Joined the clipless club

[doctorfrau]

Well, I was out riding late this afternoon/evening and was all proud of myself that I had gone nearly 60 miles so far this week without a mishap with the pedals.....

We all KNEW it was coming didn't we?

So I'm coming up to the next-to-last intersection on my way back, unclipped in prep to stop, stepped down..... and a milisecond later I was lying on the ground on the "opposite"(still clipped) side. So I laughed at myself for being a doofus, got back on and proceeded on, while deconstructing the event and trying to figure out how in the heck THAT happened, when I had already stepped down.

Not a half mile later, as I approached the last intersection, there was a car already stopped there. (street intersects the rail-trail - 4 way stop). I slowed down, anticipating that she would proceed on through and then I could just "California stop" and proceed. Well, she saw me coming and hesitated. That meant I had to actually stop. By then I was AT the intersection, tried to unclip....... and had that "Oh sh*t" moment....... TiiiimmmmmBERrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......CRUNCH! It was classic.

So I'm sitting in the cinders, laughing and shaking my head, with BOTH feet still firmly locked in the pedals. The nice lady in the car did roll down her window and ask if I was okay, though.

It took me a good 30 or 40 seconds to figure out how in the world to get unclipped from that position, but I finally got it figured out, and made it the last 400 yards to the car without further mishap.

So - now I've lost my clipless virginity (twice in 5 minutes, even) and have two scraped elbows and a pulled calf muscle to prove it.

Glad I got THAT out of the way...

[Trekhawk]

hesitated. That meant I had to actually stop. By then I was AT the intersection, tried to unclip....... and had that "Oh sh*t" moment....... TiiiimmmmmBERrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......CRUNCH! It was classic.

Welcome to the clipless tipping club. Im reading this and thinking yup know that feeling when you know its gonna happen and you just cant seem to get that foot out. Its like watching something happen in slow motion - you know its coming and there is not a thing you can do about it.

Glad to hear you were not too beaten up.
Sending smooth clipless riding wishes your way.

[KatieBelle]

I am right there with you. I was doing fine tonight until I decided to go up onto the sidewalk which required a tight left turn. I unclipped my right foot (Duh?) but leaned to the left and there I went. Luckily, I fell into the grass. I was glad that the neighbors who were out in the yard didn't laugh at me. I just got up and kept pedaling. Hey, that's what being a newbie is all about.