When planning to buy your first pair of clipless pedals, some people do not know how to get started with it and what to expect. Again, for some the thought of using clipless pedals for the very first time can be frightening.
These set of accessories are a great asset to any rider and come with excellent ability to actually pedal in a circular motion, which will apply more power to all parts of your stroke, for an easy and faster ride, which in turn will help you to become a better rider.
Every new user must accept that the chances of falling are quite natural, however most new users will only experience some sort of discomfort for the first or second use while using clipless pedals, but it is a part of the learning procedure. When you are all set to go with these accessories, you need time to fine-tune and get familiar with the new arrangements. The best way to do is to begin with the right approach and you start with planning your route, paying a lot of attention to your starting and stopping point.
It will take you time to be acquainted with the clipless pedals and its functioning. Even after this if you are still worried with clipping in and out then merely practicing this without moving off will let you find your feet and the required control without risking injury to you and others around you. This can easily be done at your leisure while listening to music or watching TV by using a doorway or a wall to support you, ensuring that you have enough space around you to stay away from household objects in order to avoid injury.
The major benefit of riding with your feet clipped in allows you to make more use of your leg muscles and pedal in a circular motion which is in turn more efficient than pedaling in just downward motion. This allows you to climb effectively and faster with less fatigue. Now, for the beginners it is better to start out with confidence and little tension. This will allow you to easily control the pedals and can help you wipe out tension as you gain more confidence with your new setup. Day by day as you learn to take control over the pedals, you will soon find it easier and will be clipping in and out with ease.
If you ride using flat (platform) pedals, you’ve no doubt seen riders zipping by you with their feet firmly anchored to their pedals and wondered if that might be a wise choice for you. Fear not, bike shoes and clipless pedals are part of a natural progression to make your riding more efficient and less tiring.
Cycling shoes are usually paired with a compatible pedal to hold your feet securely on the bicycle. The so-called “clipless” shoe-pedal combination offers unmatched control with a minimum amount of your pedaling energy lost before it reaches the rear wheel.
You can start your shopping process with either shoes or pedals. Just make sure you keep shoe-pedal compatibility in mind as you decide. For information about bike shoes, see the REI Expert Advice How to Choose Bike Shoes article.