fall report

[farrellcollie]

Yes that would work well too I think.

Some people get one foot unclipped but then fall over to the other side when coming to a halt...
...

I have done that both times I have fallen (clipless for about a year now) I always unclip on the right side first - which works well until the tree limb attacks you from the wrong side.

[slinkedog]

My hubby's advice to me (and I've posted this numerous times) is to turn my front wheel away from the foot I'm unclipping. If you stand over your top tube with both feet on the ground and turn your wheel to the left, the weight of your bike will naturally fall to the right and vice versa. So, I always unclip with my right foot and turn my wheel a little to the left when I'm putting my foot down. I've never fallen since I started doing this manuver.

[tygab]

Wow, lookit all the new forum peeps! Welcome, welcome!

Yes, I went through many of these same things as a new rider last spring. I fell in the parking lot my first time out, bruised up my hand a bit but it was the ego that took time. Anyway, I do agree, figure out which way you want to stop before you try going clipless. Another hint/trick, make sure you loosen your tension on the pedals. My new SPDs were probably fine for some 6 ft tall muscular man, but I had to fight to get my feet in and out. Loosened them up quite a bit and now with lots more use it may actually be time to tighten them a touch.

Now, I'm kinda nervous because I've been on the trainer all winter, and that lovely bike's gonna have to come off soon for, well, outdoor riding. I hope I remember how it all goes myself!

Enjoy riding, and remember that others have been there (on the ground even) before you!

[freelivez2]

thanks to all of you for your advice. hope everyone has a beautiful ride tomorrow. I sure had one this evening....

[wurkit_gurl]

The first time I was ever on a road bike, I fell within the first 5 minutes or so, and I was wearing regular sneakers! It was my second date with my now ex-boyfriend, and we basically just hopped on and went off. We were riding down a sidewalk to get to the actual trail- we crossed a street and the part where you could ride back up onto the curb was on a curve and near a telephone pole. I just went way too fast around it (trying to impress the boy), hit a bush and though the bike stopped, I kept going! I wasn't seriously injured, and I got right back on (though later, my ex said he had thought I was just going to want to go home- jerk). It's pretty embarassing; I don't know what is going to happen when I start riding with clipless pedals.

[glockgirl]

Well, this is my first post, and I'm sort of happy to say, that I'm glad I'm not the only one, I've been doing triathlons for almost into my 2nd year, I just switched out my pedals last thursday, first day I'm in the driveway w/ my boyfriend, no clue what to do so start pedaling, and over I went...hmm another scraped knee and back. Frustrated I called the store and wanted to return them, but then practiced a little inside and went for a ride sunday and did okay, will try again today. Still very afraid of falling, doing a tri on sunday, just women, hopefully I'll be so fixated I won't forget

[logdiva32]

I practiced several saturdays in spin class before I hit the road.