Couldn't get clipped out and fell

[rivergrl]

Well, I finally did it. I knew riding clipless was going to have its moments and I had one of them on Saturday. I'm new to riding clipless and I just didn't get my right foot out in time. I went for a 20 mile bike ride on my new road bike and was nearing the end of my ride, went to come to a stop and I got my left foot out, was putting it on the ground, and just didn't get my right foot out and WHAM I went down on my right side, luckily into some grass. It didn't hurt, and thank goodness no one was nearby. I bounced right back up with only a grass burn on my leg. However, my shoulder, and the area around my elbow are very sore now. I'm hoping I didn't do any damage to my arm.

I'm blaming the fall on being tired and just not having the energy to get my darn foot clipped out in time. I'm just glad no one was watching.

:rolleyes:

[bikerchick68]

yikes... hope your arm is OK... and sorry ya fell.

I have a question... it sounds like you unclip both feet? Were you getting completely off the bike? Just curious... when I stop I only unclip one side and then lean that direction slightly... I leave the other foot clipped in unless I am SAG-ing or dismounting the bike...

anyway, hope you'll ba back to new in no time... :)

[KnottedYet]

Aaahhh, now that milestone is past.

Love my clipless, hate falling over. Soft cushy grass is good. Try putting some ice on your elbow for 15 or 20 minutes, see if that helps.

[caligurl]

awww sorry you fell! BUT... we've all done it! heck.... i fell in my driveway before even getting on my first ride! :D

[NorCalGal]

Yep, it's a hard way to learn, but like KnottedYet said, at least it was grass. My first time was while practicing a track stand at the end of a ride -- and I forgot to unclip until it was too late, thus landing HARD on the gravel. I was quite bloodied, and the little plastic thingies that keep the brake cable from rubbing against the top tube and scratching the paint made little bruises on my inner thigh. But mostly, as you felt, too, I was glad no one saw me do such a doofus thing! :o

I hope the benefits of clipless keep you going. Glad you weren't hurt too badly!

[rivergrl]

I usually unclip my left foot first, lean slightly that direction with my foot on the ground, I then come to a complete stop and then unclip my right foot.

For some reason I had gotten my left foot out and on the ground but my right foot just wouldn't unclip and I just (in slow motion) fell to the right...but I had come to a complete stop already and had my left foot firmly on the ground. I guess I just didn't lean the bike far enough to the left. Ya live, ya learn. I'm sure glad I can share on here, none of my friends ride so they just don't get it.

[pooks]

I'm confused. I don't know anything about clips so probably need the dummy's guide!

Did you say you were riding clipless, and couldn't get your foot out of the clip? Did I misunderstand something?

[pikato]

Pooks-

Yes it's confusing, but the old 'cage' looking pedals are originally called clips. Then they developed clipless pedals--which you are CLIPPED into the pedal--but because that name was taken, it's called clipless.

It's confusing, but it's the terminology, lol.

[Geonz]

Ah, the Engrish langauge!

People like me use these things called "toe clips" - plastic thingies to stick my feet in. When the bike industry people thought of more expensive things to sell, they said "no toe clips! Less = not, 'clipless'."
However, the stuff you do to use the new stuff is "cliip in" and "clip out." Go figge4r :-)

[iFKA]

Last week I fell cause a girl in front of me stopped very sudden and I couldn't get my leg out in time - sad part is that I have SPD for two years. I have many bruises and my ego is hurting very much cause it happened right in front of 20 people :o. At the beginning I was falling like an apples from a three and everyone teased me for that but now it never happens - almost never :D

[pooks]

Any photos that show the different pedals with feet in/on them?

[Brina]

I had my first fall this week two. Not fun, but luckily not hurt. They say it happens to us all.

[Peddlin' Patti]

Sorry about your fall. I fell twice in one week. I unclipped my right foot which I had been doing for about a month with no problems. I was leaning to the left and fell over. The next time I went out the same thing happened. Now I'm so paranoid of falling that I clip out on both sides because I don't want to fall again. My dh doesn't ride and says I'm too old to be getting banged up. I feel like a kid with scraped knees and elbows.

