I just went clipless....scary stuff!!

nicklouse

yeehaamcgee wrote:

I used to ride a pair of these

Which were excellent for MTBing. If you came up to something that was a bit "ooh-er", you could ride them like flats, but then to power away again, you could clip in.
They were also practically indestructible.

I never did quite understand why SPD-like pedals are called clip-"less". Surely they are clips? Strapless, yes, but clipless? never made sense.

i used to use them on the DH bike untill i discoved 5:10's

HuDDy25k

I bought some SPDs this week end (marida Carbon Shoes and XTR peddels). I thought nice 1 after i fitted them!!! As The day wnet on

1. Stopped at a crossing and woops fell off
2.Going down the TPT Stopped for some other bikers and woops fell off
3. Stopped at a pub with loads of ppl out side and fell off again

But i think i am getting the hang of it now they look a few years old now the are scratched to hell

dan1983

I went out for my first ride with clipless pedals this morning, and was really chuffed with myself for not falling off. But now I've read these comments, it would appear that it is undoubtedly going to happen to me sometime soon. I'll look forward to it! Grazed knees etc don't worry me, but I was thinking today that if I was to go over the handlebars it would hurt a little more than i'd like it to, and then a few people mention that too, so fingers crossed I'll be saved from ruining my apparent boyish good looks!

Anonymous

Funnilly enough, someone reminded me last night that I may have stopped wearing SPDs after a bad crash in coed y brenin, where I snapped my frame, fractured a rib, and concussed myself.

I don't remember whether or not that's when I stopped, or if I was still using SPDs then. This person seems adamant that I wass wearing SPDs, and that's the last time I did.
Should I be worried? Have spuds caused holes in my memory?

homeronabike

I started clipless about 18 months ago and find that I have more control over the whole bike when I'm clipped in than when I'm not.
Just recently got a set of egg beaters and they are great. Haven't had a spill on these yet, but had the usual low speed falls on the old pedals

leo321

i switched to spd's a few weeks ago and have had a couple of dime bar moments, the best being yesterday, as i was setting of from a car park i had my right foot clipped in and left was free whilst i turned my bike around, the front tire went into a small dip in the grass and as i was only going slow it brought the bike to an abrupt stop which made me fall off in front of a load of people to an applause of laughter.
the only problem im having with them so far is that i don't feel confident doing technical stuff like jumps/small drops etc in case i need to bail out. for example yesterday i came to a small downhill section with 2 jumps which were close together in the middle, i just thought shit what if i make a mess halfway through and need to bail and cant get my feet out, so i went around it. im sure il get more confident as time goes by (hopefully)

mattdwilliams

Have to fess up my first clipless fall was on my MTB whilst balancing on the pedals, when all of a sudden a police car pulled up next to me at the junction, at which point i lost my balance and went down in a huge heap of embarrassment, leaving two giggling coppers

beattie41

Just starting getting into mtbking more seriously. I have a Trek 6000. When do you think I should go clip-on? My dealer told me that's the best upgrade I'll ever make - you agree?

Cheers,

Matt

Mark Alexander

S_J_P wrote:

Just remember when you stop, don't unclip your left foot, then lean to the right - it results in a comedy moment
After getting used to clippies, I feel really insecure now if I ever ride unclipped.

I have shimano single sided spd's and keep pulling up when i'm wearing trainers etc on the other side

richk

After several weeks of wavering I've just ordered a pair of 545s and MT40's - so probably be joining in with the 'fun' :shock: in about a week...

cjw

RichK wrote:

After several weeks of wavering I've just ordered a pair of 545s and MT40's - so probably be joining in with the 'fun' :shock: in about a week...

I found that I got used to them pretty quickly, about 2 weeks. Start off with the tension on the lowest and once you have confidence (probably after 1 or 2 falls :oops: ) you can start increasing the tension.

richk

Thaks CJW - my son is learning to ride without stabilizers at the moment, so we might go to the park & do some falling off together next week-end :oops:

cjw

RichK wrote:

Thaks CJW - my son is learning to ride without stabilizers at the moment, so we might go to the park & do some falling off together next week-end :oops:

LOL that will be a sight to see. He won't feel alone then

richk

Have had my first clipless ride today. Stuck to a well worn route (so I know where the junctions &/or potential hazards are) and it all went fine. Got them wound onto the softest setting (obviously) and after the first 2 or three tries it already seemed to be straight forward enough. 'Remembering' to pull up is a bit strange & I've got muscles aching in my legs I didn't know I had but I'm sure that will stop eventually.

