A bad first day using clipless pedals.

Ringo 68

I fitted my first pair of clipless pedals yesterday and went out for a short ride to try and get used to them.

Everything went ok so today I went out for a proper ride. Things went pear shaped when going through a fenced area. I unclipped, rode through and then struggled to get my left foot back in the clip. Down I went.

No damage done apart from to my pride, I set off again. After about another 5 miles I came to the first big climb and as I changed gear near the top there was an terrible crunching noise and I was down again. My gears had tangled up in the rear spokes (probably bent from the first fall) and the Sram Apex rear mech was a complete write off.

I picked up my bike and carried it for 2 miles to a LBS where everything was straightened out or replaced and I left £60 lighter.

I feel a bit sick at the moment. Before changing pedals/shoes I had never fallen off in my short riding career.I hope I can get used to them quickly.

the_spooks

It does get better and easier, I fell of 3 times on my first attempt with cleats and rode my bike for a few weeks with mountain bike pedals before refitting my cleats. Now I can't imagine riding without em, but I must confess I hate unclippingn at hills :roll:

Nairnster

Sorry to hear it mate.

It is a fact for most people, when you first start using clipless pedals, you probably will fall off.

The second crash/fall was only indirectly linked to clipless pedals (if it was the first crash that damaged the mech alignment etc)

It will get easier, and better.

Peddle Up!

First three weeks - three (ish) falls. Routine statistic.

Gizmodo

I fell at road work traffic lights - put a hole in the knee of my bib tights.
You will get used to them.

Speedmenace

i've fallen off twice already on my new geared bike and only had it a few days, all because the chain jammed and i couldn't unclip in time, used to ride a SS bike

t5nel

Hang in there it is worth it.

Whilst I haven't fallen off yet I still find SPD-SL a struggle compared to the MTB SPD I used for 15 yrs.

I can rarely get 2nd foot hooked in and on the right side of the pedal unless I am looking down which leads to the inevitable wiggle.

Tim

Ringo 68

Yeah, getting that 2nd foot locked in is a problem. I am ok if I have plenty of time but when I need to do it quickly I can struggle.
My mate, a very experienced cyclist, was with me today. We were crossing a busy road and he got across quickly. I waited for a nice gap and went for it. No surprises, I couldn't get my left foot in and was struggling to get across with a small lorry coming. Luckily the driver wasn't going too quick and I finally got sorted and was away.
I must have looked bad though because a couple of road cyclists coming the other way were laughing and one said 'he will get you next time'

Practice makes perfect I suppose. I will go out tomorrow on my own where I can take my time and not worry about slowing people up.

merak

If you can't get clipped in as you cross a busy junction you can a) still push on the pedal even if it's the wrong way up (but carefully because your foot can slip off) and b) pedal with the leg that is clipped in, either full circles or "rowing". The important thing is to get across by hook or by crook and not to worry too much about getting clipped in till you're clear. Of course it's even better to clip in reliably at first try and that will come with time.

Ringo 68

merak wrote:

If you can't get clipped in as you cross a busy junction you can a) still push on the pedal even if it's the wrong way up (but carefully because your foot can slip off) and b) pedal with the leg that is clipped in, either full circles or "rowing". The important thing is to get across by hook or by crook and not to worry too much about getting clipped in till you're clear. Of course it's even better to clip in reliably at first try and that will come with time.

Yeah, the scary moment came when I decided to abandon trying to clip in and just pedal. My foot slipped.
I didn't think about just pedaling with one foot.

the_spooks

What I do is try and make sure I'm in a low gear coming unto most junctions so if I need to clip out then I can peddle with one leg till I get clipped back in. Works but it's a PITA when you have changed down for a junction and then you don't need to clip out, worse when your riding partners don't and are wayyyyyy in front now lol

gsvbagpuss

Peddle Up! wrote:

First three weeks - three (ish) falls. Routine statistic.

Just three? I'm above average

jimbo0023

had my first ever brand new bike for about 6 weeks now (carrera TDF) and while it may be classed as a budget ride, to me £300 is a fortune! i bought a set of standard pedals in the shop as i was too scared of falling off and bending my pristine bike. i still to this day havent plucked up the courage to put my original pedals on but i am thinking of putting just one on so i can always put the other foot down while i get used to it

has anybody else used this method to get accustomed?

ba68

Jimbo, not exactly but I do use Shimano A530 pedals which have Spd on one side and normal platform on the other. In the early days of using spd I would just leave the right foot clipped in and only clip in the other when feeling confident. Rode like this for a few months and now feel reasonably confident in most situations apart from having to stop at junctions on steep hills. Persevere it will get easier.

RoadyForever

Everybody falls off when they first try clipless.

Now I can't live without them, commuting (spd's), proper rides (spd-sl). When I've used standard peddles, I hate it - feels like I cannot put any power down.

bennyandrew

i fell of twice in the first week but stick with it ,you will never go back to normal peddles.

ollyridesfirst

I had a slow moving fall the first time i rode clipless.....it happens to everyone at some point.

As said before, i couldn't imagine riding without them now. Sometimes miss when setting off with the left foot, but on the whole it's just like riding a bike now

ride_whenever

RoadyForever wrote:

Everybody falls off when they first try clipless.

Set a friend up on clipless, she was pretty confident on the turbo after a while. When outside, was about to go when a car came, she reached for a lamppost, missed and went arse over tit!!!!

