Fifty Plus (50+) - A Clipless Fall!!! (warning long)

I ride my vintage bike 98% of the time. Yesterday, I decided to ride a paved bike trail. So, I took the Litespeed Classic. It has clipless pedals. The trail ride was sweet. The Litespeed, just goobled up the miles. I did about 30 miles on the trail, and called it quits. I took the train back to the city. Now, I am in the city riding with these cleats, I go toward what I though was a smooth pavement up to the bike path, but it was a CURB. I got right up to it, saw where it was indeed a curb, I brake, now I am almost still, I go to move my feet to catch my balance. Can't move my feet, I am clipped in, and oh boy. I went down. My shoulder and my head hit the ground. BTW, I am thinking the whole time "my bike, my bike" :). Anyway, I always wear a helmet, no damage there. My shoulder took the bang pretty well, and the Lite speed came out with a few scratches on the left brifter. Everything straight.

It was pretty comical after I hit the ground.. Because I always be kidding with that phrase of "I have fallen and I can't get up"... Well that was the case. After I fell, I fell to the left side, my left foot came up clipped from the fall, but my right foot is still clipped in. I can't get up because I can't twist my right foot to un clip it.

About a 30 seconds after the fall, a bunch of people come over asking me if I am hurt, I smiled and said no, but I can't get up because I am still clipped in. They lifted the bike up gently, and finally was able to unclip my right foot. The red light had stopped the traffic. I have 8 or 9 bikes, no sure, but only one has clipless pedals, the Litespeed. I learned a lot in that fall. In traffic, I will keep one foot unclipped.. If I had one foot unclipped, I would not have fallen.

Can't say enough about wearing my helmet. My head took a bounce off the concrete. Would have been a bad show without a helmet. I am a much wiser riding now too. ;)

I guess the saying is true about use it or lose it. Not using the clip ins for a long time a person forgets about them. Just know that everyone that uses them has done just what you did at one time. Glad you were not hurt.

Toe clips. No straps. A decent compromise.

Welcome to Club Tombay. Glad you are okay.

Bill

One of the things I didn't like about clipless, all your bikes had to go clipless. I found rotating through clipless and non-clipless bikes screwed with your muscle memory, you ended up making the disengage motion on bikes with straps, and trying to back out of locked in pedals..beside the fact that your stroke became a little screwed returning to non-clipless. I wasn't willing to commit to one system for 8 bikes, ...but I'd didn't much like clipless anyway.

Oops!!

And otherwise, how was your day, Mrs. Lincoln?

I am glad you are safe.

I am the world's most persistent unclipper.

Two things, firstly I foresee a new helmet in your close future and secondly were any of the helpers cute young things? :D Glad to hear both you and the bike escaped realitively okay.

In traffic, I will keep one foot unclipped.. If I had one foot unclipped, I would not have fallen.

Invalid assumption. If you were clipped in on one side only, that would be the side to which you would fall. With your unclipped foot flailing helplessly in the air.

Welcome to the club.

One of the things I didn't like about clipless, all your bikes had to go clipless. I found rotating through clipless and non-clipless bikes screwed with your muscle memory,

This is my challenge right now with one of my bikes recently converted to fixed gear while the other 4 freewheel. Different muscle memory involved. I'm trying to rotate back and forth enough to develop a second set of muscle memory. We'll see if that's possible.

I have one with clipless, a couple with older toe clips (which I keep loose, just to position the foot and provide a bit of lift on the upstroke if needed) and a couple platform. I have no problem with any of them nor rotating through them.

Two things, firstly I foresee a new helmet in your close future and secondly were any of the helpers cute young things? :D Glad to hear both you and the bike escaped realitively okay.

Second the idea of a new helmet. If you actually hit the helmet on the ground (sounds like you did) you may well have delaminated the fiberglass in the shell. Additionally, the foam will be deformed some. It won't protect as well as new. Hang it on the garage wall as a trophy :)

I never fell so much as when I tried "clipless" last year. I am back to just riding platforms, my wife and my body appreciate the absence of drama. I might dig my old toe straps back out. FEET Belts never did hurt me.

The rest of your ride and commute sound like an excellent adventure.

I always considered "clipless" pedals to be a real improvement in safety over toe clips and straps. I think there has been an evolution from the way toe straps were used in the 70s when I was racing and how they are being used today. The way we used toe straps and clips there was no easy way to get your foot out of the pedal. If it did come out the strap was loose or you likely had other problems. If you crashed, the bike was going to stay with you. The only way to get your foot out was to bend over and release the straps. Try doing that in a hurry or with both feet at the same time! Clipless pedals offer a quick, smooth, consistent release; and can be adjusted with light enough tension to allow release during an accident. I also think they are more comfortable than a tight strap.

