Ms. Coordinated Here. Falling with Clipless Pedals

[MamboGirl]

After riding my new bike for a few weeks and getting used to riding again, I decided to get clipless pedals. I got the Speedplay light action, and the bike shop installed the cleats too, and had me practice on the trainer, clipping in and out over and over. So yesterday I went for my first real ride with the new shoes and clipless pedals. Getting clipped is the easy part. I found that trying to unclip and stop took some concentration, since you can't really unclip both feet before stopping.
Anyway, long story short, I did OK with the ride and could feel the difference on the hills. Coming home, I come to a stoplight, and unclipped the right foot (left foot still clipped). Then I don't know why I forgot the left foot was clipped. But I guess I wasn't concentrating because I tried putting the left foot down on the ground, and by the time I realized it was clipped in. it was too late. I fell sideways to the left on the pavement, in the middle of the lane right at the stoplight at a busy intersection. I unclipped the left foot to get up. I looked back at two cars that were behind me (one in the right turn lane), and the woman in one car was alarmed (I waved at her that it's OK), the guy in another car was cracking up laughing. (Nice guy, huh? I didn't flip him off but felt like it). I probably shouldn't have even looked up, but I was embarrassed by that stupid fall, and it's hard not to look at people when they are around.

Well, just wanted to share with you women, and see if you have any advice. Of course on this road bike, I can't touch the ground while in the saddle, so I have to get off the saddle and move forward when coming to a stop. Coordinating this motion with unclipping one foot is tricky for me since I am apparently Ms. Coordinated.

[Possegal]

No advice, but wanted to echo how often I've done the same. And ALWAYS with an audience. Occasionally someone asks how I am, but usually, someone laughs.

And often this happens here in G'town too, so thanks for taking some of the weight off me in entertaining the local drivers.

[ny biker]

I did that on Constitution Ave once, across from the Mall.

I always put my right foot down first, so I clip out with my right foot as I'm approaching the intersection. That way I'm ready to put my foot down when I stop.

[Kano]

What NY biker said -- rather than trying to do two things at once, I unclip as I'm approaching the intersection, THEN get off the saddle and lower the loose foot to the ground!

My preferred foot is the left -- can't seem to make myself unclip the right one, so I guess I'm not an "ambi-unclipper" -- but maybe, if one must fall toward the still-clipped side occasionally, I should be grateful for this trait?

Now, DH, on the other hand, has developed the technique of unclipping both at once, just in case he forgets which one to put down! (it looks really strange from behind, since both heels swing to the right, but it works for him)

Karen in Boise

[jobob]

I'll bet nearly everyone here who uses clipless pedals has done that AT LEAST once. Uh, hello!

Good advice above. You'll get the hang of it!

[Possegal]

For me, my big issue is forgetting to be careful to not shift my body weight when I only have one foot unclipped on the ground. A slight shift in the body and down I go. Luckily, with those ones, the only thing that really gets hurt is my ego. Bruises for it as well as me, but the ego hurts the most.

[MamboGirl]

I'll bet nearly everyone here who uses clipless pedals has done that AT LEAST once. Uh, hello!

Good advice above. You'll get the hang of it!

OK - Practice, practice, practice.... I'll get my nerve up to get out there again tomorrow. Funny, it sounds quite simple, but it is easy to get uncoordinated since it takes a split second to lose balance. Thanks for the encouragement!

[szsz]

I'll bet nearly everyone here who uses clipless pedals has done that AT LEAST once. Uh, hello!

Word. I can't believe I did this AGAIN just the other day, right in the path of an oncoming cyclists, no less He was a doll about it and I was fine but for the embarrassment, bruise, and nicely skinned knee. OWW!!!

This was on my grocery-getter bike right after yoga so all my zen went right out the window, but at least I wasn't worried about damage to my hybrid steel tanker. (Also wearing Keen sandals, but they were not an issue. Love them!) Maybe I was too zen. I don't really know why I went down.

we ended up putting the 2nd screw from the left cleat onto the right cleat so that I could clip out without freaking out.

