I wiped out on my new clipless pedals

[rij73]

I fell a couple of times in the first month on clipless pedals. I think that only the experience of falling could teach me the important lessons about how to not fall.

[Iris616]

Complete Newbie question:

If people fall so frequently with clipless, what is the benefit of them?

I'm not being a wise Arse, I truly am curious.

[ny biker]

Complete Newbie question:

If people fall so frequently with clipless, what is the benefit of them?

I'm not being a wise Arse, I truly am curious.

People don't really fall that frequently. Everyone falls now and then, especially when they're getting used to them, but overall it doesn't happen that often.

The benefit is better power transfer to the pedals and more efficient pedaling.

[Mighty Mo]

My knoe is slowly getting better. I am hitting the trainer at home tonight with the new pedals. Maybe it'll be safer to practice on the trainer!

[ny biker]

My knoe is slowly getting better. I am hitting the trainer at home tonight with the new pedals. Maybe it'll be safer to practice on the trainer!

When I first got clipless pedals they put my bike on the trainer at the bike shop and had me practice clipping and out until I was comfortable with it. I still wound up falling on my first ride with them, but that's because I never really paid attention to which foot I put down first when I stop, and I assumed it was the left foot so I clipped out with that one and then realized I really always put my right foot down first. Being somewhat uncoordinated, instead of just putting the unclipped left foot on the ground, I leaned right and fell over. Luckily I was not moving at the time and only had a slight scrape on my knee. Lesson learned.

But yeah, practicing on the trainer should help you get comfortable with the new pedals, especially since you are probably not clueless like I am.

Also read this for advice from Chris Carmichael on how to clip in easily and quickly:

http://outside.away.com/outside/body...-20070330.html

I'm having less trouble clipping in after reading this. Although I don't actually get my butt on the seat before I start moving, I pay more attention to starting with the clipped-in foot at a higher position so I get into the saddle quicker when I do start moving and it really does make it easier to clip in with the other foot.

Good luck!

[BikerDar]

Hi there!
I don't know anybody who hasn't fallen a time or two with clipless pedals.
I started with SPD and now am a converted Speedplay girl. I love the side to side foot movement I have, it's much kinder on my knees. I have big giant feet so I hated using cages.

I tell my new riders two things when they make the switch to clipless.

1) Pick a leg that is your clip out leg and remember to always LEAN in that direction.
2) If you even think that you might want to go near your brakes, clip out.

Of course there's always gonna be moments where for whatever reason you're gonna fall over. My last time was standing STILL, giving a pep talk to some newbies, I was standing up with my left foot on the ground and for some ungodly reason shifted my weight slightly and ended up falling over right onto a curb. OUCH....I claimed there must have been an earthquake but nobody bought it. Just call me GRACE.

I'll take those occassional falls for the increased power and pedal efficiency I get from being clipped in!!

[IGGY]

Hi there!
I don't know anybody who hasn't fallen a time or two with clipless pedals.
I started with SPD and now am a converted Speedplay girl. I love the side to side foot movement I have, it's much kinder on my knees. I have big giant feet so I hated using cages.

I tell my new riders two things when they make the switch to clipless.

1) Pick a leg that is your clip out leg and remember to always LEAN in that direction.
2) If you even think that you might want to go near your brakes, clip out.

Of course there's always gonna be moments where for whatever reason you're gonna fall over. My last time was standing STILL, giving a pep talk to some newbies, I was standing up with my left foot on the ground and for some ungodly reason shifted my weight slightly and ended up falling over right onto a curb. OUCH....I claimed there must have been an earthquake but nobody bought it. Just call me GRACE.

I'll take those occassional falls for the increased power and pedal efficiency I get from being clipped in!!

I'm a brand new biker-spinning fanatic. Got a fuji roubaix, took it out of the car and fell off. BAM! I really hurt my elbow, and wrist, and after getting out of the sling, am ready to get back on physically, but not mentally. I took a short ride last night, very shaky.
My neighbor equipped me with pedals that have a standard platform on one side and is equipped for clipless on the other.
I think I need to learn and "own" the bike before I worry about clipping in and out and falling over.
Anyone????

[deeaimond]

I'm a brand new biker-spinning fanatic. Got a fuji roubaix, took it out of the car and fell off. BAM! I really hurt my elbow, and wrist, and after getting out of the sling, am ready to get back on physically, but not mentally. I took a short ride last night, very shaky.
My neighbor equipped me with pedals that have a standard platform on one side and is equipped for clipless on the other.
I think I need to learn and "own" the bike before I worry about clipping in and out and falling over.
Anyone????

I think the general advice is to get familiar with your bike and bike handling before making the transition to clipless. Unlike spinning (I read your other post) there are many other factors to riding on the road in addition to getting more speed. Traffic, hills, turns, stop-lights and such are all things you would not experience in spinning. even the wind (wind in yr ears so u actually cannot hear properly also)

Having to deal with clipless at the same time would be too much for one person I think.. So like some other pple suggested, I think just change to clipless on both sides and ride until you feel comfortable enough to go clipless. I've been riding my road bike for 3 months now and i'm still using platforms.

I'll think about the clipless eventually but not right now I guess (yesterday we went riding, the road was bad and it was raining and this girl fell. thank god she was not on clipless shoes. so she could at least get up fast, coz she fell into the direction of the traffic.) so platforms might be less cool but theyre definitely safer if you've only just started road biking.

Hope your arm heals fast and you don't feel so scared about being on your bike anymore.

[Kano]

Complete Newbie question:

If people fall so frequently with clipless, what is the benefit of them?

I'm not being a wise Arse, I truly am curious.


and NY Biker replied:

People don't really fall that frequently. Everyone falls now and then, especially when they're getting used to them, but overall it doesn't happen that often.

The benefit is better power transfer to the pedals and more efficient pedaling.

I don't know from transfers and efficiency, exactly.

The time I rode a bike with platforms again a few months after getting the clipless pedals was what REALLY convinced me that clipless is better. Got on the bike, tried to get going with an attempt to pull up on the down pedal. Guess how that went!

I didn't fall while learning, but I did fall making a too sharp right turn without unclipping that foot. I've learned from that experience -- but it's amazing how hard I have to think about unclipping the right compared to the left!

Karen in Boise

[jackster]

I fell the first time on my new clippless petals about two weeks ago. I found this article on treating road rash. (see link below) I used the Duoderm that is mentioned in the article and it really works well. I purcahsed the Duoderm at a medical supply store and they sold it by individual bandage so I did not have to by a whole box. One of my husband's bicycle race teamates said that Duoderm is the best to use. One thing I found that I do not think the article states is when I replace the bandage I let the wound dry out some before putting the next bandage on. This helps with healing and less oozing from under the bandage.

http://www.velonews.com/article/3909