Mountain Biking - 3 wipeouts for Rookie

I had my first real foray in the Don Valley System(Toronto) with my new bike (Kula Deluxe) and clipless pedals (Time Attack). Had quite a very hard time on some up hills that wiped me out pretty nicely... stuck in my pedals, upside down.... Three good wipeouts , with no injuries. I seem OK, but can imagine some worst case scenarios that would have been BAD. Just wondering how people climb steep stuff, clipped in, when you are struggling to keep it pointed straight?
Bike worked very well in terms of handling, ride and braking. I also had a chain jam up a couple of times when dropping into the smallest chainwheel. That felt worse than a fall. Should I just take it in to get the drivetrain checked? It has a combo of SRAM X-9, XT front with SRAM X9 shifters. Tips on this appreciated and pedal strategies appreciated.

The chain might be a bit long, but that seems pretty normal. You'll learn to clip out faster and it won't be a problem after a while.

lol just telling him to learn how to unclip is cutting it pretty steep. im looking in investing in clip pedals as well, and i was reading that they suggest going to a big grass field and riding, and then i guess just falling and practicing uncliping. that way it wont hurt bad when you fall and its like the real thing

On my ride today I ate it twice. The second being only like 2 minutes after the first. They happened cause I tried going up a steep rocky section in too high of a gear and just rolled over.

Same. My first clipless fall was misjudging a hill.

I'm new to clipless and I'm practicing, and slowly getting better. Just work at making the motion second nature.

Just wondering how people climb steep stuff, clipped in, when you are struggling to keep it pointed straight?


That is when clipless pedals excel because they help me power up/over stuff. If you are having trouble keeping is straight when climbing, really lean over the front of the bike...that'll help keep the front from wandering.

I also had a chain jam up a couple of times when dropping into the smallest chainwheel.

Did it get caught between the granny and middle ring (chainsuck (http://fagan.co.za/Bikes/Csuck/)) or did it just drop off of the granny ring (front derailleur adjustment (http://parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75))?

I think the chain suck describes it perfectly.

Sounds like you may be putting too much torqe on the drive train when you shift, your not really supposed to apply force while shifting gears, but just spin so that it jumps to the right cog/chain ring.

Other than that, unclip early if you feel a problem is about to occure.

Now it may be me, or my clipless system but I just got the Mallet C's and some cheap shoes and did no practice before I went on my way, and have had no problems. I have had a car cut me off and force me to a dead stop and as I was falling sideways got uncliped and had my foot down, and then another time I was going up a hill and ran out of momentum and started go back and uncliped that time too. With just my natural motion of my foot I get out. But then again I have super balance and martial arts ect ect ect.

So if its not me, then it must be the clipless and for that reason I recomend the eggbeater system it seems very easy to get out of, and if your in a bind atleast for me my natural motion of putting my foot down will get me off the pedal.

Also in this case even better is that they are the mallets so there is a platform there too and I have no issues ridding them uncilped, I have both ridden with my normal shoes in them and with my spd shoes uncliped. So unclip early and ride them like platforms if you need to. Just dont expect to be doing bunnyhops or somthing uncliped on them as the grip is not so great.

[$0.02]

New chains can sometimes come with a thick, tacky lubricant (to keep them from corroding during shipping/storage/etc.) that ends up causing chain suck. If the problem persists, dry degreasing your chain and re-lubing.

[/$0.02]

Your best bet while climbing is to keep your legs moving. Always have those pedals spinning. As you get to know yourself and your bike better, you will be able to gauge what gear is best for the approaching hill. If you feel yourself bogging down, shift into an easier gear. Momentum is what keeps you on two wheels, so your goal should be to maintain momentum the entire way up.

Also, I don't suggest unclipping when things start to look a little gnarly. By staying in the pedals now, it will teach you to commit to it and get through it. If you are always coming out because of a fear of falling, it will make it harder to progress with your clipless pedals. Of course, if it is an area that you are just not comfortable with riding yet, allow yourself to build up to it on some less technical stuff first.

That lubricant is parafin wax. A very good chain lubricant, however it attracts dirt like a magnet. I would not attribute chain suck to this. I remove it (prior to installation) then use a synthetic type (white lightning) Chain is possibly too long, worn or your front deraileur is poorly adjusted (check hi, low stops and cable tension). Is the chain line ok? (bottom bracket the right length?) Are all front chanrings perfectly true?

installed some regular cheapo platform pedals on the bike today that I will use when riding in this intimidating stuff. Also took the bike in to an LBS to get the derailleurs looked over. Thanks for the tips!!

Your best bet while climbing is to keep your legs moving. Always have those pedals spinning. As you get to know yourself and your bike better, you will be able to gauge what gear is best for the approaching hill. If you feel yourself bogging down, shift into an easier gear. Momentum is what keeps you on two wheels, so your goal should be to maintain momentum the entire way up.

Also, I don't suggest unclipping when things start to look a little gnarly. By staying in the pedals now, it will teach you to commit to it and get through it. If you are always coming out because of a fear of falling, it will make it harder to progress with your clipless pedals. Of course, if it is an area that you are just not comfortable with riding yet, allow yourself to build up to it on some less technical stuff first.

+1

Your best bet while climbing is to keep your legs moving. Always have those pedals spinning. As you get to know yourself and your bike better, you will be able to gauge what gear is best for the approaching hill. If you feel yourself bogging down, shift into an easier gear. Momentum is what keeps you on two wheels, so your goal should be to maintain momentum the entire way up.

Also, I don't suggest unclipping when things start to look a little gnarly. By staying in the pedals now, it will teach you to commit to it and get through it. If you are always coming out because of a fear of falling, it will make it harder to progress with your clipless pedals. Of course, if it is an area that you are just not comfortable with riding yet, allow yourself to build up to it on some less technical stuff first.

Good post. Speaking of commiting, a good line to remember is "Commit or Quit."

Either do it and don't be afraid (or ignore your fear as long as it's reasonable) or don't do it at all.