I just joined the clipless timber club!

[DrBadger]

So, after ~6 months of riding my pretty little Trek 1500 I took the plunge and got clipless pedals, Crank Brothers Candies. Did fine on my first ride around the neighborhood, and most of my ride today. But right near the end, at the corner of Page Mill Rd and Junipera Serra for you Bay Area folks, I pushed the button for the cross walk signal and then the next thing I knew I was on the ground with my bike on top of me and my left foot still clipped in. WOOPS! My left knee is a little red and sore, and my front chainring bit my right calf, but there are no scrapes on the bike!

I knew this was going to happen, and of course it was going to happen at a VERY busy intersection for lots of people to see! My friend who was riding with me was immediately asking if I was OK, and all I could do was laugh! I actually laughed the rest of the way home. I have to say I am pretty proud of my fall! I am a true biker now!

Just felt the need to share....now I just have to get myself psyched up 'cause the same friend says we are doing Old La Honda Road next week

[massbikebabe]

It is always a most excellent fall if you don't wreck the bike! Scars from abrasions are my personal merit badges. Someday I picture myself sitting in the nursing home comparing scars from endo's much like the sailors in Jaws...
Now that was funny!!




karen
applying bacitracin liberally

[Melody]

PA, congrats on going clipless. I know I was really worried when I first got them. I have balance issues as it is (I had a stroke when I was 27) so I was really worried about falling.

I used to go hiking/walking up the hill right near that intersection many years ago. I loved walking up in that area. It's just beautiful.

mel

[DeniseGoldberg]

Your entry brought a smile to my face and memories of my own clipless fall from many, many, many years ago. I think we've all done that! My fall was like yours, early in my clipless days but after I'd successfully done a ride and remembered to unclip. In my case, I came to a stop light and totally forgot my feet were clipped in. The bike and I fell as a unit, luckily to the side away from traffic. And it took me a few minutes to get up because I was laughing so hard!

Thanks for the memories, and here's to continued clipless riding with no more falls. Oh, and welcome to the forum too!

--- Denise

[SpinSis]

Glad to hear your first clipless fall was a "safe" one. I started riding last year and practiced clipping in and out on my bike, supported by the walls of
my apartment's narrow entry hallway--my roommate thought I was a freak! My first fall was also at the dreaded intersection. Thankfully it was 6am and few cars. I blame it on still waking up! Congrats on getting the clipless pedals--you'll notice a big difference. Have fun!
-S

[latelatebloomer]

What a great attitude, PA - I look up to you (now that you're back on yer feet) I just went clipless for spin classes and will go road-clipless in the Spring. My plan is to practice in the cemetary next door, where only the dead will look & laugh.

Ride on!!

[massbikebabe]

"As for the Topless Climber Club - isn't that the team formed by the Assos Womens Bib Shorts?? "



And isn't CorsairMac their premire rider???? All that pointin and shiftin, she sure is MY hero...



SAC
just could not resist...typed so fast I actually used my sorta dead left hand.
Your good therapy for this SAC Corsair

[CorsairMac]

SAC
just could not resist...typed so fast I actually used my sorta dead left hand.
Your good therapy for this SAC Corsair

and that my friend - was YOUR conquered hill for the day!! Glad I could be of service! although we need to change your acronym to SCA=Snow-Challenged Angel

[Surlygirl]

and that my friend - was YOUR conquered hill for the day!! Glad I could be of service! although we need to change your acronym to SCA=Snow-Challenged Angel

I don't know Corsair, I think she has a bit of the devil in her too. Said with a good Irish Brogue. (Just kidding Karen).

[massbikebabe]

'Tis Fine....


The devil still lives in me



karen (SCA)

[bikerz]

I started out with clipless pedals, just to get all the new stuff over with at once, and everyone said - "well, you'll fall 3 times and then you'll get it". So after my third fall, I thought "yay - so that's done with!" and proceeded to fall 3 more times. Always at a standstill, usually with the maximum audience possible given the circumstances, and only once ending up with any damage to more than my ego! I think it was fall #4 that occurred on my first ride with TE gals Trek420 and aka_kim - I was hoping to make a good impression - meeting these really nice women who know a lot about riding... and they very kindly gave me "style points" - which was nice!

[DebW]

Anybody else here old enough to remember the days before clipless pedals, when wearing cleats meant you had to reach down with your hand and loosen the toe strap to get out of the pedals? Oh, and the cleats were nailed to your shoe. I went over once with clips and cleats when I forgot to loosen the strap. You really had to plan ahead before you got to the intersection. Clipless pedals are wonderful.

[Duck on Wheels]

... everyone said - "well, you'll fall 3 times and then you'll get it". ... I think it was fall #4 that occurred on my first ride with TE gals Trek420 and aka_kim - I was hoping to make a good impression - meeting these really nice women who know a lot about riding... and they very kindly gave me "style points" - which was nice!

I am SO relieved to hear that Trek420 is kind about this kind of thing. I'll be trying out clipless on the road for the first time, prob'ly together with li'l sister Trek420, in a couple of weeks. Hard to get my 3 falls out of the way in spin class, though I am practicing clipping and unclipping. I've been busy seeing my life in review, just to check whether Trek has anything to take revenge for. I don't think I've done anything particularly nasty. In fact, I even rescued her once when she got a cramp while swimming in a cold lake. Guess I'm about to cash in on that soon.

[Jen]

Took my first clipless fall last weekend too. Right at two major intersections. I was ready to come off the bike before my pedal was ready to let me go! I also almost went over a guard rail. I was looking at my rear cassette and did not notice that i was running into the guard rail that protected me froma 20ft. drop. OOPs! Good news, I recovered and went on to fall two more times. Hopefully I am done fallling for the season. I think I will do what the manual says to do and loosen up the clip so it is easier to get out.

[cusepack]

Welcome to the club It's always good to get that first fall out of the way! After my first fall I actually felt so much more secure on the bike and knew what I would need to do the next time, that I didn't do the first time - like clip out!!!