Commuting - I did it and it HURT

Finally did it. I was slowing down to stop at an intersection this morning and thinking how cool my clipless pedals and new shoes were when I released the right one and leaned left,(*&^%%#$# :mad: that really hurt, knocked a bit of hide off the elbow and knee, fortunately I had on a long sleeves and pants but still got skinned up. Yeah and wouldn't you know it there was a car behind me, boy did I feel stupid now I hope I got that out of the way maybe it won't happen again but then again it probably will. At least the new bike is ok if I had scratched it I would really be hacked

You could always tell us it was one of those days where the wind blows like crazy.

I ride with flat pedals these days, but I still notice it when I'm planning to put one foot down and the wind blows me (or something else happens) and I have to put the other foot down instead. And believe me, it happens sometimes.

I got my clipless a few weeks back and havent fallen, yet...
But did manage to clip in right after i clipped out at a stoplight
and thought Im going down, but unclipped in time...one day......

I was having trouble with my new egg beaters, they hadn't broken in properly, tough to clip out.

I took the bike up the trails, and after only 12 crashes I'm clipping out rapid quick when I need to now!

On my way home the other day, I ride up to the video rental shop, I had a DVD to return. As I ride up to the store front, cute, bored looking clerk smiles at me, I hesitate to clip out, and fall right in front of the store window. Her smile got bigger for the fraction of a second before she turned away. No damage to me, my bike or the DVD.

On my way home the other day, I ride up to the video rental shop, I had a DVD to return. As I ride up to the store front, cute, bored looking clerk smiles at me, I hesitate to clip out, and fall right in front of the store window. Her smile got bigger for the fraction of a second before she turned away. No damage to me, my bike or the DVD.

Sometimes it's the ego-crashes that hurt the worst. . .

Well I usually ride my hybrid to work but yesterday my wife and I took the day off and took our road bikes out and I still had my light and trunk bag on the roadie so I didn't want to mess with changing them out this morning and I really did want to use the new shoes. Needless to say tomorrow its on the hybrid for my commute

I had my first clipless pedal incident today too! Pulled up to a light and tried to unclip but it was a no go. Started tipping and frantically trying to clip out but all to no avail. As soon as I hit the ground my pedal released. Stupid pedal :mad: I've been riding clipless for a couple weeks now and I was thinking today about how I've come out unscathed so far. That's probably what did it. I got just a little too confident so my pedals showed me who's boss.

I fell within 30 seconds of putting on my clipless pedals. I knew to be careful but got distrated by as my speed sensor was hitting the magnet and as I bent over to move it, slowed too much, and went to stick my leg out ... ca boom. So, I couldn't even remember for 30 stinking seconds. :( Haven't lost is since though.

Just wear gloves all the time and you should be fine. I have fallen three times , and the gloves have saved me every time. My guess is, I will fall atleast 73 more times. I feel that way because I have almost fallen about 20 times, but managed to clip out. I usually have a problem when Im riding with this kid im getting into cycling, as I get distracted trying to watch out for him and almost fall.

I fell twice, then I learned to clip out ahead of time if I sensed that I would need to stop. I haven't fallen since.

Now I ride a trike, so it's a moot point. ;)

I had my first clipless pedal incident today too! Pulled up to a light and tried to unclip but it was a no go. Started tipping and frantically trying to clip out but all to no avail. As soon as I hit the ground my pedal released. Stupid pedal :mad: I've been riding clipless for a couple weeks now and I was thinking today about how I've come out unscathed so far. That's probably what did it. I got just a little too confident so my pedals showed me who's boss.

Check your cleats - they may not be tight enough anymore. This will cause EXACTLY the same symptoms. It just seems the pedal will not release the cleat. It's because the cleat is slipping around on the shoe. Might save you another fall. In my case it was the third fall that finally convinced me to check my cleats. :eek:

Check your cleats - they may not be tight enough anymore. This will cause EXACTLY the same symptoms. It just seems the pedal will not release the cleat. It's because the cleat is slipping around on the shoe. Might save you another fall. In my case it was the third fall that finally convinced me to check my cleats. :eek:

Yep, SPD cleat screw comes loose. Cleat pivots around the other screw when you try to unclip. Happened to me, but I noticed it while still riding. I stopped with my other foot down and then took my broken shoe off my foot while it was still attached to the bike. I didn't have the required allen wrench with me, so I had to limp to work with one shoe not clipped in.

