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How long to get used to clipless pedals?
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 2010-06-14 10:01 PM |
Member  90 |  Subject: How long to get used to clipless pedals?I was wondering how long the learning curve was in moving into clipless pedal. I love them and can feel more power and can tell they help me go faster. But I have fallen over twice at stop signs, and once trying to get out of the way of a reckless car. The first time I fractured my elbow, and a week later, I got back on the horse and fell off twice today. It is more of a metal thing. I can clip out easily, I just forget when stopping and panic and then topple. I have to keep it in the front of my mind to clip out before I come to a stop I guess, and concentrate more on it. I do not want to go back to the regular pedals, as I have come to love the clipless, but am getting beat up learning on them. How long till it is second nature? Edited by TheEdge 2010-06-14 10:08 PM |
| 2010-06-14 10:16 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
| Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? you just get used to it. I'm surprised that you can't remember having fallen over a few times. After I tipped over my first couple of times, I was unclipping about 200 feet before red lights or stop signs. Now, not so much...I try to see if I can coast to the stop sign and hopefully the light will change before I come to a complete stop. Like anything else...it's just practice. Unclip well in advance, and as you get more proficient at it, you'll trust it to a point where you can unclip and put your foot down in less than a second. |
| 2010-06-14 10:24 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
New user 25 Adelaide | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? Do most people just unclip one foot? and is there a preference as to which? I havent taken my bike out on the road yet |
| 2010-06-14 10:42 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
Veteran 143 | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? Yeah, I have found unclipping only one on my rides is the way to go. My brother in law just got set up with new pedals, and he practiced on a stationary trainer. if you have access to one it really does help. Also as said above, unclip early and coast to the stop. Just try to think about it as you are coming up to the stop. There is a learning curve and it is different for all. Good luck.  |
| 2010-06-14 10:45 PM in reply to: #2921864 |
Master 1484 Sedona, AZ | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? coombsy - 2010-06-14 11:24 PM Do most people just unclip one foot? and is there a preference as to which? I havent taken my bike out on the road yet Starting out, it's a good idea to unclip both feet and do it very early. Remember to kick your heel to the side to unclip. After a while, you'll remember to always unclip and if your balance is good you'll start to realize which side to unclip when coming to a stop. |
| 2010-06-14 11:44 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
| 11 | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? As somebody who just got new pedals, I recommend unclipping both the first time out. I came to a stoplight, unclipped my left foot...and then fell to the right. |
| 2010-06-14 11:49 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
Veteran 279 San Francisco | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? I rode around a parking lot a few times and just unclipped, stopped, clipped in over and over. It really seemed to help. When I ride in the city with a lot of stops and traffic I have learned to pedal with one foot unclipped. |
| 2010-06-15 12:39 AM in reply to: #2921832 |
Veteran 458 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? When I first learned, I decided which foot I felt comfortable unclipping and I would lean that direction (for me, it's the left). Consistency was the key. Knowing ahead of time that I wanted to unclip my left foot and lean left helped me in moment of panic. Sometimes I think people fall because they take an extra second to decided which foot to unclip. Now it's second nature and I don't consciously think about it. You'll find the same thing with practice. Good luck! Hope that fractured elbow heals quickly...ouch! |
| 2010-06-15 1:26 AM in reply to: #2921884 |
| Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? MonkeyClaw - 2010-06-14 6:45 PM coombsy - 2010-06-14 11:24 PM Do most people just unclip one foot? and is there a preference as to which? I havent taken my bike out on the road yet Starting out, it's a good idea to unclip both feet and do it very early. Remember to kick your heel to the side to unclip. After a while, you'll remember to always unclip and if your balance is good you'll start to realize which side to unclip when coming to a stop. I would strongly advise AGAINST this above. Makes my balls hurt just thinking about it. |
| 2010-06-15 1:47 AM in reply to: #2921832 |
Master 2855  Kailua, Hawaii | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? not sure which clipless system you have but if it has a tension adjustment, loosen to the lowest (easiest) release point. |
| 2010-06-15 4:52 AM in reply to: #2921983 |
Expert 1183 Fort Wayne, IN | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? metafizx - 2010-06-15 2:47 AM not sure which clipless system you have but if it has a tension adjustment, loosen to the lowest (easiest) release point. If you're worried about unclipping, this sounds like a good approach. |
| 2010-06-15 10:26 AM in reply to: #2921967 |
