First clipped ride

I got Crank Bros Clippy peds yesterday because my other half had been going on and on and on about the power that they give you and the control and to be fully honest i was getting sick of my DMR V8's chewing up my legs every time i pedal slipped. All was going well and i was getting the hang of clipping in and then i rode back towards my other half who was shouting "clip out before you stop" at which point i applied my brakes and TIMBEEEERRRRR! I fell like an old oak tree. Much to the amusement of some guy in a van who was going past, he peeped his horn. Boy did i feel silly. Scraped knee and bruised arms! Does anyone have any tips or is it just practice practice practice?

:D Welcome to the club!

Haha, going to wear them to work today too, so fingers crossed i can remember to clip out before i tip over stylishly infront of 100 bemused children in the school playground.

I had hoped that everyone fell and i wouldn't be the only chump :D

You are definately not alone. It is such a helpless feeling isn't it?! :o

It's just because you forget. I fell once on my maiden ride and then the other day, I was just standing there one foot unclipped, and somehow fell over very slowly. I did remember, however, to protect my Surly as I went down!

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Originally Posted by uforgot

It's just because you forget. I fell once on my maiden ride and then the other day, I was just standing there one foot unclipped, and somehow fell over very slowly. I did remember, however, to protect my Surly as I went down!

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+ 1...Had been clipless for about a week, stood outside a friends house on a slight incline with one foot clipped in, bike started leaning downwards and I toppled over in slow motion!

Made it to work and back no problems, my next challenge is when i go to the forest at the weekend with two other cyclists. Here's hoping i can unclip before i off on the planked river crossing! ;)

I put my bike on a trainer and practiced in/out for about 30 minutes. Strangely enough, I had my first clipless fall last Saturday... so don't think that experience makes you immune!

Just put my first clipless pedals on for a ride last week. Crank Bros Candy-C. I also spent some time clipping in and out on my trainer and managed my maiden voyage without incident.

Practice helps, but isn't a guarentee. It just happens sometimes. Like flat tires or butt soreness.

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Originally Posted by mcminn

Just put my first clipless pedals on for a ride last week. Crank Bros Candy-C. I also spent some time clipping in and out on my trainer and managed my maiden voyage without incident.

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Mine are Smarty's - wish i had a trainer actually, it'd mean i'd get some night riding done in these dark nights when my motivation to look out my lights and get out there is LOW!

We went for our third MTB ride on Sunday. I fell about 15x because my shoes would simply not come out of the clips. I was trying like mad, but couldn't do it. After about my 3rd fall, DH loosened them a bit, but I still couldn't get my foot out. He loosened again, still no cigar. Finally, he realized that the pedals are two sided and he was only loosening 1 side. I had a pretty bad fall and hit my hand on a rock. My hand is pretty swollen.

DH has now loosened up both sides of each pedal all the way, so we will see. I am pretty scared and demoralized at this point.

Any pointers?

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Originally Posted by ivorygorgon

We went for our third MTB ride on Sunday. I fell about 15x because my shoes would simply not come out of the clips. I was trying like mad, but couldn't do it. After about my 3rd fall, DH loosened them a bit, but I still couldn't get my foot out. He loosened again, still no cigar. Finally, he realized that the pedals are two sided and he was only loosening 1 side. I had a pretty bad fall and hit my hand on a rock. My hand is pretty swollen.

DH has now loosened up both sides of each pedal all the way, so we will see. I am pretty scared and demoralized at this point.

Any pointers?

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Well, i have special clipless pedals for girls... they are easy to click in and out.

My maiden voyage was incident free, but this past Saturday I fell twice! The first time I just forgot to unclip. The second time (literally 5 minutes later) I unclipped left and leaned right...

These stories make me scared to death to go clipless. :o I think I'll stick with toe clips. :p