Will I ever be able to clip in?

Will I ever be able to clip in?

Author
Discussion

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

208 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
thetrash said:
craigthecoupe said:
this. i'd say it's best to make your left leg the one you unclip at junctions etc. that way, if you get it wrong, you fall to the kerb, not into the road.
This is really bad advice. Do which ever foot feels comfortable, I always leave my left foot clipped in and unclip my right foot when I come to a halt. It's the opposite for a couple of friends of mine. I think it's similar to surfing/snowboarding where you will have a favourite foot to be forward, for me it's always my left foot.
I agree, whichever is more natural. I'm right foot forward on a snowboard, left foot unclip. Who knows.

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
It'll become second nature after a while. Then you'll make the mistake of moving onto SPD-SLs, which were invented by Satan as a joke.

Pull away from traffic lights - clip - miss - wobble - clip - miss - wobble - repeat until accident or dropped (or both)

gazza285

9,779 posts

207 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
Unclip with the left most of the time, unless I'm racing the CX bike, then it's unclip with the right, ready of a step through dismount at a run followed by a running remount. Never too late for new skills.

keith2.2

1,100 posts

194 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
What's all this talk of unclipping before one reaches the end of ones ride?!

Trackstands, man, Trackstands!





Which is all well and good until it becomes clear that the train is going to be a while, and a minor wobble becomes a big problem...

A tip for when you wish to unclipping for a junction, traffic lights etc.... Unclipping BEFORE you plan to stop. stopping and then realising you have forgotten will end in red faces and grazed knees.

I have been breaking the velominati rule on MTB spds for a while. I recently moved to road shoes but still with MTB cleats and pedals. I am suddenly finding it near impossible to locate and clip in first (or second, or third...) time - which nearly cost me at a junction last night.

Today I shall be procuring road cleats and pedals!

Steve Evil

10,653 posts

228 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
The other thing I find with my road clips is that I'm best moving my foot away from the clip if I can't get in, the weighted rear drops down and I can then brush the ball of my foot along the top and line it up, otherwise I could be wasting time by trying to clip in to the bottom of it.

Mr E

21,580 posts

258 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Albert Bridge said:
I hope so!!! Just finished a 11.5 year relationship so am enjoying the single life once again.thumbup
From experience, the attractive person is generally unimpressed by you lying on the floor attached to a bike and twitching in an attempt to unclip.

But that look may work for you. Good luck!

smile

paranoid airbag

2,679 posts

158 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Welp, I'm about to collect my first pair... wish me luck smile (I'm hopefully mentally adjusted, been pulling up to lights with left foot dangling and right secured in straps for a while now).

Albert Bridge

Original Poster:

896 posts

192 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Went for a ride for the first time today and I'm hooked. Had no problems clipping in or out and haven't yet fallen over. Really looking forward to trying them out on a longer ride. Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

208 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Albert Bridge said:
Went for a ride for the first time today and I'm hooked. Had no problems clipping in or out and haven't yet fallen over. Really looking forward to trying them out on a longer ride. Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.
thumbup


wink

DaveJns

523 posts

143 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Well done on not giving up! I finally got the hang of it after a few rides, got cocky and fell over from a total standstill in front of a taxi, bringing half of liverpool to a halt smile taxi driver was angry but at least I gave the students in the back something to laugh at smile

Like has been said - it's a right of passage!

paranoid airbag

2,679 posts

158 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
DaveJns said:
Well done on not giving up! I finally got the hang of it after a few rides, got cocky and fell over from a total standstill in front of a taxi, bringing half of liverpool to a halt smile taxi driver was angry but at least I gave the students in the back something to laugh at smile

Like has been said - it's a right of passage!
I may not agree with your falling over like a prat, but I will defend to the death your right to do so? wink

Got mine today, might chicken out tomorrow and do some weekend fettling, though I can't see all the fuss about remembering to twist a heel (I may have tried to make this habit before ordering). Do make the bike look pro though.

Mr E

21,580 posts

258 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
My problem is now when I put my flats on. Honking great DMR V8s with studs.

I twist to get out, my feet don't move at all and I fall off the bike standing on bloody flat pedals.

benny.c

3,472 posts

206 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
paranoid airbag said:
….though I can't see all the fuss about remembering to twist a heel….
Quoted for when you join the club smile

Jimmm

2,500 posts

182 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Recently joined the clip in club. Had my first off on Wednesday in front of my boss doh!

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Trackstands at traffic lights are always a good precursor to toppling if you're an early SPD adopter!

Albert Bridge

Original Poster:

896 posts

192 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
I suppose it had to happen eventually - I came off today! Having just finished a 40k ride I was at the lights on Chelsea Bridge, minutes from home when my shoe got completely stuck in the pedal. Over I went, writhing around like an upturned beetle whilst cars honked and my brother laughed.punch
A couple of guys came to help but I just couldn't get up as my shoe would not come away from the pedal. Have had to buy new pedals AND shoes as the only way to detach them was by wrenching the shoe away causing damage to everything. Handle bars also got twisted and thumb nail damaged.yikes

Mr E

21,580 posts

258 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
That sounds very unusual. The only time I've had similar is when a cleat bolt failed and the cleat was rotating in the shoe.

Albert Bridge

Original Poster:

896 posts

192 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
Funny you should say that as one of the bolts was missing....

nike 5

169 posts

188 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
If you belong to a gym? Practice getting in and out on the spin bikes (at my local gym the watt bikes and spin bikes have toe clips on one side and SPD on the other)
You can't fall off of an exercise bike.
or
Your bike on a turbo trainer.

DJFish

5,917 posts

262 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
I don't have mine done up very tightly, just enough to stop my shoes popping out when I'm going uphill.
I prefer them like that & they make clipping in & out a doddle.

If you're still having issues, try putting more pressure on the outside edge of your foot, it might be your feet aren't flat on the pedals.