I lolled

Jackal79

I used mine for the first time last night and came close to coming off twice. I'm expecting it to be fair.

king_jeffers

I've fallen off loads, but to be fair I just need to look at a kerb and I fall off. Had a few incidents with clipless but found after about a week I was fine, still have the odd stumble but defo more comfortable now. Stick with it

bobingtonsmyth

As the others have said stick with it, I converted to clipless a few years back and now couldn't live without them, in fact I hate riding without.

You have to live with the inevitable few falls while getting used to them. Worst one for me was in London, at rush hour (so super busy with both cars and pedestrians). Pulled up to some lights and just couldn't get my left foot out. Went over super slow-motion style in front of about 20 people and the one person who decided to help me up was an old lady who looked at least 80, not the usual stylish ride home...

woolloongabba

When I first tried clipless, I came pootling up to a rural fence at which two babes were situated and having a chat. I'm sure I copped a "hit" on approach so of course I sucked in the gut and tried to act as cool as I could. Came to a lovely stop after a short skid. Still cool. Quick charming smile, still cool, and then an ultra slow tumble, arms flailing, into the dirt. Definitely, "not" cool. Forgotten I was clipped in of course.

Of course that was 3 years ago and now I wouldn't ride without my eggbeaters. I retain my cool as well

kingrollo

Stick with it - well worth it.

What cured for me - was to have a dedicated practice session. If you think on a 25 mile ride - you might unclip 2 or 3 times - not much practice ?
Just go out by your house - and practice nothing but clipping and unclipping - ......45 minutes you will be done.

FoldingJoe

Have you adjusted the tension on your pedals?

Try slackening them right off and it may help you clip out quicker in those sticky situations.

Ringo 68

Thanks for the advice.

I have just beeon on a quiet country lane for 30 minutes just practicing and it is getting better.

I am now using my right foot rather than my left which seems to have helped.

My technique is to push off with my left and clip up with my right pedal at 12 o'clock. If things don't go well I push with my right foot and try again with the pedal on the down stroke.

Is this the correct way or is there a better way?

I think the pedal is set to the slack setting (black at the top, red at the bottom of the indicator)

t5nel

I always try and hook in with the pedal at TDC (12 o clock)

That wya you get the down stroke to actually click in and engage. If I fail then I may spin a few revs before trying again depending on speed/traffic etc.

ollyridesfirst

I would push off without having at least one pedal clipped in. Too much to go wrong if you don't manage to get the first one in then start to panic!

I have my right foot in all the time, use that pedal to set off (from 2 o'clock position) then clip in the left. If i miss and start to lose speed, i can always push again with the right!

TomBombadil

Speedplay, Speedplay, Speedplay.

I am amazed always how much effort people have to make to get into clipless pedals. When I first looked into this I researched and researched and then went blindly into using Speedplaay - as nobody else had them this seemed risky, but reading reviews etc they always seemed to be well liked and judged to be good at preventing repetitive stress knee problems.

However - after the first ten minutes it was obvious that they were fecking excellent. They are both sided and cliiping in is really just stepping on. There is absolutely no faff, fiddling or looking or falling off. If you need to get your foot out a slight twist and in emergency it either just pops out or you pull it out. I have never fell as a result of not being able to get my foot out!

On club rides or events I still amazed how people fiddle,faff and put up with one sided pedals - I''ve had to use them on the veoldrome on a rented bike and they are just awful - no comparison.

Speedplay may be a bit pricey, but they are worth it. I use the X series (I have three sets, 2 stainless, 1 titanium) as there is as much rotational float as you wish and so no worries with knee injuries from badly constrained leg movement etc

I am not sure why most people (Judging by bikes on the road) do not use these, but they are fab.

Just looked at Speedplay website (worth a look) and noticed this :

07/24/11
SPEEDPLAY
Speedplay sweeps the Tour de France

1. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
2. Andy Schleck (LEOPARD TREK)
3. Fränk Schleck (LEOPARD TREK)

Say's it all (to me!)


Tom

lifeform

I've had a few 'nearly', but no 'almosts' with SPD-SLs

The biggest problem for me is getting the left back in - the pedal always returns to it's nose straight up position where I can easily relocate, unless there's traffic, pedestrians, or some sort of hazard - in which case it just doesn't. I swear the damn thing is sentient.

You'll get used to it - I've the pedals on mine for four months now, and I rarely think about unclipping.

Wacky Racer

This thread has made me laugh more than any in a long time, I guess it's just the typically British thing about laughing at other peoples misfortunes. I know this next statement is going to come back and haunt me big style, but so far I haven't fallen. I have had a couple of "moments", one at the end of a long ride when I forgot I was clipped in and came close to embarrassing myself in front of a car at lights, I just about unclipped in time, but it was very close. The second time I failed to unclip (have no reason why not) again at lights alongside a car, and put my hand on the roof of the car to stay upright, fortunately I managed to do it quietly enough that the driver never noticed.

I have now mastered the art of being able to ride incredibly slowly at junctions, so I don't need to unclip and can time my acceleration on to an island, or into a road, but that's just a balance thing and probably me being too lazy to unclip so I manage to almost hover at a standstill until the road is clear.

My single biggest dread is that I manage to sprawl all over the road still attached to my bike, it's bound to happen in front of witnesses, and knowing my luck it will be people I know.

One thing from a comment above I don't understand - "I hate unclipping at hills", why would you need to unclip at hills?

Boyzer

Is there a prize for how quickly you fallover?

I read all the advice, i was really carefull, I started on grass too (just in case) and got 3 feet... Then.... I was too carefull, it was too muddy, i pannicked.. Got covered in mud from the wet grass.

Didnt out me off, and now... Couldnt pedal without them. Just practice away from the busy roads, and plan ahead, unclip in advance of stopping...