The important thing is to laugh and a low speed crash is the best time. I fell down in clipless as described at a cross walk for the bike path, right in front of a line of cars waiting on the exit ramp of a freeway. It was just so funny tipping over in slow motion and being absolutely powerless to do anything about it.

At least none of you are an uncoordinated as me. I ride with flat pedals, and I fell over in a crosswalk. In front of at least 7 cars (big intersection) and horrified pedestrian onlookers.

I still don't know what happened, I guess I glanced up at the wrong time and got off balance. No major damage, just some road rash and a good reminder to never, ever, ride in Tevas again. Toe scrapes hurt!

I fell within 30 seconds of putting on my clipless pedals. I knew to be careful but got distrated by as my speed sensor was hitting the magnet and as I bent over to move it, slowed too much, and went to stick my leg out ... ca boom. So, I couldn't even remember for 30 stinking seconds. :( Haven't lost is since though.

Never try to repair a moving bicycle.

I was always amazed, during the couple of mishaps I had when I first got clipless pedals, how before and during the part where I was falling, I couldn't do a thing to get my foot free, but somehow, magically, my foot was released at the moment i hit the ground & I'd end up w/my feet nowhere even near the pedals.

HoustonGal: me too. I use incredibly loose toe clips, but that wasn't the reason I tumped over at the stop sign. I was just trying to do a trackstand. Started to fall to the left, left foot got snagged in the clip, and down I went. It must have been hilarious to watch. I had a good laugh. 6 months ago, I would have been really mad. Slowly, I'm learning to take this stuff less seriously.

That wasn't a fall. It was a "Pavement Surface Density Test."

Check your cleats - they may not be tight enough anymore. This will cause EXACTLY the same symptoms. It just seems the pedal will not release the cleat. It's because the cleat is slipping around on the shoe. Might save you another fall. In my case it was the third fall that finally convinced me to check my cleats. :eek:

Thanks for the tip. The screws are still tight. I think I was probably pulling up while twisting which caused the cleat to bind in the pedal. Didn't have any problems with it today but I was also very careful. I'd hate to bruise my ego two days in a row ;)

hasnt happened to me in years. but this past month...3 times!

Thanks for the tip. The screws are still tight. I think I was probably pulling up while twisting which caused the cleat to bind in the pedal. Didn't have any problems with it today but I was also very careful. I'd hate to bruise my ego two days in a row ;)

Also, don't walk through sticky fruit with your bike shoes on. I recently was picking figs during a stop ona ride and mushed enough semi-dried figs up into my cleats that I had to take a stick and scrape it all out the next day. The same day the cleats worked but when they dried really good--Akkkk! I didn't fall over, but almost. . .

I nearly fell over yesterday - managed to clip out in time.

Only trouble was it was next to a crosswalk pole - and I fell into it, the push button housing smacked me right in the back - on the hip. I nearly fell over fully, trying to unclip the other foot, hold the bike up and lean on it at the same time because of the pain in the leg I was standing on.

I hobbled through the grocery store, thinking I must be getting blood on my shirt. Got home and took a look in the mirror - it wasn't even red! Definitely bruised the bone, but you can't see anything.

Even after riding clipless for years, there will be occasions. Bam!!!! Your on your side before you know it, looking for witnesses.

That wasn't a fall. It was a "Pavement Surface Density Test."
:roflmao:

I was riding down DTC Blvd, the light changed, and I slammed on my brakes. I was in that special place where if I go I would hit a red midway through the intersection or I would need to stop quickly. Then my front brake squealed and I looked down at it wondering why this was happening. Anyhow, I accidentally pulled a trackstand for a few seconds before realizing I needed to unclip before I fell.

I'm new to these eggbeater type pedals, and my problem is that everytime I unclip, the eggbeater turns in the pedal and I can't click back in without stopping and turning it back to the proper place to click back in. What's up with that? Is it just me?

On the eggbeater, there seem to be 4 sections, 2 that I can click into and 2 that open up fully and don't spring closed. Does anyone else share this problem?