I finally joined the clipless klutz club

[Pedal Wench]

Tomatoes got you too??!! Way, way, way back when I was in college, I rode my bike everywhere. One day, I was going out for a ride and passed a fruit stand on the side of the road. I couldn't resist. Bought a huge bag of tomatoes, even though I didn't even have a backpack or panniers. I rigged the bag to my handlebars and off I went. The whole ride back (about 10 miles) had left turns. Left, left, left. To get into my apartment complex I had to make a right, and at that moment realized that the bag was completely blocking my bars, so me, my bike, and the tomatoes all took a tumble. Tomato sauce for me too! I completely forgot about that incident (even forgot about that bike!) until your story! Thanks for sharing!!!!

[tricat]

Okey, I am confessing! I did have clipless pedals for a short time, fell off a couple of times and then after that I was nervous cycling with them, mostly worried about falling in towards traffic so I removed them and am back to regular pedals with the toe clips. I`m such a klutz that I even fell off when using toe clips, of course right beside a bus full of tourists! I`m also worried about having to make sudden stops and forgetting to unclip due to unforseen hazards (little kids on bikes, dogs darting in your path) etc. etc.

Am I neurotic!!!!!!!!

tricat

[pkq]

tricat, clipless become like second nature with lots of use. They also make pedaling more efficient, too. I'd never go w/o clipless.

[short cut sally]

I too went clipless this past June or so..recorded falls to date? 3! 2 were witnessed by other riders/passerbys but the first was priceless. First day out with my new peddles and shoes and got hot while riding up a small grade, thought, will stop and take my long sleeve shirt off and go with my tank the rest of the way home. Forgot about the whole being clipped in ordeal and toppled right over. Shocked and in the road, worried about my paint job on the bike more than the possiblity of oncoming traffic, I hear "wolf wolf" and this big dog comes out of now where and I am thinking "OH S*#t"! As I am on the ground trying to get my feet out, this big dog (English Mastiff I find out later) does nothing but lick my face all over and cont' to bark and lick. The owners of the dog tell everyone this story as they think it is about as priceless as I do. Glad Everyone's falls resulted in no to minor injuries to self and to bike. shelly

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE shellyj] As I am on the ground trying to get my feet out, this big dog (English Mastiff I find out later) does nothing but lick my face all over and cont' to bark and lick. The owners of the dog tell everyone this story as they think it is about as priceless as I do.

Shellyj - thanks for sharing your falling story its a classic. Good to know not all dog encounters on your bike have to be scary.

[Pedal Wench]

...As I am on the ground trying to get my feet out, this big dog (English Mastiff I find out later) does nothing but lick my face all over and cont' to bark and lick. The owners of the dog tell everyone this story as they think it is about as priceless as I do. Glad Everyone's falls resulted in no to minor injuries to self and to bike. shelly

As the former owner of an English Mastiff, I have to say that the amount of slobber and drool must have been incredible! Mine passed away in November, and I'll still finding drool marks on the walls! Sweet, friendly, gentle, but intimidating at first glance!

[nuthatch]

Try again when you feel brave, Tricat. I will gladly keep falling rather than give up clipless - you can get so much power in your stroke you just feel like you're flying! Of course, I'm avoiding tomatoes from now on....

[bikerchick68]

Nuthatch! Too funny... instant spaghetti sauce... I KNEW there had to be a quicker way than the 6 hours I spent cooking tomatoes down...

shellyj... LOLOL! I do a fundraiser walk for the Humane Society every year... last year there was a Mastiff who was TERRIFIED of my Pug! too funny...

glad everyone is OK with the falls... I've fallen once but it was 'cause I stuck my front wheel in the trolley track... it came out when I hit the curb.... fortunately my pretty new bike landed ON me... no scratches to bike whatsoever... all traffic in intersection came to a complete stop with this expression on their faces... OOPS.