Quote Originally Posted by sara View Post
Same goes for stopping. My current disaster-area method for stopping is to unclip both feet, basically come to a stop, and then wait for the bike to lean far enough that a foot can touch the ground.
Trek quoted this part, and it got me thinking -- DH does something kind of like this -- both feet unclipped, and he puts 'em out in space somewhere as he slows. It looks a little silly, but he's fallen cuz he's still clipped in, and this is his way to avoid that. I guess a clipped in fall looks sillier? Dunno, but I do know it's gotta be more painful!

FIt could be an issue as Trek mentioned, but I can't reach the ground while on the saddle either, and fit's okay then -- I think it's supposed to be that way, from what I've been reading, so that didn't even occur to me the first time I read this bit. What DID occur to me is how I come to a stop and not wait for my bike to tip one direction or another. I'm guessing you mean when you get to an intersection or something?

When I'm slowing, I unclip my left foot, and have my right foot/pedal in the down position. With practice, probably I am actually standing on that down pedal a bit now as I stop and "land," but I don't think of it that way -- it's more like I slip down off the saddle to plant my free foot on the ground. My leg does straighten a bit, There's no sort of hoisting myself UP, like I'd think standing on the pedals would do. You might want to try this -- and practice it a little. I think there's nothing scarier than waiting to tip over, even if it's just partway!

Karen in Boise