[salsabike]

Congrats, you just joined a big club.

I'm posting a link to a thread on this forum on our most embarrassing moments. A number of the posts, including mine, are associated with falling while clipped in. Read it--it'll make you feel MUCH better.


http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=5555

[betagirl]

I had my first clipless semi-fall a few weeks ago. For some reason, it took me 2 years to join this club. Call me incredibly lucky. I had several close calls though. Anyway, I was commuting to school, and had to stop at a busy intersection to wait for the light. I stepped off my pedal and my cleat slipped out from under me. I did this leap off my bike, clipped out of my left pedal, and somehow landed on both feet. I let my bike fall. Needless to say I had an audience of about 50 people, either in their cars waiting at the light or walking around. I was half embarassed, half impressed with my reflexes. Or that's what I told myself that the people were thinking to make myself feel less silly :D

[Diggles]

So how long was it after you began riding did y'all go clipless?

I'm curious b/c my friend goes clipless & highly recommends it...although he has similar stories of falling over & that embarrassment potential sorta terrifies me.

We went for (my maiden voyage) a ride yesterday & I couldn't keep up with him cuz my feet kept slipping off the f'n pedals. He says clipless allows you more power b/c you can pull on the ups & push on the downs.

Thoughts?

[caligurl]

So how long was it after you began riding did y'all go clipless?



my first road had clipless on it when i brought her home! hubby highly suggested i start out fresh with them.... so i listened to him.... i did have to return the look pedals and get speedplays (i cuouldn't clip out of the looks... i LOVE my speedplays!)

so to answer your question... my very first ride!

[Brandy]

So how long was it after you began riding did y'all go clipless?

I'm curious b/c my friend goes clipless & highly recommends it...although he has similar stories of falling over & that embarrassment potential sorta terrifies me.

We went for (my maiden voyage) a ride yesterday & I couldn't keep up with him cuz my feet kept slipping off the f'n pedals. He says clipless allows you more power b/c you can pull on the ups & push on the downs.

Thoughts?

I put clipless pedals on my road bike before I took my first ride. I had been taking indoor cycling classes and used cycling shoes with clipless pedals in there, so I didn't need to be sold on the effectiveness! I say go for it :)

[bikerz]

so to answer your question... my very first ride!

Me too! (Six falls to my credit, but none in the last year - thank goodness!)

[pikato]

Me three!!

It just seemed more logical to start from the beginning with clipless, than getting used to something else & switching to clipless later.

[betagirl]

I went clipless about a month after I got my 1st road bike (2003). Would never go back to cages. I find those are harder to get out of than the clipless pedals are.

[HappyAnika]

I went clipless after about 5 weeks. I wanted time to get used to the road bike (my first) and be comfortable shifting and braking. However the toe clips (cages) weren't necessarily easy to get in and out of either. I think the clipless are definitely easier to get into, and getting out just takes a little practice (the trainer is great for this if you have one). I had gotten to the point where I hated my toe clips and I would never go back, but I still think it was worth it for the first few rides . . .

[colby]

So how long was it after you began riding did y'all go clipless?

When I bought my new bike, she didn't come with pedals... so I went all-in, and bought clipless pedals and shoes right away. Before that, my only experience was on platforms, and with mountain/hybrid bikes. So, my first day on a road bike and I'm having to figure out everything from shifting to getting ON and OFF the bike in the first place!

The motion of clipping in and out itself isn't really difficult, it's knowing when to do it and where the rest of your body should be. It's something you definitely have to adjust to, and pretty much plan on the fact that falling can happen, will most likely happen, and will not be fatal. I think even being aware that this is a possibility might help you loosen up a bit ;)

The more time you spend on the bike, the better you'll get. I had a minor victory recently just figuring out how to pedal without clipping in (an AHA! and DUH! moment all in one), and another today when I had to clip out really quickly, leaned the wrong way, nearly fell, but clipped my other foot out and recovered in an amazing and magical movement that I may never be able to repeat.

