Clipless pedals

[Shine]

I just got a replacement set of LOOK cleats for my shoes, since they were starting to break. It was time.

I think I did a good job of putting the new ones on in the same place as the old ones, but I still get a bit nervous until I have that first long ride to make sure they're gonna work OK.

I went around the neighborhood and so far, so good. Tomorrow I'm going out for the first time since mid-Nov. I hope to get about 20-30 miles in.

For those of you who also ride with clipless pedals, do you remember the challenge of learning how to use them??? Gawd, I'm glad that's over. Yeah, they're much more efficient, but they definitely take getting used to.

:hi:

[seemunkee]

1. I just started clipping in while on the rollers

Scares the crap out of me when I try to stop. I have to grab something so I don't fall over.

[Shine]

2. Yeah, it took a while for me to get used to them, too.

but truly, the efficiency of pedaling is sooooo much better once you do.

:hi: seemunkee!

[Fovea]

3. I learned back in the days of toe tins

and I am a friend of Artie Johnson.

But I started using SPD's on a recumbent trike, so that technology was very low stress to learn.

[prolesunited]

4. I do remember

I got out of the bike shop after getting it all set up and it was dark but I was determined to try it out and keep all the instructions fresh. I went to a lighted parking lot and just kept practicing back and forth.

I fell a number of times and there was blood dripping down both legs by the time I got it figured out. I only fell once, because of pedal issues, after that night because I was being a total space cadet on a local trail. I was going really slow, stopped for a street crossing and just tipped over on my side. D'oh.

I've never tried anything but SPDs, which are on my road bike. On my hybrid, I have the dual-sided pedals, which are nice since I use that bike to go around town a lot.

[Little Wing]

5. I've got standard open pedals at the moment

I'll get some shoes and pedals once I strengthen my feet up a bit, don't want to get into them early and cheat my way into discomfort as I'm still at the stage where I need to move my feet around a little.

[redacted]

6. No No. Foot strength is not what it's about. You need hard shoes.

The kind that come with clipless pedals.

Even if you don't get the clipless -- go get a pair of clipless mountain biking shoes (the kind you can walk in) without the clips, because then with the hard sole -- you don't have to worry about "foot strength" because the pedal stroke is more efficiently applied though your foot.

Also your foot will not bend and will not tire. (Probably why you need to move your foot around -- it's stressed, gets tired).

And if you get the clipless pedals -- you have a 350-ish pedal stroke which is even more efficient.

Trust me if you have the proper equip --the strength of you feet is just not a factor. Your feet are just the connector between you legs and the pedals.

If your feet tire and get sore -- you NEED the clipless. Not, as you suggest, the opposite.

[Little Wing]

7. I get what you're saying, but my feet are mush and I'd rather

build a solid base of strength from top to bottom before switching to aids such as clipless shoes.

Like starting to do squats with a very light weight without a belt before switching to heavier weights with one, I'd like a back that can somewhat support itself and is at least ready for the unfamiliar exercise before wrapping a belt around it and never having it do any work of its own.

[wtmusic]

8. One thing that will be a revelation when you switch

is that with clipless, you can pull back and up with your feet to assist your pedal stroke. Much more power.

[Fovea]

12. This is an intuitive approach that makes sense

but you will find that foot support is actually more critical than foot strength. In a good shoe, the bones and ligaments do the work.

The things that will need strengthening to compensate for the additional amount of watts SPDs will allow you to generate (even more on a bent) are (working northward) your ankles, calf and shin muscles (you will get some temporary tibialis anterior fascitis probably), your knees, your hams, and your core. They will all get stronger from the additional demand.

Buy the shoes at a reputable cycling store, and unless you intend to race, look toward MTB style shoes. Eschew laces. Look toward finding the right width and arch, and the rest takes care of itself, pretty much.

As you get used to it, develop a ritual for stopping that involves unclipping a foot on the last pedal crank.

[frylock]

9. i just started last month..

bought a set of Crank Bros Mallets for my new Giant. I've had a few scary moments, but so far, so good.

[DS1]

10. wrong place

.

[Fovea]

11. I started on a recumbent trike

after my stroke, and I really appreciated having something to hold my numb foot onto the pedal.

By the time I managed to get back on two wheels, I was an old hand.

But even being used to them, I have still done an Artie Johnson or two.

[Kolesar]

13. Do the "Artie Johnson "

:lol: