Commuting - Another First Clipless Pedal fall yesterday

So yesterday I fell for the first time on my afternoon commute. It was not bad and I was in a residential area when it happened so only two people saw me one was another rider I was riding with and the other one was a rider that was just going by and I am sure he got a good laugh.

The other rider I was riding with made a stop and I was in front of him. I started to come to a stop and unclipped my left foot and was ready to put my foot down when I decided I will turn around but when I looked the other biker was right there and I had to stop and my balance of course switched to my right side and down I went.

No big deal I was able to catch myself with my right arm and then get up quickly. I knocked the cap off my bars and made a small mark on my tape and small scracth on my knee.

The rider I was riding with has fallen before and as he was watching and he said "finally you fall" Then after I got up and was moving around he asked if I was ok.

Well at least I was not at a stop light in a left turn lane in a busy intersection that would have been really embarassing.

Consider it a right of passage, you are not alone. :D

I've yet to fall once due to clipless and have been riding them for >6 months.... it's bound to happen one day.

I fell with a backpack full of books when I wasn't able to get out of my toe baskets (with straps) when stopping at a light on my way back home from college some years ago. I'm sure it was hilarious!

So far, my only clipless falls have been on my MTB while riding on trails...I'm sure I'll eat the road one day though.

I always unclip both feet just to be on the safe side.

I wouldn't think that is very comfortable. I usually unclip a well ahead of where I intend to stop.

I wouldn't think that is very comfortable. I usually unclip a well ahead of where I intend to stop.


Yes i agree I usually do the same but in this case the other rider I was with made a stop that I was not expecting and I just stopped and only unclipped one side and then I shifted my balance which caused the fall.

I unclip way ahead too. But, today I had a couple emergency unclips and I was just sooo happy I was able to get my foot out of the clip. I am also happy that I haven't had to mess with my clips in terms of tightening and loosening the clip strength. Stock has been pretty perfect for me thus far.

I unclip my right foot and keep my left to push off. Today that was working fine until my legs were wore out from coming up a small heel and I went to unclip and put my foot down and I was weak. Almost toppled over. lol

I need to get a trainer because I do not spin well at all. It is ugly.

I've been lucky enough to be one of the very few who hasn't fallen from the clipless pedals yet. I've only been biking since March and with clipless since April.
There have been a couple close calls - at busy red lights in the left turn lane at rush hour. Glad I caught myself on that one.

I've been lucky enough to be one of the very few who hasn't fallen from the clipless pedals yet. I've only been biking since March and with clipless since April.
There have been a couple close calls - at busy red lights in the left turn lane at rush hour. Glad I caught myself on that one.

I was reading a post here yesterday where someone said it has been like 4 years and they have not fallen yet. I am thinking to myself well it has not been nearly that long for me and I hope it is not today. Oh well I guess it had to happen sometime and at least it was as painless as it can get.

I was reading a post here yesterday where someone said it has been like 4 years and they have not fallen yet. I am thinking to myself well it has not been nearly that long for me and I hope it is not today. Oh well I guess it had to happen sometime and at least it was as painless as it can get.

The "Specter of Clipless Falls" is closely related to the "Flat Demon" - talking about or even thinking about these beings can be enough to summon them to pay you a visit.

I've only fallen twice on clipless pedals in 8 years of using them.

1) a driver ran a red light and almost hit me...dropping the bike into a "controlled" fall was the only option.

2) One of the machine screws came out of the cleat as I was trying to unclip (thus making it impossible to unclip with that foot) and I was too slow to unclip with my other foot in time to avoid falling over.

Both of these incidents occurred over 5 years ago though. I now make sure to periodically check the screws in my cleats and have gotten much better at balancing on the pedals.

I've yet to fall once due to clipless and have been riding them for >6 months.... it's bound to happen one day.

Way to jinx yourself. :D

I fell over at a red light - because for once my POS pedals actually clipped, when they usually never do. I was so surprised I went "whuh?" and proceeded to dump into the sidewalk. :roflmao2:

This does not happen to everyone.

I swear it doesn't

as long as the bike is OK....that of course is what really matters!

by your 10th fall at the biggest intersection in town , in front of your coworkers ... talk to me :D

I haven't fallen once since I decided to use BMX pedals again.:innocent:

by your 10th fall at the biggest intersection in town , in front of your coworkers ... talk to me :D

Yes this would be very bad.

Had my first fall today. flying down the hill, my chain fell off was down around my crank arm. So to avoid making a bad a situation worse, I stopped pedaling and slowed down to a stop watching the chain and crank arm. Watching the chain meant I wasn't thinking about unclipping. You all know that moment of "uh oh". But I was able to get unclipped half down on my fall and somewhat "laydown" into the fall foot first. After a few cusswords I got a good laugh out of it. Fixed the chain and was on my merry way. No embarrassment. Only audience would have been people on the Interstate if they even saw me at all.