Clipless Pedals FAQ

the Shimano part number Gez is SM PD22 for the clip on pedal platforms with reflectors

Thank you. Will definitely look into them for the duskier evenings in Spring. Cheers. Gez

Had my new pedals fitted last week but have been ill since so haven't been out yet. A friend lent me her son's turbo trainer so I have been using that over the last 2 days but I am finally going to brave it and go out in a short while. Problem is I am now finding clipping in quite easy and can just about manage without looking. However unclipping is still a bit stiff. I have discovered I need to be at the lowest point and the spring is set at the lowest point but what else can I do? I am going up a cycle path that's very close by so I don't have to worry about traffic but I do have a short ride up a canal towpath so I hope I don't fall in wish me luck

I found my right foot easier to remove than my left initially. Just made sure that my right foot was the loadbearing one when stopping. Not ideal since I would have rather used my left foot on the kerb but managed in the end. Plenty of practice even when Not required is the key. You'll find your feet if you'll excuse the pun! Goodluck and give yourself plenty of time everytime. Gez

Im back and I've survived, almost intact . Came a cropper 2 minutes into the ride at the top of the road, but this was my own stupid fault. I have a bag I strap to the front of my bike to carry a few essentials in, as for some reason my bike wont take a saddle bag. It has a couple of long straps I always carefully secure but for the first time ever I forgot. The strap soon became wound round the front wheel and I came to a sudden hault. Yes you've guessed I was seen, by the guy whose house I was outside when I went down, though he did say I went down very gracefully! I finally got down onto the cycle track and was really gaining confidence, too much so as I tried to negotiate a Z gateway by only unclipping 1 foot, the wrong foot and down I went again. . To add insult to injury I also got a puncture . I had just got the wheel off and was getting my kit out (glad I had that bag after all!!) when a very kind gentleman appeared and offered assistance. Now I like to think I'm quite a capable and when needed, independent sort of person, but I'm no feminist and gladly accepted his help.
But at the end of the day it wasn't as bad as I thought. My right foot has already loosened and is no problem, the left still a bit stiff but I deliberately swapped feet occasionally. Thanks to all the advice on this thread, I've actually taken the plunge and I don't think I would have done so
otherwise. It's just over 4 weeks till I go to Central America for my challenge so I just hope I haven't left it too late

Well done!! It will be second nature to you in a couple of weeks. I actually used to narrate the possible reasons to disengage on my journey. I found it helped a little in the early days. My main causes to fall (and I did about three or four times) was slow moving traffic where you just get the timing wrong or I was too preoccupied with the road ahead and hazards to realise I had stopped and needed a free leg to prop myself up. Keep us informed of your progress and Goodluck. Gez

Stick at it CB,,your doing the things we've all done or in my case still doing , but its getting better

Thanks guys, just the encouragement I need. wish I could get out again tomorrow but sadly I have a busy day so I'll have to wait till thursday.

great little artcile for the newbie. I'v ebeen using spd for years on my MTB, but having just moved onto a road bike recently for a charity bike ride Shamless plug for donations here I've swapped to spd-sl. Safe to say it's taking time getting used to only have one side for clipping in... missed the connection 3 times today at a junction!

I bought myself a pair of Northwave MBT shoes which I find ideal since I can do a turn or two on the pedals if I find myself clipped out when I need to pedal. I had used road shoes but the sole was too smooth and I just slided on the pedal. Would never go back to not using clipless now. Gez

Just got back from my first go at clipless (SPD-SL) - hopefully the shaking will stop soon!

I played it safe, and walked to the local park. Once I found a spot that was smooth, quiet and had a comfortable hedge to fall into, I swapped shoes and gave it a go. It was a lot easier than I expected, probably thanks to tips I'd picked up from reading CC

I quickly learnt that the most important thing when you get going is to just keep pedalling. If you miss the pedal with your loose foot, pull up with the other leg so you keep going and you can try again - freewheeling at walking pace while you try to clip in is not a good idea!

The one thing I hadn't expected was how easy it is to have a 'moment' when you've unclipped one foot. I thought people fell because they couldn't get free at all, but the closest I came to tumbling was when I'd got one foot out but the bike started to lean the other way.

Shimano PD-M324 SPD Dual Platform Pedal Shimano Men's Mountain Bike - SH-MT22 shoes for Christmas. These turned out to not be the fall-off nightmare I envisaged (YET) as you can safely use one side of the pedal clipped or the other free. I tend to unclip my left foot on steep downhills and slow traffic. That way I don't have to think if something goes awry. Works very well for me (a timid creature when it comes to tumbles) and the clip side always seems to come up first, helping to clip in easily. I must say the shoes were the cheapest and also the most comfortable of the 10 or so pairs I tried on. Highly recommended combination for anyone of a nervous disposition taking the transition. This is not an advert - just trying to be helpful..........

Got my pedals shimano m520's but still no shoes,on my ride yesterday my left foot slipped off the pedal several times which was annoying definitely need to go clipless also noticed my left foot points away from my bike where as my right is straight

little adjustment on the cleats will sort the problem

First ride out with clipless today. No dramas but I think this is due to using cages for so long. Clipped in and out no problem. Easier than a tight strap to be honest. Saying that I had practiced all week with my turbo trainer. Certainly upped my average and found hill climbing much improved.

All in all a good move so Im happy.

Going clipless (SDP-SL) for first time tomorrow . If you don't hear from me again...........

Goodluck! You'll be fine just remember to take your time at every potential reason to unclip. Let us know how you get on and your verdict. Gez

Remember at some point you will fail to get the peddle out of the clip, and gracefully fall over. Mine took a few months to happen, and did it where there was a nice soft piece of grass.

WHOOOOOOOAA!! Well that was fun, certainly noticed the power transfer difference. Nice long stretch of car-free cycleway up the River Exe where I am - -and that is now my testing ground (it also has nice safe soft grass either side - -yes, I dis-enaged foot from pedal successfully and then tried to put the other foot down. Gravity then intervened )
Ok, so just one small off, and I'm going give it at least a week to get used to unclipping before hitting the roads (not literally - I hope!). Spent 45mins doing the cyclists equivalent of aviation 'circuit and bumps' as I got used to clipping in and out - without looking down. Bit daunting at first but the sdp's did make me feel more at one with the bike (using the old 25y.o. Raleigh for practise purposes).

Well done. Will feel weird to begin with but will get more like second nature in time. YOU will wonder why you waited to do it sooner. I had a slight accident totally unrelated to being clipped in and found myself unclipped without realising it. Almost instinctive reaction to the situation. Enjoy your newly found skill. Gez