How to use clip less pedals, (clip in pedals)

The first thing you learn is that pedals that you clip into are actually called clipless, strange I know.
Secondly they take a bit of getting used to,

Like ski bindings, your shoes are held by a sprung mechanism. Everyone will tell you when you are new to clipless that you will fall.  I can tell you it's true, it is almost always a zero speed fall. When you stop, and you haven’t unclipped the foot from the pedal you are left on the ground or in the hedge with the feet stuck in the pedals. Every cyclist I know has experienced this rite of passage.

It’s not pretty, having to take your shoe off to get out of the mechanics of the bike, and as you are stopped, usually the only harm is to the ego, and always embarrassing.  In my case it was at Minster traffic lights and falling into a fence.  Much to the amusement of the white van driver sat at the red light, no harm done to me, or more importantly the bike. The fence, well it was a bit of a battered old thing to start with, now its just a bit more battered.    Tip here is to save yourself too much embarrassment, make sure when you start out the bindings are quite loose so that the shoe comes away from the pedal easily. Wear old or cheap gloves or mittens as your hands will go down to break the fall.

The things to remember is that your feet do not have to be locked in for you to start pedalling  you can put one foot in, and rest the other on top of the pedal, getting a bit of speed and make sure you have a bit of road or pavements ahead, (not fence) before clipping in. Secondly anticipate your stop, take your foot out early and rest it on the top.

Even though I've been riding clipless for just over a week, I've had some wobbles and one fall, I can already feel the advantages of having the foot in a constant position, using  my power more efficiently.  Even picking up new trophies on Strava.  It won’t be long before I’m wondering how did I ride without them, and wanting the tension tightened.

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