Well, I got the newbie clipless fall out of the way...

but it wasn't at all what I was expecting. I had just set up my bike on the trainer (but apparently not very securely) and I climbed on, pedaled a bit while my Garmin booted up, when I noticed that the front wheel wasn't aligned properly, so I tried to twist my handlebar to straighten the wheel, and the action knocked me over completely. Kicked the back wheel right out of the bike stand.

I nearly brained myself on an empty metal guitar stand nearby - thankfully I missed it by inches - but my first thought was "Oh, god, did I hurt my bike?" And then I thought immediately of you all. Ha!

I did a quick systems check on myself. My left foot had come unclipped in the fall, but my right foot was still attached, so I unclipped and tried to right myself. My left ankle is twisted a bit, I bruised the inside of my right knee and three fingers on my right hand, but nothing's broken. My daughter had heard me yell on the way down and came into the living room and helped me up, then started to put my bike back up on the trainer stand.

I was much more careful in putting it on the stand the second time.

It's sort of like the Universe said, "See, you can fall and not get hurt seriously. Bruises heal. No biggie. Don't be afraid of going clipless."

I've been on my bike only once since DH bought me these clipless pedals (and that was a trainer ride to make sure the Sidi shoes fit and to teach me the swivel motion of clipping in and out). I'm that scared of falling. This is a good reminder that I'm tougher than I think I am. On the other hand, I'm really, really scared of getting hurt again if I fall on pavement. (I just got released from therapy for my shoulder for the last fall a year and a half ago, and my left foot still hurts from that one.)

Where's that thread on how to unclip safely? I've looked, but I can't find it.

Thanks all.

Roxy

Roxy,

Glad to hear that you're not injured, bruised a little but nothing serious.

I remember well my clipless fall on a brand new Bike Friday during its maiden voyage. I was lost in thought, came upon a Stop sign then realized I needed to unclip. It was too late, I knew the bike was going over but didn't want to scratch it on the pavement. I took the fall on my knee, which hurt for a good two months and raised quite a knot, but the bike was saved. I totally understand how your initial thought was about the bike.

Oh my goodness, Roxy! I'm glad you weren't hurt seriously.

Oh, trust me, I'd much rather have a much more exciting story for you, something about outmaneuvering a runaway F-150 or swerving to avoid hitting a baby stroller or something, but no, alas...I was on the trainer in my own living room. Ha!

The bruises on my knee and fingers are already fading compared to the bruise on my ego. <g>

Thanks for the commiseration. I am proud of myself that I got back on the bike and rode for thirty minutes. I'm really going to have to work to get back up to the level of fitness I had back in October. Baby steps.

Roxy

...but you saved the bike...the true cyclist....

ouch!! I think falling off the trainer would be harder than the road. You're up higher on that trainer. It's a longer way to fall. ;)
Sorry it happened, but I guess it's just a matter of time. My DH did something similar last week. Didn't get that back wheel in tight enough and hopped on the bike and went down. That smarts!!
Get back out there and jump on that bike again, girl!! You're already broken in for the road now that you've had your first fall with the clipless. No fear!:p

Great story Roxie! Glad you are only slightly bruised and your bike is fine! My friend did the same thing, set up next to a third floor apt window -- thank goodness he wasn't facing the window when he came flying off forward! Explain that one to your friends... "so there I was on the trainer... next thing I know, I'm on the sidewalk, I can't breathe, people are staring at me!"

Now that you have it out of the way, no worries!

Yikes! Glad you and your bike are okay. And hopefully that'll be the only time you fall. :)

Thanks. I hope it's the last time I fall, too, although it's all part of the learning process, right?

Here's the funny thing. I was on the trainer because I wanted to learn how to clip in and out safely. Go ahead. Take a moment. Enjoy the irony.