These cleats were nailed on the bottom of a cycling shoe, the slot fit over the back cage of the pedal. Once the strap was tightened, your foot was not coming out, at least not very easily!
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Peugeot%20PX%2010/Cleats.jpg

Glad your not hurt... I think I'll stick with the clips, and loose straps!

+1 on the toe clips(with the straps loose enough to get out easy)
Bud,

Clipless all the way. Hate straps. Nasty. One thing that might have helped(not sure by the description you gave, but bunny-hopping might have helped...?

I guess the saying is true about use it or lose it. Not using the clip ins for a long time a person forgets about them. Just know that everyone that uses them has done just what you did at one time. Glad you were not hurt.

Agreed, riding more with clipless would have put me in cue. I am about to make one of my vintage bikes clipless, and start riding them more. I am glad too that I wasn't hurt!! :)

Toe clips. No straps. A decent compromise.

I am okay with the toe clips. I have them tight enough to where I can slip my foot out when I want to. No problem with toe clips what so ever.

Welcome to Club Tombay. Glad you are okay.

Bill

That is a where feeling for a split second. Knowing I am going to fall and can't do anything!! :)

I guess we have many members in this club too.. :beer:

One of the things I didn't like about clipless, all your bikes had to go clipless. I found rotating through clipless and non-clipless bikes screwed with your muscle memory, you ended up making the disengage motion on bikes with straps, and trying to back out of locked in pedals..beside the fact that your stroke became a little screwed returning to non-clipless. I wasn't willing to commit to one system for 8 bikes, ...but I'd didn't much like clipless anyway.

We in the same boat, and since I love to commute on my bikes, I am not going all clipless. I will make two more of my bikes clipless and TRY to keep myself in tune to what I am riding.

Oops!!

And otherwise, how was your day, Mrs. Lincoln?

I am glad you are safe.

I am the world's most persistent unclipper.

Other than the fall, I had a SUPER DAY. This was the SECOND time I have been on a trail. The first time was the day before. I told my Centurion Ironman Master that first day. The Master has toe clips. The paved trail was sweet, and the Master was moving sweetly. The next day I want to see what the Litespeed could do on the trail. Got to tell you, the Litespeed is the chit!! ;) It hits the scale at a mere 17 lbs. It has a lower and higher gear than anything in my stable. It just screamed through the trail. All I heard was a whine of the wheels slicing through the air. That was my second trail ride, I am hooked..:)

Two things, firstly I foresee a new helmet in your close future and secondly were any of the helpers cute young things? :D Glad to hear both you and the bike escaped realitively okay.

They were all men, but the women were looking!! ;) I guess I am full fledged bike nut now, anytime one worries about the bike before themselves, gotta be a bike nut!! :) Yeah, I was lucky, and the bike too. I damage anything on that Litespeed, and I am talking $$$... It is full Ultegra with Mavic Krysyn wheels..

I have 6 helmets, this one gets trashed.

I always considered "clipless" pedals to be a real improvement in safety over toe clips and straps. I think there has been an evolution from the way toe straps were used in the 70s when I was racing and how they are being used today. The way we used toe straps and clips there was no easy way to get your foot out of the pedal. If it did come out the strap was loose or you likely had other problems. If you crashed, the bike was going to stay with you. The only way to get your foot out was to bend over and release the straps. Try doing that in a hurry or with both feet at the same time! Clipless pedals offer a quick, smooth, consistent release; and can be adjusted with light enough tension to allow release during an accident. I also think they are more comfortable than a tight strap.

These cleats were nailed on the bottom of a cycling shoe, the slot fit over the back cage of the pedal. Once the strap was tightened, your foot was not coming out, at least not very easily!
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Peugeot%20PX%2010/Cleats.jpg


Good points, might look into getting the cleats/pedals to release more easily.

Clipless all the way. Hate straps. Nasty. One thing that might have helped(not sure by the description you gave, but bunny-hopping might have helped...?

If I rode clipless all the time, I am almost sure I would have avoided that fall.



+1 on the toe clips(with the straps loose enough to get out easy)
Bud,

I got 9 bikes, the Litespeed is the only one that has clipless pedals. All the other bikes got toe clips/straps. I have no problems gettign in and out quickly with them..Going to ride clipless more, and put clipless pedals on two more bikes. As I said in my opening post, I am a much wiser rider now!! ;)



Glad your not hurt... I think I'll stick with the clips, and loose straps!

