A Clipless Fall!!! (warning long)
11-09-11, 05:58 PM
#27
Rabid Member
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.
11-09-11, 06:58 PM
#28
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Some of us still use those. 
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 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.
11-09-11, 07:31 PM
#29
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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
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
11-09-11, 07:45 PM
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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
It is all in the adjustment and experience. Straps and cleats are very dangerous compared to clipless.
I am glad you are okay
11-10-11, 07:56 AM
#31
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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.
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Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
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Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
11-10-11, 09:15 AM
#33
Señor Blues
Mantra: Clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early, clip out early...
11-10-11, 09:49 AM
#34
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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...
Thanks for that tip too...
11-10-11, 09:54 AM
#35
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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
11-10-11, 03:07 PM
#36
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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 ****led 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.
. 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.
Couldn't have said it better myself......
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
11-10-11, 03:42 PM
#37
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11-14-11, 11:24 AM
#38
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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..
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..
11-15-11, 06:53 AM
#39
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Glad to read you got right back on the horse. That is one nice looking Lightspeed you have there.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
11-15-11, 07:19 AM
#40
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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.
Fortunately for me though, the tension on the pedals was so loose I ended up not falling over completely.
11-16-11, 03:45 PM
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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.
You have a lot of catching up to do.
11-16-11, 06:36 PM
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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.
You have a lot of catching up to do.
11-17-11, 08:29 AM
#43
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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.
Fortunately for me though, the tension on the pedals was so loose I ended up not falling over completely.
That is a weird feeling to come to an almost a complete stop, and then realize, you are going to fall!! 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..
11-17-11, 08:33 AM
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11-17-11, 09:13 AM
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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.
11-17-11, 01:11 PM
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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
11-17-11, 01:25 PM
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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. 
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!
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!
11-17-11, 01:36 PM
#49
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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. 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!
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!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,
11-17-11, 01:38 PM
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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.