I remember when I started on them many years ago. I did a simulated fall on a lawn and that helped a lot to understand the dynamic of not clipping out in time. Once thst was done I knew what to expect and at first I alway clipped out way in advance. With time and practice I could slow down to a crawl making sure one leg was always in position to easily push on the drivetrain. And as you said it all came with time and practice and with couple of falls on rare occasion. It feels daunting at first but you gain an amazing control and feel of the bike, so it’s worth it.
Thanks for watching and commenting Bikeo Matic! That's a great tip to always click out of a pedal way in advance of when you have to stop so that you're sure to have a foot out to put down. Thanks for sharing!
That tip to have one clip sneaker and one normal, is the best thing ever! I stopped using clipless pedals because everytime i went for a ride, i crashed. Sometimes going up a steep hill and loose power on my legs and crash on my side and feet dont release, and most of the times was because of lack of confidence! I'll give it a try with that tip!
Thanks a lot for watching and commenting Jorge! I'm happy to hear my tip was helpful and I sure hope it prevents you crashing any more. Thanks and stay safe. 🙏
Great tips! If I were to add one more tip for beginners, I think it's important to know which foot you're more comfortable to land on the ground when stopped, and start practicing to get out of the pedal of the foot again and again while riding, so that you know the foot is ready to land anytime you need.
I'm pushing 70 so I've ridden a bike or two and tried it all. Here's my tip for clipless pedals - yes on a road bike, no on a mountainbike, at least, not in the steep and rocky terrain where I usually ride. So many bike professionals want to make newbies feel like they can't leave the store - they're not kitted out - they're not really a man - unless they get clipless pedals. To the contrary. You can put a foot down faster unclipped than clipped, in my humble opinion. And I'm sure that has saved my bacon DOZENS of times over the years when "unexpected" things happen. And there are videos you can find where they compare speeds riding clipless pedals versus flat pedals and flat actually finish faster, so what's the big deal? Plus, I'm often hike-a-biking on steep sections (not embarrassed to admit it) so I'd rather be wearing a nice trail shoe than hiking like a duck in cycling shoes. Finally, and this is self-evident - KISS - I've never had a mechanical problem with flat pedals or even worn them out. I remember when I talked my best friend into getting a mountainbike and EXPRESSLY told him to get flat pedals, not clipless. When he showed up with his bike I asked what the heck are those clipless pedals? and he responded, they told me that's what I needed. On our first ride together, I told him, don't clip in for our first ride (which I later realized was probably easier said than done with the pedal and shoe setup he had). I'm leading us on an easy ride through an arroyo that's not even that technical when I hear a KABAM behind. Uh oh. "What happened, did you clip in?" "Yes." Took a huge divot of skin out of his wrist and I had to lend him my T-shirt to wrap it until we could get back to civilization. (He subsequently became very proficient.) So many lessons learned. (Even then, flat pedals did NOT help me last month when I was flowing down a one-track at probably 20mph, went a little high in a curve, clipped a freak creasote bush that turned my handlebars 90 degrees and was eating rocks in a millisecond. NO chance to put a foot out. Probably my most epic crash ever and nobody around to see it. *sigh* Sun had set and it was getting cold. No broken bones and the bike still rolled, so I dusted myself off and self-extracted. So here's another tip - the "without crashing" part is more of an aspiration, if you seriously get into mountainbiking.)
Thanks for sharing your take on flat versus clipless pedals Citizen, appreciate you taking the time to write down all these helpful tips. The one caveat for riding flat pedals is it is possible for your feet to slip off flat pedals - even if the pedals have "spikes" to help keep your feet on. Yes, if you're good with your flat pedals you will be good weighing your feet and keeping your feet on the pedals. But, if the feet do come off the flat pedals, you can crash and bad things can happen like the flat pedal slamming into your shin or leg - ouch! Seen a lot of this and had my feet slip off flat pedals many times before. Also, it's important to understand that experienced cyclists especially road cyclists spin at a fast cadence, most from 60 to 90 rpm. It's this fast pedaling rate that toe clips and straps and then clipless pedals are addressing. It's much easier to come off pedals pedaling that quickly and toe clips and straps and clipless pedals make sure that doesn't happen. In fact, when Look invented the first easy in/out clipless pedal, their Deltas in 1984, they named them "safety pedals," I think I already mentioned this in some of my replies to comments below. Just saying it again because I think it's interesting that they thought of them as safety devices. The safety came from being able to get in and out much faster than the alternative which was toe clips and straps. They weren't comparing them to flat pedals because no roadies would use anything but toe clips and straps at that time. Thanks for sharing your tips, appreciate it!
I'm an older dog of 65. Been riding road bike last 3 years averaging about 800 kms a month @25 kmph. I'm in a dilemma as to go for clipless pedals and if so MTB or road. Your vid has made me determined to try them out.
@@lesliegoaI am 65 as well. I do far fewer km just riding to work once or hopefully twice a week and just got my first cliplesss pedals - I chose what he calls learners pedals. While I do not expect to be a learner for along time, I think I need this flat option when cycling is just a part of the trip, and you need to be in normal shoes,
Thank you so much for this video!!! I was so stressed out and regretting putting on clipless pedals till I watched this. Just went on my first clipless ride and it went great!
Good video, Jim. Due to a right hip that limits the swing-out of my right heel, I can only comfortably use my left to clip out. Then penalty for this is that I must be consciously leaning left before coming to a stop, which can be tough if a quick stop situation occurs. As you mentioned, keeping the bike in motion is the key to having that extra second get my preferred lean angle and unclip, something I learned from watching a friend who, although a newb, was doing it instinctively (you can truly learn from anyone). I did try to rotate my right cleat to compensate, but the improvement was marginal at best. As for falling due to being stuck, you could have added that in most situations, it's more an embarrassment than a life-or-death situation, with little risk of injury to rider an even the bike (been there...).
