Clipless Pedals and Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am hopeful that this upcoming Saturday practice will be a little easier than last week, not just because I am back into the habit of exercising every day, but also because I am the proud owner of new SPD (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) clipless pedals and an amazing pair of shoes to go with them. All of this is thanks to my uncle Don, fellow biking enthusiast, who not only generously set me up with some awesome biking gear, but also took me out on the road to test it all out.

If you're like most people, you probably have no idea what 'clipless' pedals are. Clipless pedals require a special shoe with a cleat that clicks into the pedal, rather like clicking into skis. It is technically fairly simply to release a foot, a simple twist of your foot to one side and you will happily un-click. However, to a novice the slight delay that occurs as you roll up to a stop sign and think "Oh yeah, my feet are stuck," is ample time for you to demurely tip over. If you're lucky you will fall into a nice cushy patch of grass. If you are not so lucky, you will fall in front of a quite surprised little old lady. Learning to use clipless pedals is rather like learning to ride a bike all over again, except less cute because I am no longer six years old with streamers attached to my handlebars.


The advantages to this design are substantial if you are planning on biking long distances. For one, your feet are more stably planted. And two, you are using the strength of your legs on the upstroke of pedaling, not just on the down stroke. I am told that this will be extremely valuable on tough hills, and will help me conserve energy over the course of our rides.

Bottom of my shoe

I have been assured that every biker, even very experienced bikers, fall over a lot when they first convert to clipless pedals. I feel, well hardly confident, but a little better about using them after riding ten or so miles with my uncle on Sunday.

When we returned from our practice ride around my Uncle's neighborhood (where I started to get the hang of my pedals after the fourth time I fell over) my aunt Anne had a plate of chocolate chip cookies ready, a perfect post ride snack. Over a lovely lunch I tried to inquire if there was anything I could do to express my thanks for everything they had done for me. My aunt said simply "This is what family does," and smiled, and gave me another cookie.