I am such a wuss

[London Female]

I would say don't get too close to the car in front, they can stop much quicker than you. This happened to me while riding back from the shop clipped in on my new carbon bike, fortunately managed not to fall off. Also, have the tension as loose as possible to begin with - also my issue above, too tight for a beginner

Did you go SPD (2 bolt, recessed cleats) or SPD-SL (3 bolt, sticky out cleats)?

Thank you for your reply. I went for SPD for two reasons, first I do not have a road bike and second I want my cleats to be recessed. I may buy a road bike later but will still be wearing SPD shoes.

Jan

 

[Supersuperleeds]

It's take a little while to adjust but you will get the hang of it. I practiced clipping in and out at home and on my first ride took it very slowly and unclipped way before reaching any lights or traffic. I did have a few clipless moments, always in slowmo AND publicly, but no injuries occurred .

If it helps, Shimano make multi-direction cleats which are easier to unclip (I've tested them ). The ref is SM-SH56. Good luck

£12 at the minute on CRC

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10969

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thank you for your reply. I went for SPD for two reasons, first I do not have a road bike and second I want my cleats to be recessed. I may buy a road bike later but will still be wearing SPD shoes.

Jan

Hi Jan
You'll soon get used to them. Practice at first maybe at home, wedge yourself in a doorway/gateway and practice clipping and unclipping. Make sure the tension is at its lowest.
Then take 'em to the park or practice on a cyclepath with a grass verge (there are plenty in Abbers). They very soon become second nature. Anticipation is the key.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I asked about the multi-direction cleats as I read about them in FAQ but the man in the shop didn't know what I was talking about. thank you for the Ref for them, I will take that with me tomorrow and ask again.

Thank you

Jan

He clearly does not know his stuff then.

Get the SH56 multi-release cleats (instead of the SH51's) - they are spot on!

I have read heaps of posts that allude to the hilarity of the first clipless moment. Funny it isn't. You could get hurt, killed at worst as well as damaging your bike. Seems to be a machismo rite of passage by all accounts.

 

[Lanzecki]

About the tension.. I did what everyone did and wound the tension down. I wound it too far down so the part that moves to lock the cleat in had a too loose a spring, so I wouldn't lock. I almost took them back to a shop. There should be a definate click as you push down.

As everyone else says, take your time, give more space, and don't make your clipless moment to obvious. Noone saw my first, but I was into a bramble bush.

 

[Fab Foodie]

He clearly does not know his stuff then.

It's worth saying that not every bike shop knows about everything, so a question here before going into a shop/online might be time well spent.
For example no bike shop or Wiggle will tell you about the amazingly bright and amazingly cheap Magicshine clone lights from China .....
There's a lot of experience here and on other forums.

 

[simmi]

I would say don't get too close to the car in front, they can stop much quicker than you. This happened to me while riding back from the shop clipped in on my new carbon bike, fortunately managed not to fall off. Also, have the tension as loose as possible to begin with - also my issue above, too tight for a beginner

Did you go SPD (2 bolt, recessed cleats) or SPD-SL (3 bolt, sticky out cleats)?

+1

Yeah let them right off, even with mine like this have never had my foot come out.

You will have a clipless moment, it happens when you stop when you are not ready for it, but you should learn from this and be ready for it next time.

I am a bit of a slow learner myself and have had 4 so far, luckily have done not damage as yet other than to my pride.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

+1

Yeah let them right off, even with mine like this have never had my foot come out.

You will have a clipless moment, it happens when you stop when you are not ready for it, but you should learn from this and be ready for it next time.

I am a bit of a slow learner myself and have had 4 so far, luckily have done not damage as yet other than to my pride.

Nearly had one or two in my clips.

 

[paul04]

May I just add, You can ride the bike with trainers on with clipless pedals, maybe not at a fast pace because there is not really any grip on the pedals and your feet could slip off. but you could ride the bike for miles if you take your time.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I looked on YouTube for clipping an unclipping hints. I can't really add much other than to say the types of spd you have are very easy to use, I like them so much I use them on both my road bikes.

 

[Biker Joe]

You'll be OK.
I'm a stubborn old fart and have cycled for over 60 yrs and I wasn't going to go clipless.
I've only just swapped over to SPDs and recessed shoes and now I wish I'd done it years ago.
All so easy.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

You'll be OK.
I'm a stubborn old fart and have cycled for over 60 yrs and I wasn't going to go clipless.
I've only just swapped over to SPDs and recessed shoes and now I wish I'd done it years ago.
All so easy.

Same here, the biggest feeling was that I'd wasted so much energy just pushing downwards for so many years!

 

[wanda2010]

He clearly does not know his stuff then.

Get the SH56 multi-release cleats (instead of the SH51's) - they are spot on!

I have read heaps of posts that allude to the hilarity of the first clipless moment. Funny it isn't. You could get hurt, killed at worst as well as damaging your bike. Seems to be a machismo rite of passage by all accounts.

I respectfully disagree in my case (even if there is a female equivalent of machismo). Mine were hilarious (at least to me) and because I'd read other people's accounts I wasn't nearly as frightened as I could have been. I even managed to fall in a particular way each time and riding clipless terrified me initially.

 

[MattHB]

dont forget its not compulsory to have a clipless moment Ive done 4000 miles clipless and have never once had one! (I bet I will now!)

+1 on the SH56 cleats, theyre much easier to get out in a panic than the 51's as they release in almost any direction.

 

[RWright]

I have more trouble clipping in than out. This video is very basic stuff but it helped me with it.
I think the most important thing is to learn where you are not in any traffic and there are not any dangerous obstacles around.