Thanks for watching and commenting, M! I have fit many riders who have needed their own "technique" to get out of their pedals. I'm glad you've got one that works for you. Regarding your second point, that in most situations, falling is more an embarrassment than a serious crash, I thought a lot about saying something along these lines. But, I decided against it because it can and does result in some awful injuries. I know two cyclists who were badly hurt. One broken her ankle and the other broke his hip. So I decided it was best not to suggest that you can't get hurt. It depends a lot on the rider and the circumstances. Thanks again!
This is good. I just got a pair of Crank Brothers Double Shot pedals and didn't feel comfortable on my inaugural ride. I got some good tips here, will loosen up my pedals and try again!
Thanks for watching Jeff, glad you found the video helpful. Those Crank Bros pedals are great for learning because you can click in on only one pedal and have the other foot on the flat side (non clipless side) to be able to put that free foot down if needed while you learn to get out of the clipless pedal easily. It gets easier as you do it more. Have fun and thanks again!
I have watched several of these videos by various people. All are helpful, but yours are the best...One pointer is that it is really important to get out of the clip at the bottom of the pedal stroke, swinging the heel to the side and simultaneously pulling back (not up until the foot is released). I found that if I just moved my heel out, the shoe did not release until I also pulled my foot back at the same time.
Great video! The steps a newbie needs to understand for a seamless clipless pedal experience are well explained and excellently demonstrated! This video unlocked this new cycling experience for me. Thank you so very much! Highly recommended for beginners
Thank you for this technique video. I just got a road bike with clipless pedals and am a intimidated. Your instruction helped give me the confidence and know how to practice.
Good info. I teach my wife this process first on our in home stationary bike.....next is a ride across a grassy park. Incorrectly installed mountain bike pedals won’t let the biker release at all......adjustments must be very precise...
Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your tips, Graydon. Using a home trainer works great for learning, that's a nice tip - thank you! Worn out cleats will cause clipless pedals (road and mtn) not to release, too. Fortunately they last a long time if you take care of them. In case you're interested - or anyone reading these comments is, I made another video about cleats: ruclips.net/video/CECmzYkJ-Uw/видео.html and one on how to properly install and remove pedals, too: ruclips.net/video/M9rvqKjJZSw/видео.html
Yikes! Glad you found my video but sorry to hear about all the crashing Matthew! At least it won’t happen any more. Thanks for watching and stay upright 😊
I thought I'd share a little background and try to explain the somewhat hilarious confusion over the name "clipless pedals," and how we now confusingly say "clip in" or "clip out" or "clipping in" or "out." Clipless pedals became popular in the 1980s, one of the greatest cycling inventions actually. Before clipless pedals came out, the way we kept our feet on the pedals was with attachments called toe clips and straps (here's a set if you've never seen what they look like: amzn.to/3zyqqQ8 ). Because with these new pedals toe clips weren't needed anymore, they became known as clipless pedals. With toe clips and straps we always said we were "clipping in" and "out" of our pedals. So you still hear that and read that about getting in and out of clipless pedals. Yet, it's a carryover of a term that isn't accurate for clipless pedals. Because there are no longer any clips to clip in and out of! My solution is to say "click" in and out or "clicking" in and out for clipless pedals since these pedals make a "click" when you get in and out. "Step" in and out can also work since you just step down to enter. Alas, when it comes to terminology cycling often follows tradition and ends up not making a lot of sense ;-)
I wish this video had been around decades ago when I first got 'em! I'm sending a link to a few of my newer club members who are "considering"... Another thing I did was to get set up in a doorway, so I had something to lean on in either direction while I was practicing clipouts. (Don't do this in front of your wife...)
thank you it's really helpful, im beginner to use clipless pedal. still progress how to clip in/out on my MTB. Your'e right about muscle memory, i feel my brain and foot start to record the progress to use the clipless pedal, and i Fell once for the first time when clips in and i forgot about that🤣. thanks for the video!
Great video! The danger zone is when a new rider has recently got the hang of them, so stops thinking about it, and then forgets on a late night riding home from work after a long shift. Just a moment of confusion is enough.
Thanks, Ben, glad you liked it! You make a great point. New clipless users definitely need to not forget. Maybe I should have said to put a note on your handlebars as a reminder - kind of like putting your garage door remote in your cycling glove as a reminder so you don't drive into your garage with the bikes on your roof rack!
You're very welcome and thanks for watching. Enjoy your new clipless pedals and remember the golden rule, if you you are worried about getting out of the clipless pedals, just keep riding until you can find a place to stop where you can hold onto something so there's no way you will fall over.
Thanks for watching and commenting, R! The pedals I showed were dual-sided: 12:12. Did you have some others you liked that you wanted to share? That would be great if you did, thanks!
Great Job! Jim. Shop looks nice. :) I bought new look pedals for the road bike and the one side is really tight. I put the Dremel to it and it's better but sill not as easy as the left side. I don't know. My other issue is my old look pedals come out to easy and I suppose it just wearing but it doesn't look that bad.
Thanks for watching, Mike!! That's unusual for a new pair of Look pedals to have an issue like that. Usually their QC is good and both pedals are set at the same release tension. Did you put new cleats on your shoes so that you were using the new pedals with the new cleats? Just asking because a bad cleat could cause that problem with new pedals. Old pedals do wear but usually it's worn cleats that make it too loose and too easy release. There are different cleats. Some have rubber spacers that when they wear out, the release changes and the cleats feel loose when you're in the pedals. The pedals themselves can wear where the cleats contact them. Some Look pedals are mostly nylon, others have metal on them. Both of those wear eventually and that can cause release and looseness issues. On older pedals if new cleats won't make the entry exit the way I like it and if the cleats aren't held tight by the pedals so that I always feel them moving a little especially on climbs, then I just go ahead and replace the pedals with new ones. I usually buy the cheapest Look Keo pedals I can find because for me they work just as well as the pro models that cost a lot more. Hope something here helps, Mike!