Extreme Veteran 875 Issaquah | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? SpottedCow - 2010-06-14 10:39 PM When I first learned, I decided which foot I felt comfortable unclipping and I would lean that direction (for me, it's the left). Consistency was the key. Knowing ahead of time that I wanted to unclip my left foot and lean left helped me in moment of panic. Sometimes I think people fall because they take an extra second to decided which foot to unclip. Now it's second nature and I don't consciously think about it. You'll find the same thing with practice. Good luck! Hope that fractured elbow heals quickly...ouch! +1 on this approach. I have used clipless since the 90's and that is how I still do it for most stops. In general pick a side and stick to it for your rides. But do take some time to practice both sides as accidents happen and you should be comfortable clipping out on either side in an emergency. After time it becomes automatic. I never think about clipping in/out anymore. |
| 2010-06-15 10:32 AM in reply to: #2921832 |
Expert 790 Frisco | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? falling....I still fall. I just learned how to fall better. It will come. |
| 2010-06-15 10:32 AM in reply to: #2922644 |
Champion 11989 Philly 'burbs | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? cnsegura - 2010-06-15 11:26 AM SpottedCow - 2010-06-14 10:39 PM When I first learned, I decided which foot I felt comfortable unclipping and I would lean that direction (for me, it's the left). Consistency was the key. Knowing ahead of time that I wanted to unclip my left foot and lean left helped me in moment of panic. Sometimes I think people fall because they take an extra second to decided which foot to unclip. Now it's second nature and I don't consciously think about it. You'll find the same thing with practice. Good luck! Hope that fractured elbow heals quickly...ouch! +1 on this approach. I have used clipless since the 90's and that is how I still do it for most stops. In general pick a side and stick to it for your rides. But do take some time to practice both sides as accidents happen and you should be comfortable clipping out on either side in an emergency. After time it becomes automatic. I never think about clipping in/out anymore. I'd also suggest to ride a bike with platform pedals and see which foot you instinctively put down when stopped. |
| 2010-06-15 10:41 AM in reply to: #2921832 |
Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? It took me maybe 5 minutes to get the hang of clipless pedals. I had been using toe cages which still require removing a foot when stopping so the transition was only a matter of changing how to removea foot. I've never fallen over and have only crashed once in 15+ years of using clipless in a situation that happened too fast for me to unclip. IMO, people who seem to have difficulty with this may tend to let their mind drift away from what they're doing. |
| 2010-06-15 11:07 AM in reply to: #2921967 |
Extreme Veteran 590 Sioux Falls, SD | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? SpottedCow - 2010-06-15 12:39 AM When I first learned, I decided which foot I felt comfortable unclipping and I would lean that direction (for me, it's the left). Consistency was the key. Knowing ahead of time that I wanted to unclip my left foot and lean left helped me in moment of panic. Sometimes I think people fall because they take an extra second to decided which foot to unclip. Now it's second nature and I don't consciously think about it. You'll find the same thing with practice. Good luck! Hope that fractured elbow heals quickly...ouch! For me, rather than just leaning I would overexaggerate how far out I would stick the unclipped leg. This ensured that the bike would tilt to my unclipped side. Been riding clipless for a couple of months now. I have had a couple of "OS" moments, but have yet to go down. I know my time is coming... |
| 2010-06-15 11:56 AM in reply to: #2921832 |
Extreme Veteran 750 Long Beach, Mississippi | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? I agree about consistency being the key - I ALWAYS unclip my right foot first, and it just comes naturally for me... however, there have been times that I needed to unclip my left foot first, so I have practiced BOTH feet... but, I have to think about the left more than the right... I just rode up and down my street at first, just clipping in and clipping out about a thousand times (it felt like) when I first started... it does get easier, however, I have fallen over a couple of times too - always when bunches of people are watching - good times you will get it, just give yourself time |
| 2010-06-15 1:35 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
| Veteran 189 | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? I thought I had the hang of it and didn't fall for a few months. It wasn't until the end of my first 40 miler and I was dead tired that I forgot to unclip. Luckily I fell over in the grass and no harm was done. Hasn't happended since. And I am very aware that I just jinxed myself and am likely to have this happen again...soon! |
| 2010-06-16 9:26 PM in reply to: #2921832 |
Member 90 | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? Thanks for the replies everyone. I used several strategies mentioned on here, when I went out for a ride today . I felt very comfortable and no crashes. I clipped out early when I knew a stop was coming up. If I was only clipping out one foot, I would lift my leg out to the side and it would help me to lean that way. I am getting used to it and it seems to be going better and building confidence. Thanks! |
| 2010-06-16 9:52 PM in reply to: #2921937 |
| 62 | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? procrastinator - 2010-06-14 11:44 PM As somebody who just got new pedals, I recommend unclipping both the first time out. I came to a stoplight, unclipped my left foot...and then fell to the right. I'm so glad to hear that. I did the exact same thing last week |
| 2010-06-16 10:25 PM in reply to: #2922663 |
Extreme Veteran 555 Carrollton, TX | Subject: RE: How long to get used to clipless pedals? Boogie7247 - 2010-06-15 10:32 AM falling....I still fall. I just learned how to fall better. It will come.Yep. Nearly all of my scars come from falling while attached to the bike and I've been using clipless pedals for over 5 years. |
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