One of the funny things is how many other clipless riders I've noticed now that I have been riding them. People at stop lights, crossing the street, on the trails, on the road... whether I'm driving, riding, or running, I am a lot more aware of what it takes to be a put-together rider ;)

[Kano]

and pretty much plan on the fact that falling can happen, will most likely happen, and will not be fatal. I think even being aware that this is a possibility might help you loosen up a bit ;)

See, now I'm not so sure I agree with this, Colby! Riding around with:eek: "sooner or later I'm gonna fall" :eek: rolling around somwhere in the back of my head:eek: is what's making me say, "Hmmmmm, do I really want to do this?" every time I give thought to getting the pedals, even though I KNOW how much of a performance booster they are!

(the knowledge that it will happen when I'm on skis tends to affect my skiing too, but snow is usually softer than chip-seal and I've got more clothes protecting my skin!)

Karen in Boise

[RoadRaven]

I rode for about 4 months using toe cages - no straps or buckles...

I would never go back to that now, clipping in gives me soooo much power and control.

And Kano... dunno how many times I have heard this litttle bit of biking wisdom...

There are two types of riders... those who have crashed... and those who are going to crash...

May all your falls be low-impact at low speed .... (like the time I headed off, put so much power in to the first thrust down that my wheel spun and I flipped forward over my handle bars... the only thing that was damaged was my pride...)

[colby]

See, now I'm not so sure I agree with this, Colby! Riding around with:eek: "sooner or later I'm gonna fall" :eek: rolling around somwhere in the back of my head:eek: is what's making me say, "Hmmmmm, do I really want to do this?" every time I give thought to getting the pedals, even though I KNOW how much of a performance booster they are!

(the knowledge that it will happen when I'm on skis tends to affect my skiing too, but snow is usually softer than chip-seal and I've got more clothes protecting my skin!)

Karen in Boise

That's true, Karen, it could be a little bit disconcerting as well. I think the real point is to relax about it, instead of stressing every time you clip in and out. That's helped me a lot -- if I worry about falling too much, I think about what I'm doing too much, instead of listening to what my body and feet are doing and going with the simplest solution. The more you do it, the less you think about what you're doing.

You're probably pretty likely to fall, but you'll want to practice everything at a slower speed. All of the times I've fallen (just twice) were when I was at a complete stop! It doesn't hurt much to fall when you're not going anywhere. ;)

[chartman64]

Given that I can't afford special shoes and/or new pedals, this question is probably moot -- at least until I have disposable income again -- but am I nuts to love my toe clips? It took me a couple of rides to get used to them but I've never had a problem getting out of them. A couple of false starts getting in, depending on conditions when I get moving, but that's it...

My mom always taught me that if you can't play well, at least look good -- does sticking with my toe clips make me look stupid?

[eclectic]

Given that I can't afford special shoes and/or new pedals, this question is probably moot -- at least until I have disposable income again -- but am I nuts to love my toe clips? It took me a couple of rides to get used to them but I've never had a problem getting out of them. A couple of false starts getting in, depending on conditions when I get moving, but that's it...

My mom always taught me that if you can't play well, at least look good -- does sticking with my toe clips make me look stupid?

I have friends that use toe clips - You do what you have to do and what works

I used toe clips for one season, I took the plunge to clipless because my left foot and leg were falling asleep after about 12 miles. After determining it wasn't my seat but how my foot was pronating in and putting pressure on the inside (I had to very consciously straighten it out - impossible over 60 miles) I went to a mtn bike shoe- helped somewhat

Went to clipless and a very snug fitting road bike shoe and now can ride the 60 miles quite comfortably (I just have to remember now to keep my heels down)

Falling AHHH yes! my first time out the 2 guys I was riding with offered to go on either side of me at stop signs:) I lasted a month and half before falling
I was going all of 1mile an hour, thought my right foot wasn't clipped in, it was and oops over I go, a little road rash, a little embarassment, a little relief that the first fall was finally over and no injuries:o

I LOVE riding clipless but it is a pain to dress out each time you want to go so I have a back up bike with regular pedals, and a wicked witch of the west basket on the back for little in town jaunts to the grocery store

[Jen Jen]

I started riding clipless this year. I really hadn't thought about the possibility of falling, until I did it...

