Fear, fear, fear, plain old fear to clip and unclip. Advice please!

[Penny4]

I just moved to clipless also, and haven't fallen. YET.
So, i have a stupid question for when I do have that inaugural fall. How do you unclip when you are laying in the middle of the street?? I'm serious! It seems like it would be very hard to unclip the foot that is on the pavement side, while you are laying down with a bike on top of you??

[Maye]

I just moved to clipless also, and haven't fallen. YET.
So, i have a stupid question for when I do have that inaugural fall. How do you unclip when you are laying in the middle of the street?? I'm serious! It seems like it would be very hard to unclip the foot that is on the pavement side, while you are laying down with a bike on top of you??

While on the street I clipped it out moving the heel to the side then I was able able to stand up and pick the bike from the floor. Not pretty!

[murielalex]

i've been using clipless pedals for two weeks, and though I had only one, painless, but embarrassing, very public fall on day two, I'm still afraid when in sections of town where there is the potential to have to stop frequently and/or suddenly. I have the two-sided SPD pedals, and have been keeping one foot unclipped only because I'm afraid. I'm fine on long stretches, but get really insecure in these areas, which only makes things worse. I'm hoping to get more comfortable, but so far, no dice. I'm just going to keep on trying.

[Possegal]

I think I know what you did, or at least I've had times where (especially when I'm tired and at the end of a ride, and early in my clipped in learning curve) I would be unclipped with one foot on the ground, off the saddle, but then move as if I think my other foot can just easily move to the ground and forget that I need to twist it. By the time I realize, my body weight is taking me over to the side that is still clipped in. Also, the first few weeks, what I kept doing was unclipping the right, off the saddle but still pretty upright over the top tube, then I'd look over my shoulder, which would throw off my body weight and down I'd go. It got quite comical actually. Now I've learned if I'm only unclipped on one side, I really move my body weight to that side, even so much as sort of leaning the bike towards that side.

Knock wood, I haven't fallen in a couple years.

[Maye]

I think I know what you did, or at least I've had times where (especially when I'm tired and at the end of a ride, and early in my clipped in learning curve) I would be unclipped with one foot on the ground, off the saddle, but then move as if I think my other foot can just easily move to the ground and forget that I need to twist it. By the time I realize, my body weight is taking me over to the side that is still clipped in. Also, the first few weeks, what I kept doing was unclipping the right, off the saddle but still pretty upright over the top tube, then I'd look over my shoulder, which would throw off my body weight and down I'd go. It got quite comical actually. Now I've learned if I'm only unclipped on one side, I really move my body weight to that side, even so much as sort of leaning the bike towards that side.

Knock wood, I haven't fallen in a couple years.

Possegal, THANKS!! That's exactly what happened!! English is not my first language and sometimes I struggle explaining things specially since I'm a newbie in the road cycling world and all the lingo associated to it. Today I learned what a top tube is which I used to call the "long part" of the frame

[Possegal]

You're welcome. It just sounded so familiar when I first read your post that I actually chuckled and thought it sounded just like my early days learning. Plus, you are right that it happens so quickly that you aren't really too sure how you wound up on the ground. No matter what your first language is!

Glad I could help. You may want to either unclip both sides when you are stopped, or do like I do now and really move your body weight to the side that you are unclipped on. And then it does eventually become second nature. It just takes a little time.

[Catrin]

Keep practicing and make certain those pedals are adjusted as loose as possible. SPD's aren't my favorite, but a lot of people do like them. Since you've been riding platforms for so long it is just going to take time to re-train your muscle memory about how to stop. Just try to anticipate when you will need to stop and be intentional about your movements.

Penny4, with SPD pedals at least, you automatically unclip when you fall, it just happens. I fell LOTS when I was learning how to use SPDs the first time and both feet always just unclipped on their own. This may not be true for all pedals, I did have this (not) happen once with my Speedplay Frogs, but that may have been an anomaly.

[Maye]

Keep practicing and make certain those pedals are adjusted as loose as possible. SPD's aren't my favorite, but a lot of people do like them. Since you've been riding platforms for so long it is just going to take time to re-train your muscle memory about how to stop. Just try to anticipate when you will need to stop and be intentional about your movements.

Penny4, with SPD pedals at least, you automatically unclip when you fall, it just happens. I fell LOTS when I was learning how to use SPDs the first time and both feet always just unclipped on their own. This may not be true for all pedals, I did have this (not) happen once with my Speedplay Frogs, but that may have been an anomaly.

Hi Catrin,
Thanks for the advice. I have read a couple of your threads when you where trying to find the perfect pedals for your road bike. How many you tried and for how long after you find the Speedplay Frogs? I have read so many things about the Speedplay Frog and Lights that I'm tempted to give them a try. Thanks in advance!