Once you feel comfortable getting in and out of the pedals try riding around on some soft grass or a long, straight and quiet bike path.

To start, stand astride you bike and engage one pedal, then push off, sit on the saddle, and then rest your other foot on its pedal. Get moving a little bit and then try snapping the other foot in. It’s important to avoid looking down at your pedal when rolling out, try to keep your head up and eyes forward so that you can avoid obstacles, and it’s a good habit for when you progress to group rides.

The second part is clipping out whilst on the move…. Practice taking your foot out with time to spare and pick an object in the distance. It could be a telephone pole or post box for example and approximately 10 metres before, stop pedalling and whilst rolling, take your foot out of the pedal by twisting your heel.

Training Plan: Riding your first 100

Once your foot is out, you can rest it on the pedal again, and even pedal some more if you need to (make sure it doesn’t re-engage unawares). Then, as you slow down, your foot will be ready to put down on the ground. Practice this several times, and gradually you’ll be able to get closer before you take your foot out of the pedal

Overall, clip-in pedals might seem daunting at first but it is worth persevering and getting used to them. They will make your time on the bike much more efficient and more comfortable in the end, and you can lose the novice badge (at least one of them!!)