When I recently replaced my cleats (Mr. Sz says I stop like Fred Flintstone, but that's another topic for another thread) bike shop guy gives me the extra screws and advises to put them in my bike bag. My friend lost a cleat screw on a previous ride so I immediately saw the wisdom. (Now all I need, of course, is a multitool!)

[Tropical Scream]

<snip>Then I don't know why I forgot the left foot was clipped. But I guess I wasn't concentrating because I tried putting the left foot down on the ground, and by the time I realized it was clipped in. it was too late. <snip>

New member here. I wanted to thank you for your post. I went down -twice- on my last ride and decided my motto was, "I am -so- going down." Here's a link to the picture that inspired the quote:

http://tropicalscreamer.blogspot.com...day-humor.html

I'm just getting back into riding. One of my old Look clipless pedals was too hard to unclip even on the "easiest" setting, so I got new Shimanos. They were so easy to unclip that I sort of forgot that I was clipped in. (I never fell with the hard-to-unclip first pair. The difficulty of clipping out made me pay attention.)

My first stop, I clipped out right and leaned left. (I was trying to switch over to unclipping the right foot first so I could stop bumping my calf against the chain/gears.)

My next stop, I clipped out left and leaned right.

One scraped elbow later, I've decided not to try to change which I unclip first. It also was a great lesson that I need to be mindful when I ride. It was definitely a lack on concentration on my part.

I'm off to read all the posts in the Forum. I am so happy to have found this spot on the 'Net thanks to a Google search.

Best regards,
Darilyn

[nsandz]

Ugh! I was just convinced by my boyfriend and the local bike shop owner that going clipless was the best thing for me. So I did, and now I have fancy new pedals and shoes...I hate it! I am reluctant to ride my bike now. EVERYTIME I ride I fall off at some point. Not only is that embarrassing but it hurts too, I always get bruises and cuts. I have a ton of advice from multiple sources on how to avoid falling but I don't think technique is the problem. I panic real easily while riding clipless I am afraid a car will cut me off, or a child will run out in front of me, or I will just fall over in the middle of an intersection. I know these are unlikely, but I panic nonetheless. I don't like being scared of riding my bike. Whenever I panic I cannot get my foot un-clipped. I hope one day soon this will stop otherwise I am going back to my sucky regular pedals

[redrhodie]

Ugh! I was just convinced by my boyfriend and the local bike shop owner that going clipless was the best thing for me. So I did, and now I have fancy new pedals and shoes...I hate it! I am reluctant to ride my bike now. EVERYTIME I ride I fall off at some point. Not only is that embarrassing but it hurts too, I always get bruises and cuts. I have a ton of advice from multiple sources on how to avoid falling but I don't think technique is the problem. I panic real easily while riding clipless I am afraid a car will cut me off, or a child will run out in front of me, or I will just fall over in the middle of an intersection. I know these are unlikely, but I panic nonetheless. I don't like being scared of riding my bike. Whenever I panic I cannot get my foot un-clipped. I hope one day soon this will stop otherwise I am going back to my sucky regular pedals

Just go back to your old pedals now! They worked!

[ny biker]

Ugh! I was just convinced by my boyfriend and the local bike shop owner that going clipless was the best thing for me. So I did, and now I have fancy new pedals and shoes...I hate it! I am reluctant to ride my bike now. EVERYTIME I ride I fall off at some point. Not only is that embarrassing but it hurts too, I always get bruises and cuts. I have a ton of advice from multiple sources on how to avoid falling but I don't think technique is the problem. I panic real easily while riding clipless I am afraid a car will cut me off, or a child will run out in front of me, or I will just fall over in the middle of an intersection. I know these are unlikely, but I panic nonetheless. I don't like being scared of riding my bike. Whenever I panic I cannot get my foot un-clipped. I hope one day soon this will stop otherwise I am going back to my sucky regular pedals

Under what circumstances are you falling? Is it because you're coming to a stop but aren't clipping out in time? Unclipping with one foot but then leaning the other way? Trying to unclip but just can't get your foot out? Something else?

