Well, I finally fell!! Ouch

[five one]

Glad to hear you weren't hurt too badly. Sometimes it's our pride that gets hurt worse than our bodies when we have a clipless accident.

I'd be willing to bet everyone who rides clipless has a story to tell about falling. I began riding at in 2002 at age 50 after having not ridden at all since college. I didn't take the time to figure out which foot to unclip first prior to attempting my first clipless ride. Big mistake! DH unclips on the right, so that's what I did as we were coming to a stop on a bike trail on my first ride. Problem was, my brain told me to unclip my left foot. I struggled, panicked, and toppled over at a complete standstill. Unfortunately, I landed on my left elbow and ended up at the emergency room with a radial head fracture . I was in a removable cast and sling for two weeks. Both the doctor and the PT told me I could get back on the bike after six weeks, but it was a full 12 weeks before I could ride comfortably again. I thought about going back to platform pedals, but decided to bite the bullet and stick with the clipless. I was mighty careful for months afterward and did fall a few more times, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Now, of course, clipping out is second nature and I can't remember the last time I had a problem getting unclipped. But I'm also a much more confident rider 4 1/2 years later, so even if I were to get my foot stuck now, I could probably avoid falling.

Donna, if this is your first fall after several months of riding clipless, you're doing GREAT! My helmet is off to you.

Virginia

[mimitabby]

geez, Virginia, i did NOT need to hear YOUR story.
I am now clipless on my bike on the trainer and am really afraid to take it outside to try in the real world. THis has been a BIG step for me.

i just turned 55.

argh.

[five one]

Mimi, you can do it! You are practicing and getting comfortable on a trainer first, which is what I should have done. Or at least I should have practiced on grass. Once you get past the initial clumsiness and fear, you'll will be so glad to made the switch. My cycling improved so much after going clipless.

I know plenty of people who have fallen a few times in the beginning, but I'm the only one I know of who was actually injured. I hesitated posting about that, but I wanted those of you on the fence about clipless to know that it can be done. I just went about it the wrong way. If I'd had known about the TE forum back then, I would gotten better information before taking the plunge. Oooh, that's probably a bad choice of words .

[salsabike]

It'll be OK, everybody. I've told you my clipless fall stories somewhere else, I think. Got them over with, haven't done it in a long time, would never switch back. It'll be OK.

[aicabsolut]

Mimi, you can do it! You are practicing and getting comfortable on a trainer first, which is what I should have done. Or at least I should have practiced on grass. Once you get past the initial clumsiness and fear, you'll will be so glad to made the switch. My cycling improved so much after going clipless.

I know plenty of people who have fallen a few times in the beginning, but I'm the only one I know of who was actually injured. .

Even if you're practicing on the trainer (assuming not rollers where you have to balance), still start out practicing on grass. My first attempt was a big scrape, just trying to get on the bike, then I moved it to the grass. Much softer. Still the most injured part was my ego. That and I broke a brand new cleat. Better it than my ankle.

I haven't had problems unclipping, except for the 2nd foot when I've accidentally leaned the wrong way when standing there. Still scared enough not to be cocky.

[mimitabby]

sorry, the grass is covered with icy snow. And tomorrow, when it melts off, the grass will be a sea of nasty mud.

I will just continue in the basement.

[aicabsolut]

sorry, the grass is covered with icy snow. And tomorrow, when it melts off, the grass will be a sea of nasty mud.

I will just continue in the basement.

I didn't say you had to do it tomorrow .. but when you do take the plunge outside, grass can be your friend.

[mimitabby]

oh, thanks. I feel better now.

[LAB]

geez, Virginia, i did NOT need to hear YOUR story.
I am now clipless on my bike on the trainer and am really afraid to take it outside to try in the real world. THis has been a BIG step for me.

i just turned 55.

argh.

Mimitabby - You can do it! I just went clipless in November and I think its great to be "one with the bike". Like you, I started out on the trainer first to get myself more comfortable and to practice getting out of the thing. The thing about my MTB pedals (on my road bike) is that one side of the pedal is for the clip and the other side of the pedal is just a regular pedal that you can start out with and then clip in as you get going. The other thing is that I have the spring tension set as low as it can go so that I can get the hell out of them easily. Congrats on just turning 55.... I'll be 60 in April... and I just started biking after a 44 year hiatus. You know, at age 16 when you trade in the 2 wheels for 4. Just reverting back.

DHH - sorry about your fall. I have told my normally self-confident self to NOT get cocky with clipless pedals. Sometimes I clip out in anticipation even when I don't need to, but just to be on the safer side. I recognize that this will not guarantee that I won't fall, but it probably helps my odds.