| Clipless pedals are the most popular type of mountain | | | | If you a casual mountain biker and tend to ride smooth |
| bike pedal for cross country riding. If you are | | | | hardpack with minimal climbing, clipless mountain bike |
| considering making the switch to clipless, you may | | | | pedals will not make much of a difference in your |
| have some of the following questions: | | | | performance. |
| Will I get hurt more with clipless pedals? | | | | If you want to improve your mountain biking skills, |
| I had this fear also. I was afraid of getting hurt because | | | | including your ability to climb more quickly and clear |
| I would not be able to get my feet out of the pedals | | | | technical obstacles, clipless is a great choice for you. If |
| quickly enough. Because there is a short learning curve | | | | you are considering cross country mountain bike |
| when first making the transition from platform pedals | | | | racing, clipless pedals are also a great choice. |
| to clipless pedals, I did fall a couple of times at first. | | | | Riding with your feet clipped in allows you to use more |
| One fall was in the parking lot and one was when I | | | | of your leg muscles and pedal in a circular motion |
| pulled over to let a fellow rider pass. Both times, I | | | | which is more efficient than just using a downward |
| simply forgot that I had my feet clipped in the pedals | | | | motion when pedaling. This allows you to climb faster |
| and I just didn't get my foot out in time before tipping | | | | with less fatigue. |
| over. It was embarrassing, but not life threatening in | | | | How can I quickly learn to use clipless pedals? |
| any way. | | | | 1. Set your pedals on the loosest setting. |
| Overall, I got hurt way more with platform pedals than | | | | 2. Practice clipping and unclipping each foot while |
| with clipless pedals. With platform pedals, my feet | | | | propping yourself up against a wall or sitting in a |
| were always coming off the pedals and I would either | | | | doorway. |
| wipe out or smack my shins on my pedals. I am not | | | | 3. Practice clipping in and out with each foot while riding |
| saying I don't wipe out anymore, but it's due to my | | | | in grass or another soft surface. |
| abilities and not the pedals. | | | | 4. Anticipate situations where you will need to stop so |
| Will clipless pedals make me a better rider? | | | | that you can unclip your foot in time. |