I finally joined the clipless klutz club

[nuthatch]

I was feeling sooo superior that I've been riding clipless for months now without tipping over. Oh, how the mighty are fallen!!

This morning I set out on my morning commute with about 10 pounds of my garden tomatoes in one pannier to share with fellow workers (my duds, weighing much less but just as bulky were in the other pannier). As I rolled to the end of my driveway and stopped to let a car go by, I slowly rolled over on the tomato side (the right, clipped in side!). Yes, like a tree falling in the forest! Got blacktop goo on my new jacket!! And some tomatoes were already sauce by the time I reached the office. But my bike was okay..whew!! Yes, we all fall....

[DirtDiva]

Congratulations.

I've had a fair few inglamourous dismounts, but I'm yet to topple outright. Even if I've tried two or three times to get a foot out, somehow the panic caused by an imminent tumble into traffic results in having not just one, but both feet suddenly unclipped (and generally hovering in the vicinity of my ears). Good old adrenaline, eh...

I'll be sure to post when I do end up eating pavement or dirt.

[Kimred]

And does'nt it always seem to happen in slow motion and there is nothing you can do about it. I don't mean to be mean, but after I pictured it in my head I had to laugh. I have many non-cyclist friends who think I am crazy for straping my feet in those.

I hope your co-workers were grateful for the tomatoes!

Kim

[SJCzar]

I was so sure that after 1100 miles clipless I wasn't going to fall over. Yea, right...about a month ago I fell over as I was starting a group ride. I was towards the end of the pack so only about 6-8 people got to see me do that slowwwwww motion fall. It seems like you have so much time to think what a idiot you are before you actually hit the ground. No damage to the bike, a few scratches and a swellbow for me.

In a way it was nice to get it over with.

[CorsairMac]

ROFLMAO nuttie!! I'm glad to hear you're ok and the bike is ok and I don't believe you fell - I believe you were just making tomato paste for your co-worker coz that's just the nice kinda person you are!!

[Wendy]

You people are scaring me. I've gone about 1,500 miles clipless without falling, and now I'm sure a tumble is coming to get me.

[Pedal Wench]

Tomatoes got you too??!! Way, way, way back when I was in college, I rode my bike everywhere. One day, I was going out for a ride and passed a fruit stand on the side of the road. I couldn't resist. Bought a huge bag of tomatoes, even though I didn't even have a backpack or panniers. I rigged the bag to my handlebars and off I went. The whole ride back (about 10 miles) had left turns. Left, left, left. To get into my apartment complex I had to make a right, and at that moment realized that the bag was completely blocking my bars, so me, my bike, and the tomatoes all took a tumble. Tomato sauce for me too! I completely forgot about that incident (even forgot about that bike!) until your story! Thanks for sharing!!!!

[tricat]

Okey, I am confessing! I did have clipless pedals for a short time, fell off a couple of times and then after that I was nervous cycling with them, mostly worried about falling in towards traffic so I removed them and am back to regular pedals with the toe clips. I`m such a klutz that I even fell off when using toe clips, of course right beside a bus full of tourists! I`m also worried about having to make sudden stops and forgetting to unclip due to unforseen hazards (little kids on bikes, dogs darting in your path) etc. etc.

Am I neurotic!!!!!!!!

tricat

[pkq]

tricat, clipless become like second nature with lots of use. They also make pedaling more efficient, too. I'd never go w/o clipless.

[short cut sally]

I too went clipless this past June or so..recorded falls to date? 3! 2 were witnessed by other riders/passerbys but the first was priceless. First day out with my new peddles and shoes and got hot while riding up a small grade, thought, will stop and take my long sleeve shirt off and go with my tank the rest of the way home. Forgot about the whole being clipped in ordeal and toppled right over. Shocked and in the road, worried about my paint job on the bike more than the possiblity of oncoming traffic, I hear "wolf wolf" and this big dog comes out of now where and I am thinking "OH S*#t"! As I am on the ground trying to get my feet out, this big dog (English Mastiff I find out later) does nothing but lick my face all over and cont' to bark and lick. The owners of the dog tell everyone this story as they think it is about as priceless as I do. Glad Everyone's falls resulted in no to minor injuries to self and to bike. shelly

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE shellyj] As I am on the ground trying to get my feet out, this big dog (English Mastiff I find out later) does nothing but lick my face all over and cont' to bark and lick. The owners of the dog tell everyone this story as they think it is about as priceless as I do.

Shellyj - thanks for sharing your falling story its a classic. Good to know not all dog encounters on your bike have to be scary.

[Pedal Wench]

...As I am on the ground trying to get my feet out, this big dog (English Mastiff I find out later) does nothing but lick my face all over and cont' to bark and lick. The owners of the dog tell everyone this story as they think it is about as priceless as I do. Glad Everyone's falls resulted in no to minor injuries to self and to bike. shelly

As the former owner of an English Mastiff, I have to say that the amount of slobber and drool must have been incredible! Mine passed away in November, and I'll still finding drool marks on the walls! Sweet, friendly, gentle, but intimidating at first glance!

[nuthatch]

Try again when you feel brave, Tricat. I will gladly keep falling rather than give up clipless - you can get so much power in your stroke you just feel like you're flying! Of course, I'm avoiding tomatoes from now on....

[bikerchick68]

Nuthatch! Too funny... instant spaghetti sauce... I KNEW there had to be a quicker way than the 6 hours I spent cooking tomatoes down...

shellyj... LOLOL! I do a fundraiser walk for the Humane Society every year... last year there was a Mastiff who was TERRIFIED of my Pug! too funny...

glad everyone is OK with the falls... I've fallen once but it was 'cause I stuck my front wheel in the trolley track... it came out when I hit the curb.... fortunately my pretty new bike landed ON me... no scratches to bike whatsoever... all traffic in intersection came to a complete stop with this expression on their faces... OOPS.