First clipless pedals?

[Frozen208]

Well so far it is not as hard as I thought it would be. I got a pair of Shimano shoes to go with my pedals/cleats. I sat on my bike while watching TV and practiced clipping in and out, then I took a spin around the block. Feels wierd being clipped in.

[TURNERob]

Pretty soon it will feel "weird" not being clipped in! I use to switch to flats occasionally when we would ride more technical trails....but now I actually like being clipped in better, you are more "one" with the bike and have more control. If you're gonna crash you'll go down one way or the other most likely even if you had flat pedals. Just get some easy rides in on them till you get used to them more. There will more than likely be a few times you'll fall over cause you either forget to clip out or panic and don't get clipped out in time

[xhuskr]

If you do go with the Shimano...get the multi-release cleat. SH-55/SH-56. It gives you more freedom/flexibility in getting out. I learned the hardway being clipped in to my bike off in the bushes while my friends took pictures....nice, eh?

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Originally Posted by xhuskr

If you do go with the Shimano...get the multi-release cleat. SH-55/SH-56. It gives you more freedom/flexibility in getting out. I learned the hardway being clipped in to my bike off in the bushes while my friends took pictures....nice, eh?

Where's the pictures?

[Frozen208]

Frank it's funny, what was it 2 weeks ago when we rode Bonelli, I was talking about how I can't imagine riding clipless, and now I am. How are the ribs doing by the way?

[gurp13]

I've been riding flats on my commuter the last couple of weeks. I pretty much hate it. Or dislike it. I have to keep positioning the ball of my foot over the pedal and I can't pull on the upstroke. 'Course, I get off the pedals quick enough at lights, so that's good. I also like being able to wear my regular shoes on the ride to work as it's simpler changing once I get there. But, I'm still trying to decide if I should get new pedals or some power straps. I miss being clipped in.

Frozen, you're gonna fall still. The worse, believe it or not, is the slow speed stall when you lose power or momentum going up hill and can't clip out. Over you go. It really hurts the hip. Try to fall on alternating sides. It takes a few months, or whatever, depending on how much you ride, to learn to clip out in time. Interestingly, I don't believe I've ever crashed and stayed clipped in. Well, there was the one time the tree grabbed my helmet and pulled me backwards. The pedals stayed clipped on that time. Sucked.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Hey Scott, glad to hear you're doing well with the clipless pedals. You might want to go with the multi release clips as mentioned in a previous post. They are easier to get out of in a panic situation and it will save your hip, arm, or any other body parts from any rocks. BTW, the ribs are still hurting but healing slowly. Sucks not being able to ride.

[gurp13]

I think I have those multi-release clips. I still fall over occassionally. I do the horizontal track stand! It happens.

Dude, get well, Frank. We gotta ride as soon as you're better.

[Frozen208]

Well had my first non-trail fall, going uphill on the street, was turning into a neighborhood to add some distance. Well lets just say water, cement, speed leaning into a turn = slide. But I did get to see that one foot unclipped in the process of the slide, which might have saved my rear derailer from getting damaged when my knee hit the ground first.

[gurp13]

Atta boy. Give up the blood sacrifice to the bike gods and they will spare your precious components. You learn quick, grasshopper. Flesh heals but components cost money.

[Frozen208]

This seems to be a very sacrifical type way of life... My first ride I gave an offering of milk and cherrios, and now an offering of blood. And it is almost night and day the amount of energy I have with clipless, I was almost able to double my climb distance without getting winded. I guess that means I had bad platform technique.

Anyways I have a question, on the down strokes my leg should be almost fully extended right? Beacause right now my knee is slightly bent, and it feels like there is slack(not sure if that is the right word) on the bottem of the strokes.

[dstepper]

Full extension without your hibs moving up and down.

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Full extension without your hibs moving up and down.

I agree with this, but usually that means there will be a slight bend to the knee. Right? If I straighten my leg completely then I have to rock my hips.

Originally Posted by Sheldon Brown

I suggest gradually raising your saddle, perhaps half an inch (1 cm) at a time. Each time you raise it, ride the bike. If it doesn't feel noticeably worse to ride, ride it for at least a couple of miles/km.
If it had been too low before, your bike will feel lighter and faster with the new riding position. If raising the saddle improved things, raise it again, and ride it some more. Keep doing this until you reach the point where the saddle is finally too high, then lower it just a bit.

When the saddle is too high, you'll have to rock your hips to pedal, and you'll probably feel as if you need to stretch your legs to reach the bottom part of the pedal. Another indication that the saddle may be too high is if you find yourself moving forward so that you are sitting on the narrow front part of the saddle. (Although this symptom can also result from having the saddle nosed down, or having an excessive reach to the handlebars.)

It also makes a bit of difference what sort of pedals/shoes you use. If you ride with ordinary shoes, virtually all of your pedaling power is generated by the downstroke, so a good leg extension is essential to let you apply maximum power in this direction. If you use clipless pedals and cleated cycling shoes, however, you can also generate a fair amount of your power by pulling the pedal backward near the bottom of the stroke. This action also uses the large muscles in the back of the leg, and can be quite efficient. If you make use of this pedaling style, you'll want a slightly lower saddle position than for direct "piston-style" pedaling with street shoes. A slightly lower saddle position is also conducive to pedaling a rapid cadence.

Taken from Sheldon Brown's excellent website.

[ka0t1c07]

Scary