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**Nigal** · 03-04-2010, 01:03 PM

So both then?

fleeter · 03-04-2010, 01:09 PM

based on the pictures that Industry has of you, yes. And I believe they're legit.

sarahk · 03-19-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishee

if Most People fall at least once when using clipless, why use them at all?

I first bought clips back in '92. Sure glad I didn't let the fear of a tumble put me off having great pedals for the last 18 years!

My kids got them when my son was 7 (technically UCI8 and legal to wear clips) and he stomped around the backyard with my shoes on and was riding safely in about 10 minutes. He wasn't about to wait until I'd found him shoes to fit.

My daughter was 2 years older and she had the right shoes. Even though its a hassle having an extra pair of shoes she still chooses to ride to school with clips over flats. My boy rides flats but thats mostly because he rides like a loon - he needs to learn that the handlebars are there to be used!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

I don't know what I want more... the shoes or the legs!

**Industry_Hack** · 03-19-2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahk

I don't know what I want more... the shoes or the legs!

I think Funetical made the same comment.

**photosbymark** · 03-19-2010, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishee

Why use clipless?
if Most People fall at least once when using clipless, why use them at all?

I've heard the following:
Better Power transfer
Better more consistent knee alignment == less knee pain
More confidence on bike with a solid connection to the pedal
To #1 I ask, how much time/power do you lose picking yourself up?
To #2, my first clipless fall resulted in landing on my knee. Now it aches all the time.
To #3, I'm constantly worrying that I'll need to stop suddenly and not get clipped out in time. So much for confidence.

I'm still using clipless, but I can't explain why to any of my non-clipless friends like I used to.

What are your reasons?

Well I have to admit that I had a little trouble at first too. When I was a kid they had the clipped variety on the old ten speed for about 10 minutes and absolutely HATED those. With those I still do and wouldn't use them now for any reason. The clipless is a totally different story.

The main reason I use them is that when you are clipped in you can get power from the up stroke as well as the down and I find I don't tire as quickly. Now I may be a bit weird (ok I know I am but at 51 I have reached the age where I don't care and its quite liberating actually) but I use mountain bike shoes on my road bike too. Walking in a road bike shoe is about as much torture as those old ten speed petals. With a mountain bike shoe I can petal to get a cup of coffee somewhere and actually walk inside and rest for a few minutes for the pedal back. Road shoes with no flex at all would be great for racing, but I got no desire to race and don't care if I am a Fred.

Don't be discouraged. When I first started I had one or two incidents, but these were nothing major. One the fool clip for some reason just wouldn't disengage, one was what in sprint car racing was a Tommy Tip Over. A Tommy Tip Over in sprint car racing is when a car rolls, but its a slow turn over that happens in those cars that are basically just a roll cage with a big motor. Yes they roll, but nothing is damaged, no injury and a no harm no foul kind of thing. I had to suddenly stop to miss a skunk. I did stop, but couldn't didn't think to unclip at least one foot. Yes I stopped and didn't hit the skunk. Yes I just plopped over, didn't even slide. No skinned knee, no road rash, just a laugh and thankful the skunk didn't spray me as he ran off.

So 1. Learn to anticipate the need to unclip and that will become second nature quickly. and 2. you aren't the only one to do a Tommy Tip Over in that situation so don't worry about it.

fleeter · 03-19-2010, 03:22 AM

YAY! I dumped myself over for the first time because I couldn't unclip fast enough.

Luckily there was no one else around to see.

sarahk · 03-19-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photosbymark

I had to suddenly stop to miss a skunk.

My total experience with skunks is from Disney cartoons like Bambi. Sounds so exotic to have skunks to worry about when riding, never mind the pedals!