Clipless question...

[Catrin]

Yesterday was the first time I wore my shiny new SPD pedals outside. I promptly fell over 4 times, the first time being 3.0 nanoseconds after getting on my bike That was a much gentler fall being as I was standing still at the time

The next three falls were due to figuring out what my body really wants to do when I stop. I planned it like this:

1. think ahead and unclip left foot
2. slow down/apply brakes
3. stop with left foot

That was the PLAN - apparently over-thinking things again What actually happened was that at "step 3" my body says - "stop with LEFT foot? What is up with that? I insist on using BOTH feet, or whatever foot is still clipped in".

I got the message after the 3rd fall in which I wrenched my elbow/shoulder and hit my head. The head hit even gave me a small headache at the point of impact, but my helmet seems fine. I got the point, and after that started unclipping BOTH feet before slowing down. No more falls We will see what happens this afternoon (I am practicing in a local park that has a circle drive in which there are always cyclists).

My question is this - how long should I expect it to take to become confident with these pedals? I know everyone is different, and probably everyone doesn't fall over 4 times in their first session with them

At least my derailleur should be fine - each fall was to the right but my body was between bike and ground I have some soreness today, but that isn't gong to keep me from my bike and a sunny 48F afternoon!

added: At least I learned first hand that when you fall over unclipping happens automatically

[OakLeaf]

The head hit even gave me a small headache at the point of impact, but my helmet seems fine.

Uh-uh.

Catrin, I'm glad you and your bike are okay. This sort of fall rarely results in much injury. But your helmet is not fine. Helmets are meant to take one impact. Many people won't replace a helmet if it just falls to the ground without your head in it - but this is a subject of debate. If it falls to the ground with your head in it, no matter how low the speed, there is no debate, although it may take an X-ray of the EPS to show the damage. If it falls to the ground with your head in it and sustains such a hard impact that you have a headache, you have actual physical evidence that it's done. Replace it. Before you get on your bike again.

It's money out of your budget and times are tight, I know, but if you've ever known anyone with traumatic brain injury, you do not want to be that person.

Once you've replaced your helmet and start practicing again, pay attention to the countersteering/leaning thing. That's what I see is missing from your "plan." If you want to put your left foot down, slow, unclip left, turn your bars slightly to the right to initiate a left lean, then put your foot down.

Good luck and continue to enjoy. These falls do happen to almost everyone, and I admire your persistence!

[Catrin]

Uh-uh.

Catrin, I'm glad you and your bike are okay. This sort of fall rarely results in much injury. But your helmet is not fine. Helmets are meant to take one impact. Many people won't replace a helmet if it just falls to the ground without your head in it - but this is a subject of debate. If it falls to the ground with your head in it, no matter how low the speed, there is no debate, although it may take an X-ray of the EPS to show the damage. If it falls to the ground with your head in it and sustains such a hard impact that you have a headache, you have actual physical evidence that it's done. Replace it. Before you get on your bike again.

It's money out of your budget and times are tight, I know, but if you've ever known anyone with traumatic brain injury, you do not want to be that person.

Once you've replaced your helmet and start practicing again, pay attention to the countersteering/leaning thing. That's what I see is missing from your "plan." If you want to put your left foot down, slow, unclip left, turn your bars slightly to the right to initiate a left lean, then put your foot down.

Good luck and continue to enjoy. These falls do happen to almost everyone, and I admire your persistence!

hmmmm, ok, I will head to my LBS before heading back out this afternoon. It is true that I had localized pain around the point of impact for the next hour or so...I checked out the helmet and figured if I couldn't see any damage at all that things were fine. Shows how much I know

[ny biker]

Did you usually put your left foot down first before you had the clipless pedals?

I always thought I was left foot first until my first clipless ride, when I learned the hard way that I'm right foot first when it comes to stopping. (I do push off with my left foot when I start pedaling again.)

[Catrin]

Did you usually put your left foot down first before you had the clipless pedals?

I always thought I was left foot first until my first clipless ride, when I learned the hard way that I'm right foot first when it comes to stopping. (I do push off with my left foot when I start pedaling again.)

I THOUGHT I stopped with my left foot...right now I will just unclip both and work with that..

I have my new helmet now, and am going to head back out as soon as I have lunch. Hopefully no falls today

[ninerfan]

If you want to put your left foot down, slow, unclip left, turn your bars slightly to the right to initiate a left lean, then put your foot down.

Hmmm. I also put my left foot down but I turn my handlebars towards the foot I'm unclipping, not to the right. That way the bike is leaning toward the foot that is going down.

[OakLeaf]

I THOUGHT I stopped with my left foot...right now I will just unclip both and work with that..

I have my new helmet now, and am going to head back out as soon as I have lunch. Hopefully no falls today

I think maybe it's the opposite... you need to commit to one side or the other. I've fallen pretty recently from a FTU, and indecision was the only reason.

Glad you got a new helmet. Have fun this afternoon!