I am going to go both ways from now on. Clipless and toe clips/straps.. ;)

I always considered "clipless" pedals to be a real improvement in safety over toe clips and straps. I think there has been an evolution from the way toe straps were used in the 70s when I was racing and how they are being used today. The way we used toe straps and clips there was no easy way to get your foot out of the pedal. If it did come out the strap was loose or you likely had other problems. If you crashed, the bike was going to stay with you. The only way to get your foot out was to bend over and release the straps. Try doing that in a hurry or with both feet at the same time! Clipless pedals offer a quick, smooth, consistent release; and can be adjusted with light enough tension to allow release during an accident. I also think they are more comfortable than a tight strap.

These cleats were nailed on the bottom of a cycling shoe, the slot fit over the back cage of the pedal. Once the strap was tightened, your foot was not coming out, at least not very easily!
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Peugeot%20PX%2010/Cleats.jpg


Some of us still use those. :innocent:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/slotted-cleats.jpg

If you're using slotted cleats, you don't need to pull the straps as tightly as you would with plain soles to get good foot retention. Both my fixed gear bikes are set up for slotted cleats. Once you're accustomed to them they really aren't harder to manage than clipless.

If I rode clipless all the time, I am almost sure I would have avoided that fall . . . .

There other day I was riding a neighbor's bike with platforms and near fell over laughing at myself. I couldn't stop without kicking those non-existent clips free. <G>

This is my challenge right now with one of my bikes recently converted to fixed gear while the other 4 freewheel. Different muscle memory involved. I'm trying to rotate back and forth enough to develop a second set of muscle memory. We'll see if that's possible.
A little bit of a tangent here, but be careful with that switch! 30 years ago someone told me it would be a good idea to train on a fixed gear bike in the spring - plus it would keep my only other bike out of the New Jersey slush, dirt etc. I built one up on an old Peugeot PX-10 frame with some heavy steel rims and pretty wide tires. First run out, everything was going fine, until I came to the railroad tracks that we always bunny hopped. I did the bunny hop just as I always had before on the "normal" 10-speed, stopping my feet with the cranks parallel to the ground and pulling up. Well, the fixed gear would have none of that, and pulled my butt smack down on the saddle, thus slamming the rear wheel right onto the second rail. Somehow I stayed up, but that hit put a big dent in the rim, and all the rest of the ride was "bump, bump, bump" on the no-longer-round wheel. A lighter rim or tire probably would have been toast.

Some of us still use those. :innocent:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/slotted-cleats.jpg

If you're using slotted cleats, you don't need to pull the straps as tightly as you would with plain soles to get good foot retention. Both my fixed gear bikes are set up for slotted cleats. Once you're accustomed to them they really aren't harder to manage than clipless.
toe clips and straps dont need to have cleats, cleats added make it lots harder,I tried toe clips and cleats once,never again,,,,

If I could afford them I would gladly ride with Quill pedals, toe clips and straps and my old Detto Pietro shoes. I never fell once from not being able to release from them. In all the miles I ride I never saw a tip over from not being able ti release from clips and straps. I don't doubt it happened I just felt better with the old way.

Bill

Clipless are much safer because if they are correctly adjusted, the foot should come off as soon as one start to fall, also don't use clipless with a certain amount of angle play.

It is all in the adjustment and experience. Straps and cleats are very dangerous compared to clipless.

I am glad you are okay

There other day I was riding a neighbor's bike with platforms and near fell over laughing at myself. I couldn't stop without kicking those non-existent clips free. <G>

Happens to me on my Saturday morning club rides. There are so many stops during these rides that you end up spending most of the ride clipping out after just clipping in. I have MTB pedals and have an adaptor that clips into the pedals to convert them to platform pedals and end up twisting the foot on the platform when riding with my regular shoes. This happens on the hybrid as well as it also has clipless pedals on it.

Why didn't you just lift the front wheel up on to the curb?

Mantra: Clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early...

Why didn't you just lift the front wheel up on to the curb?

First off, about a hour ago, I passed the exact spot where I fell. I was on another bike, with toe clips/straps. Looking at the spot, I might could have jumped the curb, but my mind didn't think that fast. I just couldn't believe it wasn' t smooth pavement. Not only that, I was only about a yard from the smooth pavement. I might could have made it, if I attempted it. I recall with the same bike, the Litespeed Classic, I had rolled over something at low speed, and the front wheel and the bike was going down. I just snatched the bars back up, and the bike righted itself. So, plain and simple, I didn't think fast enough for that option. In fact, I only thought of it this morning when I passed the spot again, and then you brought it up. Will try that move with my beater bike to see if I can do it..

