Crash tallies - going clipless!

[redrover77]

3 crashes for me so far on my first day going clipless...

Went on a 45mile ride - 1st 10 miles was cruisy and I got a wee bit too confident... d'oh. 1st crash, not too bad. Unclipped left foot and put it on the ground, but leaned too far to the right... 2nd crash, actually stopped and was standing on left leg, tried unclipping right foot and... crash. What an idiot!

3rd crash was the worst - literally knocked the wind out of me. Was the same again as 2nd - unclipped on left, was slowing down and had my left foot down, but for some reason, my right foot still wants to get off the pedal, hence - TIMBERRRR...

Talk about CLUMSY!

Was actually quite scared and nervous for a while, on the way home! Confidence blown!

Now the idea of stopping/starting on a hill terrifies me - which in turn is a good motivator to keep going! hehe

A question is... how much tension do you feel when you unclip? I've already got my right pedal at the loosest setting (the screw is almost coming out!) but still find it quite stiff - I literally have to jerk my feet out with considerable force to unclip. Is this what I have to get used to or is there something funny with my pedals? I've got Shimano SPDs...

[SouthernBelle]

I ride SPDs too. I think they tend to loosen up after a bit of use. Just keep working them and maybe lube them a tad.

[Blueberry]

A question is... how much tension do you feel when you unclip? I've already got my right pedal at the loosest setting (the screw is almost coming out!) but still find it quite stiff - I literally have to jerk my feet out with considerable force to unclip. Is this what I have to get used to or is there something funny with my pedals? I've got Shimano SPDs...

I'm wondering which model Shimanos you have - DH has a pair that came on his Trek 2200. Those things are evil. We've loosened them as far as they will go, and they're still brutal to release. I actually had to ride up to a stop sign, lean and take off my shoes one time when I was on his bike. It shouldn't require considerable force in my experience. Mine are so loose I'll sometimes pop out when I don't mean to (i.e. when my climbing form gets bad). They do loosen over time, but it you're having trouble reliably releasing (not sure if you are), something is wrong!

Good Luck!

CA

[mimitabby]

The first day i tried out SPD's I fell once, it was truly a situation where i didn't know what to do. it hurt enough that i didn't try solo riding again until i went to Cycle U and paid someone to babysit/teach me.

Since then I have fallen only once. I was going up a very steep hill. I did not have enough momentum and was afraid that i was going to get hurt, so i moved my bike as close to the curb as i could and threw myself over onto my side. I landed nicely in the grass, and it didn't hurt at all.

[Jenn]

Fortunately, I practiced on my spin bike for awhile before starting on my bike, but actually moving in a foward motion and unclipping are totally different. I was lucky though, I didn't have and falls until YESTERDAY trying to watch and ride with DH and daughter in trailer, had 2 good ones!! If I get distracted, forget it, DOWN SHE GOES!

[RolliePollie]

Clipless two weeks...two complete tip-overs and one almost tip-over but a very considerate bush caught me.

Me: some nice bruises, minor road rash, a greater appreciation for my helmet (didn't hurt my noggin at all when it slammed into the pavement on the first fall), and a greater appreciation for my well-padded hips.

Bike: bent handlebars, scratched brake hoods, and minor scuffs on saddle.

Thank goodness I bought an entry-level bike. I'd just be sick if I was damaging a really expensive bike. I'm not going to try to fix the bent handlebars until I'm done falling

I know this is just the learning curve...I do like the clipless pedals a lot and I'm sure to get better at this. Right?

[IFjane]

Me: a greater appreciation for my helmet (didn't hurt my noggin at all when it slammed into the pavement on the first fall).

Sara - just a note of caution - inspect your helmet before you use it again. Manufacturers recommend that they be replaced following a crash. I know you hate the thought of the extra expense (some manufacturers will replace at no cost to you), but better safe than sorry.

As for the clipless pedals - yes, it will get easier!

[RolliePollie]

Thanks, IFJane...my helmet looks ok. I was expecting to find a crack, but I don't see any damage at all. I'll check it again though. Thank goodness it's only the helmet I need to be concerned about this time and not my skull!

[HillSlugger]

The SPD M505's that came with my bike, I can loosen the tension all I want and they are still hard to get out of. The M520's and M540's actually feel like the tension adjustment does something.

As the cleats wear down a little everything gets less stiff.

[redrover77]

I've got the Shimano M424's...

Its funny, I've got the left one set (according to the so-called red indicator) tighter than the right pedal and the right pedal is still a b*tch to get out of (at times had to stop completely and wrench foot out of pedal), whereas the left one is easy...

Hopefully you're right and they'll get looser with time.
Hmm... bit nervous about the next ride though! As for hills... urgh... I sweat just thinking about it!

Sara: my poor bicycle sustained a few injuries too... its a new bike so I'm a wee bit heartbroken! Scratches on handlebar and shifters... argh... where's my touch up paint?

As for my knees... well I wouldn't be wearing a skirt for a while! Scratches and bruises everywhere! No touchup paint is going to help this one.

[michelem]

redrover77,

I am having the same problem that you are! I get unclipped and go to put my foot down and tip over - BAM! I have a very large bruise on my right "saddlebag" area from 8 days ago and a scraped knee from yesterday. I've started unclipping both feet and then hopping forward off the bike onto both feet. That is working a little better. But, of course, I have to plan way ahead and really slow down for that to work. I don't know how I'll ever do it if I have to stop quickly. I have two-sided mtn. bike spd's. I was told they were good "entry level" pedals. Ha ha. I'm going to have to find someone to tutor me in person. I keep reading up on this whole thing and practicing on the trainer, but when I get out on the road down I go and it HURTS.

Getting going is a problem too. When I am in traffic I sit there and wait and wait and wait and wait until there are no more cars (yesterday, I think I waited 10 minutes before there wasn't anyone at the 4-way stop), because I am afraid I am going to fall over while trying to get going (which I've done - BEFORE getting clipped in). I LOVE the feeling of being clipped in while actually riding/moving. I HATE trying to get clipped in and out.

I'm thinking that maybe I should have gotten the one-sided pedals to start with so I could ride with a foot or two unclipped when I am feeling nervous (like in traffic, until I get out on the open road). It is VERY difficult to pedal unclipped on the clip side of the pedals.

Anyway, good luck to you. Hopefully we both come back here in another week or two and laugh at all the difficulties we were having because we are both pros by that time. Ha ha.

[HillSlugger]

I've got the Shimano M424's...

I just took a look at these pedals and I see that they incorporate a pedal platform/frame around them. I'm wondering if maybe the frame is catching the tread on the bottom of your shoes, preventing your foot from easily pivoting outward...

[michelem]

P.S. I have the Shimano PD-M520's.

[SouthernBelle]

I ride a set of 505s and they will loosen.

When you take off from a stop sign, you should already be clipped in on one side. Then don't worry about clipping in on the second pedal til you are thru the intersection. Pedal with your toe or arch if necessary til you get thru.

[luvs2ride]

I'm also falling pretty frequently and it's been about 4 months!! Seems like I get a bit "cocky" and then down I go. Practice, practice, practice!! That's what helps for me. I'm training for a Century this june so lots of time in the seat and it's getting easier. I used to pedal about 50% of the time with only one foot clipped in (because the other one was giving me difficulty-speedplays) . . now I'm up to 95% of my time pedaling with both feet in! YEAH!! Envision yourself having a sucessful ride with no falls and it will happen. Oh yeah . . . prayer also helps for me-especially on those hills! Trust me that it will get easier-has for me! HAPPY CLIPPING!