You're welcome K L. Thank you for watching. With some practice and if you keep in mind my tips for not crashing, you should be enjoying your clipless pedals soon!
I can see the benefit in clip in pedals but I have crashed twice in my own driveway already. They feel great when clipped in and moving but Im just not sure there worth the beating for me. By the way I love the info and I appreciate the video
Thanks for watching and commenting autofox, glad you enjoyed the video. You have to make up your own mind on whether clipless pedals are right for the riding you do. I'm so sorry to hear that you've crashed twice already, that shouldn't happen. I hope you didn't get hurt too badly. If I was with you coaching you how to use the pedals as I have at the shops I worked in I wouldn't let you try riding with them until I was sure you could get in and out of the pedals while standing over the bike. And once you had that down, I would want to be sure you could always remember the key rule to not crashing. That rule is that if you feel like you're anxious or worried that you won't be able to get out of the pedals when you're riding (perfectly normal when you begin using toe clips and straps or clipless pedals) then you should never stop your bike until you've found something to hang on to to hold yourself up while you get out of the pedals. A telephone pole, a parked car, a tree next to the road, a parking meter and so on - just keep riding until you can find something to hold onto and then you can get out of the pedals. If you keep that rule in mind you can maybe hold onto a car in your driveway or a mailbox or the side of your garage or house to get out so that you don't crash anymore. Another good way to get used to them is to leave one regular pedal on the bike for the foot you put down for stopping. So if it's your right foot, you keep a regular pedal on the right side. That way you can get good at getting in and out of the left clipless pedal and still have your right foot free to put down when you stop. Maybe these tips will help. I sure hope you stay safe and don't crash anymore. Thanks again for watching.
@@JimLangley1 i may have found a way to enjoy riding until I give the clip ins another try. I just took the cleat off my riding shoes and clipped them into the pedals. That way I have a flat surface to pedal against and I dont have to change the pedals
@@autofox5.067 That will make it possible to ride on the pedals. I'm not sure what brand and model of clipless pedals you have autofox, but on most of them, usually if you push the cleats without the shoes attached to them into the clipless pedals it can be difficult to get the cleats back out of the pedals. Hope you can get them out if you decide to use them as clipless pedals.
Thanks for the video.I learned a lot. I can not rotate my right foot as far out as my left foot. I just started riding road pedals. I can rotate my right inward. But, only a little outward. what would you suggest?
Thanks for watching and the question, Liam. I don't know what brand you got but your clipless pedals might release to the inside, too. The only thing is that for that to work easily you have to move your foot to where it won't bump into anything when you go to get out of your pedal. You should experiment standing next to the bike and holding your pedal by hand to see if your pedal release to the inside and if so to find the best place on the pedal revolution to do it. Also, be sure to check if you can loosen the spring tension because that will make it easier to get out of the pedals. I hope this helps.
Thanks for the info Jim. I have stated using clipless pedals and I'm quite confident in them on flat or downhill. But I fell once when a steep uphill came up to a road and I didn't have the momentum or speed to give myself enough time to clip out before getting to the road as I was struggling to pedal to get up to the top of the hill. I actually eventually managed to clip out on the left (my usual landing foot) but found myself tilting to the right (embarrassing :D)! Not sure how to manage the uphill clipping out in time! That's my usual biking path and would like to find a way to manage it. Any tips?
Thanks for watching Azadeh. It can definitely be difficult to do certain things on a bike when climbing a steep hill, even shifting for example gets harder. The "technique" for shifting on steep hills is similar to what you'd do to get out of clipless pedals. The problem for both is that if there's a lot of downward force on the pedals it's harder to shift and it's also harder to get out of the pedals. So, what you want to do is, when you decide you want to get out, you want to take a couple of harder pedal strokes to get your speed up so that you'll be able to coast for a second. With the bike going a little faster it's easier to balance the bike and as long as you're going fast enough to balance you can then ease the pressure off the pedals and remove your foot from the pedal when there's very little pressure on that pedal since you're actually coasting not pedaling. You should then be able to get your foot out and down on the ground and be in control when you stop. You can practice this on a hill that's not very steep and on a road with little traffic to get good at it. I hope this helps. I'm happy to offer other ideas is this doesn't help you so please let me know.
Thanks@@JimLangley1. It is a great tip. I tried this on an uphill near my house today. I also wore normal sneakers on the non-landing foot in case I end up falling the that way like last time (just to increase my confidence). As my legs were tired going up the hill, I tried to pedal out of saddle to speed up a tad towards the top of the hill, it helped me balance and clip out before the intersection. I can't say I've mastered it but at least I'm now more confident. Thank you :)
Sorry to hear about your crashes. Be sure to follow all my tips and practice a lot standing over your bike before actually riding. Good luck and please let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for watching and the question. You might want to watch my other video about setting up your cleats on cycling shoes here: ruclips.net/video/CECmzYkJ-Uw/видео.html Because the angle you position the cleat at has to do with preventing knee injuries and ensuring pedaling efficiency. Once you find the right angle you wouldn't want to change it because you would likely develop knee pain. But there could be another way to make the release as small as possible. Most cleats have some "float" designed into them. This means that they move a little to the left and right to help protect your knees. But this also means that you have to move your feet a little further to get out of the pedals. So if your cleats are ones that "float," you could switch to cleats that have no float or less float and you would release sooner. For example, if you are using Shimano SPD pedals with the cleats model SM-SH51 stamped in them those float 4 degrees. Shimano also makes the SM-SH56 cleats, also called Multi Release cleats amzn.to/3FRKdyt Those should make the ankle movement to get out smaller and easier, too. Hope this helps and thanks again.
Thanks for watching Ken and asking about ICAN wheels. I have road and MTB wheels of theirs and they've both been great. Here's my review of the MTB wheels: ruclips.net/video/3yPjw0xgu4U/видео.htmlsi=OmMpOOwnVsS1XxZ_ And here's my review of their road wheels: ruclips.net/video/Wb73si7WD-k/видео.htmlsi=3EJpmqzWtKFHPR0i Thanks for asking!
