No Skin Left After Falling Clipped-In

[Carm]

I had a pretty bad fall today while riding clipped in. Both legs are really cut up from the concrete and large chainring. I also fell Monday but my car somewhat broke my fall. I'm a newbie at going clipless and don't want to give up just yet but I suspect I will fall again and re-injure the fresh wounds.

Do you have any advice for preventing falls and/or protecting my legs while learning to ride clipped-in? Carm

[Trek420]

owwwwie! I have yet to fall badly, a couple of Artie Johnsons but not enough to break the skin. Good for you not giving up. You *can* do the clipless thing.

First tend to the wounds, obvoiusly clean them, antibiotic, do the first aid thing.

While that's going on do you have tights? When I watch the TdF or races on OLN I've heard it pointed out that so and so is wearing tights because he fell and wants to keep the wound comfy.

Can you practice clipping and unclipping till it becomes an unconcious action? Indoor trainer? Spin class? Kitchen doorway? Check that your pedals are at their loosest setting and just clip, unclip, clip, repeat....

[DeniseGoldberg]

Ouch! I'm sending fast healing wishes your way...

When are you falling? Is it because you're stopping and forgetting to unclip? I actually fell more in the old days when I was getting used to using cleated shoes with toe clips & straps because I needed to release the strap with my hand! But with clipless pedals, the problem went away pretty quickly. What I did was try to always unclip one foot - in my case the right foot becauase that's the one that I tend to step down with - as I was coming to a place where I needed to stop. If it turned out that I didn't need to stop, I just clipped in again.

Do you have a trainer you can use with your bike? If you do, that's a good place to practice unclipping quickly.

Can your pedals/cleats be adjusted to release easier? I ride with Speedplay Frog pedals that are a totally free-float system with no pressure to release, but I know that it is often possible with other pedals to adjust the amount of pressure that needs to be applied to unclip.

--- Denise

[Carm]

Thank you for the healing wishes. I was so close to taking my bike back to the LBS and having them put the toe clips back on but I figure I'll give it some more practice before I do.

The times that I have fallen, I was stopped: my right foot was unclipped and my left foot was clipped in. I leaned a bit to the left in both instances and over I went. I think the problem is my understanding of the foot order of how I should clip in and out and which way I should lean my bike. When I stop, I usually clip out with my right foot and leave my left foot clipped in. Should I unclip both feet when stopped, even at a stoplight?

I'm using Eggbeaters and am encountering no problems clipping in or out as a result of the pedals or shoes - just my brain.

When I fell Monday night I was wearing leg warmers and they helped a bit, however the chainring still pierced my skin. Today, I fell twice, once right after another with bare legs as its warming up.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Should I unclip both feet when stopped, even at a stoplight?

I only unclip one foot when I stop, and I step down and stand on that foot only. It sounds like you either need to think hard about not leaning toward the clipped in side when you're stopped - or maybe you should try unclipping with your other foot. I'd be surprised if you need to unclip both feet, but that might be something to try until you're more comfortable with the clipless pedals. I really think you'll be happy that you stuck with it once you get past this.
--- Denise

[KSH]

I had a pretty bad fall today while riding clipped in. Both legs are really cut up from the concrete and large chainring. I also fell Monday but my car somewhat broke my fall. I'm a newbie at going clipless and don't want to give up just yet but I suspect I will fall again and re-injure the fresh wounds.

Do you have any advice for preventing falls and/or protecting my legs while learning to ride clipped-in? Carm

First off... that sounds so scary! Sorry to hear it! That is my BIGGEST FEAR!

Now, my advice on how to prevent that in the future ... go look at getting SpeedPlay pedals. Seriously.

Why?

1) The pedal itself is just this flat disk. There is no way it will scratch you up.

2) It is VERY EASY to get out of the clips.


Now, if you can't do that... start wearing long pants for cycling when you ride. Also, get gloves on, if you don't have them already... so your hands won't get beat up when you fall.

I will also suggest wearing something long sleeved under your jersey to protect your arms.

Best of luck.!!!!

[singletrackmind]

I backed the tension screw off until it was very easy to clip out (and kept in mind that it was also very easy to unclip unexpectedly) until it became second nature-then tightened them back up.

[KSH]

T

The times that I have fallen, I was stopped: my right foot was unclipped and my left foot was clipped in. I leaned a bit to the left in both instances and over I went. I think the problem is my understanding of the foot order of how I should clip in and out and which way I should lean my bike. When I stop, I usually clip out with my right foot and leave my left foot clipped in. Should I unclip both feet when stopped, even at a stoplight?

I'm using Eggbeaters and am encountering no problems clipping in or out as a result of the pedals or shoes - just my brain.

OOOPPSSSS... you have SpeedPlays. Eh... I will leave the other post for others to read.

Here is what I was taught... BEFORE you apply your brakes... UNCLIP.

You also have to think to yourself, "I will unclip my right foot and lean to the right when I stop". Yes, it's a lot of thinking!

I even unclip if I see a potentionally *dangerous* situation that might require a quick reaction. Such as... kids riding bikes on the bath, a dog running around, a curb coming up.

It sounds like you need to stay out of areas where you might run into danger if you fall down.... such as busy roads.

Finally... I have hope for getting better at it... and so should you! I know that the other week, I started to lean to the right, but my left foot was unclipped... I quickly unclipped my right foot and I didn't hit the ground! I was shocked! And that was BEFORE I had the SpeedPlays!

