Well THAT didn't go well (clipless pedals)

[laura*]

OP - why are you hopping out of the saddle and leaning? Not sure what you mean.

Her proper saddle height likely means that she can't reach the ground while seated on the saddle. This means that when she stops, she needs to both unclip and get out of the saddle. She might even need to lean the bike slightly so that she can straddle the top tube while standing on the ground - or while standing with one foot on the ground and the other foot clipped in.

[luvmyguys]

OP - why are you hopping out of the saddle and leaning? Not sure what you mean.

Her proper saddle height likely means that she can't reach the ground while seated on the saddle. This means that when she stops, she needs to both unclip and get out of the saddle. She might even need to lean the bike slightly so that she can straddle the top tube while standing on the ground - or while standing with one foot on the ground and the other foot clipped in.

Pretty close to that, yes. My proper saddle height has my toes barely hitting the ground. I can straddle the top tube with no issue. Honestly, though, I'm noticing that when I'm riding without clipping in, I tend to stay in the saddle and my left foot is the first one to come off the pedal, and I lean slightly left. My right foot comes off relatively quickly, and I usually end up balancing on both toes for a second (this was where I was having trouble with clipless). I then get my right foot ready to push off and stay on the left until I can go (like at a light).

The advice that I had seen on previous threads here, as well as what the guy at the LBS told me, was that one tends to fall less if you come out of the saddle as you stop, simply because for most people, your feet hit the ground more securely than if your tush is still in the saddle. Since I tend to stay in the saddle when not clipped in, I do find that I'm countering with the other side fairly quickly. Most people keep one foot clipped in, so obviously, you want to lean to the unclipped foot, because if you lean the other way, you'll be kissing pavement (as I found out numerous times two weeks ago).

I'm trying to get a better picture of what I'm doing naturally, and then I'll see what new habits I'll need to develop. Like I said, I can take it at my own pace with the A530's on the bike.

[dottigirl]

Thanks.

Hmmm, I must do that but I don't notice it. My bike is a 48cm Dolce, so pretty small anyway. If possible, I try to rest one foot on the kerb when I stop at lights, which means I don't need to shift from the saddle. I've never really thought about getting off the seat before stopping, I'll have to try it to see if I feel more or less secure.