Well lately on almost every ride I keep falling off the bike. Usually those slow falls where you forget to clip out etc - so many times I could have gone flying down hill (via the wrong method) dragging the bike with me.
In my latest slow fall don't remember the exact detail or cause all I know is it wasn't a hard one and I ended up on my side with the foot still clipped in and difficult to unclip cos the bike was on top of me! Only got a slightly bruised palm out of that whole thing.

I realize most of it is probably just confidence (or lack there of) and riding trails that are probably a tad too technical for my ability. (Steep, loose downhills are the scariest). As they say practice makes perfect. I'm just afraid that one day I'll have a big stack and do some real damage to my knees. I fell once on a slippery path going around a corner (going reasonable speed and didn't realize the path was mossy - like ice) anyway thought I broke both my legs untill the knee popped back into place. Boy that was scary - and it's because I fell over that quick that I din't have time to think let alone clip out. Due to that incident now I ride with knee pads.

Oh the pedals are Candy C's! There has been alot of occasions where I've had a near fall and without thinking my foot has unclipped and saved the day.

I love clipless pedals, particularly on bitumen uphills - or less technical trails, so that's why I'm just having doubts at this stage and not sure whether flats would be a good idea (then I'd be complaining of bruised shins instead - ouch).

Really what's your opinion of clipless vs flat for xc and general trail riding - pretty much all round bike use. Having a 2nd bike isn't really an option (although woud be ideal) and I don't fancy changing pedals around every 2nd ride.

Would you say stay with the Candy's and work on it?
Recommend a different type of pedal?
Or go flats?

Cheers,

Pebble