I finally switched to clipless and only fell once, but am still scared

I finally switched to clipless pedals!!! Yahoo!!!! I went on my first ride yesterday and only fell once. Luckily, it was on a nice grassy spot and not a gravely hard concrete intersection. Also, I increased my average speed 1.5 mph, so I'm happy about that.
:D :D :D :D :D
I think the reason I fell is becuase when I couldn't get my right foot out, I started to panic and pulled up and we all know that doesn't work. I actually lauged about it becuase everyone says you always fall once. It can't be all that bad to only fall once out of 20 miles with several stop/go intersections. BUT, I'm still kind of nervous about riding again. My HB keeps telling me soon it will become second nature, but when????
:D :D :D :D :D
About how long does the nervousness last? I am terrified to fall on concrete and really do some damage to either my knees, let, elbows, etc. :o
:D :D :D :D :D
Thank you all!
Roshelle from Milwaukee

Congrats on going clipless! Now that you have the first fall out of the way, you'll be fine, although there are no guarantees you won't fall again (sorry). For a while, I had a 50% average -- I would fall half the time I rode! I've fallen on the side of the road, in middle of an intersection, and only once in a grassy spot, and I've never had any injury worse than a bruise or a scraped knee or elbow or something. Fortunately, the worst bike damage I did was a scrape on a saddle that I hated anyway. Falling occasionally is part of riding. You'll get more and more confident every time you ride, and pretty soon you won't even think about it, you'll just do it. So, keep practicing!

KB

I had a spectacular fall (from a standstill :rolleyes: ) b/c I couldn't get my foot out of my toe-clip ...
I have some shoes and clipless peddles on order. I am SO looking forward to trying them.

Keep riding with the new peddles, you'll get used to them!
If you are really nervous about falling, maybe you can change your routes for a while to go on bike paths that are flanked my grassy areas... just an idea

OK just understand - even with experience you can fall. I know many a long time rider - long time clipless user (including myself) who, in a moment of forgetfulness and panic, has fallen. But... really clipless pedals are just so much safer to use then cages and after a while it will be so automatic/natural, you won't give it a second thought. Something to remember, if you know you tipping over, relax, keep arms and knees in and just roll with the fall. Prevents broken wrists and collarbones.

When I first started using the clipless pedals I would look ahead and anticipate upcoming stops such as stop signs, heavy traffic, etc and while approaching that "have to stop" area I would keeping telling myself over and over again in my head "I am attached, must clip out" and I would make sure to clip out well before I came to a complete stop that way I didn't just stop and tip over while still clipped in. For some reason just looking far ahead and telling myself "I am attached, must clip out" over and over again in my head really seemed to help me a great deal. Congrats on switching to clipless pedals, they really are great and help with climping and even on the flats as you can pull on the backstroke of your pedaling.

I got a big from a friend that had SPD pedals, so I, clueless newbie, went to the LBS looking for shoes. The guy was really helpful and convinced me that clipless was the way to go, so I did. A couple weeks later I went back for something else and his first question was, "So how many times did you fall?" We both laughed hysterically, and I felt tons better for *only* falling twice (so far).

-Deena

OMG - now I'm terrified to change bikes! LOL - the pedals I have aren't clipped or clipless, they're just old-fashioned pedals. Until a few days ago, I didn't realize there was anything else!

I use clipless on my mountain bike. I used to be petrified of not getting out in time, so I would keep one foot unclipped on the downhills and really steep uphills just in case. But I worked and worked at it. I realized today as I was tearing down some rocky twisty downhill with switchbacks that I stay clipped the whole way-- they help me maneuver better and they even kept me on my bike when I should have bounced off (oh, for full suspension...)

The question is this? What are you scared of? If you are wearing a helmet and you fall because of clipless pedals, you are only going about 1 mile an hour when you fall! The odds of hurting yourself seriously are very minimal!

