clipless pedal falls poll

[OakLeaf]

There's a danger with saying "it happens to everyone," because then people don't try as hard as they should to avoid it. But I think it happens to almost everyone, and almost all of the time it's only our pride that gets hurt.

My stupidest F.U. (failure to unclip) remains the time when a riding buddy had a minor crash in the front of the group. Everyone managed to avoid him, but in the confusion as we all stopped to make sure he was OK, I thought I had unclipped, and didn't find out that I actually hadn't until I went to put my foot down.

[Grog]

None of the above. I almost fell when I first used them, but the only two times I really fell were after riding for two years. Once when I was leading a club ride (I actually had my other foot on the ground, I'll never know how come I fell to the other side!!) and once when I was riding on gravel and couldn't unclip as I performed a very slow-motion tumble, trying somehow to protect the new white Jett saddle that I hated and needed to return to the store intact!

[Possegal]

I felt better after my only fall that caused an injury, when a co-worker described a very similar fall at a red light while she was in graduate school. As I began comparing the falls she said, oh no, you missed the point, I didn't have clipless pedals, I just forgot to put my feet down. I still crack up at the thought of that.

[smilingcat]

There isn't a choice where I was so used to it, forgot that I was still clipped in and fell over while track standing.

I was waiting for the light to turn green, was chatting with a friend and I forgot I was doing the track stand. oopppsie-daisy I went over in a slow-mo.

I was embarassed and laughing. My friend just shook his head laughing. My bike didn't get a scratch and I didn't get a scratch. But just too funny. I even did the bunny hop thing to try to regain my balance but to no avail. woohhh... hop hop... over I went... then laughing pretty good on the pavement.

Actually, clipless has saved me on few occasions. Toe-clips and cage were not so friendly. There you are really locked in. Got a reach down and release the strap, roll your foot to unlock, then pull back. I prefer clip-less so much easier and safer.

Smilingcat

[TrekTheKaty]

Actually, clipless has saved me on few occasions. Toe-clips and cage were not so friendly. There you are really locked in. Got a reach down and release the strap, roll your foot to unlock, then pull back. I prefer clip-less so much easier and safer.

Smilingcat

I agree! It's saved me more than I've fallen. More than once I've had to slam on my brakes, and if I hadn't been clipped in--my feet would have come off the pedals. When I'm clipped in, I can start pedaling again without falling over.

[CyclChyk]

I find this post incredibly funny because I have STOPPED using clipless for the many times I have fallen in them. Sure they are a great benefit to biking but I prefer to stay in one piece, and for me, that means no more clipless.

[OakLeaf]

I agree with Smilingcat. Sure there's a learning curve with any pedal system, but being able to get out of your pedals without taking your hands off the bars is a HUGE safety improvement.

[malkin]

I fall and I have clipless pedals, but clearly the falls are user error, and not really the pedals' fault. Except once, when I swear that there was some sort of gravitational shift, which clearly wasn't my fault.

[Flur]

I've only fallen once since I got my pedals. It happened because I panicked. A car cut across my path and I had to stop suddenly. I unclipped on the left and leaned to the right (the side I usually unclip on). By the time I realized what I'd done it was too late. The thing about this is that I would have done the same thing with toe clips. I've fallen with toe clips so I know how fast I can get my foot out when the other foot is already out and there's no way I would have been faster with toe clips.

So I have to say I've never fallen because of my pedals. They actually have probably saved me a few times b/c they're easier to get into and out of.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I haven't posted in forever- been off the bike because of a car accident- but I have been lurking here occasionally. Just started riding again! I use clipless while mountain biking and wouldn't ride with out them. Occasionally I have fallen on the trail for not unclipping quite in time. And I have had one in-the-parking-lot-forgot-I-was clipped-in fall. My most spectacular crash was an over-the-bars due to hitting an unexpected drop-off while I was behind the saddle and I hit the front brake too hard. My whole bike and I did a somersault, before I landed on my back. I'm not sure when I actually unclipped, but that was certainly not the pedals' fault! I love clipless. Better climbing, better control, and no laying your shin open to the bone when a foot slips (my husband did that this summer).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't use clipless systems. I like it that way.

[Lifesgreat]

I fell on my Christmas morning ride on Fatty Lumpkin. I had to re-enact laying in the road in front of my house for the family. They couldn't believe it.

[Momonbikemob]

I fell a few times at first, but after I had been riding a bit, I fell because I had bad pedals. They wouldn't let my foot loose and I went over... not too badly banged up, but boy was I mad! My DH was great and got me knew ones since I didn't have a clue what was good and what wasn't.

[maillotpois]

Actually, clipless has saved me on few occasions. Toe-clips and cage were not so friendly. There you are really locked in. Got a reach down and release the strap, roll your foot to unlock, then pull back. I prefer clip-less so much easier and safer.

Smilingcat

When I coached more beginner cyclists for TNT, it was just striking how much harder it was for people who were learning using cages as opposed to clips. Even worse if they used a running type shoe with a waffley or flared sole - almost impossible to get the shoe out of the pedal cage.