How to psych myself out of falling...never fallen 'til now!!

[Saxa82]

Gals,

I know this has been discussed before, but I need some advice on how to psych myself out of the whole clipless business and falling. In twenty years or so of cycling I have never fallen, until now. I just went to clipless last week (Speedplay frogs), and though I have no problem getting into them and pedaling, I have fallen several times upon stopping. The first few times were simply not knowing what I was doing and not getting proper instruction. I was spooked and bruised, with road rash on one knee and a somewhat sprained ankle. So I followed the advice on this forum and spent a few hours over several days on the trainer and in my driveway, using incremental steps to learn how to clip in/out. Then I ventured out of the drive for a couple miles- no problems. So today I thought- "OK, by George I think I've got it" and went to do an quick and easy 10 miler that I can probably do in my sleep I've done it so many times. Then I got spooked by the cars, lack of shoulder, and steep downhill at the bottom of which I have to make a sharp right. So I freaked, decided to bail before going down hill, but I didn't get my foot out of the clip fast enough, and I fell down, went boom (luckily this time was on grass, but somewhere along the line my knee connected with the only rock there- another cut!) Well, at this point I was totally psyched out, my pride out the window, my confidence shaken, plus I am getting sick of not being able to go out and do my usual rides. I told DH that maybe I should just stick to the neighbohood roads for a while, skip all the mean hills and trafficky roads with no shoulders. Is this stupid and self defeating on my part? Am I just not giving myself enough time to adjust to these new pedals? I pride myself on being good at whatever I do and now I feel like a total moron. I need some advice on how to overcome this ridiculous fear I have suddenly have of biking!

FYI- I wear a helmet, of course, and gloves and went to clipless for the obvious reasons, but mostly because my feet were slipping off the pedals and everyone, LBS owner/friend and DH and me included, felt it was time to go clipless. I DO NOT want to go back to platform pedals, but I am beginning to think I made a mistake in going clipless and should. Am I being silly or what? Or am I just a total spaz? Will I ever be able to get back in the game?

PS Thanks everyone who had suggestions about the UTI thread from a few weeks ago. I bought a Terry Butterfly and seems to be working very well!

Saxa82

[DebW]

You need to believe that clipless will provide you with the best pedaling experience possible and is SAFER because your feel can't slip off the pedals inadvertently and you can apply max power to the pedals whever you need it (maybe to avoid a hazardous situation). Beyond that, just keep practicing until twisting out becomes the automatic response to stopping. Maybe ride a flat 2 mile course and twist out every 20 pedal strokes daily for a week. It's a matter of doing it so much that your brain becomes hard wired that way. It will happen. Keep at it. Big rewards.

[CorsairMac]

You are Not a moron and I don't think you made a bad decision by going clipless. You didn't learn how to walk before crawling, and -although you may not remember it - you fell Plenty of times when you first learned how to walk/run....but you're walking today! So that being said, give yourself some time, don't be so hard on yourself and remember you're teaching your old dogs (feet) some new tricks! As a help, unclip yourself if for ANY reason whatesoever you think you're going to stop or you start to feel out of control. You can Always clip back in later when you feel better about the situation. You can rest your heel on the pedal so you don't engage the clips by mistake. I know people here may disagree with me but in the beginning, pick a foot and always unclip that one first. That way in a clutch situation you'll already be used to having that foot unclipped and working yourself off the bike on that side. As you get more comfortable with the clips, work on the other side so you can clip, unclip either side without thinking.
Also, when you start the bike, make sure the foot you have on the pedal is on the Up part of the pedal stroke. That way you've got plenty of time to get your other foot up and clipped in. If all else fails, you can at least rest the unclipped heel on the pedal until you feel in more control of the bike.
Pretty much everyone here on the board has fallen during the clipless learning curve, and some of us who know better now, will still fall on occasion. I've even fallen after coming unclipped - I was putting my foot down and the sidewalk was sloped and I didn't know it so it was a little farther "down" than I thought and down I went, unclipped on 1 side, clipped on the other, over the curb and into the bike lane, all during rush hour traffic! WHEEEEEEEEEE coz - you know - you Never fall without Someone Somewhere seeing you!

[mimitabby]

You are Not a moron and I don't think you made a bad decision by going clipless. You didn't learn how to walk before crawling, and -although you may not remember it - you fell Plenty of times when you first learned how to walk/run....but you're walking today! So that being said, give yourself some time, don't be so hard on yourself and remember you're teaching your old dogs (feet) some new tricks! As a help, unclip yourself if for ANY reason whatesoever you think you're going to stop or you start to feel out of control.