A little scrape or a bruise. Those are just marks of Bike Honor! You will love those clipless once you are used to them. ;)

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Originally Posted by spokewench

The question is this? What are you scared of? If you are wearing a helmet and you fall because of clipless pedals, you are only going about 1 mile an hour when you fall! The odds of hurting yourself seriously are very minimal!

A little scrape or a bruise. Those are just marks of Bike Honor! You will love those clipless once you are used to them. ;)

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Well, maybe that's part of it. Falling is always scarier if you've never done it, and I've never fallen off a bike. And I suppose maybe with a helmet I'd have more confidence. I know I'm going to get completely blasted for this, but I don't currently wear one (I don't wear one on my horse either, it's not an adjustment I've yet made). It's at the top of my "list of things to buy". No lectures, please - there's no point - I"m getting one asap. Now I just have to figure out how the bike is more dangerous than the horse. :rolleyes:

Not lecturing BUT... please do not do any more rides until you get a helmet. I don't care of you just ride in the street outside your house or on a bike path - there are chances of getting hurt - be it you just fall because of the pedals, someone runs into you, your bike has a mechanical, or you are hit by a car... one head injury is one injury to many!!!!!!!!

And yes you should be scared to ride!!!!!!

BTW - cheap helmets are just as good as expensive helmets but protecting the noggin - OK they maybe be heavier and have less air vents and maybe don't come in pretty colors but there's just no excuse not to have bought your helmet first thing.

OK, I did lecture but hopefully you understand I care you don't get hurt.

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Originally Posted by bcipam

Not lecturing BUT... please do not do any more rides until you get a helmet. I don't care of you just ride in the street outside your house or on a bike path - there are chances of getting hurt - be it you just fall because of the pedals, someone runs into you, your bike has a mechanical, or you are hit by a car... one head injury is one injury to many!!!!!!!!

And yes you should be scared to ride!!!!!!

BTW - cheap helmets are just as good as expensive helmets but protecting the noggin - OK they maybe be heavier and have less air vents and maybe don't come in pretty colors but there's just no excuse not to have bought your helmet first thing.

OK, I did lecture but hopefully you understand I care you don't get hurt.

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I understand, and thank you. And of course, there's always a chance of getting hurt (I'm considering helmets in the shower). I wonder if I can wear the biking helmet on the horse as well, cuz the horse helmets are heavier and a total PITA.

Thank you all for your kind words of support. It gives me alot of confidence that I'm not the only one that has fallen and even more confidence knowing that it will get better!!! Thank you!!!!
:D :D :D :D :D
Spokewench - I really liked when you put it in perspective and said you are only falling a few feet and at only 1mph. How bad can I really hurt myself? A bump or a scrape is nothing!!! Thank you!!!!
:D :D :D :D :D
Pascale - I own both a bike and a horse. I will admit that I don't like wearing my bike helmet and many times, I don't, but I know I need to get better at it. I need to take the lessoned learned from the other folks that have experienced a fall. But I wanted to tell you, no matter what the weather or temp I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding my horse, you should too! They are crazy and you never know when a rabbit or some stupid leaf will scare them. Yes, I will also listen to my wisdom ;) ;)
:D :D :D :D :D
Thank you ladies!!!!!!

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Pascale - I own both a bike and a horse. I will admit that I don't like wearing my bike helmet and many times, I don't, but I know I need to get better at it. I need to take the lessoned learned from the other folks that have experienced a fall. But I wanted to tell you, no matter what the weather or temp I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding my horse, you should too! They are crazy and you never know when a rabbit or some stupid leaf will scare them. Yes, I will also listen to my wisdom

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I know, I've come off my mare a number of times. Mostly during lessons, LOL. It's just one of those things -- life is risky, some things are riskier than others. I was a zookeeper for 14 years, didn't wear a helmet there either (but yet knocked myself out silly at least once a year while trying to navigate exhibits). We're never going to eliminate all risk from life. It's a series of unpredictable events.

HOWEVER, I am committed to the biking helmet, if for no other reason than I do want to do some club rides and they are required. So don't worry, friends! :)

I'm glad you posted about the clipless pedals - I learned a lot from this thread!