Thanks for that tip too... ;)

Mantra: Clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early...

I am on to that BIG TIME now. ;)

In fact, about a mile before the fall, when I was in traffic, I had clipped out the left foot and just roller along because it was stop and go traffic.
As I said in my first post, I am a MUCH WISER RIDER after that fall, and was lucky enough not to get hurt and no real damage to my bike. What I got was a GOOD cheap LESSON..

Clipping out early ;)

I ride my vintage bike 98% of the time. Yesterday, I decided to ride a paved bike trail. So, I took the Litespeed Classic. It has clipless pedals. The trail ride was sweet. The Litespeed, just goobled up the miles. I did about 30 miles on the trail, and called it quits. I took the train back to the city. Now, I am in the city riding with these cleats, I go toward what I though was a smooth pavement up to the bike path, but it was a CURB. I got right up to it, saw where it was indeed a curb, I brake, now I am almost still, I go to move my feet to catch my balance. Can't move my feet, I am clipped in, and oh boy. I went down. My shoulder and my head hit the ground. BTW, I am thinking the whole time "my bike, my bike" :). Anyway, I always wear a helmet, no damage there. My shoulder took the bang pretty well, and the Lite speed came out with a few scratches on the left brifter. Everything straight.

It was pretty comical after I hit the ground.. Because I always be kidding with that phrase of "I have fallen and I can't get up"... Well that was the case. After I fell, I fell to the left side, my left foot came up clipped from the fall, but my right foot is still clipped in. I can't get up because I can't twist my right foot to un clip it.

About a 30 seconds after the fall, a bunch of people come over asking me if I am hurt, I smiled and said no, but I can't get up because I am still clipped in. They lifted the bike up gently, and finally was able to unclip my right foot. The red light had stopped the traffic. I have 8 or 9 bikes, no sure, but only one has clipless pedals, the Litespeed. I learned a lot in that fall. In traffic, I will keep one foot unclipped.. If I had one foot unclipped, I would not have fallen.

Can't say enough about wearing my helmet. My head took a bounce off the concrete. Would have been a bad show without a helmet. I am a much wiser riding now too. ;)

This from a rider who just verified every single reason I discourage clipless in urban riding. :rolleyes:

Couldn't have said it better myself......:innocent:

toe clips and straps dont need to have cleats, cleats added make it lots harder,I tried toe clips and cleats once,never again,,,,

If you only tried slotted cleats once, you really didn't give them much of a chance.

I am LEARNING THE ROPES!! ;)

Yesterday, I rode that SAME bike and did the SAME route again. I rode through some traffic to get to the train, then took the train to the bike trail. Did about 30 sweet miles on the trail, then took the train back into the city and traffic. However, this time I am fully AWARE, that I am riding a clipless bike when I was in traffic. Sheesh, I was unclipping at the slightest thought of a stop coming up..;) I will contiuned to do it this way until I get FULLY use to going back and forth from toe-clips to clipless. Most of my bikes are vintage bikes, and the Litespeed can almost be classed as vintage too, it is a 96 year model. I will not put toe clips on it, and on the trail, the light weight and low and tall gears of the Litespeed really comes into play.

Here it is yesterday waiting for the train for the ride back in town.. It suffered only a few scratches on the left brake lever in the fall..

http://www.cehoward.net/lsbwi09.jpg

Glad to read you got right back on the horse. That is one nice looking Lightspeed you have there.

Bill

Curbs. Yeah, same thing happened to me my first ride in clipless after not riding any for several years. Brain locked up and forgot how to get unclipped. Just enough time to think, "Well. . . this is going to suck".

Fortunately for me though, the tension on the pedals was so loose I ended up not falling over completely.

This is just the first time you've toppled because of "clipless" pedals? In all your years of riding? Criminy. I do it routinely. All my bikes have rashes, mainly on the handlebar tape, from such behavior. I have a chipped bone in my left elbow from it. Ruined pricey biking shorts doing it. Entertained a large crowd and ex-girlfriend/her USMA-grad son at a Crit with it. I restored a vintage bike and laid it down the first time I rode it because of failing to unclip. Who called these da_n things "clipless" anyway?

You have a lot of catching up to do.

This is just the first time you've toppled because of "clipless" pedals? In all your years of riding? Criminy. I do it routinely. All my bikes have rashes, mainly on the handlebar tape, from such behavior. I have a chipped bone in my left elbow from it. Ruined pricey biking shorts doing it. Entertained a large crowd and ex-girlfriend/her USMA-grad son at a Crit with it. I restored a vintage bike and laid it down the first time I rode it because of failing to unclip. Who called these da_n things "clipless" anyway?