Well, i wasn't going to say anything here; but now i have to. I'm 54 years old and have not gone clipless yet.
I learned to walk when i was less than 2 feet tall, and i was covered with baby fat. So when i fell, i didn't fall far and it usually didn't hurt.
but now, things have drastically changed. My bones are more brittle, my skin
and tendons don't heal like they used to; and i'm now a big chicken****.
It just seems a bit daunting to have my feet stuck onto the pedals!!!

Yet, even I consider switching to some sort of mechanical system...
but i haven't done it yet. So I guess my message here is; clipless isn't for everyone!

[salsabike]

I think CorsairMac and Deb W have great suggestions. Instead of having to unclip suddenly at the bottom of a steep hill with a hard right coming up, give yourself lots of practice on a flat, quiet course. Clip in, clip out, a gazillion times, till your body starts to have the movement memorized. And I would like to point out that people also can, and do, also fall when they are using flat pedals. I had a classic fall like that two years ago, when I was off the bike at a stoplight. It was a heavy bike, I lost control of it, and it knocked me down. Please note that I had both feet firmly on the ground when I did this. And yes, there was an audience. Wish I'd sold tickets beforehand!

I've been using frogs for a year and a half now and would never switch back. Let yourself practice a lot in a relatively safe setting, and you'll get there.

[colby]

You're just at the bottom of a learning curve, and you'll get there. It may feel like you're a moron, but you're not -- you're just learning, adapting, and adjusting. Eventually it'll become more and more like a second nature rather than something you really have to think about all the time.

It gets better, really it does. It's not quite like re-learning how to ride, but you'll definitely have to re-establish your comfort zones. Originally I thought I'd never be able to ride on the road with these stupid pedals, now... it's just something I do. You'll get there, and you'll kick butt on all your familiar routes

[salsabike]

Well, i wasn't going to say anything here; but now i have to. I'm 54 years old and have not gone clipless yet.
I learned to walk when i was less than 2 feet tall, and i was covered with baby fat. So when i fell, i didn't fall far and it usually didn't hurt.
but now, things have drastically changed. My bones are more brittle, my skin
and tendons don't heal like they used to; and i'm now a big chicken****.
It just seems a bit daunting to have my feet stuck onto the pedals!!!

Yet, even I consider switching to some sort of mechanical system...
but i haven't done it yet. So I guess my message here is; clipless isn't for everyone!

Mimi, if you ever decide you want to, you could learn it on the tandem and would have the advantage of having a captain making sure you don't fall! It would be a big asset.

[mimitabby]

Salsa bike
Those powergrips are perfect on the tandem. I don't think i'll ever snap myself into the tandem. Both times we have fallen, I got off the bike and he went down with it
It's just too scary.

[Geonz]

Another option for "desensitization" would be to set up the trainer with them and practice there.

You can also get pedals that are one-sided. If I ever go clipless, that's probably what I'll do. Even wiht toe clips, I tend to start off with one foot in until I'm on a roll, through that intersection, or what have you.

It's also no shame (in my shameless opinion) to just decide you don't like clipless if you can afford to be less efficient. I don't ride much with the fast dudes so I can afford the difference... though I am pretty sure if I ever tried it, I wouldn't be able to go back... the pure POWER.... 360 degrees of STROKE... (time to write check to pay bills and remember the virtue of frugality )

[eclectic]

I too have fallen more when I had flat pedals than when I went clipless

I too have frogs, you said you had difficulty clipping out fast enough.

The guy at the LBS who sold them to me uses them too and told me to put a little chain wax/oil (I use white lightning on them) on both the cleats and the pedals and wipe it off. He said to do it about every week or so depending on how much you ride. I find they go in and out much smoother then

also are you just giving your heel a quick out twist for it to release?

When I have steep down with a turn at the bottom I always unclip 1 foot - for me it is always left out first and in last (I am left foot dominate) If ever I need to pedal a little my right foot can catch the brunt and I can still pedal w/ my left a little w/o clipping in.