Ouch! I'm glad you can laugh about it and didn't hurt yourself, Ramon. I sure hope the tips in my video help you stop falling - thank you for watching and commenting!
@@JimLangley1 just a small scratch on the knee but im okay. Your video is very helpful jim, how i wish i found out earlier before heading out but still happy that ive watched it today so thank you for helping us sir!
Why do they call them “clipless” pedals, when traditional pedals and regular shoes do NOT clip together, but in fact “clipless” pedals DO clip to the shoes?
Thanks so much for asking this question. I'm happy to explain because lots of people are confused by this terminology. When people today say they "clip in to their clipless pedals" it's actually a misnomer. The word/term "clip" when used in "clipless" pedals, comes from the bicycle accessory the toe clip. Here's a toe clip in case you have never seen one: amzn.to/486mGp7 Before we had clipless pedals, the way we kept shoes on the pedals was to use toe clips and straps. To get into our toe clips and straps we would say "clip in to the pedals." Because we were getting in to our toe clips. In around 1985 the clipless pedal became popular. It was called "clipless" because finally we didn't need toe clips to lock our feet onto the pedals. The clipless pedals had jaws that held our shoes on the pedals, no toe clips needed. Unfortunately, out of habit, the term clip-in was and is still used to refer to getting in to the pedals. But, literally speaking it's impossible to clip in to clipless pedals because there are no toe clips to clip into! Now, if you want to think of the locking device/the jaws of the pedals that grip the cleats as clips, that's okay. But, I prefer to say "get in to the pedals," "enter" and "exit" the pedals, "get on and off" the pedals - anything other than "clip in and out," and I never call them clip-in pedals because that's completely wrong. Look is the company that made the first super popular clipless pedals. They made ski bindings before they made pedals. What they named the pedals originally were "safety pedals." They did that because they felt that being able to simply step on and step off the pedals was safer than having to reach down and loosen a toe strap in order to get out of the toe clip. Most riders agreed at the time. But the "safety" pedals nomenclature didn't stick and everyone called them clipless pedals. Thanks for watching and for asking the great question. I just realized I answered it before and that answer is below if you want to read another version of this.
@@JimLangley1 That makes perfect (if somewhat illogical) sense. Yes. I remember ‘toe clips’. I had them on my 10 speed road bike as a kid here in Australia. But I never associated them with ‘cleats’ or knew about the transition. They were just a cool thing to have on your bike - for the exact reason that your feet did not slip off the pedals.
Forget it !! of course you will go "slightly faster" and it will be easier to climb hills but you'll be walking like a penguin looking like a fool with a bogus helmet, latex clothing (Wind effect are scaring people these day hhahahaha this is misery fashion not matter where you'll end up) . Time of reaction is everything and breaking with one foot with "RUBBER sole" can be a life changer. Even for that matter ejecting yourself out of your bike can save your life. I would never ever buy clipless to gain 2 sec speed. Life is not a race. Cycling for cycling is just for health the speed aspect is negligible then. Most people use cycling also for commuting, leisure, to visit, market. For me clipless is an awfull concept.
Appreciate you sharing your opinion Volenv. You might be interested to learn that within the first 10 years of the invention of the bicycle - way back in the 1870s (about 148 years ago) -there was a popular accessory: cages that kept your feet on the pedals. Even way back then at the beginning, cyclists realized that if you didn't keep your feet on the pedals with something they could slip off the pedals. And when the feet slip off the pedals, cyclists can and do get hurt. I'm not trying to convince you to go to toe clips and straps or clipless pedals but only to point out that there are excellent reasons for doing so.
★ WATCH this video next about how to properly mount pedal cleats to cycling shoes ruclips.net/video/CECmzYkJ-Uw/видео.html
I remember when I started on them many years ago. I did a simulated fall on a lawn and that helped a lot to understand the dynamic of not clipping out in time. Once thst was done I knew what to expect and at first I alway clipped out way in advance. With time and practice I could slow down to a crawl making sure one leg was always in position to easily push on the drivetrain. And as you said it all came with time and practice and with couple of falls on rare occasion. It feels daunting at first but you gain an amazing control and feel of the bike, so it’s worth it.
Thanks for watching and commenting Bikeo Matic! That's a great tip to always click out of a pedal way in advance of when you have to stop so that you're sure to have a foot out to put down. Thanks for sharing!
That tip to have one clip sneaker and one normal, is the best thing ever! I stopped using clipless pedals because everytime i went for a ride, i crashed. Sometimes going up a steep hill and loose power on my legs and crash on my side and feet dont release, and most of the times was because of lack of confidence! I'll give it a try with that tip!
Thanks a lot for watching and commenting Jorge! I'm happy to hear my tip was helpful and I sure hope it prevents you crashing any more. Thanks and stay safe. 🙏
Crashed 2x on my first day 😮
@@LoveSoca sorry to hear it - sure hope my tips helps you not crash anymore.
Great tips! If I were to add one more tip for beginners, I think it's important to know which foot you're more comfortable to land on the ground when stopped, and start practicing to get out of the pedal of the foot again and again while riding, so that you know the foot is ready to land anytime you need.
That’s a great tip, Joe. Thanks for watching and sharing!
