One with the bike

[fisherbikefreak]

I splerged to my better looking halfs disapproval (ha! we can't always please). I purchased a pair of Answer speeder shoes and sh1t canned my crappy platform peddles.

Now I am trying to get used to being clipped in. I love the speed I can get -- even up hill -- but I feel a little uneasy about doing any x to xx meneuvers. I know practice makes perfect, but my banged up body can only take so much! I took two spills yesterday while out for a mild ride along the Gateway Trail and Lake Phalen.

My problem is riding wheelies or getting to a point where I would normally drop a foot to keep upright. I just can't seem to get out in time. When doing more technical trail maneuvers do you guys (and ladies) remain clipped in?

Any pointers for a battered SPD newbie?

[Brick]

Any pointers for a battered SPD newbie?
1. Prop yourself up between two stationary objects (parked cars work well) and clip in and out a couple hundred times.

2. Adjust the release tension WAY down to start, and then dial it up a click or two at a time untill you fell it is about right. I was able to find a sweet spot with mine where I could get in and out easily and consistantly, and not involuntarily :hit:

[Magic]

You will have some problems at first until you get the twist of the foot right. Even in panic time I still drop to the ground sometimes. You can try shimano 636 pedals that have a bigger platform. Or any other pedal with a wider platform. I stay clipped in unless I'm totaly unsure of the trail. Welcome to the clipped in world.

[syntaxjunkie]

the first thing i did when i switched to spds was to loosen up the tension adjustment so i could click out easy. just knowing that i could get out quickly gave me a lot more confidence. the other thing i learned from my roadie friends was to pedal like you're scraping off the bottoms of your shoes on the pedals. not up and down like a piston, but more of a constant circle. it's a more efficient stroke and gives you better balance. it'll feel a lot different, too, if you've been used to flats.

[zerpy]

You'll just get used to it. I don't even panic anymore, I just keel over and say OWWWW....

[drakh]

I splerged to my better looking halfs disapproval (ha! we can't always please). I purchased a pair of Answer speeder shoes and sh1t canned my crappy platform peddles.

Now I am trying to get used to being clipped in. I love the speed I can get -- even up hill -- but I feel a little uneasy about doing any x to xx meneuvers. I know practice makes perfect, but my banged up body can only take so much! I took two spills yesterday while out for a mild ride along the Gateway Trail and Lake Phalen.

My problem is riding wheelies or getting to a point where I would normally drop a foot to keep upright. I just can't seem to get out in time. When doing more technical trail maneuvers do you guys (and ladies) remain clipped in?

Any pointers for a battered SPD newbie?


I'm told that everyone falls over the first time or two on clipless. Everyone i know has done so. After a few weeks on the bike, twisting to clip out becomes second nature. Even so, there are times where the crash is just too fast. As Zerpy said, fall over and go "owww".

I ride just about everything cliped in anymore unless there's a big fall and i'm not sure about the obstacle. That's why i have Time Z-Control pedals. They're basically a Time ATAC with a pedal built around them. Crankbros. has something similar with the eggbeaters. They're nice for those times where i want to be able to bail quickly.

[manual63]

Being a BMXer, I had the hardest time getting used to being clipped in. I still don't like it, but since it's faster, I run em on my XC bike. I learned to set the tension super loose. I have the Shimano DX platform clipless pedals, so even if my tension is loose, I still feel like there is a pedal there.

I never clip out when doing things, it's a loss in time for me. Chris will clip his inner foot out on quick sharp turns or fast turns while I stay clipped in. He likes the extra assurance that his foot can catch him.....I like to hang on and most of the time I get a foot down if I start sliding.......but sometimes......yeah......you know the drill.

I will not run clipless on my freeride bike when I am doing crazy stuff.....it just isn't safe and I need to be able to chuck the bike sometimes. If you are doing wheelies and such, it's probably best to not use clipless pedals.

It's just finding what you like and getting used to it. If you have a BMX background like me, you might like some of my suggestions, if not, you probably need to be clipped in to bunnyhop......:scream:.

[berrywise]

I was riding in a homecoming parade as a part of the Winona State cycling club. A friend of the club was driving their old beater car and we were screwing around doing wheelies up onto the bumper of the car and then holding it while we got pulled along.

Well I was to lazy to pull the clipless pedals off so I was clipped in. Went to wheelie up onto the bumper and instead managed to go right up over the back and landed on my hip bones. Tried to get up but blacked out. My friends got me to the side of the road and I couldn't even stand up so they called 911 and away I went.

No serious injuries just deep bruises to my hip bones. Had a hell of a time for a few weeks afterword (thanks to qheuie and his girlfriend for taking hell of good care of me).

scott (ever pee in a snapple bottle because it is to painful to get to the bathroom?)

[Trevize1138]

I, too, HIGHLY recommend the pedal around a parking lot for an hour clipping-in and clipping-out of your pedals to get good and used to 'em. Loosening them all the way is also a must for someone new to clipless.

But, yeah, I remember my first hill climbs with clipless. Wholy cow! It was like the difference between front wheel drive and all-wheel drive in snow. You've got so much more power, it's pretty nice!

Enjoy, and remember never to rely on the pedals for bunny hops! ;)

[PWAXON]

I splerged to my better looking halfs disapproval (ha! we can't always please). I purchased a pair of Answer speeder shoes and sh1t canned my crappy platform peddles.

