Clip on pedals?

Question

I just got a pair of shoes and clip on pedals for my road bike, i tried them out today and i tipped over bike and all because i couldn't get my feet out in time!!

is it just something that will take more practice or is there a trick to using them?

Answer 1

When my friends get clipless pedals and want me to show them how to use them I make them put the bike on the grass, stand over it, clip one foot and and practice kicking it out till they fall over, then I have them do it with the other foot. It has been very effective. That's how I was taught and I've only 'fallen' once because I didn't get my foot out in time. And I was just not thinking, I unclipped the downhill foot and over I went, DUH-OH!

Answer 2

If you bought your pedals/shoes at your LBS and you're in doubt about the tension setting on the pedals, you can go back and have them reset the tension for you.

Verify the release tension by standing over the bike and clipping in and out with each shoe individually.

Now it's time to commit to learning.  Go to a quiet residential street, school parking lot, or wherever traffic is not an issue and practice.  Clip in and ride a short distance, unclip your shoe (whichever side you'll be clipping out on) while you still have forward momentum, and come to a stop.  Clip in and repeat.  Repeat again.  And again and again.  Do it until you think you've got it down perfect, then do it more.  You want this action to become automatic.  You don't want to think about falling.  There is no reason to worry about it, since you have the bike in motion, and you already know a bike in motion has no danger of falling over.  When you think you can't get any better at it, practice unclipping while coming to a quick or "panic" stop.  Now go do something else and come back for another session later in the day or the next day.  You may feel silly stopping every couple hundred feet, but you'll retain the sequence to memory and build confidence.  Now go for a ride and enjoy the advantages of going clipless.

So, no, there isn't any trick.  Just practice.

Answer 3

nah, not really. You just have to get used to them.

Answer 4

You get used to them very quickly, although it is usefult to have them set to a soft setting in the early days. Adjust the tension tighter as you get used to them so that you don't step out of the pedal on a tough uphill. They're kind of like ski bindings.

The benefits far outweigh the risk of falling over! Try to get used to pulling up on the pedal on the up stroke. You can also practice by pedalling one footed. After a while you'll have nearly double the power.

Answer 5

Happens all the time until you get used to them.  Most pedals also have a s***w where you can adjust the spring tension to make it easier or harder to unclip.

Answer 6

you need to get used to them.  make sure you loosen them, there should be and adjustment.  when i first got mine, i would ride around on my lawn just in case i would fall it wouldnt hurt.  it will only take  a few days and then your riding will be great!!!

Answer 7

there is one rule to learning clipless pedals:

"You Will Fall"

but over time you will become an expert, practice standing up in the grass, that is how i learned. Don't give up clipless pedals make a huge difference.

Answer 8

If you know to kick your heel out, that's all you really need to do. Yes, it takes practice and becomes 2nd nature quickly.