Tip on unclipping for learners (I think)

Block (8

Went out for the first time with my left foot clipped in and my right foot in a normal trainer.

Stopped at the side of the road and unclipped first time and it was ok but then I couldn't clip back in and it wasn't until I stopped after 5 mins that I found out that you can't clip in with mud clogged cleats after my very first stop

Arrived at the GAA parking lot and still having problems after over half an hour and about 500 circles in the small car park and then all of a sudden I think I may have got and along comes a tractor slowly to the parking lot and I slow down and bang I hit the ground shoulder in the grassy area shins to the kirb

Another 20 mins later I find out its very easy to unclip if I flick my heel towards the bike followed by a flick of the heel away from the bike.

Is this how you guys do it as its incredibly easy that way but I read as much on the net as I can and no one ever mentioned it.

I'll be clipping in both feet tomorrow weather permitting but I have to say the stress of clipless pedals nearly put me off cycling and the shoes had been in the cupboard for over 3 weeks and had been cycling with trainers on clipless pedals since I got the bike :rolleyes:

Morgan

If your pedals have adjustable tension then it sounds like they might be set too tight.

Caroline_ie

You can try and loosen the tension on the pedal a bit if that helps. See tha screw on the black bit.

Same with SPD, screw on the grey bit

Block (8

I'm pretty sure its on the loose setting but it's a second hand bike if that makes a difference.

But I seem to be fine if I do it my way unless that is an indication that the pedal is worn?

DirkVoodoo

I dont think thats a great way to do it to be honest. Part of unclipping and clipping in relies on having your other clipped in foot to act as resistance. I can see it being quite easy to slip your trainer off the pedal and causing an injury.

Have someone hold on to you or grab a stationary object then practice it a few times. There are no real quick fixes, just practice and constant reminder until it seems like habit.

fletch

I always clip away from the bike....does anybody twist their foot towards the bike? I think the OP was suggesting that he/she does that

Nietzschean

fletch wrote: »

I always clip away from the bike....does anybody twist their foot towards the bike? I think the OP was suggesting that he/she does that

i think the bigger problem is they need to do it both ways to get the momentum up to unclip....which will probably just lead to twisting his/her knee imo.

I clip away from the bike to keep my leg clean mostly or do it at the top of the stroke, unclipping either direction doesn't really bother me...

Lumen

Regardless of the pedal system, if it takes more than a couple of mins of practice either you're doing something very wrong or there is something up with your pedals or cleats.

If you need to experiment in a safe environment just do it indoors while leaning against a wall.

Agree that you shouldn't be attempting this with one foot in a normal shoe. That's just wierd.

Caroline_ie

Lumen wrote: »

Agree that you shouldn't be attempting this with one foot in a normal shoe. That's just wierd.

And so not euro too ... do you cycle with your GAA kit too? Because that's probably what's wrong with the pedals.

Jip

Block (8 wrote: »

couldn't clip back in and it wasn't until I stopped after 5 mins that I found out that you can't clip in with mud clogged cleats after my very first stop

Sounds exactly like the issue newbie skiers have, myself included when I first started, when trying to get skis on with an inch of snow on the bottom of their boots. They're there for ages trying to bang it in before they realise a quick tap on the bottom of the boots to shake the snow loose and they're away.

DeepBlue

Perhaps practicing first on grass might be an idea. If you fall then you don't damage yourself or the bike.

Block (8

fletch wrote: »

I always clip away from the bike....does anybody twist their foot towards the bike? I think the OP was suggesting that he/she does that

I unclip away from the bike too but after I twist slightly towards bike first.
If I don't go inwards a bit it's like a 50 50 chance of unclipping.
Hope I don't damage the cleats or pedals in doing so though.

I wear trainers on the other foot in case I have trouble unclipping so I could use that as a safety net so to speak and lean to the right in stopping, read this in another forum.
I'm just practicing on the foot I'll be unclipping when I stop at the traffic first as I'll be leaving the right foot clipped most of the time or so I read.

theclimber

It sounds like the adjusters on your pedals are too tight. I started using them 2 months ago,the first time was on a commute to work in traffic! I was so nervous, I clicked out about 10 metres or so from the traffic lights. After the first week or so, got used to them and would never cycle any other

-Chris-

Block (8 wrote: »

Hope I don't damage the cleats or pedals in doing so though.