I think it will be like learning how to drive a stick shift. You think about it for a long time, and then one day.... before you know it... you are driving that stick shift without thinking about it at all!

[AutumnBreez]

I fell the first day I got my clipless, just a beginner after all... I was at a stop and I was about to take off. One in the clip and the other touching ground....the one on the ground I used to push me off as if a scooter, instead of having the clipped in foot at the 12 oclock position and pushing with it. I did not get enough speed yet got the other foot clipped in and to keep balance at the slow speed I turned my handlebars naturally and down I went. Never again since then. I learned to push off with the clipped in and get the other foot on top of the clip even if it is not clipped in completely I continue to pedal the best I can with both to get the speed and try get the foot clipped- sometimes it was not on the correct side and have to flip pedal over and try again.. I had shimano SPD-R at the time and they are not easy to get clipped into, small base on cleat and the lip was small and narrow to catch on to the pedal. The pedals were not weighted well so often they would be in the wrong position to put foot, not a dual entry pedal.
. I just got my new shoes (Shimano 215) and new pedals (SPD-SL Ultegra) this week. .Not dual entry but bottom weighted and larger cleat with pronounce lip to engage easily. Much better. More like the Look set up.

Also..some advice to keep safe...
AVOID looking down at the pedals to engage...Need to practice by feel while getting clipped in, much like you do when you learn to type. Without looking at the keyboard. It could be potentially dangerous if you are looking down at the feet and not the road.
Great that you are not giving up, we all have to start somewhere and you are already a winner for not giving up. You will get the hang of it!!
Try ...try...try again.

[newfsmith]

Road rash type wounds do very well with moisture retaining dressings like "Tegaderm" , "2nd Skin", or "Spyroflex". You can usually find one of them in a drug store, or someplace with hiking supplies like REI, EMS, or Campmor. These keep the wound moist, letting the new skin cells migrate across the surface for faster healing, and also minimize scarring. They are also quite protective themselves. I was still wearing one on a road rashed knee when I hit a sand washout on an unfamiliar road and went down. I acquired some more road rash around the Tegaderm, but the original injury was protected completely.

Tights may give some protection, but I've also gotten "Tight rash" in a fall that did not tear the tights, but did make a mess of my knee.

Yes, yes, I know my handling skills aren't great. I'm working on it.

[shewhobikes]

I went through this just a few weeks ago. Didn't tear my legs up, just bounced my head off the pavement (thank goodness for new helmet!) and got mega-bruises. I did as Singletrack mind suggested and as I had read about (but unfortunately forgot until I'd already banged myself up) and loosened the tension on my pedals. That's all it took. I love clipless now. I've had some near misses when unclipping with only one foot (I am right handed, tend to unclip left at stops) but on this forum somewhere I learned to turn the handlebars slightly in the direction of where you're unclipping (left for me) as this helps avoid the problem you describe.

Good luck. Don't give up. Try loosening the tension and riding around a big parking lot. You can do it! You have plenty of company, as you'll see if you do a search on "clipless" in this forum. Hope your boo-boos heal soon.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I went through this just a few weeks ago. Didn't tear my legs up, just bounced my head off the pavement (thank goodness for new helmet!) and got mega-bruises.

I'm sure you already know this, but I have to ask... After you hit your head and your helmet on the pavement, you did replace your helmet, right?

Our helmets are designed for single interactions with the pavement or other standing objects... If anyone is interested, here's a link to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's "when should I replace my helmet?" page: http://www.bhsi.org/replace.htm. (Yes, this is a pro-helmet organization. But if you read any helmet user's guide - and I just checked both the Giro & Bell web sites - they both state that you shouldn't wear a helmet that's been in an accident, and go on to say that the damage isn't always visible.)

--- Denise

[wabisabi]

I second what everyone else said; if I am in traffic I unclip both at stop signs, or other interactions, because I find it too unpredictible

[CorsairMac]

Carm: the other thing you'll need to try and remember, the bike will "fall" in the direction the tire is turned to, so if you're turning the tire to the side you're still clipped in on, that's the side the bike will fall to. As you stop, try and remember to turn your tire to the "unclipped" side.....that way your unclipped foot will help to offset the lean of the bike. I am with Denise on the leaving just 1 foot clipped, that way you have the power to get the bike going without trying to clip both feet back in.
The thing I did that was a huge help to me, I just rode around the neighbourhood clipping and unclipping without stopping so my feet could learn the routine. That way when I needed to stop, my feet had started to learn what they needed to do. I also tend to unclip on the same side as a rule so it becomes routine. That way in a clutch I don't have think about what foot is unclipped it's already done.
Good on you for not giving up, clipless is the best thing since sliced bread and you'll wonder how you ever rode any other way.
Like a wise woman here told me "you had to learn to crawl before you could walk, same thing with clipless"
As for the road rash, I use triple antibiotic ointment to try and get them to heal as quickly as possible and I use either NewSkin or Nexcare waterproof bandages. Both keep the wound covered and I don't have to keep changing the dressing when I take a shower. After 24-48 hrs depending on how much skin I took off (like my knee right now ) I leave the wound open at night.
Good luck, you can do it....we all went thru the same thing, and let us know how it goes!

[spazzdog]

Not for nothin' Carm, but are you up to date on tetanus shot. If chainring "pierced" skin, you might want to make sure all is good on that front.

Kisses and methialate flowers on your boo-boos though. I know they hurt.

spazz