How long did it take for you to feel comfortable on the bike in cycling shoes?
I have done 3 sprints and an Oly in just running shoes on the bike, but it is time to get serious about my cycling performance. I have a 40 mile bike ride with my triathlon club in 3 weeks. If I get the shoes tomorrow, do you think I will be ready? I'm terrified of falling while clipped in.
buffaloeggs.blogspot.com 2016 Races: Hop Hop Half Marathon 2:05:09 Pac Crest Half Ironman 7:13:40 9/10 Aluminum Man Oly Tri 11/27 Space Coast Half Marathon
The fact that your ride is X miles doesn't matter as much as how many stop signs/lights you will encounter on it, because that's when you will have to deal with clipping in/out. But in any event, I think 3 weeks is plenty, unless you are particularly challenged by this kind of stuff. Just be really careful coming up to stops at first. When I was new at it, I'd unclip both feet coming up to stops, just in case. I didn't do the ride-on-grass thing, I just went slow and careful. If you have a little tipover accident it'll be low speed anyway. NBD, not worth being terrified about.
It took me a couple of rides to teach my brain that my feet were actually part of the bike. I still have a zero mph fall about once every month or so.
The weirdest thing is that if you're about to fall at low speed, but can't uncleat, the thing to do is pedal forward (unless that's into oncoming traffic) to give yourself another chance to uncleat.
It didn't take long for my brain to remember to unclip clip out (sorry sadlebread ) before stopping, but it did take me a while to figure out how to do it easily - for me the key was lubricating the cleats. It should not be 'hard' to get out of the pedals.
Also, shop around for comfortable cycling shoes. I kind of figured that as long as the fit was good and my foot didn't move around in them much it was all good. But I regret getting the pair i have and wish I shopped around, they irritate the top of my foot.
ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Ok. I have that out of the way. Ya'll know me by now.
CLIPLESS Pedals. You clip in and you clip out. C-L-I-P-L-E-S-S!
...and yes, juliabug, 3 weeks is plenty of time to get used to it. As @vtcupcake said, practicing on the trainer is a good idea. If you don't have a trainer, practice in a grassy area. If your yard is sort of flat, that is perfect. You don't need a huge area. Practice clipping out before you come to a complete stop. This will prevent embarrassing fall to the side while clipped in.
Depending on the pedals you get, you may be able to adjust the tension on them. Have your local bike shop (LBS) put them on the easiest tension setting until you get used to them.
I have a trainer on which I can practice. I need to find out how many traffic lights there are on my bike ride in a few weeks.
I will definitely be going to my LBS. I'm on first name basis with the manager already. I love my LBS. I was in there this morning and saw the 30% off tri shoes that prompted this idea.
buffaloeggs.blogspot.com 2016 Races: Hop Hop Half Marathon 2:05:09 Pac Crest Half Ironman 7:13:40 9/10 Aluminum Man Oly Tri 11/27 Space Coast Half Marathon