Tips for getting started with automatic pedals
Automatic pedals are often the biggest source of stress for beginner cyclists! With Joséphine from Giant Strasbourg, we explain step by step how to get started without apprehension, with the right gestures and reflexes.
Summary
- Our video tips for getting started with car pedals
- Understanding the principle of automatic pedals
- Choosing the right pedals for beginners
- Adjusting tension for greater confidence
- Training at a standstill
- Choosing your "safety foot
- Launching in a safe place
- Setting off on your first outing
- Accepting the fall (and laughing about it!)
- The most common mistakes
- Conclusion
Our video tips for getting started with car pedals
Understanding the principle of automatic pedals
First of all, a quick reminder: an automatic pedal works with a cleat attached to the bottom of the shoe, which engages with the pedal. The advantage? Smoother, more efficient pedaling, since the foot remains firmly in place while the pedal can be pulled back up.
To unclip, simply rotate the heel outwards. It’s not rocket science, but it does take a little practice to make the gesture natural.
Choosing the right pedals for beginners
If you’re not sure which model to choose, some pedals are better suited to beginners.
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SPD-type pedals, often used in mountain biking or gravel biking, are an excellent choice to start with: they are easy to engage and disengage, while their recessed sole means you can walk without slipping too much.
But you don’t have to! The important thing is to find the system you feel comfortable with, and above all to set the right tension for your first outings.
I refer you to another video we made with Joséphine to explain everything in detail.
Adjusting tension for greater confidence
Most automatic pedals have an adjusting screw for setting the spring tension.
If you’re just starting out, set it to the minimum setting: your foot will come out much more easily, which greatly reduces the risk of falling. You can then gradually increase the tension once you’re comfortable, for greater stability and pedaling efficiency.
Training at a standstill
Before hitting the road, take the time to practice stopping.
Lean against a wall or fence and practice several times: clip, unclip, reclip.
This will enable you to memorize the movement without stress, until it becomes totally automatic.
To clip, first engage the front of the foot , then press down until you hear a click.
To unclip, remember to turn the heel outwards – not pull the foot upwards, a reflex very common among beginners!
Choosing your “safety foot
Even if the ideal is to be able to unclip on both sides, we often prefer one side, the one with which we naturally place our foot when stopped.
At first, choose this foot as your “safety foot”, the one you always unclip first.
This will help you avoid the moment of panic at a stop sign or red light, when you don’t know which side to put your foot on… and end up tipping over on the wrong side!
Believe us, many of us fell like that when we first started out, and always choosing the same side helps.
Launching in a safe place
Once these reflexes have been acquired, it’s time to get moving.
Choose a quiet, flat spot: parking lot, wide driveway, or quiet bike path.
Start by clipping on one foot when stationary, give a light pedal stroke to start the movement, then clip on the second foot when you’re already rolling.
Then do a few simple exercises:
- clip / unclip several times while driving slowly,
- simulate stops,
- test early unclipping before braking.
The aim is to gradually build confidence, without traffic or stress.
Setting off on your first outing
When the gesture becomes natural, it’s time to take the plunge for real!
Choose a route you know well, with few abrupt stops. Avoid the city or busy areas at first.
Anticipate your stops: always unclip one foot before braking, especially at a stop sign or when climbing.
And if you have to clip on a slope, it’s much simpler to go down a few meters to do it gently before setting off again.
Accepting the fall (and laughing about it!)
Let’s be honest: everyone falls at least once because of automatic pedals.
It’s neither serious nor shameful – in fact, it’s a kind of initiation passage in the life of a cyclist!
The main thing is not to get discouraged and to laugh about it.
The most common mistakes
- Pulling on the foot instead of turning the heel: it’ll never work!
- Panic when trying to clip: take your time, breathe, try again calmly.
- Forget to anticipate the stop: unclip early to avoid a fall.
With a little practice, these gestures will quickly become natural reflexes.
Conclusion
Learning to use automatic pedals takes a little patience, but the benefits are well worth it: greater stability, better pedaling and a real feeling of fluidity.
With the right settings, a bit of practice and a healthy dose of self-indulgence, you’ll see that there’s really nothing scary about going the distance!