First of all, if you’re thinking of trying clipless pedals, just do it. Make the change. Really. The difference is amazing: More power transfer. Better efficiency. More control.
Okay, not gonna lie, the “oh-shit-I-can't-clip-out” falls can and do happen. Even 15-time cyclocross national champion Katie Compton knows this—most recently while she was recovering from a sprained knee. “I waited until the last minute to stop and couldn’t unclip, and I tipped over,” she says. But you know what? Not a big deal.
Not convinced? Of all the cycling disciplines, cyclocross racing requires the most frequent clipping and unclipping so we caught up with Compton to get a few more tips for first-time clipless pedal users. Here’s what you need to know.
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Be particular about cleat placement.
Place the cleat so that it engages with the pedal right where your foot naturally wants to sit. This is usually just below the ball of your foot, though some prefer it further back. From there, adjust the rotation and left-to-right placement of the cleat—the goal is for the final clipped-in position to feel natural and comfortable.
Also: Read the manual! Some cleats have easy release/harder release placement options—choose the setup that matches your skill. “It’s worth spending the time to get it right,” Compton says.
Customize the tension.
Some clipless pedals like Shimano SPD offer adjustable tension. If possible, loosen the cleat retention mechanism on the pedals (again: read the manual!) so you can unclip super easily while you’re learning. (You can tighten it back up later when you become more confident.)
Then, hold yourself up on your bike (a doorway works well in the privacy of your own home but street poles do the job, too), as a friend to hold the bike up, or set your bike up on an indoor trainer to practice clipping in and out. Different cleat/pedal combinations may require different movements, but generally, you want to think about kicking your heel out away from the bike to release the cleat.
4 Pedals Worth Clicking In To
Look Flex
This lightweight pedal is remarkably simple. Intended for cyclists transitioning to riding while clipped in, the Flex has minimal spring tension (it’s not adjustable), which makes stepping in and out easy.
Ritchey WCS Paradigm
Ritchey makes entry and exit easier with each new version of this pedal. The updated WCS Paradigm is the company’s best iteration so far.
Shimano Ultegra PD-6800
Shimano Ultegra’s smooth spring mechanism lets you clip in and out easily, and it costs $100 less than the company’s high-end model but provides the same play-free retention.
VP-R62
Casual and urban riders will love the split personality of this pedal: One side has an SPD-style mechanism, so you can clip in with cycling shoes. The opposite side is a concave platform that lets you ride comfortably in street shoes.
Practice at home.
Before you even get on on your bike, stand over your bike and practice getting just one foot in and out of the pedal by twisting your heel outward. Do this until it feels natural—50 times if you have to. Repeat with the other leg to build up the muscle memory.
Try it out in a safe place.
The next step is to go to a safe place—one without traffic or with a grass lawn that will hurt less if you topple over—to practice starting, stopping, and unclipping while moving.
From a stop, straddle your bike while standing. Clip in with one foot while balancing on your free leg. Move the clipped-in pedal to the top of the pedal stroke (12 o’clock position). Push down on that pedal to roll the bike forward, and as the bike accelerates, lift yourself into the saddle and find the opposite pedal to clip into and start pedaling.
“If you miss the engagement with the opposite pedal, don’t stress,” Compton says. “Just look forward and continue to pedal as you clip in with your foot. If the bike is moving forward you won’t fall over—the faster you go, the easier it is to balance.”
Push down to clip out.
This is why so many mistakes happen. “Clipless are designed to keep your foot engaged when pulling up even if you rotate your ankle a bit so as not to mistakenly unclip when sprinting, climbing a hill, or jumping a log,” Compton explains.
To improve your release skills and make clipping out easier, “make sure to push down on the pedal and rotate your ankle to unclip,” Compton says. “If you pull up as you’re trying to unclip, the cleat won’t release and you’ll get stuck.”
When attempting to free your foot, think: rotate heel away from the bike, not: pull foot up.
Clip out well in advance.
This part is important: Don’t wait until the last minute to unclip. “As you’re rolling to a stop, shift your weight to the foot that stays clipped in,” Compton explains, “and then unclip the foot that you’ll put on the ground and just leave it gently on the pedal, so when you do come to that stop, you can put your foot on the ground quickly.”
As the bike slows and stops, step forward with your free foot to straddle the top tube using your leg as a kickstand so you can stand comfortably until it’s time to clip in again.
Looking for more riding options? These adaptors turn your clipless pedals into flats:
Know these pro tricks:
- Use grease or Loctite for the cleat bolts and check them occasionally to make sure they are tight.
- Lube your pedals and change your cleats as needed so they function properly (one more time: read the manual!).
- When walking in road shoes, stay away from soft dirt and gravel if possible—they will clog up road cleats and make it harder to clip in or unclip.
- If riding off road, gravel, mountain, or cyclocross, make sure there is enough room between the cleat and the sole of your shoe for mud and sand to clear. Shims (spacers) can help.
- When in doubt, go to your local bike shop. They would be happy to help you set up your clipless system.
