My first fall

[nafula]

I had my first ever fall on Thursday night. I've got several big shiny purple bruises to prove it. I'm so proud.

I have been a little worried about whether my feet would pop out of the pedals when I fall, but I heard the click just before I hit the ground, so no more worries there.

[eclectic]

Congratulations:D Feels good to get it out of the way. Now you realize you can survive

Send a few more details, where, how fast, how big a crowd

Glad to hear it was nothing worse than some bruising and the clips worked as designed

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey I had MY first fall today!
Actually, I am really HAPPY about it! Why?....because after riding for two months, I have been getting paranoid about not having fallen yet, figuring the first one might be a doozy the longer it takes in coming. :(

So today I installed my PwoerGrip straps on my pedals, and went down to the safe empty parking lot to practice a bit. The very first time i braked to a stop I simply forgot what moves to coordinate and rather gently fell over on the right side that was still strapped in. But i had made sure to wear my gloves and the asphalt was new and very smooth, so it was a rather uneventful fallover, and no harm done. I practiced some more, realizing that actually I didn't need to stop much differently than I normally do! My brain had been trying to think of too many things at once, and the reality was way simpler than that.

Yay! I feel the "jinx" no longer threatens!! :p

Relieved, undamaged, and undaunted....

[Leonne]

I had my first fall the first day I brought my bike home and tried to go for a ride. I clipped into my pedals for the first time and put to much weight on the side I clipped into and just fell over. I got a nice scabby knee from it, but it is almost healed now :)

[spatlese]

It was my first ride and I was in an empty parking lot. Unclipped on my right side (right foot was at 6 o'clock) and left foot was still clipped in (leaving left foot at the 12 o'clock position). And when I went to put my right foot on the ground, I couldn't stand on my left foot and ended up falling on my left knee. Ended up with road rash on my left knee and a giant bruise in my inner left thigh where the bicycle fell. UGH!! :o

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You should have found a parking lot with nice fresh smooth CUSHY asphalt!
;)

[KSH]

I had my first ever fall on Thursday night. I've got several big shiny purple bruises to prove it. I'm so proud.

I have been a little worried about whether my feet would pop out of the pedals when I fall, but I heard the click just before I hit the ground, so no more worries there.

Happy to hear you only ended up with battle scars that will go away!

I too was so scared that I wouldn't detach from the bike when I had a wreck... but somewhere along the way... our feet come off! Very interesting fact.

Now, go show off your bruises!

[roshelleuop]

I was also VERY surprised that my feet unclipped themselves when I fell this past weekend. It wasn't my first fall, but it was my first "bad" fall. Luckily I was only going about 10 mph, but I went over some railroad tracks that were not perpendicular with the road, so my tire slipped right into the track and threw me over the handlebars. I had nasty roadrash all along my left side and hit my head hard enough that I got to take a fun ambulance ride. One of the first things I asked myself was, "how the heck did I get unclipped?".

It happened so fast and I know for a fact I didn't do anything to get unclipped, so I'm proof that the impact will unclip you when needed. One of my biggest fears was that I'd break both ankles, and it's NOT TRUE!!!

But I will remind everyone - WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!!!!! The impact of the helmet on my head was bad enough, I couldn't even imagine if my head would have hit the cement directly. It saved my brain, skull, and if I was going any faster, it may have even saved my life!!!!

Roshelle from Milwaukee :) :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've been reading The Art of Urban Cycling, and one chapter is about the deadliness of cross railroad tracks. It says that the ONLY safe way to cross them is at a total 90 degree angle to the tracks. If you cross them at an oblique angle, the gap next to the metal track WILL suck your tire into it and you will come to a dead stop with your wheel trapped, and you will fly over your bike. It says tracks are one of the worst fall causes, like getting your foot caught in a bear trap. :(
Be SURE to slow way down and angle your bike so you cross over the tracks exactly perpendicular to them- do NOT cross at an angle! It's even worse when the tracks are wet- wet smooth metal is more slippery than anything except smooth ice.

[xeney]

In my experience it does not have to be a perfect 90-degree angle, so I wouldn't stress yourself into a railroad tracks phobia or anything. (I say that because that is the sort of thing I would do with that information, get so paranoid about hitting at exactly 90 degrees that I became terrified of crossing tracks at all.) You don't want to cross at less than a 45-degree angle or the thing you just described will happen, but you have a fair bit of fudging room between 90 and 45 degrees.

