Does anybody have a strong opinion re. clipless pedels, I know everybody wears them fro xc however I can't seems to get the hang of them especially over rock gardens and climbing they are good for climbing but when you run out of gas and come to astop getting out can be tricky.
There is a learning curve to them. For some it's short. For others it's long. Personally I've found that they enhance my biking and force me to navigate some areas I may bail on. Most of my spills have been at a dead stop from unclipping on one side and falling to the other. I personally feel more confident with them when climbing because if I stand to grind up the last bit I don't worry about my feet slipping off like I would with normal pedals.
Just keep the tension loose when you start off and tighten it as you feel you need to.
I almost always like them except when it comes to one or two local rock gardens.
I still think their pros outweigh the cons.
They take some practice, and some setting up. I had a hell of a time on my old pair of pedals, but then I got new ones at set the spring tension to be much lower and I have found a new love for clipping in!
Patience young skywalker. I love my clipless but I was very leery of them in the beginning too. So give 'em a chance maybe ride on the side walks and practice stopping a predetermined (random sign posts but NOT street crosses) spots to get the hang of it.
Like everyone says, it takes time. You'll eventually get used to it. For me, I feel I have more control over my bike. I never have to worry about slipping on climbs or descents.
I went back to flat pedals for a while because I had some sort of mental block about a couple of rocky sections. I needed to find the confidence that I could ride those sections.
Learning to get out of the pedals without thinking about it takes a while too.
:thumbsup: I picked up a pair of Time Alums. Bullet proof. It did take me time to get the hang of them. I would suggest practice in an area that is soft when you fall...cuz you probably will. Once you are comfortable with them practice quick releasing. Avoid vehicle trafic areas until you are smooth with your release. After riding on them for a few months I took them off and put on the old regular pedals...WOW what a difference. I was like something was really missing, they make a huge difference. I say all this from my own mistakes...theres nothing like pulling up to an intersection and forgetting to, or not unclipping fast enough and falling over and kissn the ashphalt...or so I've been told... :skep:
There is a small learning curve to going clipless and it just takes some time to get use to it. I first went clipless back in high school when I was I think no long before I turn 17 (I am about to turn 24 now) and I remember falling over multiple time trying to unclip and not being able to to it. Yes that did include come to a normal stop in my back yard and just just falling straight over side ways trying to get out rather embarrassing and I think I fell into some brush on the trail once or twice during the early days but all this did not last very long and with in a month or so it was 2nd nature to me.
Hell I have look at my foot getting off pedals when I was not using clippless and my foot still will twist like I am uncliping. Now I can not ride with clips any more because I will fall over sideways like I did when I first when clipless because my foot will get tangled in the clip because I am trying to get out uncliping. Also once you learn you will never really forget. I did not really ride for about 3 years and it was over 3 years since I used clipless pedals and yeah it was still 2nd nature to me when I got some new one for my new bike.
Once you go clipless you will never want to go back. Also once you get over the learning curve you will feel fine aways being clip in and getting out will be like getting off your current pedals (well more you will start always twisting your foot on no matter what you are on when you are getting off)
As everyone has said, there is an adjustment (learning curve) to making the switch to clipless. Heck, I did a few fall-overs before I got the hang of them...most people do. Stick with it...it's a bit like learning to ride a bike Once you get the hang of it, it'll be second nature.
I bought some eggbeaters when I first got into clipless - they're really easy for beginners since they're so simple - easy to clip in and out, and always easy to find the place to clip in since there are 4 ways to get into it. Haven't tried other brands - but I hear Time's are good. Just my 2 cents.
Another thing you can do is find some dirt roads to ride as you get used to them. I ride road a lot more than I ride trails (same bike, different tires though) and I use stretches of bumpy dirt roads to work on some things for the trails.. like staying loose when going over rough sections and all. If you have some fire roads, forest roads, or such that you can take your bike to, you can use them to help get a feel for clipless pedals before christening them on the trails.
Advice on clipless - If you get them, make sure you adjust the tension on the release BEFORE clipping into them on your bike for the first time. My worst getoff due to clipless was when I first put mine onto my bike. The tension was adjusted max tight from the box and after putting the pedals on my bike I jumped on for just a circle around my garage - came to a stop fully concentrating on clipping out but couldn't clip out because of the tension! Fell over onto the concrete and slammed the crap out of my elbow. They were so tight I had to take off my shoes while lying there on the garage floor straddling the bike! Not good.
like others have said reduce the tension at the beginning until you get used to them, After you get comfortable unclipping you can and may want to increase the tension to whatever you like it to be. It is all personal preference. I have a friend of mine who like his pretty lose and he been riding clippless a lot longer than me. I like mine a little tighter than average but in the end it really does not effect me getting in and out when I need to.
I've been riding clipless for a long time now. (Times, as a matter of fact.) One thing I've learned to do is unclip one foot or the other when I see a technical section or trail hazard I am uncertain about clearing smoothly. The trick is to be looking ahead, decide to unclip, then put that foot back on the pedal with the pedal more under the arch of your foot. That keeps you from clipping back in, but you can pedal as if you were on a platform pedal, and if need be, you can put a foot down.
i remember the first day i got clipless. i was stopped trying to get out and clipped my calf on my chain rings. it was a sweet gash, could see the fat tissue and all.
haha anyway, i dig them. i have a preference for the crank bros. candy or smarty pedals. gives you a small platform, and i'll ride on the once in a while on them when it's inconvenient to clip back in. i am 10x more efficient with them on, and can throw my bike around much better. my only suggestion would be to click out before you roll to a stop... i think about 95% of my crashes due to pedals had me going 5mph or less.
Another thing I like about riding with clipless pedals is they force me to be a better rider. Instead of giving up on a hill, I muscle through and sweat it out. I ride rock gardens, pick better lines, b/c I don't have the easy out of a dab anymore. I think it's a bit of the 'commit or eat @#$' mentality, but it works for me, and I've seen definite results in my skill as a rider since switching over to eggbeaters.
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