How many times have you fallen?

[skywalkerbeth]

Due to clips? By this I mean that you would have caught yourself if not for the clips.

I just got clipless pedals about a month ago. Never had them - and I'm 45 and have ridden on and off (for fun, not serious riding) since I was a kid.

Anyway, I practiced in the bike store and had a system down pat I thought... at least for the right side. That's the side I decided to generally unclip at lights, etc.

Anyway, fall number two was this morning. I just can't get the left side off quickly enough. I decided I should start practicing the left side dismount and bam. The problem is (to me - klutz) is that when you commit to taking one side off, that side is down as you slow... if you cannot get it off, that side is down, the other is up (harder to unclip) and then it's too late.

The first time I fell I got a little scrape but otherwise didn't hurt any joint. This morning I had no scrape whatsoever but my left wrist feels a little funny. It's isn't in pain, just a little bit achey. A little off. Ditto my elbow - just a little off. It doesn't appear swollen but I'm not a doctor.

Otherwise it was a good ride. I'm training for the Seagull Century which is now three months off. My ride this AM was 22 miles, and I plan on another 22 tomorrow morning. I've been away numerous different wkds which makes it hard for continuity but the next three months I doubt I'll be away as much.

[Ritamarie]

Beth, I had a few, early on. Usually it was because I was unclipped for a stop and accidentally clipped back in. Or, I generally unclip the left, but learned that if I am making a sharp slow turn to the right (parking lot situation) that I darn well better be unclipped on the right too!

A few things to consider...

Make sure the right really is your preferred unclipping side. When you do not have clips, which foot do you naturally put down first? I am right handed but always unclip left. I am an absolute klutz unclipping right first.

I constantly think ahead to any potential stops. At intersections, even in very rural areas where I rarely see a car, I unclip early and rest my foot on the pedal (making sure not to clip in by accident). If in the event I have trouble unclipping, I have plenty of time to react and do something different.

If clipping in and out is not easy and foolproof (the actual unclipping, not your balance or timing) then examine your pedal system. If I turn my heal out at any angle, it better unclip or something is wrong. I want a fool-proof pedal system that I have confidence in.

Rita

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks Ritamarie!

The funny thing is... I guess I do favor having the left foot in the "dismount" position as I coast... but in the store the guy asked me, I had no idea (couldn't visualize it) and spent two hours practicing the right side. Literally two hours. Had it down. I haven't fallen on my right side.

I got speedplays because I heard they were the easiest for unclipping and that they also had a lot of play. I don't know if there are easier ones or not.

I will say "just turning the ankle" isn't doing it - I have to apply a little bit of force with it. Left side, this morning - couldn't get it out. The stupid thing is that as I slowed, instead of reacting to that and getting the right foot in the dismount position (meaning down and ready to unclip) I instead fought the left clip like a dummy.

The falls so far have been slow motion/stopped. It's hard to act against your instincts - I think my hand came out this morning trying to stop me. The other time I never took my hands off the handlebars - I wrestled the damn thing to the ground.

It would be funny if it weren't potentially dangerous. I have had a lot of bike people swear solemnly that clipless is safer than those cages (I guess they are called "clips" - the stirrups?

Well I am here to tell you I have never fallen due to the damn cage on my feet. Only the clipLESS pedals.

[Crankin]

Only 2 in ten years. The first was when I was fairly new to clipless, at a little uphill intersection with a light. Since then, I have avoided this spot! (8 years ago?). The second was because some idiot on a group ride stopped short in front of me, when a driver was waving us through a crowded country fair area on Cape Cod. I was only going about 5 mph, but I wasn't expecting her to stop and I just touched her wheel and I couldn't unclip. The first one trashed my bars, but not me.

[Owlie]

Three. The first was a classic clipless fall--stopped at a stop sign, and leaned the bike the wrong way. Skinned my knee. The second (on the same day) was pretty much me being stupid and trying to take too sharp a turn, and down I went. I count it as a clipless fall because if I hadn't been clipped in, I probably could have righted myself. Fell on the same knee, scuffed up my bar tape, bent my left brake hood in a bit, and knocked my front wheel out of true.
The last one...I don't quite know what happened, but I think I leaned the wrong way, then over-corrected at the last possible moment. I ended up sitting on the rear triangle.