I'm pushing 70 so I've ridden a bike or two and tried it all. Here's my tip for clipless pedals - yes on a road bike, no on a mountainbike, at least, not in the steep and rocky terrain where I usually ride. So many bike professionals want to make newbies feel like they can't leave the store - they're not kitted out - they're not really a man - unless they get clipless pedals. To the contrary. You can put a foot down faster unclipped than clipped, in my humble opinion. And I'm sure that has saved my bacon DOZENS of times over the years when "unexpected" things happen. And there are videos you can find where they compare speeds riding clipless pedals versus flat pedals and flat actually finish faster, so what's the big deal? Plus, I'm often hike-a-biking on steep sections (not embarrassed to admit it) so I'd rather be wearing a nice trail shoe than hiking like a duck in cycling shoes. Finally, and this is self-evident - KISS - I've never had a mechanical problem with flat pedals or even worn them out. I remember when I talked my best friend into getting a mountainbike and EXPRESSLY told him to get flat pedals, not clipless. When he showed up with his bike I asked what the heck are those clipless pedals? and he responded, they told me that's what I needed. On our first ride together, I told him, don't clip in for our first ride (which I later realized was probably easier said than done with the pedal and shoe setup he had). I'm leading us on an easy ride through an arroyo that's not even that technical when I hear a KABAM behind. Uh oh. "What happened, did you clip in?" "Yes." Took a huge divot of skin out of his wrist and I had to lend him my T-shirt to wrap it until we could get back to civilization. (He subsequently became very proficient.) So many lessons learned. (Even then, flat pedals did NOT help me last month when I was flowing down a one-track at probably 20mph, went a little high in a curve, clipped a freak creasote bush that turned my handlebars 90 degrees and was eating rocks in a millisecond. NO chance to put a foot out. Probably my most epic crash ever and nobody around to see it. *sigh* Sun had set and it was getting cold. No broken bones and the bike still rolled, so I dusted myself off and self-extracted. So here's another tip - the "without crashing" part is more of an aspiration, if you seriously get into mountainbiking.)
Thanks for sharing your take on flat versus clipless pedals Citizen, appreciate you taking the time to write down all these helpful tips. The one caveat for riding flat pedals is it is possible for your feet to slip off flat pedals - even if the pedals have "spikes" to help keep your feet on. Yes, if you're good with your flat pedals you will be good weighing your feet and keeping your feet on the pedals. But, if the feet do come off the flat pedals, you can crash and bad things can happen like the flat pedal slamming into your shin or leg - ouch! Seen a lot of this and had my feet slip off flat pedals many times before. Also, it's important to understand that experienced cyclists especially road cyclists spin at a fast cadence, most from 60 to 90 rpm. It's this fast pedaling rate that toe clips and straps and then clipless pedals are addressing. It's much easier to come off pedals pedaling that quickly and toe clips and straps and clipless pedals make sure that doesn't happen. In fact, when Look invented the first easy in/out clipless pedal, their Deltas in 1984, they named them "safety pedals," I think I already mentioned this in some of my replies to comments below. Just saying it again because I think it's interesting that they thought of them as safety devices. The safety came from being able to get in and out much faster than the alternative which was toe clips and straps. They weren't comparing them to flat pedals because no roadies would use anything but toe clips and straps at that time. Thanks for sharing your tips, appreciate it!
This is THE video to watch for this, I feel insanely more confident now
I’m happy to hear it, Jman. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Im an old dog of nearly 60, and I just bought my first gravel bike with the shimano pd m505 pedals, This video helped me very much thank you.
My pleasure Stefan, thanks very much for watching and commenting - enjoy your new gravel bike! 🙏❤️
I'm an older dog of 65. Been riding road bike last 3 years averaging about 800 kms a month @25 kmph. I'm in a dilemma as to go for clipless pedals and if so MTB or road. Your vid has made me determined to try them out.
@@lesliegoaI am 65 as well. I do far fewer km just riding to work once or hopefully twice a week and just got my first cliplesss pedals - I chose what he calls learners pedals. While I do not expect to be a learner for along time, I think I need this flat option when cycling is just a part of the trip, and you need to be in normal shoes,
@@borisgurevich5504 had the opportunity to try out clipless pedals. Found that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Back to flats.
Thank you so much for this video!!! I was so stressed out and regretting putting on clipless pedals till I watched this. Just went on my first clipless ride and it went great!
That's great to hear! I'm glad the video helped you and you're enjoying your clipless pedals. Thanks so much for watching and letting me know.
Good video, Jim. Due to a right hip that limits the swing-out of my right heel, I can only comfortably use my left to clip out. Then penalty for this is that I must be consciously leaning left before coming to a stop, which can be tough if a quick stop situation occurs. As you mentioned, keeping the bike in motion is the key to having that extra second get my preferred lean angle and unclip, something I learned from watching a friend who, although a newb, was doing it instinctively (you can truly learn from anyone).
I did try to rotate my right cleat to compensate, but the improvement was marginal at best. As for falling due to being stuck, you could have added that in most situations, it's more an embarrassment than a life-or-death situation, with little risk of injury to rider an even the bike (been there...).
Thanks for watching and commenting, M! I have fit many riders who have needed their own "technique" to get out of their pedals. I'm glad you've got one that works for you.
Regarding your second point, that in most situations, falling is more an embarrassment than a serious crash, I thought a lot about saying something along these lines. But, I decided against it because it can and does result in some awful injuries. I know two cyclists who were badly hurt. One broken her ankle and the other broke his hip. So I decided it was best not to suggest that you can't get hurt. It depends a lot on the rider and the circumstances. Thanks again!
This is good. I just got a pair of Crank Brothers Double Shot pedals and didn't feel comfortable on my inaugural ride. I got some good tips here, will loosen up my pedals and try again!
Thanks for watching Jeff, glad you found the video helpful. Those Crank Bros pedals are great for learning because you can click in on only one pedal and have the other foot on the flat side (non clipless side) to be able to put that free foot down if needed while you learn to get out of the clipless pedal easily. It gets easier as you do it more. Have fun and thanks again!
I have watched several of these videos by various people. All are helpful, but yours are the best...One pointer is that it is really important to get out of the clip at the bottom of the pedal stroke, swinging the heel to the side and simultaneously pulling back (not up until the foot is released). I found that if I just moved my heel out, the shoe did not release until I also pulled my foot back at the same time.
Thanks for watching and the helpful comment, appreciate it very much.
