Ha- I had my clipless fall

[sundial]

RockyRaquel, you have a teenie avatar.

[RockyRaquel]

I know!! I don't know how to make it bigger! haha!

[Chicken Little]

I slid into a big red and white end of road crossing sign last week. Forgot to clip out- didn't fall, and you are the only people who know. Let's keep it that way.

[Goldilocks]

Just did it today. I seem to be good for a couple a season. Today's occurence . . . it was raining steadily. Pedals were wet, wet, wet. Stopped at a stop sign. When I went to clip back in, the shoe slipped off the pedal due to it being so wet. When that happened, I somehow shifted my weight over to the otherside, somewhat uncontrollably, and down I went. It was with to much force to adjust the weight shift and prevent the fall. And, of course, an avid male cyclist was RIGHT there to watch it all happen. Had to ride 10 miles with my seat crooked because I couldn't get it back into place.

[witchofthedogs]

I did this for the first time last week. I chalk it up to the fact it was early in the morning and I wasn't awake. And old cleats. And... Okay, I was completely uncoordinated and it just happened.

But I have to say, I'm proud of my scrapes and bruises.

[Duck on Wheels]

Just had my first failure-to-unclip fall this morning. Couldn't find the wrench to loosen up the tension on my pedals, but did ok yesterday so I decided to just go out and ride again and adjust the pedals later. Today my goal was a substantial hill, to see how much easier it would be on the Bike Friday, seeing as the gears are (effectively, what with the small wheels) SOOOOO much lower. But the gearing is also a bit twitchy. Got to that hill, tried downshifting, chain fell off, and couldn't unclip fast enough. I think my unclipping-side ankle is sprained. Also some road rash on that knee and a bruise with a bit of a cut on the opposite shin. But no witnesses . So I just sat there in the road intertwined with my bike for a few seconds, then unclipped, got up, got the chain back on, and headed back home. Found out next stop that I'd have to switch unclipping sides for now due to the sprain, but managed that. Now I'd better get showered and dressed. Long pants today to hide the bruise so I don't freak out my Mom. (Trek, if you see this ... shhhhh!)

[hermitclub]

I've been putting off writing this post, since in hindsight it's quite embarrassing, but everyone else on the forum is so good at sharing so here it goes.

It was Memorial Day Saturday, 2006, and I was about 38 miles into a 45 mile ride and new to this type of distance. I had a new road bike, with clipless pedals. Unfortunately I didn't know much about hydration and bike nutrition, and didn't have near the bike fitness that I have today, and I made a terrible decision. I came to a stop sign and thought I heard a car coming. It turns out the car was on a parallel road, but I didn't know that at the time.

I was completely dehydrated and not thinking clearly, and I couldn't decide whether to keep going through the stop sign or stop. The next thing you know, I'm falling over in slo-mo like Artie Johnson on his tricycle on Laugh In (now I'm dating myself).

I heard the snap as soon as I went down. I got myself out of the clip, my friend picked my bike up off of me, and I said to him "I think I broke something, I heard a snap." I got up gingerly but my left ankle was swelling quickly.

I tried to walk it off. The paramedics showed up shortly thereafter and told me in no uncertain terms that there was no walking this off, that I had most likely broken my leg. When I got to the emergency room they confirmed that I had broken my fibula about 2 inches above my left ankle.

In the ambulance, I was so dehydrated that they couldn't start an IV because my veins were so small. I had lots of bruises on my arms from the many attempts.

It was a terrible lesson in hydration and unclipping. I sat in a La-Z-Boy recliner for most of the next 8 weeks, with my leg elevated above my heart, dreaming of getting back on my bike. That is when I discovered the TE forums and all of you fine folks. It took me a while to not be afraid that I would break a bone every time I fell. I actually had an almost identical clipless fall later in November 2006 when I got back on the bike. Slo-mo fall down on the same leg. This time nothing but a bruised ego because I was on a group ride. But it was good to see that I wasn't always going to break.

[Trek420]

Got to that hill, tried downshifting, chain fell off, and couldn't unclip fast enough.

I won't tell our mutual Mom that you were downshifting on a climb? Rest and ice, feel better soon. Then we'll work on shifting as you get used to your new gears. New bike, smaller size wheels, new gearing ... it will take time to know where to be on what climb.