Need advice -- falling alot with clipless!

[bcipam]

Have you sat down and actually thought about why you are falling? When you come to a stop do you have trouble getting out of your pedals or do you just forget to get out of the pedal? Do you try to stop while still sitting on the saddle?

Here's the deal, 1)make sure pedal tension is correct. Not too tight or loose. You should be able to engage easily and get out without much effort but it shouldn't be so loose you foot falls out at times. 2) Think about your approach to an intersection or stopping. Disengage one pedal several feet before your stop. Note you should get used to disengaging only one side or the other. I do my left side. The right side always stays clipped in. There is no right or wrong as to which foot. It's a comfort thing. 3) Once disengaged, move your butt off the seat and get ready to land your foot on the pavement. If at a complete stop or close there too, your butt should be no where near the seat! Your foot should almost be on the ground. This is one fluid movement - Slowing, disengage pedal, move butt off seat, left (or right) foot down. And practice, practice practice. Ride alone. If you find riding with friends causes you to be distracted, go out alone so you can concentrate. It really becomes second nature after awhile.

As to falling while starting - that's a nervous thing. You are trying to hard (and most likely too soon) to engage the pedal and lose control. I use Dura Ace pedals. They are one sided. I always have my start leg (which is always my left) up so I just push down and the bike starts to move. I don't worry about getting clipped in (sometimes it happens right away sometimes I have to make an effort) I just ride until I get some momentum, maybe even across the intersection. Once moving its easy to spend some time engaging the pedals. Don't panic. Work on smooth starts. It shouldn't take alot of power. One big key, make sure you down shift on approaching a stop so you don't have to push a big gear to get started. The lower the gear, the easier the start.

Good luck. It's just a practice thing and once you master it won't believe you thought it so hard!