Great video! The steps a newbie needs to understand for a seamless clipless pedal experience are well explained and excellently demonstrated! This video unlocked this new cycling experience for me. Thank you so very much! Highly recommended for beginners
You're very welcome. I'm happy to hear the video was helpful and you're enjoying your clipless pedals. Thanks a lot for watching and commenting!
I'm brand new as of this weekend. Thank you for this video. Very helpful
My pleasure deebee. Thanks for watching and commenting!🙏
Great video! Very well explained and demonstrated. Best I’ve seen so far on how beginners can start their clipless pedal journey. Thanks so much!
My pleasure ijeoma, thank you for watching and the nice comment. I'm happy to hear my video helped you out.
Great video, Jim. I don't know how you manage to help us Cro Magnon guys as well as the bright folks, but you hit a sweet spot. Thank you. Jocko
You're very welcome, JOCKO, thanks for watching and the great comment - made my day 😀
thank you for this, i had shoes and pedals for almost a year now, but never had the courage to mount and use them
You're very welcome, HaoSs. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for this technique video. I just got a road bike with clipless pedals and am a intimidated. Your instruction helped give me the confidence and know how to practice.
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching and letting me know the video helped, appreciate it!
Good info. I teach my wife this process first on our in home stationary bike.....next is a ride across a grassy park. Incorrectly installed mountain bike pedals won’t let the biker release at all......adjustments must be very precise...
Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your tips, Graydon. Using a home trainer works great for learning, that's a nice tip - thank you! Worn out cleats will cause clipless pedals (road and mtn) not to release, too. Fortunately they last a long time if you take care of them.
In case you're interested - or anyone reading these comments is, I made another video about cleats: ruclips.net/video/CECmzYkJ-Uw/видео.html and one on how to properly install and remove pedals, too: ruclips.net/video/M9rvqKjJZSw/видео.html
First bike day today, wish i had watched this video before. Fell so many times that i thought i won't be able to make way home lol
Yikes! Glad you found my video but sorry to hear about all the crashing Matthew! At least it won’t happen any more. Thanks for watching and stay upright 😊
Yesterday was my first day cycling and I crashed twice. Wish I had known about the sneaker trick
I thought I'd share a little background and try to explain the somewhat hilarious confusion over the name "clipless pedals," and how we now confusingly say "clip in" or "clip out" or "clipping in" or "out." Clipless pedals became popular in the 1980s, one of the greatest cycling inventions actually. Before clipless pedals came out, the way we kept our feet on the pedals was with attachments called toe clips and straps (here's a set if you've never seen what they look like: amzn.to/3zyqqQ8 ). Because with these new pedals toe clips weren't needed anymore, they became known as clipless pedals.
With toe clips and straps we always said we were "clipping in" and "out" of our pedals. So you still hear that and read that about getting in and out of clipless pedals. Yet, it's a carryover of a term that isn't accurate for clipless pedals. Because there are no longer any clips to clip in and out of! My solution is to say "click" in and out or "clicking" in and out for clipless pedals since these pedals make a "click" when you get in and out. "Step" in and out can also work since you just step down to enter. Alas, when it comes to terminology cycling often follows tradition and ends up not making a lot of sense ;-)
I wish this video had been around decades ago when I first got 'em! I'm sending a link to a few of my newer club members who are "considering"... Another thing I did was to get set up in a doorway, so I had something to lean on in either direction while I was practicing clipouts. (Don't do this in front of your wife...)
Thanks for watching, Jim and for sharing your tip on practicing in a doorway. That's a good one!
thank you it's really helpful, im beginner to use clipless pedal. still progress how to clip in/out on my MTB. Your'e right about muscle memory, i feel my brain and foot start to record the progress to use the clipless pedal, and i Fell once for the first time when clips in and i forgot about that🤣. thanks for the video!
You’re very welcome, Bro, thank you for watching and please don’t fall anymore😀
The best instruction yet. Thanks.
You're very welcome Aaron. Thanks for watching and commenting, glad the video was helpful.
Thank you for this! I'm just starting out with clips and have been supernervous about it. But your tips helped me! will try it out asap :)
You're welcome, Gila, happy my tips are helpful.
Great video! The danger zone is when a new rider has recently got the hang of them, so stops thinking about it, and then forgets on a late night riding home from work after a long shift. Just a moment of confusion is enough.
Thanks, Ben, glad you liked it! You make a great point. New clipless users definitely need to not forget. Maybe I should have said to put a note on your handlebars as a reminder - kind of like putting your garage door remote in your cycling glove as a reminder so you don't drive into your garage with the bikes on your roof rack!
gonna try my first clips tomorrow. nice video. thanks)
You're very welcome and thanks for watching. Enjoy your new clipless pedals and remember the golden rule, if you you are worried about getting out of the clipless pedals, just keep riding until you can find a place to stop where you can hold onto something so there's no way you will fall over.
Good tips! I'll keep trying!
Thanks for watching and commenting Rosalie, appreciate it!
Great thanks for the tips I just got one to use on my MTB
You're welcome eddie! Thanks a lot for watching and commenting!
Nice job. Thanks for all the good info.
My pleasure! Thanks a lot for watching and commenting, appreciate it!
Thanks man. You helped me out big time 🎉
You’re very welcome. Happy to hear my video was helpful- thanks a lot for watching and the great comment!
Dual sided pedals work great, as opposed to the learning pedals you described.
Thanks for watching and commenting, R! The pedals I showed were dual-sided: 12:12. Did you have some others you liked that you wanted to share? That would be great if you did, thanks!
Great Job! Jim. Shop looks nice. :) I bought new look pedals for the road bike and the one side is really tight. I put the Dremel to it and it's better but sill not as easy as the left side. I don't know. My other issue is my old look pedals come out to easy and I suppose it just wearing but it doesn't look that bad.
