Clipless pedals

DDre

I am relatively a (older) beginner to cycling and I have been trying to use clipless pedals for a coupleof days. However, I have not managed to clip in with my second foot once. No matter what I try it seems I cannot clip in. The tension on the LOOK Keo pedals is set at the lowest. I had a couple of falls in the park and my ego and fancy bike shifters are now all scuffed up. From what I read online this seems normal and it is something you get by trial and error. Any tips or help ?

pblakeney

A big push on the clipped in pedal so you will be moving a fair distance to give you plenty time to clip your second foot in.

Clip in when the pedal is at the 12 o’clock position and push down through the revolution.

drhaggis

Before I ventured with clipless pedals, I tried quite a few times at home, lying against the wall. If you can have your other half around, so that you don't fall, maybe better! A little extra confidence never hurt.

Note that, at least for SPD-SL pedals (similar but not quite like Look), you need to push with your leg with some strength to get in. Of course, make sure that the tip of the pedal is in.

mr.b-campag

Maybe try it indoors leaning against a wall/with someone holding you so you can concentrate on the motion without worrying about falling off? But unless you are racing I'd argue you probably don't need them in any case...

MidlandsGrimpeur2

Firstly, have you made sure your second foot can clip in, just to check there is no pedal or cleat issue? If you have not, just clip in with this foot first to make sure both sides are fine.

Assuming they are, stand over the top tube and clip in with first foot. With the other foot, push off and mount the saddle and assume your riding position (make sure you push off hard and are carrying a bit of momentum).

Whilst you are moving rest the unclipped foot on top of the pedal and line the cleat up with the pedal recess (try and look ahead and do it by feel rather than looking down!). Firmly clip in, moving the foot side to side to ease it in if required.

If you have enough speed from the push off you should be able to do this whilst not rotating the cranks to make it easier (it is best to keep the crank
arms vertical with the unclipped pedal nearest the road). If you start slowing, keep the one foot clipped in, keep the other foot resting on the pedal and do a few pedal turns to keep your speed.

Hope this all makes sense and is of help.

Once you get used to it, you will just start clipping both feet in almost simultaneously as you push off. Might take a while though!

rick_chasey

Assuming the kit's all fine, you might just need to it out of the saddle a bit so you can put your bodyweight on the pedal as you clip in.

Sometimes it's also about the angle in which you initially connect and engage with the cleat before you put pressure so it might also be technique.

Bit of practice stationary might help work the technique out. It shouldn't be that difficult.

mrb123

Lean against a wall/lamppost/woman and clip in and out of each pedal about 100 times. That should get the technique dialled in and also get the pedals loosened up a bit if they have some initial stiffness.

webboo

mr.b-campag said:

Maybe try it indoors leaning against a wall/with someone holding you so you can concentrate on the motion without worrying about falling off? But unless you are racing I'd argue you probably don't need them in any case...

Why wouldn’t you need them, they make pedalling more efficient and they make for a more pleasant cycling experience.

mr.b-campag

webboo said:

mr.b-campag said:

Maybe try it indoors leaning against a wall/with someone holding you so you can concentrate on the motion without worrying about falling off? But unless you are racing I'd argue you probably don't need them in any case...

Why wouldn’t you need them, they make pedalling more efficient and they make for a more pleasant cycling experience.

Well I said need, happy to see any data that suggests otherwise but I think the efficiency gain is pretty marginal - worth it in a performance setting but not really necessary otherwise. Making cycling more pleasant is also subjective - add to that most cycling shoes are pretty bad for your feet. Then add to that the initial falling off and it's not worth it for everyone...

pblakeney

mrb123 said:

Lean against a wall/lamppost/woman and clip in and out of each pedal about 100 times. That should get the technique dialled in and also get the pedals loosened up a bit if they have some initial stiffness.

Another thought.
A turbo/trainer would be perfect for this.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

Assuming the kit's all fine, you might just need to it out of the saddle a bit so you can put your bodyweight on the pedal as you clip in.

Sometimes it's also about the angle in which you initially connect and engage with the cleat before you put pressure so it might also be technique.

Bit of practice stationary might help work the technique out. It shouldn't be that difficult.

This.

It is a rite of passage, but I do wonder if the cleat of your second foot is actually in the right spot, because it shouldn't need /that/ much force to clip in.

plymouthsteve

Are the cleats on the shoes the right way around. Made this mistake once and one clipped in incredibly easily, whilst the other was incredibly stiff.

gethinceri

webboo

mr.b-campag said:

webboo said:

mr.b-campag said:

Maybe try it indoors leaning against a wall/with someone holding you so you can concentrate on the motion without worrying about falling off? But unless you are racing I'd argue you probably don't need them in any case...

Why wouldn’t you need them, they make pedalling more efficient and they make for a more pleasant cycling experience.

Well I said need, happy to see any data that suggests otherwise but I think the efficiency gain is pretty marginal - worth it in a performance setting but not really necessary otherwise. Making cycling more pleasant is also subjective - add to that most cycling shoes are pretty bad for your feet. Then add to that the initial falling off and it's not worth it for everyone...

So I presume you are using flats when you nip out to ride your hilly century’s.
How do you do intervals or stand up on the hills without something to hold your foot in place.

First.Aspect

mr.b-campag said:

webboo said:

mr.b-campag said:

Maybe try it indoors leaning against a wall/with someone holding you so you can concentrate on the motion without worrying about falling off? But unless you are racing I'd argue you probably don't need them in any case...

Why wouldn’t you need them, they make pedalling more efficient and they make for a more pleasant cycling experience.

Well I said need, happy to see any data that suggests otherwise but I think the efficiency gain is pretty marginal - worth it in a performance setting but not really necessary otherwise. Making cycling more pleasant is also subjective - add to that most cycling shoes are pretty bad for your feet. Then add to that the initial falling off and it's not worth it for everyone...

This has been done. There's absolutely no benefit most of the time. Funnily enough, all the pedaling in circles stuff was b0llocks. Pros pedal in squares because pushing down using big muscles makes a bike go faster than pulling back and up with a weak one.

Only advantage I can see is sprinting and out of the saddle climbing, where you can transfer leverage from the upper body. And, of course, from a practical point of view clipless are the only option to get a light comfortable stiff platform.

mr.b-campag

So I presume you are using flats when you nip out to ride your hilly century’s.
How do you do intervals or stand up on the hills without something to hold your foot in place.

Nope. I ride in trainers to work, to see friends etc. If it's intervals then it's on with the shoes and cleats - as I said they're worth it in a performance setting. Centuries are not my bag, whatever footwear is involved.

Mad_Malx

Regardless of pedalling efficiency, I’ve had more injuries from slipping off flats than not clipping / unclipping, both on road and xc hardtail.

For me, it’s so much nicer to feel connected to the bike, and keeping my foot in the right spot.
Fwiw I’ve always used spds (not -SL) and see no reason to change.

First.Aspect

mr.b-campag said:

So I presume you are using flats when you nip out to ride your hilly century’s.
How do you do intervals or stand up on the hills without something to hold your foot in place.

Nope. I ride in trainers to work, to see friends etc. If it's intervals then it's on with the shoes and cleats - as I said they're worth it in a performance setting. Centuries are not my bag, whatever footwear is involved.
I use Speedplays, but not under any illusions.

webboo

I guess most people who complain about how hard it is to use clipless pedals never used toe clips and straps. Reaching down to release the strap as you came to a sudden stop was always good for comedy moments.

pblakeney

webboo said:

I guess most people who complain about how hard it is to use clipless pedals never used toe clips and straps. Reaching down to release the strap as you came to a sudden stop was always good for comedy moments.

This, 100%.