I've fallen and I can't get up, well maybe

[ACG]

I am trying clippless on my bike, went down the block, fell. Took the bike to a soft track, fell, many times. I'm wearing my cuts and bruises like a trophy...



Is there a trick to this?

Is it slow, click out, brake, foot on ground?

Do you click out 100 feet before you have to stop?

I'd love to learn to balance but I can see this is far off.

I ride in an area where there will be traffic and lights. So I've got to be able to stop safely.

Thanks

[spazzdog]

Do you ski?
If yes, it's pretty much like clicking out of your bindings.

If no... stay on the grass :D I'm sorry... someone said that to me once when I was falling all over the place.

Seriously though, do you have a trainer? If you do, put the bike on it and pedal and unclip over and over until you can 'feel' it. If you don't have a trainer ride around slowly in your neighborhood doing the same thing.

I have to re=acquant myself with my clips every season. Stick with it. Soon you'll be doing it without even thinking.

[CorsairMac]

It if helps, I unclip if I even Think I'm going to have to stop. I figure if I don't stop - I can always clip back in but this way I'm "ready for anything". I also just rode around my neighbourhood while clipping and unclipping without worrying about stopping until I got used to the "action". I also practiced riding unclipped with my feet on the pedals so I could get used to that feel. In my case I ride a bike path but it crosses major streets plus a school street so riding to work can get very interesting some mornings! Good luck with your pedals - I LOVE my clipless and was sorry I waited 6 weeks to get them!

[Irulan]

Originally posted by spazzdog
Do you ski?
If yes, it's pretty much like clicking out of your bindings.

hmm, I never think of it like that. Alpine ski bindings release more upon appication of certain types of impact and torque - you can't just step out them them with a subtle movement like you can a clipless bike pedal. In fact, I know a mountain biker who got himself into a whole lot of hurt thining he'd release automatically out of SPD's. With mine, I have to open the rear of the binding with my ski pole or by slamming my other ski onto it, no auto relaease for me, except in major garage sale events.

I think you have to train yourself to do it as an automatic reaction. You have to think about it at first, then it becomes second nature. If your clips are set so tight that it takes you 100 feet to get out of them, you may need to get them lubed and adjusted.

Irulan

[pedalfaster]

ACG-

Try this:

Put your bike in a trainer. If you don't have a trainer, you can do this in a door-way, you just won't be able to pedal.

Turn on the radio or tv. The point is you *don't* want to think about what you are doing.

Clip in and out at least 100 times (on both sides of the pedal if you have dual sided pedals) on each foot.

What you are doing:

Training your brain to the motion.

Wearing the cleats in to the pedals.

Now go try outside....

:cool:

[MightyMitre]

I also unclip if I think I'm going to have to stop - even if I don't need to.

I also try to anticipate, especially if I'm riding on a road with lots of traffic lights or where there's lots of potential reasons to need to stop - a bit like in the way that you always have that anticipataion of having to break on a descent.

Just keep practising and stay relaxed and it'll soon come. :)

[CorsairMac]

Well - I had my first fall yesterady! I was committed to crossing a clearing in a busy street and was standing on the pedals just as a truck made a left hand turn in front of me. All I could think of was "unclip!"......but the clip got stuck. I did unclip as I was going down! (gee better late than never) So I'm now off to my LBS to have the right clip looked at - it may need a slight adjustment! And back to the neighbourhood streets to practice unclipping while standing on the pedals! (and here I was feeling so smug yesterday coz I hadn't fallen - humility lesson learned! ;) )

[kimba]

I got my pedals in the mail today- I got Richey V3 mountain bike pedals- they are supposed to shed mud well-
and me just getting over my back spasms!
Still sore- but at least I was on the recumbant bike at the rehab centre yesterday!
I've been cleared to get back on my bike- yay!
easy- paved streets obly- gentle pace - boo!
They don't know me very well....heheheheh!

But I'm thinking- maybe I should bag the pedals and instead put them on my bike when I get my fluid trainer-
and then ride them all winter so that when I'm finally ready to ride outside- I'll be used to them!

Thoughts anyone?

Kimba