Thanks for watching, Mike!! That's unusual for a new pair of Look pedals to have an issue like that. Usually their QC is good and both pedals are set at the same release tension. Did you put new cleats on your shoes so that you were using the new pedals with the new cleats? Just asking because a bad cleat could cause that problem with new pedals. Old pedals do wear but usually it's worn cleats that make it too loose and too easy release. There are different cleats. Some have rubber spacers that when they wear out, the release changes and the cleats feel loose when you're in the pedals. The pedals themselves can wear where the cleats contact them. Some Look pedals are mostly nylon, others have metal on them. Both of those wear eventually and that can cause release and looseness issues. On older pedals if new cleats won't make the entry exit the way I like it and if the cleats aren't held tight by the pedals so that I always feel them moving a little especially on climbs, then I just go ahead and replace the pedals with new ones. I usually buy the cheapest Look Keo pedals I can find because for me they work just as well as the pro models that cost a lot more. Hope something here helps, Mike!
Thank you, very helpful 🙏
I'm happy to hear it, thanks a lot for watching and commenting!
Thanks, I will practice at home for a few days first, can't stop the fear, but i want faster😂
You're welcome K L. Thank you for watching. With some practice and if you keep in mind my tips for not crashing, you should be enjoying your clipless pedals soon!
I can see the benefit in clip in pedals but I have crashed twice in my own driveway already. They feel great when clipped in and moving but Im just not sure there worth the beating for me. By the way I love the info and I appreciate the video
Thanks for watching and commenting autofox, glad you enjoyed the video. You have to make up your own mind on whether clipless pedals are right for the riding you do. I'm so sorry to hear that you've crashed twice already, that shouldn't happen. I hope you didn't get hurt too badly.
If I was with you coaching you how to use the pedals as I have at the shops I worked in I wouldn't let you try riding with them until I was sure you could get in and out of the pedals while standing over the bike. And once you had that down, I would want to be sure you could always remember the key rule to not crashing.
That rule is that if you feel like you're anxious or worried that you won't be able to get out of the pedals when you're riding (perfectly normal when you begin using toe clips and straps or clipless pedals) then you should never stop your bike until you've found something to hang on to to hold yourself up while you get out of the pedals.
A telephone pole, a parked car, a tree next to the road, a parking meter and so on - just keep riding until you can find something to hold onto and then you can get out of the pedals. If you keep that rule in mind you can maybe hold onto a car in your driveway or a mailbox or the side of your garage or house to get out so that you don't crash anymore.
Another good way to get used to them is to leave one regular pedal on the bike for the foot you put down for stopping. So if it's your right foot, you keep a regular pedal on the right side. That way you can get good at getting in and out of the left clipless pedal and still have your right foot free to put down when you stop.
Maybe these tips will help. I sure hope you stay safe and don't crash anymore. Thanks again for watching.
@@JimLangley1 i may have found a way to enjoy riding until I give the clip ins another try. I just took the cleat off my riding shoes and clipped them into the pedals. That way I have a flat surface to pedal against and I dont have to change the pedals
@@autofox5.067 That will make it possible to ride on the pedals. I'm not sure what brand and model of clipless pedals you have autofox, but on most of them, usually if you push the cleats without the shoes attached to them into the clipless pedals it can be difficult to get the cleats back out of the pedals. Hope you can get them out if you decide to use them as clipless pedals.
Thanks for the video.I learned a lot. I can not rotate my right foot as far out as my left foot. I just started riding road pedals. I can rotate my right inward. But, only a little outward. what would you suggest?
Thanks for watching and the question, Liam. I don't know what brand you got but your clipless pedals might release to the inside, too. The only thing is that for that to work easily you have to move your foot to where it won't bump into anything when you go to get out of your pedal.
You should experiment standing next to the bike and holding your pedal by hand to see if your pedal release to the inside and if so to find the best place on the pedal revolution to do it. Also, be sure to check if you can loosen the spring tension because that will make it easier to get out of the pedals. I hope this helps.
Thank you for your tips
You're very welcome, Javi. Thank you for watching and the comment!
Thanks for the info Jim. I have stated using clipless pedals and I'm quite confident in them on flat or downhill. But I fell once when a steep uphill came up to a road and I didn't have the momentum or speed to give myself enough time to clip out before getting to the road as I was struggling to pedal to get up to the top of the hill. I actually eventually managed to clip out on the left (my usual landing foot) but found myself tilting to the right (embarrassing :D)! Not sure how to manage the uphill clipping out in time! That's my usual biking path and would like to find a way to manage it. Any tips?
Thanks for watching Azadeh. It can definitely be difficult to do certain things on a bike when climbing a steep hill, even shifting for example gets harder. The "technique" for shifting on steep hills is similar to what you'd do to get out of clipless pedals. The problem for both is that if there's a lot of downward force on the pedals it's harder to shift and it's also harder to get out of the pedals. So, what you want to do is, when you decide you want to get out, you want to take a couple of harder pedal strokes to get your speed up so that you'll be able to coast for a second. With the bike going a little faster it's easier to balance the bike and as long as you're going fast enough to balance you can then ease the pressure off the pedals and remove your foot from the pedal when there's very little pressure on that pedal since you're actually coasting not pedaling. You should then be able to get your foot out and down on the ground and be in control when you stop. You can practice this on a hill that's not very steep and on a road with little traffic to get good at it. I hope this helps. I'm happy to offer other ideas is this doesn't help you so please let me know.
Thanks@@JimLangley1. It is a great tip. I tried this on an uphill near my house today. I also wore normal sneakers on the non-landing foot in case I end up falling the that way like last time (just to increase my confidence). As my legs were tired going up the hill, I tried to pedal out of saddle to speed up a tad towards the top of the hill, it helped me balance and clip out before the intersection. I can't say I've mastered it but at least I'm now more confident. Thank you :)
@@azadehfeizpour4295 you’re very welcome. I’m glad to hear the tip helped. Please be careful and don’t crash anymore.
I'm going to have my second attempt this week. I had few bad crashes with clips and it had bad impact on my head.
