Ahhh. Clipless Pedals. Forget Paris-Roubaix THESE were the hell of the north for me. When Billy Biker Boyfriend got me involved in cycling, we picked out some shoes (yes, my shoes are now six years old and I’m dying for new ones, and that’s a whole different post) and got me some pedals. Lord. I thought I was going to DIE on these pedals. The good news here was that I didn’t. This was made possible by our good friend Fancy Pants Vance. Two years after I started cycling and two years after I fell over practically every time I stopped the bike, FPV finally taught me how to get the hell outta those suckers.

Even after I learned how to get out of the pedals, (think 4 years after I learned to get out) I was biking alongside my cousin who was training for a marathon. We were on a flat trail, I was completely stopped and I fell over because I couldn’t get out of the darn things. My poor cousin was laughing so hard on mile eleven in million degree heat, because it was really so funny to see me tip into the ditch. She was mad that I made her laugh while she was having such a tough run. It was honestly really quite funny until later. After our workout, we went to another cousin’s bachelorette party where we were sitting around a pool in a bathing suit all weekend and I had this wicked nasty bruise. I mean wicked nasty. This raised a slew of questions from the girls I didn’t know. Oops.

Here’s some helpful hints to get out of clipless peds.

1. Decide not to panic. You might fall. It might hurt. I got my best bruises from just coming to a complete stop.
2. Find some pedals that just plain feel good. They may not be the $200 super carbon bad boys, but the $30 cheapos that just plain work. I can’t express this enough. For me, I rode on some great cheapies down in San Antonio and got to take them home with me. The best $30 I spent on bike stuff ever. Try a few kinds out and find ones that work. That’s the important part. If they’re ugly, paint them.
3. Find a trusted buddy or pal who is stronger than you to face you while you sit on the bike in the pedals. This way you can practice getting out of those suckers before you hit the road or the trails.
4. Take your heel (do not confuse this with your ankle) and push it away from you in the most awkward way possible in order to attempt a 90 degree angle with your bike frame.
5. Once you get on the bike with the new peds, be sure to anticipate as many stops as possible in order to avoid any unnecessary crashing. Yes, there is necessary crashing, I will save that for another post.
6. Keep in mind that it is much easier to get out when you’re still coasting than when you have no momentum and almost stopped and the panic has set in.

Good luck with the peds and write me with any questions. jessi@crookedcog.com

Peace Out

bk