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Originally Posted by Pascale

Now I just have to figure out how the bike is more dangerous than the horse. :rolleyes:

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Um, like maybe because you're way more likely to get hit by a car while riding a bike than while on a horse?....

Lisa - Yes, you will most likely not get hit by a car on a horse, however, you have the very good chance of getting thrown onto concrete, thrown into a tree, thrown into a wall, thrown into a fence, or thrown 10 feet past a jump that your horse decided not to jump. I've got the scars to provie it!!!

You also have to rememeber, on a horse, you are twice as high than on a bike.

:D :D :D :D :D

I know, I used to have a horse, hunting and jumping, etc. Been kicked, and fell off horses plenty of times. But actually I never felt as much in danger on a horse as I do riding my bike around town on the same road as cars. Only riding bike a month and I've already seen/had some pretty scary moments totally due to car driver carelessness.
In any case, I think helmets are advisable for both activities!

I feel naked w/o a helmet just like not wearing a seatbelt.

Well, the chances of me getting hit by a car are next to zero, since I only ride on rail trails. I do ride my horse on roads, so there's a double whammy! LOL

I guess rail trails are fairly safe as far as cars go, but please do wear a helmet if you EVER ride where ther are cars!

Lisa :) I'm picking one up today - I promise!!!!!!!! :D

Yup - always wear my helmet. I've had too many friends on bikes and horses both who have said "At least I was wearing my helmet - it could have been MUCH worse." I have a new helmet for horseback riding... the new ones are much lighter and have air vents (not like the one I used to have - heavy and hot). Ratings on helmets are different from bike to horse, so you really should have a helmet specific to each activity. Okay! Enough preaching about helmets from me!!! :rolleyes:

So, on clipless... I have them on my bike, and love them. But - I think they need adjustment (or I do!) - I have more trouble staying IN them than coming out. So, they need to be tightened, and I need to sit on my trainer and practice clipping in and out so I get better at it!

I just wanted to thank you all again!
:D :D :D :D :D
You ladies are awesome!!!!!!
:D :D :D :D :D
Roshelle from Milwaukee

Pascale

Congrats on going clipless! I converted 2.5 months ago and love it

The first time I went out for a long ride with friends they offered to go on either side of me at stop signs to hold me up :p

I lasted a month and a half without a fall.( feeling pretty cocky) When it finally happened I was going all of about 1 mile an hour (just taking off) it was pretty well slo mo - TIMBER! a little road rash, a good laugh (it was leaving the parking lot after a club ride) and I was on my way.

Spoke wrench was right - EVERYONE I have talked to has been going slow when they fell (even veteran riders say they have wiped at stop signs because they forgot to unclip) and I haven't heard of any serious injuries with the sole reason being they were clipped in

I unclip one foot in any questionable situation and figure if I am going to fall at a higher rate of speed it won't be because I am clipped in that I am going down. Also I figure it would happen so fast I wouldn't have time to save myself by stepping down anyway

I actually fell more before I went clipless - go figure :confused: :confused: :confused:

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Originally Posted by Pascale

Lisa :) I'm picking one up today - I promise!!!!!!!! :D

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YAY!!!! Good for YOU!!! :)

I fell the first time I tried the bike with the pedals - in the parking lot of the bike store, with the sales guy watching. Got that one over with.

I was determined not to this again, however, so I rode around in a park on grass. :) I put one regular shoe on, just in case, until I started to get the hang of it with the other foot.

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Originally Posted by Pascale

I wonder if I can wear the biking helmet on the horse as well, cuz the horse helmets are heavier and a total PITA.

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Bike helmets are not approved for equestrian activities. You just don't sustain the same sorts of impacts. A bike helmet is inadequate.

I highly recommend the Tipperary Sportage as a schooling helmet. It's lightweight, has a flattering profile, and offers protection to the base of the skull. It is in fact the cheapest helmet on the market ($60) with the highest safety rating.