I think it was my second ride. When I biked up to the house, I was a bit tired, and I didn't ride up the driveway because I was worried about safely dismounting on the steep angle. So I stopped at the bottom, and just couldn't get out in time...and went down... so slowly... The most embarrassing part was my teenage neighbor was skateboarding in the street not 5 feet from me! He asked if I was OK (and I was impressed by the manners of it). I was just embarrassed because I figured he didn't know why I fell (I was attached to the bike! I couldn't help it!!) because I had no clue people rode this way until recently.

I was really lucky though. Staying at the bottom of the driveway allowed me to land on grass. Not too painful. I've had many close calls since, but that's been the only fall...for now. :)

[KnottedYet]

Grass is good. I like grass. Soft, cushy grass...

I've been impressed by how many times I thought I was falling, but my Speedplay Frogs disconnected "automatically" and saved my sorry buns. (I have actually fallen, but we won't mention that...) Something about the way my foot reaches for the ground as I go over is just right to disengage and let me touch the ground. Not graceful, but I ain't complainin'.:D

Edit: P.S. I feel safer and more in control using my Frogs than I did using my clips/cages for 10 years.

[sunrunner]

I just "upgraded" my old bike from cages to clips...and the very first day I fell, in my own yard, lol...the next day I went ridign, and fell again..both times to the right. When I had my cages, i always left my left foot in and just took out my right, so my habit is to lean to the right when stopping or dismounting, but silly me can't unclip my right foot for the life of me, lol...anyway, i am getting it know after some embarassing moments, but i have found it is easier to unclip just one foot and then bring that foot to the ground when stopping or dismounting...
I'm glad to hear you didn't hurt anything when you fell - that is always my big fear..i'm such a wimp when it comes to scrapes and bruises...
HUGS

[dachshund]

My first fall was in the parking lot of the bike store :) With the sales guy yelling "don't stop - don't sto--". Bang.

Now I know not to stop pedaling or I'll tip over. Har har.

I was determined to get the clipless newbie thing out of the way first thing. The only other time I fell was when I caught my foot swinging my leg to dismount. I lost my balance and was on my butt. There were cars going by, but I pretended no one saw me. There were no cyclists around. :p I decided my left leg isn't the one I should be balancing with. But this wasn't related to clipless issues, it was a Total Klutz thing on my part. (I open kitchen cabinets into my head, so it's undeniable.)

I went through two different types of SPD pedals and ended up liking the Speedplay X5s. I'm impressed with y'all who "got" the SPD pedals right away - I just couldn't. But I really like the cute little X5s.

[emily_in_nc]

My most embarrassing fall with clipless was at a rest stop of a metric century, of all times. Cyclists all around, of course. I was going for a personal best metric time so made it to the rest stop with the "B-paced" riders (per my club's designations, 16-18 mph average speed), which made it even more embarrassing for me since these were not newbie/casual cyclists, for the most part. I was in the parking lot getting going again after my eat/drink stop, and the back of the chamois pad of my shorts caught on the nose of my saddle, messing up my "mounting the bike routine", and down I went, sideways, without any warning. Several guys yelled over "Are you okay??" Yes, I was fine, no harm done...except to my pride. :eek:

We've all been there, done that at some time or another, and even experienced cyclists (as I was a that point) will occasionally take a tumble. Clipless are still well worth it for the advantages they offer. I ride Eggbeater Candy's on my mtb and love 'em. Have never been unable to clip out before I fall! :o

Emily