You have a lot of catching up to do.

I've fallen from clipless twice in 13 years - both times in the first month.

Curbs. Yeah, same thing happened to me my first ride in clipless after not riding any for several years. Brain locked up and forgot how to get unclipped. Just enough time to think, "Well. . . this is going to suck".

Fortunately for me though, the tension on the pedals was so loose I ended up not falling over completely.

"this is going to suck" That is the same way I felt! :D That is a weird feeling to come to an almost a complete stop, and then realize, you are going to fall!! :D Now, I can laugh about it. However, just like with motorcycles, you supposed to learn from all CRASHES/FALL/SPILLS or whatever. Makes us wiser/smarter/safer riders.. ;)

I've fallen from clipless twice in 13 years - both times in the first month.f

That is not a bad average. Hoping I can follow you, and log in my next fall from clipless 13 years from now.. :)

Glad to read you got right back on the horse. That is one nice looking Lightspeed you have there.

Bill

Glad for my helmet in the spill too. As of now, the bicycle gives me more of a rush then my sportbike. They used to be even, now, the bicyles are way, way out in front. The old Litespeed loves the paved trails. That was my 2nd or 3rd ride on a trail. I am loving it!! :D

If you are at a full stop you will need to be quick to get your foot loose before you fall over as I discovered recently, A fractured pelvis taught me that lesson so I agree totally with the above mantra.

Second the idea of a new helmet. If you actually hit the helmet on the ground (sounds like you did) you may well have delaminated the fiberglass in the shell. Additionally, the foam will be deformed some. It won't protect as well as new. Hang it on the garage wall as a trophy :)

Emphatic +1!

I wish I had read this thread before riding Tuesday night. I decided to ride the "safe" bike trail instead of the roads where I had only managed 1,400 incident-free miles since May. I approached a decreasing-radius curve, paved with asphalt, felt great entering the curve, thought I might overshoot a little, so I laid the bike down for a little for more cornering force...big mistake. The 13-dollar Bontrager El-Cheapos lost grip, (rear) skidded sideways and WHOOOMP, down I went, cleats firmly secured to my SPD-SL pedals until impact. :bike2: Bruises from left shoulder to calf, with a nice big hematoma on my left calf with road rash on my left arm, hip, and calf to show for it. My left Giro glove is a rag (it did its job) and my left shoe is a lot thinner on the outside. Bike suffered a scraped left brake hood, outside of pedal was scraped after my shoe was forced loose and handlebar tape was, somehow, cut. Had I unclipped my inside-of-the-curve pedal, I would have maintained my upright position if not gracefully. Twelve miles later, I rode to drug store, bought bandages and showed off my trophies (not the hip, mind you). I'll be back after the bruise heels a little while!

I wish I had read this thread before riding Tuesday night. I decided to ride the "safe" bike trail instead of the roads where I had only managed 1,400 incident-free miles since May. I approached a decreasing-radius curve, paved with asphalt, felt great entering the curve, thought I might overshoot a little, so I laid the bike down for a little for more cornering force...big mistake. The 13-dollar Bontrager El-Cheapos lost grip, (rear) skidded sideways and WHOOOMP, down I went, cleats firmly secured to my SPD-SL pedals until impact. :bike2: Bruises from left shoulder to calf, with a nice big hematoma on my left calf with road rash on my left arm, hip, and calf to show for it. My left Giro glove is a rag (it did its job) and my left shoe is a lot thinner on the outside. Bike suffered a scraped left brake hood, outside of pedal was scraped after my shoe was forced loose and handlebar tape was, somehow, cut. Had I unclipped my inside-of-the-curve pedal, I would have maintained my upright position if not gracefully. Twelve miles later, I rode to drug store, bought bandages and showed off my trophies (not the hip, mind you). I'll be back after the bruise heels a little while!

First, glad you okay, and second, you DID LEARN SOMETHING HERE, didn't you? That is the main point.

What you and I went through, it is called "experience"!! We all need it, and it makes up better and much safer riders!! ;)

Safe riding to you,

:beer:

I know this isn't what you guys want to hear - but... A year ago I had a mechanical problem and went down at a very low speed because I was clipped in, and I got hurt rather badly. After that I decided I didn't need the cool factor anymore, and switched to platform 'touring' pedals. I enjoy cycling more now, feel a lot safer, and I think I ride just as fast.