Need advice -- falling alot with clipless!

[frances]

i really appreciate the response. it is so frustrating and my knees look really bad right now. but, i still love cycling!

i tried to respond to individual posts but, i had trouble. seems like my ability with clipless has transferred over to using this forum!

anyway, to the person who asked me if i stopped to think about why i was falling.... YES! i was up last night thinking about it and wondering what my problem was. and i think you might have hit it. i think i do unclip well in advance but, i sometimes forget to get my butt out of the seat and therefore start braking before i am out and slowing down. so it's not one fluid motion all the time. it's kind of jerky.

i think i do much better when i remember to get my butt out and remember to bring my clipped in foot down so i can coast while standing up on a pedal but getting ready to put the unclipped foot down. does any of this make sense?

also, as for falling when trying to mount the bike, i am sure it's because of inadequate momentum. i have also noticed that i think i may have bought my bike shorts a bit too large and sometimes they get caught on the seat. that alone isn't responsible for my falling but, it does throw me.

i will try to practice around the block. i am so much smoother when i'm not using clipless and just on my sneakers. i don't know why it's any different.


thanks,
-frances

[Pedal Wench]

i will try to practice around the block. i am so much smoother when i'm not using clipless and just on my sneakers. i don't know why it's any different.


thanks,
-frances

When you are just using your sneakers, still practice. "Pretend" that you are still clipped in, but really get used to 'unclipping' from your imaginary cleats. This will start to ingrain in your physical memory that you must twist your ankle and have the proper foot weighted when you stop. Every stop must be thought about, and then it becomes second nature.

[caligurl]

it may be the look pedals and not you! i had looks... for about a week... i could NOT unclip from them! i would either fall over.. or blaze through an intersection

i did a lot of reasearch and found that a lot of women have trouble with looks.. even at the lightest tension... since we have smaller feet.. we can't get the strength behind the twist to get them out.. (and it's not that my legs were weak... i was/am big into weight work... including legs... so i had/have leg strength...

i got speedplay (the X version) and they are GREAT!

something to look into or think about!

[ktplayfair]

These pedals are super easy to get out of and easy to set so that you get out when you want to, but keep the tension so you can stand and climb. Even a few times when I've started to "go over" I can unclip reflexively to stop the fall... I've always ridden clipless

[frances]

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for all your responses! So nice to have such a great supportive group!

I got some inexpensive Shimano SPDs/Platforms. I am sure that someone in road bike land will scoff at them because they're more of a mountain bike pedal. But, they worked for me. I tried them out this morning on a 15 mile bike ride this morning. And it was great.

I used my mountain bike shoes that I normally use only in spinning class and found this is great because if i have
trouble clipping in, I can just pedal on the platform side of the pedal until I have a moment to clip in. And it just SLID in. None of the awkwardness of my Look pedals.

I realize now that I was really having to struggle with the Looks - I really had to kick out hard to unclip and push down hard to clip in. Could be that the pedals are really old (I borrowed them) but, at this point, I'm happy with my SPDs. And I don't feel like spending any more $$ on a set of pedals!

Thanks again for all your advice!

Frances

[jpbayarea]

Everyone's comments mirror my own feelings. Initially I refused to get them. Said I was more relaxed and safe without. One day my partner nudged me and I broke down and bought some hot new red shoes and clipless pedals. Within two blocks I crashed in the street at a 4 way stop. Simpering and limping to the side I was mad! He was great. We got off the road and went up and down a side road until I thought I could make it home. Suffice it to say there was one more crash. Slowly I learned how to unclip before the stop (sign, light or just a blind driveway) and hold that foot on the pedal but off the clip part. Over months the security has grown and finally I've come to both love and depend on them. Still, even now, I unclip before he does at any intersection or possible 'problem.' That's just my comfort zone. We each find ours over time. It's a hurdle it seems everyone faces and gradually learned to manage and then finally think back to those unclipped rides and be so thankful to be beyond that. It takes time and patience...with yourself and whatever fears you have. Go slow and go kindly. We've all been there! Hope that helps.
Jpbayarea

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE frances]i have also noticed that i think i may have bought my bike shorts a bit too large and sometimes they get caught on the seat. that alone isn't responsible for my falling but, it does throw me.


Trekhawk waving madly at Frances

Thats me catching my bike shorts on the end of the seat and panic setting in.

I also found that at first I would panic if my clipped in foot got to the bottom of the pedal circle before I had the next foot clipped in or even on the pedal and then it occured to me (Im a bit slow I know) that I could pedal a complete circle with one foot as it was clipped in and this helped keep up momentum. Remembering that I could pull up as well as push down took a while but tips from the ladies here have helped and now I think Im getting better at those circles.

[Ionic]

I agree with Caligurl, it could be the pedals. When I first started mtbing my then fiance made me do it clipless. I started with the shimano ones my bike came with. I fell sooo many times. We changed the tension but it didn't work. I had a really hard time clipping in and out. I had to take my shoe off on the trail a couple times because I couldn't unclip. Finally, I bought a used pair of Time Atacs and my falling problem stopped. If you're having a really hard time clipping in and out, you may want to try a different brand. Once I switched, it fixed everything and I can't even imagine riding without them.

[tattiefritter]

I would also agree with Caligurl and Ionic in that you may just not get on with the pedals. I used SPDs for a while on my MTB but I found that in order to be confident that I could get my feet out whenever I wanted I had to back the tension off so much that my feet would boing out on rocky descents, which is worse than a slow speed topple. Changing to Crank Bros Candys changed it all for me and I have them on all my bikes, including the roadie.

When I first put clipless on my MTB the bike shop advised me (which I ignored and learned the hard way instead) to find a grassy field (soft landing) and practise getting out of them quickly when riding really slowly and stopping suddenly.

I also think that technical offroad riding has made getting out of clipless second nature to me, much more than riding on the road, as you often don't get advance warning of when you might be unclipping you just have to do it instantaneously.

[Dogmama]

I've always had Looks and I love them. To each her own!

Caveat about unclipping - if you are unclipping several yards from where you will eventually stop, be sure that you completely unclip & put your heel on the clip-part of your pedal. If you just rest your foot on the pedal, you may inadvertently clip yourself back in

[mtbdarby]

I agree with Cali and Ionic as well. I was having a TON of difficulty staying vertical. Check your shoes and pedals. I found I had chipped the cleat on the bottom of one of my shoes so I replaced that. Still fell. So I changed pedals to a Ritchie model and have had no problems since (at least that I can blame on going clipless )

Hang in there! I was at my wits end with mountain biking but am back in the swing of things. I also found after a couple bad crashes that nerves were playing a big part in it so I started road biking more. Much easier for me! It has been a great confidence booster as well as a great endurance training tool for me.

Happy riding!