As the gun goes off and riders scramble to get underway, fumbling with your pedals in a fast race start can cost you time off the line and position in the pack. Getting started properly in a race can be especially challenging at early season races when pre-race nerves are extra high. One rider can recall missing a break at the national criterium championship where the riders who clipped in immediately from the line attacked and stayed away to take all five medals. Here are some tips to help get you clipped in efficiently and quickly.

1. Pick a starting gear that will allow you to get enough punch off the line that you'll move forward without too much muscle power, but not such a small gear that you don't gain some momentum to coast for enough time that you can clip in your loose foot.
2. Make sure that your starting gear is also a solid one that doesn't cause the chain to come off the front chainring if the cranks spin backward for any reason while you are waiting at the line.
3. Look forward as you take off the line to where you want to be, not down at your pedals. You're less likely to bobble if you don't try to watch what you are doing. Keeping your eyes up the road also keeps you headed toward openings and will help prevent running into anyone else who bobbles in front of you.
4. If you do fumble and miss your first opportunity to clip in, sit down, put your  mid-foot (the part behind the cleat) on the pedal and continue pedaling at speed, clipping in at the first opportunity once you have enough momentum.  Contrary to what feels intuitive, it's more important to get up to speed than it is to clip in.
5. Clipping into a one sided pedal is more challenging than a two or four-sided pedal. What you gain in platform, you may lose in start speed. You'll need to weigh your options on what's most valuable to you. But if you practice enough, you may be able to make the time difference negligible.
   
6. Practice clipping in "at speed" outside of races. Don't leave it to race day to figure out how to clip in quickly. Just like you'd practice dismounts in a 'cross race, practice your standing mounts for a fast start.