Newbie to clippless - advice please

[shaundv]

I just got myself a set of Shimano PDM540 pedals for my mountain bike. And cycling shoes.  This will be the first time I will be MTBing with cleats.

 

Any advice for the newbie? Please post here.

[CatGirl]

i'm also new to all this, and plan on getting the shimano m520's.. so i guess any advice you get will help me too...

 

thanks

helloise

[Hacc]

I know this will sound stupid but I practised a bit on grass  at home before going mtb'ing for the first time with cleats.

[bustthesickness]

Hi, good luck with the pedals. It will feel pretty scary at first to be attached to the bike, but you'll get used to it quickly. Keep in mind that you'll probably have a few crashes here and there because you cant get your feet out in time. Places this happens are technical ascents, stop streets [some of my worst cleat wipes] and spots where you'd normally 'dab' without thinking. Just try keep the tension springs loose for now so it's easy to get your feet out.

I'm on the other side of this stage now. I rode clipless pedals for many years. A year or two back I started riding flat pedals to help improve my jumping skills etc. Now I swear by them. The only time I'd ever appreciate clipless is on very rocky descents, and even then I'm used to staying put on the flatties. For me the best part is being in my comfy Vans or Montrails in the hills.

 

Have fun! 

[Speed Devil]

First try them on your back lawn or in the local park. Then do some road work and get used to stopping at stop streets etc and then move to offroad when you are comfortable

[pastapouch]

don't set the pedals very tight so you can unclip easier. Once you're used to it you can tighten them more.

[Growler]

make sure that you clip out well before you plan on stopping.

However, situations always arise when you have to stop suddenly and you forget to clip out or can't clip out in time.

Don't feel too bad if you do fall.  I know some guys who have been riding for years and still end up falling after they changed pedals or shoes... the guys feel like total newbies again!!!

 

[CatGirl]

someone tried to set the pedals looser, but it made no difference???

it probably now depends on the kind you getting???

[Piernas Flacas]

Also make sure the cleats on your shoes are tightly screwed and there is no play on them. Otherwise they won't unclip easily.

[AndreZA]

If you want looser fitting clips, then see if you can get old cleats. That is the reason people replace them.

[RockCoach]

I've helped a few newbies with this.

 

1. Decide which leg you use to pull off. i.e push down on from a standstill. This is the foot which will be clipped into the pedal first and clipped out of last. You must remember to unclip with the same (weaker) foot each time.

 

2. You now have to practice clipping the other foot in and out. As Hacc said a fairly large flat piece of soft lawn is your best bet. But it is easier to either try on an indoor trainer or leaning up against a wall.

 

3. When  trying on the grass (or trail) you pull off (stronger leg clipped in before you move) you will initially battle to clip in with the second foot but just carry on pedalling until you locate it and clip in. Then unclip and start again.

 

4. Do it over and over for an hour and then practice it for 5 or 10 minutes before every ride until you are comfortable. (Taught our daughter at 8 this way and now it's second nature to her)

 

5. Good luck!!!

 

[masood]

 

make sure that you clip out well before you plan on stopping.

However' date=' situations always arise when you have to stop suddenly and you forget to clip out or can't clip out in time.

Don't feel too bad if you do fall.  I know some guys who have been riding for years and still end up falling after they changed pedals or shoes... the guys feel like total newbies again!!!

 

[/quote']

 

Happened to me in a packed place. had to stop for a kid that ran in front of me.fell on paving. was funny for everyone else but me.

 

[Farm Gate]

There is nothing worse than sickening instant between realising that you have stopped and your feet aren't unclipping!

 

[DeltaOscar]

Camps Bay Robots.

Stop at red light (good boy!), can't unclip.

Lean on robot pole, clever.....

Not! Lean over too far, can't push back up to vertical, still can't unclip.

Wait 3 robot changes before giving in to the inevitable.

Just let go and wait to hit the ground.

A very kind pedestrian helped me to unclip by taking off one of my shoes.

 

Nothing has managed to embarass me on a bike after that.

[CAAD4]

Go To the Full Throttle Clearance store in Edenvale and Buy a reasonable set of knee and elbow pads. Go ride, fall, laugh. Enjoy.

[RockCoach]

 

Yeah, I remember when converting from toeclips to my first Look pedals in the early - mid 90s. I rode from Benoni to Wits tech most days. The route I took had 40 traffic lights. My very first ride on the way in, I remembered to unclip perfectly. On the way home I caught almost all the lights green. Well the inevitable happened when one light turned red and I had to make an emergency stop. Eish. It wasn't pretty.

 

A couple more tips.

Don't try and unclip on wet tiles of a coffee shop's terrace with look cleats.

Don't put your unclipped foot straight down. ie. put it a little away from the bike so that the bike leans over (the correct way). I've had someone stop next to me and fall over after 30 seconds by being unbalanced by doing that.