I think it can help your overall confidence a lot if you can get over the fears, so it's worth trying. But having a ton of advice from multiple sources can be overwhelming, so if you can specify when/why you're falling, we can figure out specifically how you can address it and overcome it.

Also, practicing in a safe environment can help a lot. Did the people at the shop help you practice clipping and unclipping? At my LBS they put my bike on an indoor trainer and let me practice for as long as I wanted. You can also practice indoors by being near something to hold onto, like a doorway or sturdy piece of furniture (desk or table, not a chair), or a balcony or porch railing. Or if you can find a big grassy field, you can practice there since it's a much softer place to fall if you don't get clipped out in time.

[nsandz]

The bike store was/is very nice to me, they let me practice on a trainer and the owner coached me and told me that I should unclip one foot 1st and place it firmly on the ground. I should make sure that I have the brakes on while unclipping my other foot so the bike will not move around a lot. I was told that unclipping at the top of the pedal stroke is the easiest. Also, before each ride I practice with Kevin (my boyfriend) holding the bike up and then I ride around in a parking lot or something for a little bit.

The thing is that I can do it, I just don't enjoy it. I am constantly afraid of being in a situation that I will not be able to get my foot unclipped in time. For instance, while following Kevin he will stop unexpectedly and I nearly crash into him and can't get my foot out in time. (We started signaling to each other so I know when he is stopping, but sometimes he still forgets) Anyway, I usually find myself falling when I stop quickly. I cannot go through the motions in time. When I stop quickly I am not able to get my foot unclipped at all and fall over. Also, sometimes I panic because I am afraid I will not be able to unclip and then of course I cannot unclip. Due to this I spend the whole ride constantly clipping and unclipping my foot while riding just incase. Also, I am scared of making tight corners on my bike because I know I will not be able to unclip incase I need to steady myself. Kevin says that it will eventually become a learned behavior and I wont have to think about it anymore, but I am doubtful.

[VeloVT]

The bike store was/is very nice to me, they let me practice on a trainer and the owner coached me and told me that I should unclip one foot 1st and place it firmly on the ground. I should make sure that I have the brakes on while unclipping my other foot so the bike will not move around a lot.

I was told that unclipping at the top of the pedal stroke is the easiest.

(

This may be part of your problem. It's much easier to unclip at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and I"ve never heard anyone recommend otherwise.

[Yelsel]

Ugh! I was just convinced by my boyfriend and the local bike shop owner that going clipless was the best thing for me. So I did, and now I have fancy new pedals and shoes...I hate it! I am reluctant to ride my bike now. EVERYTIME I ride I fall off at some point. Not only is that embarrassing but it hurts too, I always get bruises and cuts. I have a ton of advice from multiple sources on how to avoid falling but I don't think technique is the problem. I panic real easily while riding clipless I am afraid a car will cut me off, or a child will run out in front of me, or I will just fall over in the middle of an intersection. I know these are unlikely, but I panic nonetheless. I don't like being scared of riding my bike. Whenever I panic I cannot get my foot un-clipped. I hope one day soon this will stop otherwise I am going back to my sucky regular pedals

Also try adjusting the springs so that you can get out really easily. Whenever you feel nervous, you should be able to unclip and move your foot up slightly... then if you need to put your foot down suddenly you can, or when you feel confident the issue has passed you can slide back and clip. Also consider a clipless system with a big platform -- I learned on Crank Brothers Mallets.

And I was in the slow group, I fell all the time at first with clipless pedals. But *I* wanted to use them, so I was motivated to keep going until I figured it out. If it is just your LBS and bf's opinion, go back to the pedals you like. If you need more power, or for longer trips, look into the half-cages that you can easily slip your feet in and out of - or again get something with a big platform so you can clip in on bike paths if you want. Get more confident in riding in traffic, and someday if *you* want to, try out clipless again.