Tips for getting my feet in?

I've only had my new bike set up for a few days and so maybe I'm being a little impatient, but I am so completey rubbish at getting my feet in the toe clips. It is really annoying. It's taking me absolutely ages to get my feet in every time I have to take them out.
Has anyone got any tips? Or do I just need to keep trying? At what point in the revolution should I try and flip the pedal over?

keep trying.....it just takes practice.

I must admit, i found it weird when i swapped from clipins to toe clips, but, once you get the hang of it, its easy peasy :) just put the front of your foot on the top of the pedal and drag it backwards quickly and then shove it in as quick at you can!

don't stop

i find when my foots coming up is the time to flick it over, helps if you have pedals with the little tounge thingy to catch onto and good soles of shoes. vans waffle soles definatly the best.

i too have had massive trouble with this. good tips above, its much easier to do as the peddle comes to the top. u can also make toe flips out of old steel clips by snapping off the cage bit then attaching the flat bit to the back of the peddle, works a treat

yeah, I'll stick my vans back on. Converse are rubbish. I do have the tongue thingy but its really little.

I managed not to stop most of the way to work but on the few occasions I had to take my feet out, it was a real pain in the bum.

I'll persevere; I just wondered if there was secret trick that no one had told me about...

My trick/tip: I would aim to your get free foot in the clip during the first revolution of the crank - the moment you start pushing on the leading foot that's already in its toe clip. The free pedal seems to swing forward nicely as it nears the top if its arc. Sounds harder than it actually is.

i find it harder when its wet as the tongue thingy slips on the sole.

also learn to trackstand, makes commuting with straps wayyy easier. also when you start off if your sitting down rather than standing on the pedals its also easier to get into em on the first revolution.

if you make sure to only ever take out one foot when stopping at lights (if you do), that's half of it right there.
for me, i start when the pedal is as low as it can go, just before it starts coming up. if you don't make it in by the time the pedal is all the way at the top, just put your foot on the underside and pedal until it gets back to the bottom, especially if you are in the middle of a crowded intersection getting passed by a reckless cabbie

practice

I found this quite difficult for the first week or so. but after that it is mostly second nature and you can do it withtout even thinkign about it / lookign down.

ideally you want to 'slip it in' on the first upswing...

practice practice practice practice practice practice, and then you wont even think about it. it helps to get your feet in as soon as possible, if you pick up speed it tends to get a bit tricky to get your foot in......but practice practice practice practice and you will find your own method :)

+1 to all above.
And do not worry if you think you are clumsy at it
Because that normally just means that you will be an ace trackstander quickly
because you will avoid clipping in/out as much as possible :)
Once you get into it it will feel very strange to ride without.
People with cleats tell its the same for them stepping down to our
toe clip level of control over the pedals

Conan vans waffle soles definatly the best.

After a few weeks you'll be fine. And definitely go with the vans. They are all I ride in. And they look good when you are off the bike too :)

get some SPDs, clipless pedals, eggbeaters - much easier

I don't want to have to wear bike shoes, so that spd's are out and the vans are in!

yeah, practice. it'll become like second nature eventually

the first time I rode clips, it took about a mile before I could get my left foot in!

ahh those were the days..

warm beer, cold women and cricket

juliettyspaghetty I don't want to have to wear bike shoes, so that spd's are out and the vans are in!

but bikes shoes make you look well de la hardcore, init.

juliettyspaghetty I don't want to have to wear bike shoes, so that spd's are out and the vans are in!

That seems a bit odd, if you don't mind me saying so. I mean, what's so offensive about a pair of black cycling shoes? No-one else will notice what you're wearing. Like Morgan Freeman says, "How often do you really look at a man's shoes?' :-)

maybe she's not a man.

chance for a new pair of shoes, and she turns it down!

what the world comin too?

Right enough, I suppose women DO look at each other's shoes. So much pressure! Thank goodness for my Y chromosome.

Soweto888 [quote]juliettyspaghetty I don't want to have to wear bike shoes, so that spd's are out and the vans are in!

That seems a bit odd, if you don't mind me saying so. I mean, what's so offensive about a pair of black cycling shoes? No-one else will notice what you're wearing. Like Morgan Freeman says, "How often do you really look at a man's shoes?' :-)[/quote]
perhaps the practical considerations of what she's wearing on her feet when she's not cycling are more of a factor than mere asthetics...dunno though

I'm not a man, and I do look at shoes!