Sorry to hear about your crashes. Be sure to follow all my tips and practice a lot standing over your bike before actually riding. Good luck and please let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Good man.
Thanks!
Thanks so much❤️
Is there an angle I can put my mtb cleat to make the ankle movement out for release as small as possible?
Thanks for watching and the question. You might want to watch my other video about setting up your cleats on cycling shoes here: ruclips.net/video/CECmzYkJ-Uw/видео.html Because the angle you position the cleat at has to do with preventing knee injuries and ensuring pedaling efficiency. Once you find the right angle you wouldn't want to change it because you would likely develop knee pain. But there could be another way to make the release as small as possible. Most cleats have some "float" designed into them. This means that they move a little to the left and right to help protect your knees. But this also means that you have to move your feet a little further to get out of the pedals. So if your cleats are ones that "float," you could switch to cleats that have no float or less float and you would release sooner. For example, if you are using Shimano SPD pedals with the cleats model SM-SH51 stamped in them those float 4 degrees. Shimano also makes the SM-SH56 cleats, also called Multi Release cleats amzn.to/3FRKdyt Those should make the ankle movement to get out smaller and easier, too. Hope this helps and thanks again.
@@JimLangley1 thanks Jim!
@@Sean-zi8bo you’re very welcome!
How do you like the ican wheels?
Thanks for watching Ken and asking about ICAN wheels. I have road and MTB wheels of theirs and they've both been great. Here's my review of the MTB wheels: ruclips.net/video/3yPjw0xgu4U/видео.htmlsi=OmMpOOwnVsS1XxZ_ And here's my review of their road wheels: ruclips.net/video/Wb73si7WD-k/видео.htmlsi=3EJpmqzWtKFHPR0i Thanks for asking!
I am considering going clipless soon y can ride clipless without clipping in as you move u can clip same before stopping?
Thanks for watching and the great question, IoBM. Yes, you can do that and a nice way to do it is with the clipless pedals I show at 12:12.
I already crash twice this morning 🤣🤣🤣
Ouch! I'm glad you can laugh about it and didn't hurt yourself, Ramon. I sure hope the tips in my video help you stop falling - thank you for watching and commenting!
@@JimLangley1 just a small scratch on the knee but im okay. Your video is very helpful jim, how i wish i found out earlier before heading out but still happy that ive watched it today so thank you for helping us sir!
@@Sonsofthunder12789 whew, glad to hear it! I'm happy my video helped and appreciate you watching and the nice comments.
@@JimLangley1 welcome and thank you for putting out this video also jim. Be safe!
Yup... falling sucks
Why do they call them “clipless” pedals, when traditional pedals and regular shoes do NOT clip together, but in fact “clipless” pedals DO clip to the shoes?
Thanks so much for asking this question. I'm happy to explain because lots of people are confused by this terminology. When people today say they "clip in to their clipless pedals" it's actually a misnomer. The word/term "clip" when used in "clipless" pedals, comes from the bicycle accessory the toe clip. Here's a toe clip in case you have never seen one: amzn.to/486mGp7 Before we had clipless pedals, the way we kept shoes on the pedals was to use toe clips and straps. To get into our toe clips and straps we would say "clip in to the pedals." Because we were getting in to our toe clips.
In around 1985 the clipless pedal became popular. It was called "clipless" because finally we didn't need toe clips to lock our feet onto the pedals. The clipless pedals had jaws that held our shoes on the pedals, no toe clips needed. Unfortunately, out of habit, the term clip-in was and is still used to refer to getting in to the pedals.
But, literally speaking it's impossible to clip in to clipless pedals because there are no toe clips to clip into! Now, if you want to think of the locking device/the jaws of the pedals that grip the cleats as clips, that's okay. But, I prefer to say "get in to the pedals," "enter" and "exit" the pedals, "get on and off" the pedals - anything other than "clip in and out," and I never call them clip-in pedals because that's completely wrong.
Look is the company that made the first super popular clipless pedals. They made ski bindings before they made pedals. What they named the pedals originally were "safety pedals." They did that because they felt that being able to simply step on and step off the pedals was safer than having to reach down and loosen a toe strap in order to get out of the toe clip. Most riders agreed at the time. But the "safety" pedals nomenclature didn't stick and everyone called them clipless pedals. Thanks for watching and for asking the great question. I just realized I answered it before and that answer is below if you want to read another version of this.
@@JimLangley1 That makes perfect (if somewhat illogical) sense. Yes. I remember ‘toe clips’. I had them on my 10 speed road bike as a kid here in Australia. But I never associated them with ‘cleats’ or knew about the transition. They were just a cool thing to have on your bike - for the exact reason that your feet did not slip off the pedals.
practice clipping out (personal experience)
Thanks for watching and the tip, Jacques. Yes, practice, practice, and practice some more😀
Forget it !! of course you will go "slightly faster" and it will be easier to climb hills but you'll be walking like a penguin looking like a fool with a bogus helmet, latex clothing (Wind effect are scaring people these day hhahahaha this is misery fashion not matter where you'll end up) . Time of reaction is everything and breaking with one foot with "RUBBER sole" can be a life changer. Even for that matter ejecting yourself out of your bike can save your life. I would never ever buy clipless to gain 2 sec speed. Life is not a race. Cycling for cycling is just for health the speed aspect is negligible then. Most people use cycling also for commuting, leisure, to visit, market. For me clipless is an awfull concept.
Appreciate you sharing your opinion Volenv. You might be interested to learn that within the first 10 years of the invention of the bicycle - way back in the 1870s (about 148 years ago) -there was a popular accessory: cages that kept your feet on the pedals. Even way back then at the beginning, cyclists realized that if you didn't keep your feet on the pedals with something they could slip off the pedals. And when the feet slip off the pedals, cyclists can and do get hurt. I'm not trying to convince you to go to toe clips and straps or clipless pedals but only to point out that there are excellent reasons for doing so.