I wiped out on my new clipless pedals

[BikerDar]

Hi there!
I don't know anybody who hasn't fallen a time or two with clipless pedals.
I started with SPD and now am a converted Speedplay girl. I love the side to side foot movement I have, it's much kinder on my knees. I have big giant feet so I hated using cages.

I tell my new riders two things when they make the switch to clipless.

1) Pick a leg that is your clip out leg and remember to always LEAN in that direction.
2) If you even think that you might want to go near your brakes, clip out.

Of course there's always gonna be moments where for whatever reason you're gonna fall over. My last time was standing STILL, giving a pep talk to some newbies, I was standing up with my left foot on the ground and for some ungodly reason shifted my weight slightly and ended up falling over right onto a curb. OUCH....I claimed there must have been an earthquake but nobody bought it. Just call me GRACE.

I'll take those occassional falls for the increased power and pedal efficiency I get from being clipped in!!

[IGGY]

Hi there!
I don't know anybody who hasn't fallen a time or two with clipless pedals.
I started with SPD and now am a converted Speedplay girl. I love the side to side foot movement I have, it's much kinder on my knees. I have big giant feet so I hated using cages.

I tell my new riders two things when they make the switch to clipless.

1) Pick a leg that is your clip out leg and remember to always LEAN in that direction.
2) If you even think that you might want to go near your brakes, clip out.

Of course there's always gonna be moments where for whatever reason you're gonna fall over. My last time was standing STILL, giving a pep talk to some newbies, I was standing up with my left foot on the ground and for some ungodly reason shifted my weight slightly and ended up falling over right onto a curb. OUCH....I claimed there must have been an earthquake but nobody bought it. Just call me GRACE.

I'll take those occassional falls for the increased power and pedal efficiency I get from being clipped in!!

I'm a brand new biker-spinning fanatic. Got a fuji roubaix, took it out of the car and fell off. BAM! I really hurt my elbow, and wrist, and after getting out of the sling, am ready to get back on physically, but not mentally. I took a short ride last night, very shaky.
My neighbor equipped me with pedals that have a standard platform on one side and is equipped for clipless on the other.
I think I need to learn and "own" the bike before I worry about clipping in and out and falling over.
Anyone????

[deeaimond]

I'm a brand new biker-spinning fanatic. Got a fuji roubaix, took it out of the car and fell off. BAM! I really hurt my elbow, and wrist, and after getting out of the sling, am ready to get back on physically, but not mentally. I took a short ride last night, very shaky.
My neighbor equipped me with pedals that have a standard platform on one side and is equipped for clipless on the other.
I think I need to learn and "own" the bike before I worry about clipping in and out and falling over.
Anyone????

I think the general advice is to get familiar with your bike and bike handling before making the transition to clipless. Unlike spinning (I read your other post) there are many other factors to riding on the road in addition to getting more speed. Traffic, hills, turns, stop-lights and such are all things you would not experience in spinning. even the wind (wind in yr ears so u actually cannot hear properly also)

Having to deal with clipless at the same time would be too much for one person I think.. So like some other pple suggested, I think just change to clipless on both sides and ride until you feel comfortable enough to go clipless. I've been riding my road bike for 3 months now and i'm still using platforms.

I'll think about the clipless eventually but not right now I guess (yesterday we went riding, the road was bad and it was raining and this girl fell. thank god she was not on clipless shoes. so she could at least get up fast, coz she fell into the direction of the traffic.) so platforms might be less cool but theyre definitely safer if you've only just started road biking.

Hope your arm heals fast and you don't feel so scared about being on your bike anymore.

[Flur]

I've found that my frogs, while I only rode them for a week, were much easier to get out of than toe clips. My candies about equal with toe clips for difficulty getting out. And both are substantially easier to get into. It's pretty easy to fall in toe clips too. And practice makes perfect!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I do clipless on my own terms. Right now I can't at all because of a foot injury but I have the 'combo' pedal on my commuter bike so if I really want to, I can wear my clickity clackety shoes and go faster on the road. On my mtn bike, no. I don't wear them at all. I tried but it just doesn't work for me. Plus after injuring my foot without clipless pedals, it reaffirmed that if I was wearing it I would have done alot more damage.

BTW did you crank them all the way loose? Meaning the tension setting on the pedal and the shoe?

I would go with the combo pedal for now. I like the other posters idea about clipping in when you go for the brakes too.

[j.nurse63]

I did it! After weeks practicing with my "imaginary" pedals...I finally had the LBS put them on. (Speedplay, Light Action). I rode today and it was WONDERFUL!! I am so glad I waited...read the many posts to learn more...and then took the leap! It was a great ride and the pedaling was so much more effecient.
Thanks yet again for the help. Love this site!
Jean