Clipless 2; CyclChyk 0

[salsabike]

No no no--your DH is dead wrong. We've all fallen learning to ride clipless. Think I fell once or twice--and then had a banner day when I was trying to learn to stop with one foot still in (secret---step down onto that clipped in foot and forward off the saddle, and then onto the unclipped foot, and don't lean towards the clipped in foot), and fell three times, got good and bruised as did my bike. And haven't fallen since (it's been many months). Keep it up. You'll get it.

[Thistle]

i've had 2 falls since i went clipless too... must be the magic number. First one was the first day, second one was a few weeks later.

Hang in there. I totally understand the fear... it was sooo hard to get back on the bike after falling, but you can do it .. you can do it... others have done it, you can do it too .

My policy now is always unclip the same foot (left works for me) and not to be embarassed about unclipping way way early for a stop, or even if i approach a situation where i might have to stop ( regularly unclip for what turns out to be no reason ) ... and i'm starting to feel much more comfortable. Hopefully there wont be any more falls....

[RoadRaven]

All of my falls caused by pedals you clip into (Raven still resolutely refusing to call clip in pedals "clipless")

Alwasy at slow speed or no speed so therefore minimal damge to body and bike.

I join the other voices - persevere... they are so very very worth it in all other areas of performance.

[Aggie_Ama]

Most of us fall learning to use clipless pedals, you are in very good company. I fell more than 2 times! What we discovered was the problem was my tension. You can adjust the pedals and mine were so snug I couldn't get out quick enough. Once we loosened them up I fell a couple more times (I am clumsy), but now it is smooth pedaling. They are definitely worth it. Maybe you can check the tension?

[SouthernBelle]

I fell twice the first day! & I was still having trouble clipping out, so I would ride into soft grass and fall over (a skill that later became useful).

Curious. Does your DH ride clipless?

I like riding clipless. On my new bike, I have toe lap. Clipless keeps my toes away from that evil front wheel.

[Toni]

I have been riding clipless from the get go from about 1 1/2 months ago. When I bought my bike the LBS said I needed to go clipless, and since I didn't know any better I said OK. I only ride about 3 -4 times a week, but so far no falls. I am really, really careful about not taking my hands off the bike (use a camelback) and I start to unclip way before needed. I did practice first at a cycling oval at Rice University, but not so much practice at uncliping, just getting used to the gears, brakes, etc. I use the Look Keo pedal system and it isn't too difficult to unclip. Of course, I never want to be in the panic mode when I need to unclip. I know I will fall, just lucky I haven't up to this point. Stay with it, I love how much faster I can ride using them.

[Bluetree]

CC,
I fell three times when I first got my bike. I hadn't been on a bike in 20 years and dealing with clipless pedals was too much when I also had to factor in: getting my balance back, learning the rules of the road, dealing with traffic, etc. For me, it was just more comfortable to absorb things one step at a time.
So I DID go to platforms for awhile. I got some cheap platform pedals at Performance ($9) and used them for a week. Once I was comfortable on the bike and on the road, I switched back to my original clipless pedals and was fine.