It happened to me once, on light rail tracks. I didn't fall or fly over the handlebars, and in fact I just thought I had a flat. It was easy to get the bike out, but it was really embarrassing.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, after reading about it, I personally would never go over RRtracks at a 45 degree angle, especially when wet. I don't think one needs to obsess about calibrating an exact 90 degrees, but way better 85 than 50!
I guess the faster you are going the more likely you will be thrown when your wheel gets caught and you come to a dead halt. I like to take the safer alternative myself. ;)

[massbikebabe]

Falls do not count in my house until you have:

1. Scraped the Sh!t out of some part of your body

2. Had an audience

3. Perserved the integrity of your bike while falling

4. Were able to laugh about yourself

5. Got right back on and rode that bike

karen
glad you are o.k. and able to tell us about your fall:)

[CorsairMac]

just as a "foot" note:

I was setting up a bike I'm selling (:eek: me? selling a bike?) and I put the platform pedals back on for him. When I test rode the bike, as I was coming to a stop I realized I was twisting my sneakered (or trainered for the UK ladies) foot off the platform pedal. I guess my feet have muscle memory now! lol

[Cassandra_Cain]

just as a "foot" note:

I was setting up a bike I'm selling (:eek: me? selling a bike?) and I put the platform pedals back on for him. When I test rode the bike, as I was coming to a stop I realized I was twisting my sneakered (or trainered for the UK ladies) foot off the platform pedal. I guess my feet have muscle memory now! lol

LOL - damn, wish I would have been at the stoplight next to you to see this. I'm sure more than a few people snickered. Better that than falling though :)

[leveerider]

Today was my first fall (and this is also my first posting on this forum). I was riding in a pace line at around 20mph. My front tire hit the back tire of the bike in front, and I went down hard on the asphalt. I've got road rash to the entire left side of my body, and banged up my knee a little. Funny, I never even thought about whether or not I would un-clip in a fall until I read the previous postings on this thread. At some point during the fall, I came un-clipped, so that wasn't a problem. I did some research on bike sites about what to use on road rash to promote healing without scarring. Found a great product -- Johnson & Johnson Advanced Healing Adhesive Pads. Everyone should stock up before their next fall.

[Fledgling]

I was also relieved when I finally had my first road bike fall. I was out on a two lane, gravel shoulder country road this past Monday since if you want to ride hills in Kansas, you usually have to go looking for them. I pulled off the road to get a drink from my canteen, slid off of my saddle and put my unclipped right foot down, and just tipped right over to the left. No points for a crowd, though. Believe me, I checked. :o
Scuffed my handlebar a bit, but no other damage than scraped palms, a butt-bruise, and an interesting looking set of chainwheel slices on the outside of my right ankle. No worries, though; ride went on to be magnificent!

It's nice reading about similar situations.
Safe and Happy Riding!

[nafula]

See, everyone else has a pretty cool story about their first fall. Mine, completely embarassing. But I was the only one who saw it happen.

I was riding rollers between the door frame in my basement. My front tire slid off the side, but I was still upright with my back tire still on the rollers. The thought that occured to me is that I would "jump" the front tire back on the roller. Of course, not thinking that I could roll right off the back. Which is what I did. Into the toolbox and wooden shelving that was on the other side of the door frame.

[biking4health]

I too had my first fall/tip over this week. I was starting out and didn't have enough speed and tipped to my left into the neighbors chain link fence. If the fence had not broken my fall I would have been splattered on the concrete drive. I have some great bruises on my left upper arm and various scrapes, but the bike is okay! I hate to see what would have happened if I had clips on my pedals :eek:

I told my DH and he said "gee I wish I would have seen that". Don't you just love understanding men????

Carol

[farrellcollie]

I had my first real fall last night on my commute home from teaching - I unclipped the right foot as I came to a crossing - but needed to dodge a tree by leaning left - kaboom. I have some bruises and loss of skin - the only serious part was my left wrist - which I thought might be broken but now appears merely sprained - swollen and bruised. Walking the dogs last night was a bit of a pain - I couldn't hold one of the leashes properly - fortunately old dog just sort of plods along and pup was in the right hand.

[Bluetree]

Hope you're OK, Farrell!

I fell a few days ago. I wish I could say I fell during a wicked 30 mph descent. The truth is I finished a ride, came home and simply "forgot" to unclip. Just tipped over onto my driveway, kinda in slo mo. Stupid, stupid.

This morning, I was sporting a red rash on my ankle, a black scab on my knee and a long greenish/purplish bruise on my thigh. What shoes goes with that?! I ended up wearing a pair of sandals with flowers on it... all the different colored flowers matched my leg nicely.

[chickwhorips]

i've come off my bike a couple of times, and one foot has stayed clipped in. now thats not pleasent, specially when you try to unclip that one foot while laying on the ground.

[Bluetree]

I told my DH and he said "gee I wish I would have seen that". Don't you just love understanding men????

Carol

Yeah, not a sympathetic bunch. A friend once joked (in front of all his cycling buddies) that I fall so often I shouldn't be let out on a bike unless I was packaged in bubble wrap. Now every time I see any them, I hear, "Hey, what's up, Bubble Wrap!?" Sheesh.