:)

Roxy

Ouchie. I am glad to hear that you are ok. I have often thought what would happen if I didn't get my bike secured in the trainer foot enough. I guess I know from your experience what would happen. ;)

My first fall was at a stop sign the first day out with my brand new bike. New Bike, New Clipless pedals/shoes, No scar on my right calf.

I fell so hard that it is still healing. That was August of last year. I have a pretty nifty scar on my left to remind me. Unclip before you stop and put your foot down on the ground. It sucks to fall over especially because it all happens in SLOW MOTION.

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

ouch!! I think falling off the trainer would be harder than the road. You're up higher on that trainer. It's a longer way to fall. ;)
Sorry it happened, but I guess it's just a matter of time. My DH did something similar last week. Didn't get that back wheel in tight enough and hopped on the bike and went down. That smarts!!
Get back out there and jump on that bike again, girl!! You're already broken in for the road now that you've had your first fall with the clipless. No fear!:p

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and the bike is being held in by the trainer!! :eek::eek::eek::eek:
get well soon!

Saw my chiropractor today. I actually sprained my left ankle. Figures. He taped me up and told me to give my body a chance to heal already. It's becoming a running joke between us as to what injury I'll have this week.

He just renovated his office. I told his new intern today I'm the one who paid for it. Dr. Matt laughed and waved at the wall behind him. "Yeah, this wall, it's all hers. Thanks for that, by the way."

I'm supposed to participate in a jog-a-thon on Wednesday. Probably not going to happen now.

But how soon can I get back on my bike?

Roxy

Let your ankle heal!!! Trust me on this. Please.

Twisted my ankle hiking - doing squirrel surveys in some very steep mountains. Was out the next day as it didn't seem that bad. So years later, when I was having ITB problems, my massage therapist asks - when did you screw up your ankle? You didn't let it heal properly did you? Yup, one bad ankle, tendons not quite ever back in place right (hiking boots don't fit right) have manifested into some lovely constant leg pain.

So see a physical therapist, after you rest your ankle. It'll not come back to haunt you later.

I ride in stiff soled shoes no clips or straps. I do city riding and I don't run lights and I put a foot down often enough that I don't see a need for them. I often express curmudgeoney ideas on here though - for the most part everyone has been great. Again, I'm just chipping in my two bits.

On the flip side - I had a "major" wreck when my aluminum rack broke in traffic. it contacted my rear wheel, effectively jamming it and threw me from the bike. I had the forethought to "fall to the left" away from the drive side. It tore me up fierce. It was a factory defect I'm told, however I am still jittery about getting grocieries on the bike or loading the replacement aluminum rack. (thinking of getting a tubular steel one like the Surly nice rack, etc) The irony? When I fell in the street, a lady in a hummerH2 almost ran me over.

Point being. Keep practicing every aspect of bicycle riding. Don't be afraid to jump back on. :)

I ride with sport shoes and half toe clips. Your foot just comes out when you stop and you don't have to do anything special. I do like this better than just flat pedals with nothing because it keeps my foot in the right place and I do have some pull up power.

Although club members tell me I will eventually want to go clipless, I don't really want to fall. I had an ACL tear some years ago and it took 2 years to recover. Also, I fell a few months ago when getting on my bike on a downhill with left banking in the road. (I don't do that anymore and put my bike in a better starting place....) It was one of those slow motion things. I cut my elbow and continued the ride, but did not even notice that I had really bruised my ribs until I got home. It took 3-4 weeks to be able to sleep on that side and not feel pain.

I would wait until the ankle got better to ride again, because if you aggravate it, it may take even longer to heal. Perhaps, you would want to at least start with the half toe clips and get comfortable before going to the clipless system.

I just don't want ant physical problems to stop me from riding now that I am so addicted to it. Just the rain these past few weeks has been limiting my riding (CA). My sympathy to all of you that live in cold places and can't ride all winter. I tried a spin class and thought it awful compared to riding outside.

