How long did it take you to get used to Clipless pedals?

Carl170

Just trying out my first pair of clipless pedals yesterday. This is the first time I have ever tried them.

I was using CB Mallets (with the eggbeaters style clips) and it feels so weird to be clipped in.

I have had a couple of near misses, but was riding around a park, where I knew the damage would be limited. The worst is a kind of panic stricken memory blank just before you think you are going to topple over.

How many hours do you reckon you put in before it becomes second nature?

Does it actually become second nature? or do you still have accidents?

Cheers

Carl

The Rookie

After about a week of commuting it was second nature - almost.....still have the od panic stricken comedy moment though-3 years later!

herb71

I used toe clips and straps all through my teenaged years, so the conversion to 'clipless' pedals felt very natural. I remember practicing unclipping while propped against a wall, but I was comfortable with them after a single ride. I have fell off twice in the last 10 years, always with an audience. Be extra vigilant when people are watching, you will never fall when your on your own.

Newfish

A couple of weeks probably. I have had mine for years but now, after a long break, am trying to get used to them again. Have had a couple of proper comedy moments where I get stuck, usually when they are full of mud and a bit sticky or I have adjusted them and getting used to them. The other day however I came round a corner up at Cannock and the back end went, I had the foot out and ready without even thinking about it.

Persevere and it'll become second nature I'm sure.

bennett_346

5 minutes. I was a skier for 8 years.

WindyG

A couple rides and I was used to them, they just become second nature, I never do them too tight so never had a issue unclipping.

warpcow

bennett_346 wrote:

5 minutes. I was a skier for 8 years.

This, basically. I couldn't believe it was so difficult for all my mates at the time, but I guess I was just pretty lucky.

YeehaaMcgee

Got used to them quickly enough, had a few comedy falls when I forgot my feet were now stuck to the bike.
But, after a few years I switched back to flats, and never looked back.

Carl170

Well, Just got back from another ride and had my first sideways fall.

Going up a hill on the town moor, and I decided that the gear I was in was wrong. Couldn't change gear quickly enough, and just did the slow sideways thing! Fortunately, I just landed in very soft grass and mud.

Still not convinced, but will persevere. I think the problem is unclipping when you are not at the top or bottom of the pedal stroke. I don't really ride any where too extreme, so not too sure where the benefits will be. However, I can feel the circular motion is a load better as I am not just pushing down on alternate legs.

My knees felt a bit funny and my quads feel like they have had a workout. I think I read somewhere that the cleats may need adjusting one way if your quads hurt and another way if its your hamstring.

I hav also ordered some kneepads!

Regards

Carl

njee20

A few minutes frankly! Never done the whole 'slow speed sideways fall' thing!

felix.london

Have always ridden clipped in even in my previous MTB life 20 years ago (toe clips :shock: ). Am a snowboarder so used to being stuck to my ride...saying that, still have the odd comedy sideways fall...normally at the end of a very big ride when exhausted

sigorman85

Just make sure you select the rite gear when climbing technical stuff I ended up in the bushes when didn't in clip in time and could pedal any where lol it hurt

Chunkers1980

That's just a riding skill, not really clipless skills.

The clipless skill is starting again on a steep incline if you stop in the middle and getting back in.

YeehaaMcgee

nah, the clipless skill is realising you don't actually need them

sigorman85

What made you go back to flat yeehaa?

YeehaaMcgee

A few things.
I was using my bike top pootle around more, riding to work, and school, and got fed up of having to change shoes, or have no grip on the pedals.
At the time, I was getting into just trying to ride stupid things, having a laugh with my mates whilst trying to outdo each other getting up, onto, over or along increasingly stupid obstacles - so I got a set of flats for that kind of messing about.
Once I was back on the flats, I got a bit lazy, and couldn't be arsed swapping pedals for XC-type rides - and in that lazyness, I realised that any initially perceived advantage of them was so small as to be pointless, so I stayed on flats.

Rankles

Tried them 8 years ago on the MTB. Couldn't get used to them over six or eight months. Went back to flats and haven't turned back.