It will be interesting to see how I get on Friday morning when I'm next at work.

richk

OK, it happened today.

Had my first 'clipless' fall. Usual tale - unexpected stop (road junction that looked clear on approach but turned out not to be ) & couldn't unclip in time - cue the slow motion descent to the ground. :oops:

Onlookers were more concerned than me (I was expecting it sometime).

Got a nicely bruised & grazed elbow - not too much grit in it though

So, got that out of the way. Next time, I'll unclip on the approach just in case

shorty15

I went for my 1st clipped ride at weekend,done about 8km through woods and managed
to unclip in time as hazards appeared,but as I got to my back door I unclipped one foot and leant against my house,but couldnd get my other foot out,so fell in a heap :oops:
Luckily my kids didnt see it!

mikeitup

After much deliberation (and fed up with my shoes slipping off the pedals) I have just ordered a pair of Shimano MT40 shoes and some M520 pedals. Hope I don't fall on me arse too much!

If you can't beat em...................

WillGTJumper

Well I aint going to get into the hell of riding clipless

Dougizzle

I could just see myself cliped in and stopping and just toppling to the side i dont like the idea of clips

mikeitup

if at first you don't succeed........

go to A&E :shock:

janwal

Had the toe clip without the strap for 6 years-never fell off.
Had shoes and clips for two weeks fell off 3 times and nearly castrated myself.
Back on toe clips-not fallen off , mate has now got a spare set of pedals!!
friends swear by clips I just never felt safe in them and thought about nothing but unclipping all the time spoiling my enjoyment of cycling.It was when you had to do it unexpectedly that I couldn't deal with.

Dougizzle

janwal wrote:

Had the toe clip without the strap for 6 years-never fell off.
Had shoes and clips for two weeks fell off 3 times and nearly castrated myself.
Back on toe clips-not fallen off , mate has now got a spare set of pedals!!
friends swear by clips I just never felt safe in them and thought about nothing but unclipping all the time spoiling my enjoyment of cycling.It was when you had to do it unexpectedly that I couldn't deal with.

Sounds about right to me. I am just going to get some toe clips for about £10 :twisted:

GOONERUK

Also just bought some Shimano M520s and Scott shoes, yes they are fine for road biking, no problem unclipping but for MTBs its a nightmare, especially when going on a steep uphill and maybe having to stop, cos the pedals are going around fast and you not move fast so as soon as you stop pedaling you have a spilt second to get your feet out, twice the other day I had a near falls, right now im feeling pretty uncomfortable using them, i will try a few more times otherwise its back on with the toe clips, as stated in a previous thread, its takes the fun out of it.

langy

I've been using toe-clips for many years but decided yesterday to get myself some Shimano M342's and Specialised shoes. Used them for 5 - 10 minutes, then for some bizzare reason decided to pop a wheelie, needless to say, I went straight over the back of the bike and landed on my ar$e with bike still attached :oops:

Didin't have a particularly comfortable night's sleep last night and am walking like I've been fingered by an elephant :shock:

AcousticDave

Best one of all

Clipped into pedals for the first time in the car park at Seahouses Northumberland for the start of the Great North Ride. Rode to start line, forgot was clipped in and fell in front of 1500 people.
:oops:

Knee still has scab on three weeks later .

ratty2k

I use M520's on all my bikes,inc. my roady.
I like being clipped in- BUT I use the Multi release clips.
They add to my confidence that I can get my foot out. I can lift straight up, roll to the side and unclip in the normal fashion. I was only gonna use 'em till I got used to being clipped in, but cant be bothered to change back now. Well worth a try if you have bought pedals and shoe and are feeling a wee bit unsure still.

HERE!! around a tenner from just about everywhere.

mnmorton

Does using the multi-release clips mean that you can't pull up on the pedals with the back stroke when peddaling as they will release ?

ratty2k

I can still pull up, its more of a scoop backwards when pedaling (well mine is). Whereas if yor're falling you just want to rip yer foot out anyway possible.