Road Cycling Essentials

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The bar stack is exactly the same height as my Scott and it's very comfortable indeed.

Yeah, those are SKS Chromoplastics, the small ones for up to 28mm tyres. Need to let the rear one out a bit at the back.
 
Touch wood I've never fallen over with my clipless pedals in almost a year. The only exception was when I was about 70 miles into a 120 mile treck and the entrance to a footpath bridge was deceptively kerbed. I just came to a standstill instantly and topelled.

As has been said loosen them up the most you can so they're at their easiest to unclip from, and always unclip the same foot. I always unclip my left (kerb side) and *never* unclip my right unless I'm dismounting.

The good news is you'll get used to it very quickly. At first I was unclipping 10-20 metres before a junction but now I leave it right to the last minute and it's just second nature.
 
George Hincapie said:
How people clip in/out can be very personal. One approach you can try is to clip the same foot out every time. For me, it's my right foot - then if I need to, I'll clip my left out. Perhaps try this for a while? It might help.
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Although I use toeclips, I do the same. I always take my right foot out and only take my left out if I have to. You get into a natural rhythm that way.
 
I do the same, right foot out first. It wears out the right cleat faster than the left tho :(

I prefer to trackstand for a short time (still quite nervous doing it clipped in tho) or lean against lampposts or any other road furnature.
 
touch said:
Looks good.
I went for the other way around - wheels against the wall :)

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Coo and I thought I was doing well with four bikes.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;20501976 said:
I'm always left foot out first, then I can put it on the kerb without getting off the saddle.
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This.

Also, when clipping back in, my initial reaction was always to aim with the ball of my foot, however most of the time that misses for me. Now I aim more with my toes; 9/10 it goes back in first time but if not then you can peddle a few rotations on your toes which is especially useful if you're starting on a hill.
 
Russinating said:
Touch wood I've never fallen over with my clipless pedals in almost a year. The only exception was when I was about 70 miles into a 120 mile treck and the entrance to a footpath bridge was deceptively kerbed. I just came to a standstill instantly and topelled.
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I was thinking to myself that I can't remember ever falling over with my SPD's, then I remembered I started using them in 1990 cycling around the Scottish highlands, usually with big drops just over your shoulder, so one had to learn quickly! Still ended upside down in rivers unable to release on a regular basis though, and still have weak, slightly wonky ankles thanks to show for it...

Back then they cost over £100 a pair, weighed about a kilo and siezed up unless you cleaned them after every ride. Still got them somewhere!

Every bike I've ever owned since has been SPD equipped. I actually find it very hard to ride conventional pedals, usually end up kneeing myself in the face :)
 
Thanks everyone for your clipless tips and strategies!! I found it felt most natural unclipping my left foot and leaving the right clipped in. Whenever I did this successfully I felt comfortable on the saddle as I always used to lean over to the left and put the left foot down when using platforms.

I do have the pedals at the 'easiest' mode and if I continue to have problems clipping out with new shoes then I'll probably be better off with multi-release cleats. I would like to be able to manage single release consistently well so I'll make a point of practising on some soft ground.

Just looked at the major bike fitting places in London, Bike Whisperer and Mosquito to name a couple. Blimey £75 to fit cleats!! Then again it's probably better than trips to a physio with knee problems related to badly fitted cleats.
 
Saddle angle makes such a difference. I was wondering why the bike felt weird...my saddle was pointing down at the front and the saddle height had dropped - probably due to all the vibrations of the road.

I started the day with a bent rear mech out the shed,snapped the strap on my spd shoe,cycled 10 miles in fog so thick you could only see two lines on the middle of the road and all on an empty stomach as I didn't get to eat at work :(

I LOVE cycling.
 
I'm falling out of love with it. I've had my Van Nicholas for a month and have only cycled 40 miles on it. The only cycling I do now is commuting to work. It's all too easy to blame the weather, so I am going to blame the weather.
 
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