Mountain Biking Shoes and Pedals

Thinking About Clipping In?

Mountain biking shoes and clip-in pedals (also known as clipless and step-in) can be very intimidating.  Not only will you be investing in equipment, you will also need to adjust to the fact that you will be attached to your bike by your feet.  I will address the equipment issue, but first let's deal with the fear of clicking-in. 

The fear of clipping-in comes from a lack of practice.  That's it!  However, these kind of pedals are not for everybody.  If you are happy riding technically mild trails that don't have steep inclines, you probably won't want to mess with clip-in pedals.  You may still want to get a pair of mountain biking shoes since they are designed to improve your pedaling efficiency, and platform pedals may suit you just fine.  If you do not want to try clip-in pedals click here.

For the rest of you, you should consider getting click-in pedals and mountain biking shoes. You will improve your ability to climb hills, have more control through those technical trail sections, and you'll be able to exercise more leg muscles.

FYI: You may be wondering why we refer to "clip-in" pedals as "clipless".  This is because an earlier pedal design had an exterior clip that held a riders shoe to the pedal platform.  The newer models don't have these exterior clips.  That's why the terms "clip-in" and "step-in" are synonymous with "clipless" pedals.  More on this topic below

How to use Clipless Pedals (aka Clip-in / Step-in)

It is not wise to ride with a new set of clip in pedals without practicing your release over and over again.  So before you try ridding with them, please follow these steps below to avoid embarrassment and injury.  If you follow these guidelines, you'll get the hang of it in no time.

Starting

• Lean against a wall and practice clipping in and out with your left foot until it's second nature (until you don't even have to look).  You can even do it while you watch TV.

• Then switch and do the same with your right foot

• Now find a flat area with no obstacles

• Click your primary foot in and start to pedal

• As you start rolling click your other foot in.

Riding

Once you get going you will immediately feel the difference.  You will have much more control with your mountain bike because you not have four points of attachment (hands and feet).   To take full advantage of clipping-in you will need to re-learn how to pedal.

• You are already know how to push down as you pedal, but now you must also learn how to pull up.  This can literally double your power if done right.

• One way you can re-learn how to pedal is by practicing on a flat (paved) road.  As you are riding release one of your feet from the clip.  If the road is bumpy this could hurt you in the wrong place. 

• Using only one foot, pedal with equal power all the way through each rotation. 

• Switch feet and repeat the process.

• Not clip-in with both feet.  You will never pedal the same!

Stopping

• Stopping is the tricky part!  You will be used to simply taking your foot off the pedal when coming to a stop.  If you try that while you are clipped-in, your will fall on your face!

• Before stopping, decide which foot you are going to put down. 

• Release that foot by kicking out your heal (just like you practiced), and then step down when you come to a complete stop.

• Unless you need to get off your bike, you can leave your primary foot clipped in.

I know it sounds complicated, but once you do it, get the feel of it, and experience the benefits, there is no going back.  Now that you are ready to try click-in pedals and mountain biking shoes, we need to talk about the equipment you will be investing in.