Having destroyed more than one riding helmet (mostly freak accidents during light riding), and having also found myself tangled between a bicycle and the under-chassis of a car with a barely-spared skull, I can tell you, a helmet is vital. It may be a personal choice right now, but ending up paralyzed, brain-damaged or dead will put a lot of undue stress on friends and family for a completely preventable pending accident.

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I wonder if I can wear the biking helmet on the horse as well, cuz the horse helmets are heavier and a total PITA.

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I'm so sorry - I was completely kidding on this comment, forgetting how easily comments can be misconstrued online if you don't actually know someone. If I thought they were interchangable, I'd never bother to get a bike helmet and just use the Troxel I already have for horses. Bad me!!!! :o

Aww, but I was all ready with the rebuttal arsonal of news stories URLs...

Whew, no worries. Glad to see you've got a head on your shoulders worth protecting!

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Originally Posted by Deb76

When I first started using the clipless pedals I would look ahead and anticipate upcoming stops such as stop signs, heavy traffic, etc and while approaching that "have to stop" area I would keeping telling myself over and over again in my head "I am attached, must clip out" and I would make sure to clip out well before I came to a complete stop that way I didn't just stop and tip over while still clipped in. For some reason just looking far ahead and telling myself "I am attached, must clip out" over and over again in my head really seemed to help me a great deal. Congrats on switching to clipless pedals, they really are great and help with climping and even on the flats as you can pull on the backstroke of your pedaling.

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This is what I did too!

And when I would ride with newbies...they would see how I did it... clipping out EARLY... and followed my lead... since it worked.

Anytime I saw ANYTHING where it looked like I might need to stop, I would unclip and prepare.

I only fell once, in a parking lot. It was pretty minor.

OH... and another thing... half of the battle is in your HEAD! You have to tell yourself, I CAN DO THIS... I WILL NOT FALL OVER! Visaulize success!

Glad you are getting a helmet!! It's a great habit to get into. You can fall on a dirt trail and hit your head too, cars aren't the only danger.

I FLEW from my horse a few times myself, but the big difference here is that I am twice as old now.
A few years ago, I flew from my bike after hitting a rough surface and cracked my ribs.

I did lots worse on my horses and was never the worse for wear. I have been fallen on, kicked, and flew into a fence as well as onto a gravel road.


But now I am 50+ and I break more easily and heal more slowly. I haven't gone clipless yet.

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Originally Posted by Deb76

When I first started using the clipless pedals I would look ahead and anticipate upcoming stops such as stop signs, heavy traffic, etc and while approaching that "have to stop" area I would keeping telling myself over and over again in my head "I am attached, must clip out" and I would make sure to clip out well before I came to a complete stop that way I didn't just stop and tip over while still clipped in. For some reason just looking far ahead and telling myself "I am attached, must clip out" over and over again in my head really seemed to help me a great deal. Congrats on switching to clipless pedals, they really are great and help with climping and even on the flats as you can pull on the backstroke of your pedaling.

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I haven't switched to clipless yet, but I wanted to say that the first time my husband and I went to the UK we rented a car and drove. (As we've done on all trips since.) There he was with a standard shift -- sitting on the wrong side of the car, driving on the wrong side of the road, shifting with the wrong hand. And he did exactly what you're recommending.

Every time he took his seat, he'd take his left hand and "air-practice" shifting, saying, "Neutral, Drive, Reverse..." and say aloud what he had to remember to drive. We laughed about it, and then he'd take off. But after one day of that reinforcement, by the second day it was instinct.

Until we got home and he tried to drive down the wrong side of the road to get out of the airport.

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Originally Posted by Pascale

Now I just have to figure out how the bike is more dangerous than the horse. :rolleyes:

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A bike is not more dangerous than a horse. You ought to wear a helmet on both (this coming from someone who doesn't yet wear the new mandatory approved helmets for showjumping.. I will probably get one next month--I'm not riding right now anyway).

At least on a horse, you usually don't fall on pavement. But I've taken a nasty spill on soft sand (the horse fell down too), and had quite the concussion. Get a riding helmet TOO.