ConvenientBox said:job is your bike fitted? It doesn't sound right that you have to pull up.
I think you misunderstand, I'm pulling up on the back end of the pedal stroke. When my right foot is pushing down my left foot is pulling up. And then they switch. With straps, they need to be cinched down, otherwise when your foot starts to rock forward, it slides out of the straps. I don't need to pull up, it just makes it easier when I'm in a steep ascent, at a low cadence.
OuterWorldVoice said:The problem people have is torque - you forget, you start to fall and instead of turning your foot, your instinct is to lift it and put it down on the ground. Those movements are incompatible with gravity and SPD technology and BAM. Slow mo fall.
I worded that badly, I do understand why people have problems initially, but it becomes instinct pretty quickly (well at least for me).
A story, a couple of months ago I did a ride up a hill near my work. I'm only in moderately decent shape, and the last 500 foot of this climb has sections that are 16+ percent grades. This road is to an observation point to the top of the hill, it's fairly wide, and there are hardly any cars on it. So I'm in low gear, out of the saddle, sweat pouring into my eyes, paper boying, just trying to keep forward momentum. I hear a car coming, so I straighten it up, move over and sit down to let him by. After what seemed like an eternity, he passed, so I get up out of the saddle again. I couldn't see very clearly (glasses covered in sweat), but as I push on the right pedal, I hit the curb, which send the bike and me toppling over to the left. Without missing a beat I unclip my left foot and catch myself.
As I said previously, I'm not massively coordinated, as proven by my ability to almost crash at 5mph, and I haven't been riding with clipless for very long (year and a half). I've had many other times (usually in sand/gravel) where I've had to unclip in a hurry. I have definitely had the slo mo fall, but not after the first month or so of riding. It just becomes instinctive.
Jamesfrom818 said:Any lights you guys suggest?
What I use
CygoLite Pace 350
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1112095_-1_400903_400014_400158
ViewPoint Flashpoint Ultra Tail Light
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1075344_-1_1588500_20000_400903
My experience is it's best for you to go to a LBS and see the lights, some just aren't very bright. You need to decide if the headlight is for you to see, or others to see you. If you need to see, and you go at a good pace, you will need to spend a bit of money on a headlight. I can pretty safely do 30mph with my headlight. I much prefer a rear light with a non diffused lens, it is extremely visible, even in dense fog.