Crash tallies - going clipless!

[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!

[RolliePollie]

It's nice to know there are others out there who are struggling just like me! Well, it's not exactly NICE...it's not like I'm wishing all these falls on anyone else...but I guess what I mean is that I like having other people to commiserate with! We should start a follow-up thread in two weeks and see what kind of progress everyone has made.

My new plan is to unclip both feet for a while every time I stop. And to make sure they haven't clipped back in. My first fall was because my left foot had clipped in and I didn't know it. My second fall was because I unclipped my left foot and the bike leaned right. My falling-into-the-bushes fall was all the bush's fault. How dare it grow so close to the edge of the driveway!

As far as starting goes, I'm keeping both feet unclipped until I get better at this. I have Crankbrothers Quattros and they are very easy to pedal when you're not clipped in. Which is a good thing, because in traffic or other potentially dangerous situations, I'm keeping one foot free. Of course, just because one foot is free doesn't mean I couldn't easily topple over the other direction. But it makes me feel better anyway.

I think my problem is that I get nervous about NOT falling, which then makes me more likely TO fall!

Eden - thanks again for the helmet advice. I know my helmet does have crash protection...I'll look at the paperwork and see if I can get a new one. I want a different color anyway, so maybe this could work to my advantage!

[F8th637]

I realized on my last ride that I have horrible form when it comes to pedaling. Somehow I always end up with the pedal in the middle of my foot, especially on the left foot. I realized I use to ride my bike as a child that same way. I was thinking of going the Powergrips route for a little while. Should I just practice on my form first without clips, grips, etc. or am I hopeless case that just needs to go ahead and go clipless?

[ShubieGA]

I put Crank Bros. Candy SL pedals on a couple weeks ago, and practiced in my hallway - clip, unclip. No problem. I have taken a couple short rides, with no problems, but then - you know what's coming - I forgot to unclip my right foot when stopping yesterday. Crash.... I looked like an upside down turtle with a bike on top of me! My 1st concern was if I ripped the shorts (busy road -scary thought). I will survive the road rash and bruises (great one on my tail), but had to take the baby in for a bent derailleur hanger. Hopefully I will get her back Thursday. Then back in the pedals again...bet I don't forget to unclip for a while.