My response: "I may fall a lot... but at least I keep getting back up!"
Grr. :D

[Crankin]

Well, I've had 2-3 bad crashes and I stayed completely clipped in on both. One was on a 20% downhill, wet, in Vermont. As I lay in the middle of a country road, everyone was saying, "Are you OK?" All I could say is "Get me out of these pedals!" (well, with a few choice words added in).

[Saxa82]

Yeah I've fallen a few times when I got Speedplay frogs- and according to the manual your feet DON"T clip out when you fall- which I realized as the bike was atop my leg and my ankle was twisting miserably underneath. Still hurts if I bend it in an awkward way (a month later). After a few falls (which not only hurt me but was starting to do damage to my nice Fisher Tassajara (bent derailleur, broken off tip to brake lever) and some some spooky moments going down hills, I decided to put the frogs on my old bike and just ride on platforms for a while. If I fall, no biggie to the bike, plus I can practice, practice, practice on the trainer and the back road til I get thoroughly used to the frogs, which as the rate I'm going will be about a year, give or take a few months. (Oh well, at least I can get out on my nice bike with the platforms and eat up the road like I always did!)

[farrellcollie]

My left foot did not clip out as I fell - spd clipless pedals (the ironic part is that they are campus pedals - clip in on one side - not clip on the other). My wrist is only sprained - happily I took most of the fall on my hip - which has a massive bruise (I hadn't been paying much attention to hip/backside until I got on bike Saturday and thought - gosh this hurts - looked in a mirror and realized the problem.)

[Daggett]

I have had several falls lately. I purchased speed play zero pedals and put them on my old hybrid while I waited for my new bike to arrive. I fell twice on my old bike. Both times I was coming to a stop and could not get my shoes to disengage. Two more times with my new bike last night.:( One was a bad one. My husband made a sudden stop on the bike path and a lady was coming the other direction. I had to slam on the brakes and I couldn't get my foot out of the pedals. I fell over on rough cement, twisted my knee and ankle and got scrapped up pretty bad. I'm on the path still attached to my bike, the lady passed me and just looks, my husband just stands there. I think I screamed what are you doing? Get this thing off of me!! My poor bike got a scratch on the shifter and the derailer.:(

Do my pedals and clips need adjusted? Or am I a very slow learner:confused:

[mtbdarby]

Nice stories,
Hey Bubble Wrap - I mean Bluetree. Don't feel bad, my friends laughed at me when I showed them my new tshirt: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/cycling/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.64244350/pNo_64244350/id_13279626/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_

Maybe they're just jealous we have better stories to tell then they do!

[pooks]

Great t-shirt!

[chickwhorips]

yup absolutely love the t-shirt

[Bikingmomof3]

Nice stories,
Hey Bubble Wrap - I mean Bluetree. Don't feel bad, my friends laughed at me when I showed them my new tshirt: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/cycling/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.64244350/pNo_64244350/id_13279626/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_

Maybe they're just jealous we have better stories to tell then they do!

Fantastic T-shirt! :D

[Bikingmomof3]

I too had my first fall/tip over this week. I was starting out and didn't have enough speed and tipped to my left into the neighbors chain link fence. If the fence had not broken my fall I would have been splattered on the concrete drive. I have some great bruises on my left upper arm and various scrapes, but the bike is okay! I hate to see what would have happened if I had clips on my pedals :eek:

I told my DH and he said "gee I wish I would have seen that". Don't you just love understanding men????

Carol

Carol,
I missed you posting this. Yes, I could see Steve responding just as Don did. :rolleyes:

[Daggett]

I went back to the LBS last night. They exchanged the zeros for ultegra pedals. One of the mechanics said that he had to use his wife's zeros for a month before they were loose enough for her to use. The manager said that speed play is going to come out with a zero for light riders. This is my first clipless pedal so I am learning...but it was scarry not being able to get my feet out.:eek:

[emily_in_nc]

I went back to the LBS last night. They exchanged the zeros for ultegra pedals. One of the mechanics said that he had to use his wife's zeros for a month before they were loose enough for her to use. The manager said that speed play is going to come out with a zero for light riders. This is my first clipless pedal so I am learning...but it was scarry not being able to get my feet out.:eek:

Oh good - I am glad that you got different pedals. I think you'll be glad you did.

That's quite interesting that Speedplay is going to make a new version of Zeros for lighter riders. That says to me that there have been a lot of complaints/returns. I really liked the Zeros and the fact that you could set the float that works for you. The X-2s allow unlimited float, which sometimes results in my heels hitting the crankarms, so I liked that the Zeros didn't allow that, and found that I actually need very little float (like 3%).

Good luck with your new pedals!

Emily