[ridenread]

I had my third fall this morning. I stopped at a 3 way intersection,unclipped with my left foot as I came to the stop and was ready to put my foot down. The cars at the other two stop signs both stopped and waved me through. As I began to push off with my right foot,I fell over to the right side. I love my helmet,which protected my head as it went crashing to the ground. Everyone jumped out of their cars to see if I was ok. Except for the major embarrassment I was fine. I biked another 8 miles or so, then started to feel sick. I only had 4 miles to go to get home but decided to stop and call my husband to come get me.

My second fall was at a stop sign on an incline. My first time trying to stop on a hill and I couldn't get out in time. Went down gracefully with no problems. There was a guy in a pickup truck laughing. He apologized for laughing but he fell in the same spot the week before so he thanked me for making him feel better.

My first fall happened at the end of my driveway. I was so proud of myself for completing a 30 mile ride with my new clip less shoes and pedals,I was able to clip in and out without any problems, but then pulled into my driveway,looked at my cyclometer and found myself back in the road. Unfortunately I fractured my wrist on that one.

Three falls but I still love my clipless pedals and will be back out riding again tomorrow.

[westtexas]

I've only fallen once. We were doing some intense hill climbs at Ft. Davis and at the base of a hill I felt too tired to climb. But I waited too long before clipping out and while at a complete standstill I simply fell over. Didn't even get scraped up.

I always unclip with my left foot. It's my weakest leg and if I decide to re-clip in (light turns green as I approach the intersection, etc.) or I can't get that foot clipped in, I can still pedal by pulling the right pedal up and give myself some more time. I often ride around my apartment complex with my left leg dangling and my right leg pedaling as it's just easier to maneuver that way around cars and ramps and my foot's already out in case I have to stop suddenly. I never unclip both unless I need to actually dismount from the bike.

I really prefer the clipless pedals and when I build up my steel frame commuter I'm probably going to put another pair of 105 pedals on it since I can't imagine riding without them.

[Ritamarie]

ha ha Owlie,

I've done that too! Unclip left, left foot down and waiting for a light, all of the sudden for no reason listing to the right! I can't say I've gone down this way, but a few times it's been close. Kind of comical.

Beth, I didn't get along with Speedplay myself. I thought I was the only person in the world that could get stuck in Frogs. I get some looks from my serious road cycling friends but I use mountain bike pedals called Crank Brothers "eggbeaters". They are about as simple as you can get. They have some with platforms, but I am hard on pedals and they use a lighter spring with the platform pedals, which I've had fail. The regular eggbeaters (not the cheap ones, but the ones that can be serviced) are tough as nails, and foolproof. Once I had trouble clipping IN, which lube fixed, but never unclipping.

[redrhodie]

None, but I'm probably not doing it right.

[surgtech1956]

I'm glad for this post. I just purchased clipless pedals -Shimano A520 and going to install them tomorrow.

[ZenBiker]

Twice, both in the first week of learning to use clipless pedals and both ridiculous slow motion falls in my driveway (once coming in, once going out). And I use Crank Bros pedals on my nice road bike too - I love them!

[m.eliza]

Twice. Once the first time clipping in. Landed on my poor mother's foot and broke her toe with my elbow. The second time was a year later and I had no excuse. I wasn't paying attention and looked back to check on a friend while unclipping and went down right in front of an elderly woman going for a walk, who made a big fuss about making sure I was okay. How embarrassing.

[KnottedYet]

The problem is (to me - klutz) is that when you commit to taking one side off, that side is down as you slow... if you cannot get it off, that side is down, the other is up (harder to unclip) and then it's too late.

I do it the other way around.

The side I'm taking off is UP as I slow.

The one staying clicked is down, and I can coast or scoot all over the place using that foot to control the bike.

[OakLeaf]

I do the same as Knott.

[smilingcat]

hmm most recent one was just the other day when my rear wheel came off and jammed. I was doing the track stand (going 0MPH) and just toppled over to the side.

Second one was when I got carried away with yakking with my friends while waiting for the light to turn green. Again I was doing the track stand and just plum forgot that I was balancing on my bike. Took down several riders with me Such silliness so I laughed.

Third one is when the screws holding the cleats came loose and my shoe got stuck on the pedal.

Others I have no memories. But these were not because I couldn't unclip or forgot to unclip.