Another beautiful ride RUINED by )(&*&%$ CLIPLESS PEDALS!!!

lehowe0

I have been riding since 1974. I have never considered using clips. I just don't need them to have a good time. They might be handy on a long road trip, but in town they just look dangerous.

Peka

I'd seen the track riders doing it, and just got sick of having to loosen off my toe clips years ago. Actually it was more a case of being sick of having to get my feet back in the toe clips. So I just started practising, had a few falls, usually if I was a slight downhill. Drivers didn't seem to mind me falling in front of them at the lights, they always had a good laugh

If you've been riding that long I'd suggest your balance would be pretty good? They really improve your pedalling efficiency, and once you get used to them they aren't really dangerous at all IMO. Even when I've messed up on some mtb trails I've been able to get my foot unclipped before hitting the dirt....

EoinC

I always track stand. My feet don't come out of the clips from the time I leave home until the time I return. I ride a fixed-wheel on the road, so it's even easier, especially for stopping on a downhill.

wackydeirdre

They aren't dangerous at all, you just need to get used to them before getting onto a main road as it is essential to know how to get in and out of them quickly. Once you can do that they make for a far mor pleasant ride.

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

penguinonabike

when i bought my mtb it had toeclips on i used them once fell off as i tried to move my foot off the pedal normally and did the same thing... never used them since never will..

i got a friend who has two bikes one with clips one normal and he gets better performance from the normal pedals..

funny that..

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Wide load!!

huhenio

1 week and still waiting for my wife to fall of her bike .... I dont think is going to happen because of the clipless.

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2003 Gary Fisher Zebrano (standard gearing)
Comfort commuter with drop and aero bars.
Think of a Buick.

1974 Schwinn Traveler Fixed Gear Conversion (42x13)

Think of some medieval torture element that goes fast

Wheelist, show me the bike!!!!!!!

FELTF10

Bro, don't be putt'n the wammy on your wife!

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RIDE FAST, RIDE HARD, JUST RIDE!

huhenio

I meant that the clipless are not a problem for her. 10 minute practice and she rules them.

20 years of skiing has to build up some coordination regarding attaching mechanisms

__________________
2003 Gary Fisher Zebrano (standard gearing)
Comfort commuter with drop and aero bars.
Think of a Buick.

1974 Schwinn Traveler Fixed Gear Conversion (42x13)

Think of some medieval torture element that goes fast

Wheelist, show me the bike!!!!!!!

FELTF10

My poor wife just stated and her first hour of practice she went down four times. I felt bad for her but she never gave up and really liked the way they felt; She loved them going up hills.

__________________
RIDE FAST, RIDE HARD, JUST RIDE!

dexter66

I just bought my new clipless pedals and was keen to put them on and try them out. Reading all the advice on the forums, I practiced first in the garage - clip in, clip out. That's pretty easy. On to the street I go, clip in, clip out whilst riding. No worries. Oh there's the new neighbour standing on the side walk - I'l go over and introduce myself . Coming to a stop next to her, clip out right foot easy -whoops forgot left foot. In a split second, I'm sprawled out on the road in front of her! And to make it worse, my 15 year old son is at the top of the street LOL whilst I try and recover some dignity. Oh well, I explained I can ride a bike and I've just fitted new pedals that LOCK YOUR FEET TO THE PEDALS!!! Now must remember to unclip BOTH feet when coming to a stop.

wackydeirdre

unclip one foot at a time. while braking unclip one foot, put your foot on the ground and when you are at a full stop unclip the other. Unclip both while your bike is in motion and your full weight will be on your saddle. you may not recover from that one, yikes! it takes a couple times to get used to it but after that it's something you don't even have to think about. Sorry for your humiliation by the way! Happy trails!

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

AllanST

There's one answer to this........


USe clipless pedals all the time. Don't use platforms and you'll never have another problem with them.

TBH when I was thinking about switching from platforms to clipless I asked a load of people and heard the old "Oh you'll be trapped on your bike, etc, etc". I was a bit wary but tried them out for myself. Immediately I was hooked.

OK I had some stupid mishaps to start with, like figuring out I had to unclip before stopping (Once...LOL), but I quickly got out of that habit. Since then I have never had any problems with clipless, and use them on my MTN bike as well. I even screw them down tight. Any crashes I have had have nothing to do with the pedals, and I've been released from them immediately, as the way you fall is the way that releases. IMHO Road SPD SL pedals are better than mtn bike SPD's though.

And it means I will never have any nasty accidents like I had when using platform pedals, when I stood up to pedal hard on them, and slipped off. I was lucky I didn't break my legs!!!

Clipless all the time. That is the only way to go. Platforms are for kiddies (though really they should get into good habits young), people with some sort of problems which precludes them from using SPD's, and Dinosaurs.

AllanST

Why on earth do you want to unclip both feet at once anyway? Apart from getting off the bike, having long stops I only ever unclip one foot, then drop the bike to that side so I balance on one leg. That means that when I have to get away, it's not too long to clip back in either. I'm sure it's not just me either, but that 99.99% of the cycling population also do this.

wackydeirdre

Thats exactly what I suggested, one foot at a time when getting off the bike perhaps I worded it wrong, sorry if I did

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")