I use them all the time for road riding and commuting, but I cant handle them on the trails.

felix.london

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

nah, the clipless skill is realising you don't actually need them

Possibly...ride flats on the DH & fun bikes and kinda considering dumping on the 'hopper too. Plenty switchbacks over here and I can tackle them a lot quicker on flats. But then I'm also gaining some trials-esque skills by staying clipped in through slow, tricky sections, over obstacles etc.

sigorman85

Fair one yeehaa

marz

Took about a 10 rides to get comfortable with them, but like others I'd ridden with straps for years and so found the transition easy.
Now I have the spring tension maxed out and yes, clipping out is second nature. To the point I can drop my foot if I'm loosing it in a corner.
I've tried flats a few times and keep a pair handy for jump sessions, but I don't like going slow and so always switch back spds.

VWsurfbum

Herb71 wrote:

you will never fall when your on your own.

This, i can tackle all sorts on my own, no issues, put just one person near by and i become a bag of nerves!

I also use CB pedals, but i take them off in the "slop" season, hence i've been on flats pretty much all year, I like Yehaaa have found that i'm not missing much, but that one weekend this year i did a race and it was dry, i found on my HT i was bouncing off the pedals a bit too much.

pilch

Took 2 or 3 rides to get used to them, mine are fairly loose though, I use multi release cleats, I use them everywhere, race, training, trail riding etc. had a few comedy fall offs stopping and toppling over to start, now I don't feel 'connected' to my bike without them.

passout

A few rides - half a dozen'ish? I wouldn't use anything else.

YeehaaMcgee

VWsurfbum wrote:

Herb71 wrote:

you will never fall when your on your own.

This, i can tackle all sorts on my own, no issues, put just one person near by and i become a bag of nerves!

I also use CB pedals, but i take them off in the "slop" season, hence i've been on flats pretty much all year, I like Yehaaa have found that i'm not missing much, but that one weekend this year i did a race and it was dry, i found on my HT i was bouncing off the pedals a bit too much.

if you're bouncing off the pedals, then you should work on your technique, and absorb the trail with your legs. That'll pay dividends whether you're on flats or clips.

VWsurfbum

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

VWsurfbum wrote:

Herb71 wrote:

you will never fall when your on your own.

This, i can tackle all sorts on my own, no issues, put just one person near by and i become a bag of nerves!

I also use CB pedals, but i take them off in the "slop" season, hence i've been on flats pretty much all year, I like Yehaaa have found that i'm not missing much, but that one weekend this year i did a race and it was dry, i found on my HT i was bouncing off the pedals a bit too much.

if you're bouncing off the pedals, then you should work on your technique, and absorb the trail with your legs. That'll pay dividends whether you're on flats or clips.

your right, i was so used to riding with clips on a full bouncer and on propper terrain, when i was in a race on a HT on flats going accross a bumpy farmers field, my technique went out the window as i was blowing out my arse and thinking why did i sign up for this!

TurboCraig

I had it mastered overnight.
That was back in 1992 when I was about 14 & had them for christmas.

Since then I have had phases of not riding for 2 or 3 years. I can get back on the bike & clip in like I've never been off. I have this year got back into cycling seriously after literally not doing a proper ride for 3 years & it's still 2nd nature.

jezandu

Realistically I would say a few rides to get the idea but about 6 months till it came second nature and I could clip in and out without thinking. After 15 years of using them I notice I flick my heel out even when on flats!

www.followingthechainline.blogspot.com

paul.skibum

I rode in spd's from early on in my mtbing - I got them for touring actually and kept them for mtb. When I came to BC last summer everyone told me clips were a nono in the bike park and I switched to flats and DC's - started riding my xc bike with flats too and basically found it easier, more confidence inspiring and realised that whatever benefits I had believed there were seemed to be lost.

I miss the stiffer shoe for pedalling a bit but to be honest I am not in a race and pedalling downhill I dont notice it and it doesnt stop me going uphill. I rode my hardtail on flats for the first time in years and was worried I'd find that trickier but I didnt have any issues.

Rushmore

About 5 minutes... I found it harder to clip in then unclip..