|   Going clipless for first time? | Charm
Apr 24, 2002 9:12 PM | | I have always used platform pedals and now I'm going to try clipless and I was thinking about getting some crank bros egg beaters. How hard is it to learn how to clip in and out...few hours? few days? Anyone experience how long it took them to adjust from platform to clipless? |
| re: Going clipless for first time? | paulesk177
Apr 24, 2002 9:19 PM | | I went from clips/straps to clipless a while back. It took me about an hour to get used to them enough to ride. I fell (rather, tipped over) on the trial once or twice the following day and that was it. Took a little bit to get the right tension adjustment. Have been able to clip out without incident since (5 years now).
Good luck. |
| re: Going clipless for first time? | yup
Apr 24, 2002 9:26 PM | | took me a few hours. IT takes a few rides to get used to getting out. I had a pretty crappy pair of clipless pedals so I had a hard time with that. I just stayed with lighter (magnesium) pedals. Many say that it gives you a more efficient ride; they are totally right. Give it a try. |
| re: clipless | jr
Apr 24, 2002 11:57 PM | | After a couple of weeks it will feel natural to be clipped in. Definitely more control over rough high speed trails. |
| Egg beaters are easy to clip out of | Mango
Apr 25, 2002 2:06 AM | | Personally i find egg beaters easy to clip into and out of.... as easy as using my time atacs. i think they'll be a good choice for a first clipless pedal. have fun! |
| re: Going clipless for first time? | woodyak
Apr 25, 2002 5:53 AM | | It took me about 15 minutes to get used to before I could ride. It took me about 10 rides before I felt confident that I could get out. At first I had a couple of tipovers where I couldn't get out. That stopped after a few months. Now I can't imagine riding w/o them. They make a huge difference.
I started out on Time ATAC's and that's where I still am. Solid pedals. I plan on trying the EggBeaters in the future, just to see what they are like. |
| You'll learn quickly, but... | WarrGuru
Apr 25, 2002 6:33 AM | | If you're like most people using clipless for the first time you'll learn pretty quickly. You'll also have a bunch of low speed falls..zero speed, actually.
What usually happens is that the newbie will practice....and do quite well. Then you go for a ride...everything is great and you stop for a sec....then you realize you're clipped in, but too late...you fall over. It's embarrassing, but rarely dangerous.
After a couple of weeks it will become as natural as your current pedals are. You will get to the point where it's so natural a motion, that you don't even think about it.
Good Luck |
| Safest way to "TIP OVER"....clipped in? | Clipless wannabe
Apr 25, 2002 10:14 AM | | Just wondering...you said..
"then you realize you're clipped in, but too late...you fall over. It's embarrassing, but rarely dangerous"
So you are locked in. I understand that. You begin to tip over. Ok
What is the best way to hit. Knees first? Shoulder bearing the major impact? Arm or hands put out first, or just prior to impact?
Or just let your helmet take the full impact? Isn't that what helmets are for?
Seriously, what it the safest way to fall in these Zero MPH tip-overs?
Clipless wannabe |
| Safest way to "TIP OVER"....clipped in? | WarrGuru
Apr 25, 2002 1:33 PM | | It's not like you have a lot of time to think about how to fall. I usually just fell on my side. Be careful about sticking your hands out to break the fall......you could break a wrist.
The way it typically goes.....You're riding along minding your own business and decide to stop. You hit the brakes and bring the bike to a stop...THEN, when you try to put your foot down, you realize it's still attached to the pedal. Panic sets in and you yank as hard as you can to get a foot unclipped.
Depending on the pedal type, that hard pull may have released you. Usually, you'll just fall over while trying to get your foot out. Sometimes you'll get a foot out as you're falling.
Just keep using the pedals. Within a few weeks, the unclip motion will become automatic. Then your feet will just unclip every time you stop. You'll also feel more comfortable clipped in than not.
A friend of mine told me that he used to ride into a nice soft grassy field. Then he would clip in and ride a couple of feet and stop the bike. He would then try to maintain his balance as long as possible (still clipped in). When the bike started falling over...THen, and only then would he try to get out of the clips. He told me that within a week, it was as natural as walking and that he always clips out automatically in panic situations. I believe him. I've never seen him get caught in his clips.
Good Luck. |
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