I wonder if this is the problem? Stop being so gentle!

I spend all my miles (what ever miles I get done) on an MTB. Based on terrain, balance etc., I'd say I unclip ten-times as much as the equivalent roadie.

All I do is twist my heel away from the frame.

It doesn't matter how panicked I am or how quickly it occurs, I just wrench my heels away from the frame and I'm out!!


If you're twisting your heel "significantly" away from the frame and you're still clipped in, the angle of your cleats is probably wrong.

My €0.02.

spincess

Only other thing might be worth adding to the above (even though it is quite obvious) is not to pull upwards whilst unclipping, but to keep a little downward pressure on whilst twisting your heel out relatively quickly/sharply.

And unclip before you need to until you feel more confident with it - much better than only wearing one cleat!

mockler007

ok it shouldn't take more than an few hours to get the hang of clipins, just turn ur heal outwards and hay presto your sorted, don't make it hard for yourself, or fear it, or you will end up just looking at them and knowing they have beaten a human to a simple clipin , remember turn your heal outwards,

Jumpy

mockler007 wrote: »

ok it shouldn't take more than an few hours to get the hang of clipins, just turn ur heal outwards and hay presto your sorted, don't make it hard for yourself, or fear it, or you will end up just looking at them and knowing they have beaten a human to a simple clipin , remember turn your heal outwards,

*twitch*

Block (8

Do most here unclip at about the 11 to 12 o'clock position?

That's how it was shown to do on youtube but it seems to be easier at the 6 position but then you have the right foot still clipped in at 12 on the other side which is not all that convenient if your slowing down.

Caroline_ie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLZbijqcjtw

fletch

Block (8 wrote: »

Do most here unclip at about the 11 to 12 o'clock position?

That's how it was shown to do on youtube but it seems to be easier at the 6 position but then you have the right foot still clipped in at 12 on the other side which is not all that convenient if your slowing down.

I unclip at the 6 o clock position too

Raam

I unclip lying on my back in the middle of the road.

Block (8

Raam wrote: »

I unclip lying on my back in the middle of the road.

hmmm must try that.....

Went out this morning at 7.30 and kinda got the hang of it.

Reached the part of the main road where the road becomes one lane and the opposite two lanes (if you know what I'm on about) so stopped at the side of the road and unclipped no problem.

So I turned back when the traffic eased but took a couple seconds to clip back on my left and was very slow intersecting the lanes before clipping back in, had to pedal a small bit with the right only for a sec

Chickened out at the roundabout as the traffic was getting busy so got off and waited a long while before I clippety clopped across on foot.

All in all really enjoyed myself (especially after getting used to unclipping) and I can get while there's so much enthusiasm for it.

Now for a longer ride tomorrow (hopefully one and a half to two hours) and thanks to all for the advice (raam included)

Jumpy

My biggest clipping problem is when my looks flip over (which they always do) and I am trying to clip into the wrong side.

stopped_clock

Raam wrote: »

I unclip lying on my back in the middle of the road.

I actually find that quite difficult to do for some reason. End result resembles a beetle stuck on its back.

petethedrummer

Jaysus, there must be something really odd going on, have you got your shoes on the correct foot?

Jumpy

petethedrummer wrote: »

Jaysus, there must be something really odd going on, have you got your shoes on the correct foot?

I find your insinuation insulting sah!

spincess

Block (8 wrote: »

Do most here unclip at about the 11 to 12 o'clock position?

That's how it was shown to do on youtube but it seems to be easier at the 6 position but then you have the right foot still clipped in at 12 on the other side which is not all that convenient if your slowing down.

Huh? I don't understand this inconvenience... Surely you would want to leave one foot clipped in unless you were dismounting entirely?

Are you riding fixed wheel?

Am I missing something?

Lumen

Jumpy wrote: »

My biggest clipping problem is when my looks flip over (which they always do) and I am trying to clip into the wrong side.

This can happen with new pedals. Once they get a bit of use the bearings free up and they should hang the right way.