First Clipless Ride!

[emily_in_nc]

Ouch! Lisa, sorry for your fall. Hope you'll heal up fast and won't let it put you off clipless pedals.

[lisathew8lifter]

i woke up this a.m. and my knee was throbbing so i iced it and it was much better. i took a break from riding today but i'll be back at it on tuesday. i knew that i'd never go back to regular pedals and i also had a hunch i'd take a tumble but i didn't think it would be THAT soon!

[marni]

ouch! glad you are safe, sorry you are hurting and in awe that you are soldiering on. It will get easier.

[lisathew8lifter]

thanks, marni! took another shot at it tonight and it was a non event. i took the advice of the ladies on here and always clip out on my left side. i have been clipping out as a precaution when approaching drive ways, stop signs/lights, etc. i do NOT want to fall again!!! i am kind of glad i got it "over with" on saturday so now i can just get better and hope to avoid a similar situation!!!

[buffybike]

You will love cycling with clipless pedals. I fell over a few times too at an intersection. I am different than other cyclists in that I unclip both of my feet and plant both of my feet on pavement, so as to minimize any risks of stressing my lame left foot, though I will plant just one foot if it is an emergency. In my first year, a shoe would glide over the pedal and clip back in when I thought I was unclipped, and over I went. I never even got a scrape or bruise. It doesn't happen anymore.

I always unclip both. Even though my right foot is always my "chocolate foot". The one time I tried to unclip on only one side at an intersection, I fell.

[jessmarimba]

I unclip both, but it's physically impossible for me to sit on the saddle and "plant both feet on pavement" - I'd be on my tippy-toes if I could reach with both feet, and the road is generally sloped away on the right side. Which, naturally, is the side I always fall towards.

(not to mention that every time I lose a screw and can't unclip, it's always the left foot that gets stuck to the pedal)