clipless pedal falls poll

[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.

[Tater]

I wiped out at the first stop sign I encountered my first time out with clipless. That was a few years ago and I thought I had them down pat until a month ago when I coasted into the drive way, eased up next to my hubby and promptly tipped over in slow motion because I forgot to unclip. Duh! I blame that one on him! Like Fatbottomedgurl, I too, love clipless and won't ride any other 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.

[sfa]

I don't ride with clipless pedals--I'm still using the ancient technology of toe clips. Just when I think that maybe I should switch, I read things like this and wonder why on earth anyone would want to try them! FWIW, I've never fallen as a result of the toe clips, and I also don't have to use my hands to get myself out of them--I have them set up so they are plenty tight but can get in and out just by slipping my foot in the cage. I only adjust them when I'm wearing a different pair of shoes.

Sarah

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't ride with clipless pedals--I'm still using the ancient technology of toe clips. Just when I think that maybe I should switch, I read things like this and wonder why on earth anyone would want to try them! FWIW, I've never fallen as a result of the toe clips, and I also don't have to use my hands to get myself out of them--I have them set up so they are plenty tight but can get in and out just by slipping my foot in the cage. I only adjust them when I'm wearing a different pair of shoes.

Sarah

My husband has toe clips and adjusts them exactly the same way- they are quite snug on his shoe, yet he doesn't need to reach down or use his hand to slip his foot in and out. It's cool.

[Aggie_Ama]

On the road bike a few times but I also fell with toe cages. I find them much more dangerous myself. I still cannot unclip right side much to my husband's frustration.

On my trail bike I have had a couple falls for failure to unclip. I now just leave the left unclipped. I don't like the pedal system but am not ready to try another. Maybe I should just get a platform for the left side? How Fred could that be? And would I really care? Nope.

[limewave]

DH had the foresight to have me practice in the yard before he sent me out on the road.

I have fallen several times on my mountain bike. Mostly what happens is I'm going so slow on a climb, I go to unclip with my right foot . . . then fall to the left.

[chicago]

I have fallen off my bike once since I started riding in March 2007. The time I fell was not in the beginning... but when I when into the grass and couldn't get out and couldn't get unclipped! I just felt into the grass, so it was not a big deal.

but I would never think of anything but clipless pedals... I love the feelling of being clipped in It makes me feel strong

I don't see an option for "I've only fallen once and it wasn't in the beginning"

[alpinerabbit]

I'm a hybrid, so I can't really vote.

• I have never fallen on a road bike with clipless pedals. Not when I first tried one 15 years ago, not when I started cycling for real. I had a near-hit last spring but that was out of stupidity, after what, 6000 km of cycling.
  
• I have fallen twice so far on my new MTB. Go figure. Once from "technical difficulties" i.e. panic on the trail, once from new cleats and pedals too tight, in alliance with stupidity.