot at the top and then it was unclip-step down-hold the brake, within a second If I had failed to unclip, I would have needed to pedal another revolution and try again.

Setting off again was rather more interesting. Miss the clip and your foot just slides off and you stop again

 

[zizou]

Sounds like a plan, although not sure how the not stopping is going to help, think I am being dense now!

It will hopefully give you confidence with your balance when going at the sort of speed where you would then unclip. The not totally stopping bit is because its going to be easier doing that that unclipping and having to get going again uphill.

 

[psmiffy]

Yup just practice getting up out of the saddle with the weight on the right leg - going slow you can clip in and out for as long as you are going forward

 

[phil_hg_uk]

thank you the multi release pedals might be well worth a look

I use these as well and I set the tensions low.

 

[iggibizzle]

How do these multi release pedals fare if you are hammering it up a hill pulling up on pedals as well as pushing down?

 

[MikeW-71]

How do these multi release pedals fare if you are hammering it up a hill pulling up on pedals as well as pushing down?

If you pull your foot up, you will unclip. Why are you doing that anyway? It's useless.

 

[iggibizzle]

What's the point of spds at all if you don't use the full rotation of then? Helps me get up hills anyway. And take the strain off my thighs when I'm going for it. Dunno about anyone else.

 

[MikeW-71]

The best you can do is to unweight the foot coming up while the other leg is pushing down. You can't add any power by trying to pull up, those muscles are nowhere near as powerful as your quads. SPDs hold your foot in the right place all the time, that's all they have to do.