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Does clipping in and out become second nature??

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  • January 29, 2015 at 1:56 pm #23129
    charlie29

    I’ve only been on one ride since changing to clipless pedals, but on that the clipping in and out only worked when I had time to prepare. :S For the clipping in, more often than not, I couldn’t get the cleats in unless I looked down and whilst I was fine clipping out when I could plan ahead, it was different when I had to do it quickly. I panicked a few times and fell over once. I’ve heard that it’s normal at the start, does it eventually become second nature? :/

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Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 42 total)
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  • January 30, 2015 at 11:08 am #829623
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    fenix

    Never fallen with clipless
    Never fallen with clipless pedals at all.

    By contrast I remember stopping at lights with my toestraps done up and resting on the railings there.

    I went to ride off – clearly in too big a gear, hit a grid and toppled sideways…

    So clipless are far better than toestraps and cllips !

    January 30, 2015 at 10:28 am #829621
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    Kapelmuur

    Falling off over while
    Falling off over while clipped in can be embarrassing.

    Shortly after Wiggo’s win in the 2012 TdF I was riding in France wearing my Union flag jersey when I had to stop unexpectedly in front of a cafe full of locals, many of them sitting at pavement tables.

    The combination of the unplanned stop and an unusually steep road camber resulted in me toppling off in front of an audience of very amused Frenchmen, the jersey just adding to their appreciation of the moment.

    January 30, 2015 at 4:46 am #829619
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    carytb

    I find now that when I ride
    I find now that when I ride flats I automatically twist my foot as I come off the pedal

    January 30, 2015 at 1:02 am #829617
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    Redvee

    I’ve been using SPDs for20+
    I’ve been using SPDs for20+ years, my first sideways topple happened within 1/4 mile on the maiden voyage of clipless pedals, it happens to us all. I had a further 3 topples in the first few months but nothing since that I can remember. People ask me what happens in an accident and in the few times I’ve had accidents my feet have released of their own accord. I can get right up to an obstacle before the need to unclip. Some journeys home from have been classed as FuC, foot up commute. Over ten miles and 17 sets of traffic lights takes some timing and balance.

    January 29, 2015 at 8:25 pm #829615
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    Initialised

    For me it became second
    For me it became second nature after I split my chin open in an SPD fail, it’s never happened since…

    January 29, 2015 at 8:23 pm #829613
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    alotronic

    Having ridden with clips and
    Having ridden with clips and straps and then SPDs for over 35 years I can tell you that the rate of getting it wrong settles down to about once every five years. You still feel like an idiot though :/ Serious advice – fall away from the traffic!

    January 29, 2015 at 8:02 pm #829611
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    charlie29

    Thanks guys, I feel loads
    Thanks guys, I feel loads better now (and your stories made me smile). I’m glad I asked! 🙂

    January 29, 2015 at 6:53 pm #829609
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    gdmor10

    Everyone falls at least once,
    Everyone falls at least once, the trick is to predict when you will need to at lights etc, then do it in plenty time.

    Clipping back in on one sided pedals can be tricky too but it gets easier.

    January 29, 2015 at 6:48 pm #829607
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    rjfrussell

    darrenleroy wrote:I still

    darrenleroy wrote:
    I still take the precaution of unclipping one foot when coming up to obstacles or traffic so I can easily put it out for balance or stability if need be. Just have to think a little ahead.

    My one on-the-road (as opposed to practising on the lawn) was brilliant. Coming up to a junction, unclipped right side in good time, ruling out the possibility of a last minute panic. Apply the brakes. Right toe down… But then for some reason I pushed up, so overbalanced to the left where the foot was firmly clipped in… and a graceful fall to port. The fact that a hot hatch full of highly amused teenage lads passed at just that moment was the icing on the cake!

    January 29, 2015 at 6:27 pm #829605
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    runskiprun

    the spud fall is a rite of
    the spud fall is a rite of passage into the club of using the clips. Ive moved from SPD MTB type pedals to road type, as I find the larger pedal area means less cramping.
    Never stop looking to improve your comfort when riding.

    Well done!

    January 29, 2015 at 5:05 pm #829603
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    oozaveared

    We’ve all had the falls. At
    We’ve all had the falls. At least modern clipless let you go once they’ve had their fun. Back in the day you had cleats shellacked and tacked on to the bottom of the shoe and that clipped over a rat trap pedal and then a leather strap over to keep it in place. I remember once being uder a pile up at Eastway with about a dozen marshalls and spectators trying to unpick the puzzle that was 10 or so riders still all clipped in and all tangled together. Just had to relax and wait your turn.

    By the way it’s the panic that gets you. If you actually worked out how long it takes you to unclip and put your foot down then there’s plenty of time. But you don’t do you? You realise what’s happening and then panic and then fail to actually just unclip. That’s probably 3 seconds elapsing as you slowly come to a stop and fall over when you can unclip and foot down in much less than a second.

    January 29, 2015 at 4:44 pm #829601
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    darrenleroy

    I still take the precaution
    I still take the precaution of unclipping one foot when coming up to obstacles or traffic so I can easily put it out for balance or stability if need be. Just have to think a little ahead.

    January 29, 2015 at 4:41 pm #829599
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    Shep73

    I actually fell off twice in
    I actually fell off twice in less than a mile when I first changed over to SPD pedals, both times because I forgot I was clipped in and then panicked and just went over like a complete idiot. The first was at a crossing in front of traffic, then the second time was at a crossing which leads into the local bus station, I was only seen by a bus load of Christmas shoppers. I laugh about it now but at time I felt a complete idiot.

    And yes it does get easier. I also went from SPD to Look and they are far better, although I am now considering Time Xpresso pedals on the new steed.

    January 29, 2015 at 4:37 pm #829597
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    fustuarium

    Have you watched GCN? Matt
    Have you watched GCN? Matt Stephens gives hope for all of us slow learners lol

    January 29, 2015 at 4:20 pm #829595
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    ianrobo

    ha ha … where do you fall
    ha ha … where do you fall in it ?

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