Have had clipless pedals for going on two months now and I think it's only the last week or couple of weeks I've stopped feeling petrified every time I went for a ride. The funny thing is, I think the fear is actually much worse than the fall. I've fallen once from being clipped in and once today cause I intersected with another cyclist (thought he was turning on the bike path but was going straight ahead) and both times didn't really hurt that much. A bit of road rash on my elbow first time, and some bruising on the leg, but looked much worse than it felt.

I think now I've realised that low-speed falls really aren't that bad, I've been able to relax, just see it as an occasional part of cycling and stop being scared (and finally enjoy the ride - except for the steep hills ;) )

I actually think a clipped-in fall on the road or bike path probably hurts less than your fall from the trainer, Roxy! My advice is, expect to fall again and 1) It probably won't happen, especially because you are more aware of clipping out before you stop
2) If it does, you won't be so shaken up, which I think is the worst part, more than any hurts.

Also, remember to lean to the side you are unclipped from when you stop, and apply brakes. At first, I would lean to that side and my body/brain's balancing instinct tried to then compensate by immediately leaning to the other side to 'right' myself. This instinct is great normally, not so good when you're clipped in! :rolleyes: But this goes after a while and you get more used to this way of doing things, it starts to feel more natural.

Good luck!

I have fallen many times, and think of my bruises as badges of honor. It shows that your willing to get out there and take chances, plus they can make for the start of some great stories.

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Originally Posted by kitten

I have fallen many times, and think of my bruises as badges of honor. It shows that your willing to get out there and take chances, plus they can make for the start of some great stories.

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That's how I feel about the bruises I get while playing racquetball -- wear them with honor. :D

Your story reminds me of one of my classmates who came to school with road rash all over his face, arms, and legs. He was riding along and noticed his front brake rubbing the rim on one side, so he kicked the wheel to straighten things out. Problem is he kicked the wheel right off the bike and he ate it, big time.

Let's hope you got it out of the way. I prefer to fall on gravel in front of other people :-)

If you fell to the right and she starts shifting funny, you may have bent your derailleur. I learned this the hard way, 100 miles from home on a 2 day ride. Lesson learned--always fall to the LEFT.

my worst ever bike accident involved my (then) 7 yo daughter's bike that i was riding home after she'd ridden it to school. i don't even remember touching the brakes, but i did a spectacular endo in front of all sorts of moms... omg.. i did a number on my elbow that i still regret... anyway.. the reason i'm on this thread is that i had decided to go clipless, and my bike is at the lbs at this very moment waiting for me to pick her back up. i'm skerrrrrrd. even tho i've had a fall and know it isn't the end of the world, i'm still worried. i thought that if i spend the weekend on the trainer that i'd be in good shape, but.. not so much?

Today was the first time that I went out with my shiny new SPD pedals... 4 falls later they may not be so shiny any longer :)

Starting wasn't the problem, I knew that timing my stopping would be the most interesting. It took 3 falls to figure out that I have to unclip BOTH feet to stop - because I am so accustomed to stopping with both feet, not one. :o

So, bruised elbow and wrenched shoulder aside, I had a great time! I would have gone further than 9.5 miles, but my elbow was getting stiff. I DID manage to ride 4-5 miles after the last fall without falling over again :D Assuming that I can move my arm tomorrow, I fully intend on heading back out to the same place and doing it all over again minus the falling.

Oh yes, for the first time it was quiet and still enough that I could hear my tires singing on the pavement. That was a very, very good sound!

You guys are so brave. I have yet to get out on actual pavement with my new pedals. I want to practice with touch-and-go stops with someone who will catch me before I bite the asphalt.

I've been so riddled with injuries of late. I'm surprised I haven't gained back all the weight I lost last year.

Roxy...trying to remember to always fall to the left, fall to the left, fall to the left

He he...Roxy your last sentence reminded me of how when I started with the pedals I would ride along singing to myself the line from that Beyonce song that goes - "to the left, to the left" to try and ingrain leaning to that side in my brain! :p