I went around and around and around the bike path at the park until I was comfortable. I always make sure my one foot is in Ok and then get my left foot in (I have gone through a lot of intersections after a light pedalling w/ only my right foot

[Saxa82]

Gals,

Thanks so much for the helpful advice. I think I am being too hard on myself and not allowing myself that extra time to get used to this new system. In some ways, my years of cycling experience has me at a disavantage over newbies b/c I have to teach the "old dogs" new tricks. I have also been in drastic need of serious exercise (ie many miles on the bike) but have been battling UTI's and was on vacation, etc., so my summer of mega-miles has not materialized as I hoped. So with that in mind, I think I have been rushing myself to get with the program here. I need to slow it down and practice more on comfortable routes, no hills, no crazy traffic, etc. To combat the exercise issue, I will focus on other things, like today I went hiking. My DH says he'll help me, but he also knows I'm fiercely independent and want to do this on my own. I said it might be better for me to just watch him. He has frogs too, so this way I can see what he does. An older gentleman who rides with my DH (a new rider, but has done mega-miles in his first year of cycling, mostly in flat Florida) just started clipless and found he had similar spooking experiences, especially up or down hills or in traffic, so DH is going to have me talk to him. I also will try Eclectic's idea about the White Lightning. Again, many thanks.

Saxa82

[Bike Goddess]

If anyone needs encouragement- just ask me. At 63 I went clipless (3 yrs ago!). I took a couple of tumbles at stoplights, but I wouldn't trade the advantage I have over anything!

I have Look style pedals although that shouldn't make much difference. However, you do have to oil them once in awhile, that's for sure. You might be able to adjust them as well.

When it rains, my pedals tend to get tight. That's when I really have to be careful about maintenance.

When I first started out with clipless, I went around the block and practiced as I was riding to get the feel. That seemed to help as well.

[mimitabby]

If anyone needs encouragement- just ask me. At 63 I went clipless (3 yrs ago!). I took a couple of tumbles at stoplights, but I wouldn't trade the advantage I have over anything!

I have Look style pedals although that shouldn't make much difference. However, you do have to oil them once in awhile, that's for sure. You might be able to adjust them as well.

When it rains, my pedals tend to get tight. That's when I really have to be careful about maintenance.

When I first started out with clipless, I went around the block and practiced as I was riding to get the feel. That seemed to help as well.

well, Nancy, that's why you are the bike goddess, someone for us to look up to and admire!

[CorsairMac]

Well, i wasn't going to say anything here; but now i have to. I'm 54 years old and have not gone clipless yet.
I learned to walk when i was less than 2 feet tall, and i was covered with baby fat. So when i fell, i didn't fall far and it usually didn't hurt.
but now, things have drastically changed. My bones are more brittle, my skin
and tendons don't heal like they used to; and i'm now a big chicken****.
It just seems a bit daunting to have my feet stuck onto the pedals!!!

Yet, even I consider switching to some sort of mechanical system...
but i haven't done it yet. So I guess my message here is; clipless isn't for everyone!

I'm sorry my hopefully helpful advice to Saxa was taken out of context Mimi. I agree 100% clipless isn't for everyone and I know several people on the board who have tried them and hated them.....and some people who have never tried them and never will.
If Saxa had asked if they were right for her, I would've responded differently instead of trying to offer advice and support to help her overcome her fear of falling.


and Saxa: good on you for keeping at it.......I'm not surprised going uphill is a problem - something I read here has stuck with me....when trying to clip in while going uphill, turn the bike and ride Downhill for a short distance so you have the momentum you need to give yourself the time to get clipped in, then turn around and continue the climb. Also, like I said earlier, make sure the foot on the pedal when you start up is on the upstroke so you have the full pedal stroke to get your bike going while you're trying to get the other foot clipped in. I believe you'll come to love the advantages of clipless like most riders do and next thing you know You'll be the one passing on advice and sharing funny "yeah I fell over........." stories. :-)

[KnottedYet]

Saxa -
I also have Speedplay Frogs. Before that I rode with toe-clips for years and years.

I practiced (walked my bike there!) on a school track for hours before I ever rode on cement, even a parking lot! I clipped in and out as I rode, pedalled with one foot, pedalled with a clipped-out foot using my arch, practiced stopping and starting. Once I felt like I was getting bored with the track, I took it onto the grass.

Lemme tell ya, after clpping in and out on the fly and pedalling with one foot and pedalling with one clipped and one not-clipped IN THE GRASS, the whole deal got easier.

Can you find a track or field where you can do circus tricks until you've mastered the pedals?

In hairy looking situations (stop signs, hills with sharp corners, small children on the bike path) I always clip out one foot and pedal with the arch. Just in case I have to stop sooner than I expect.