Now I am trying to get used to being clipped in. I love the speed I can get -- even up hill -- but I feel a little uneasy about doing any x to xx meneuvers. I know practice makes perfect, but my banged up body can only take so much! I took two spills yesterday while out for a mild ride along the Gateway Trail and Lake Phalen.

My problem is riding wheelies or getting to a point where I would normally drop a foot to keep upright. I just can't seem to get out in time. When doing more technical trail maneuvers do you guys (and ladies) remain clipped in?

Any pointers for a battered SPD newbie?
I have Speeders also, great shoe but be careful with the tongues mine riped off after about a month. I just removed the laces, they are easyer to get on and off that way and are just as comfortable.

Everyone is right clipless just become second nature. At that point you will only fall in the parking lot in front of all your friends:laugh:

[zerpy]

Being a BMXer, I had the hardest time getting used to being clipped in. I still don't like it, but since it's faster, I run em on my XC bike. I learned to set the tension super loose. I have the Shimano DX platform clipless pedals, so even if my tension is loose, I still feel like there is a pedal there.

I never clip out when doing things, it's a loss in time for me. Chris will clip his inner foot out on quick sharp turns or fast turns while I stay clipped in. He likes the extra assurance that his foot can catch him.....I like to hang on and most of the time I get a foot down if I start sliding.......but sometimes......yeah......you know the drill.

I will not run clipless on my freeride bike when I am doing crazy stuff.....it just isn't safe and I need to be able to chuck the bike sometimes. If you are doing wheelies and such, it's probably best to not use clipless pedals.

It's just finding what you like and getting used to it. If you have a BMX background like me, you might like some of my suggestions, if not, you probably need to be clipped in to bunnyhop......:scream:.

Yea, I was trying to learn how to manual while clipped in. It was a painful experience. Of course I only had the clipless pedals for about a week too, not that I'm much better now :)

[qheuie]

I was riding in a homecoming parade as a part of the Winona State cycling club. A friend of the club was driving their old beater car and we were screwing around doing wheelies up onto the bumper of the car and then holding it while we got pulled along.

Well I was to lazy to pull the clipless pedals off so I was clipped in. Went to wheelie up onto the bumper and instead managed to go right up over the back and landed on my hip bones. Tried to get up but blacked out. My friends got me to the side of the road and I couldn't even stand up so they called 911 and away I went.

No serious injuries just deep bruises to my hip bones. Had a hell of a time for a few weeks afterword (thanks to qheuie and his girlfriend for taking hell of good care of me).

scott (ever pee in a snapple bottle because it is to painful to get to the bathroom?)
yeah... i remember that. he ruined the whole parade, everyone just went home :D

i think i rode for about 3 or 4 hours on the road practicing with clipless before i hit the trail. i recall falling at least 5 times on pavement. then i decided to hit the trail.. the dirt is softer, right? :)

keep the SPD'c CLEAN. once you get some mud in there they can jam up pretty bad (the old models at least). i use time pedals now, never had a problem with dirt packing in, ever.

[noise_is_life]

I know it's not quite the same as being on a mountain bike, but back in the day (80's) I rode clip pedals on my road bike, where you are strapped and cleated in and actually have to reach down to release from your pedals.

I definitely fell over at a couple of stop lights before I got that figured out.

[ryno lite]

I know it's not quite the same as being on a mountain bike, but back in the day (80's) I rode clip pedals on my road bike, where you are strapped and cleated in and actually have to reach down to release from your pedals.

I definitely fell over at a couple of stop lights before I got that figured out.
My older brother had those on his triathalon bike in the mid 80s! I never tried them, but they looked scary as heck! I like being able to clip out of my pedals without reaching down to release a strap!

[bikemike]

With the old clips being staped in you learned to fall withe a bike between your legs.There was nothing else to do. And man did it hurt.

:cryin:

[manual63]

With the old clips being staped in you learned to fall withe a bike between your legs.There was nothing else to do. And man did it hurt.

:cryin:
And I get crap for not riding without a helmet.......:).

If you can't throw the bike, then your done.

Best solution when your crashing.....abandon ship!!!!!!

[bikemike]

A helmet???? When clips had straps there were no such thing.:fool: ouch!!!!

[noise_is_life]

Actually I hardly ever wore a helmet back then, if you saw my mushroom lookin lycra covered styrofoam Rhode Gear helmet, you would know why.

Come to think of it I took a 30+mph face plant into a guide post like that and I turned out fine (except for the 14 stitches in my face):crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

OK, so maybe that's not a good example.

[bikemike]

Straped in I once was clocked at 41 by police. On Main St. hill in Mankato. That officer didn't think it was funny:crazy2:

[noise_is_life]

Straped in I once was clocked at 41 by police. On Main St. hill in Mankato. That officer didn't think it was funny:crazy2:
I actually crashed on Grandad's bluff in La Crosse, would have been going faster, but it's a curvy hill...good thing.

I've been in excess of 50 "strapped in" on my road bike, but I was on country roads so it was legal.

[manual63]

Straped in I once was clocked at 41 by police. On Main St. hill in Mankato. That officer didn't think it was funny:crazy2:
They have a BMX track there. We used to go up that hill after the races sometimes, just to blast down it. I am sure we were doin' 40 plus.......on our BMX bikes!!! Crazy.....:crazy:.

[At the Gates 2121]

Any pointers for a battered SPD newbie?[/QUOTE]:fool:
Yes Get Time Pedals they are far and away better pedals


Joel