Jean3n16

I come out at 6 o clock with my left and then hang my leg down.

You clip out while slowing down.

loosen the clips. practice. practice. practice.

You could also ask someone to show you on a ride and watch YouTube videos.

FBinNY 

You come out first with your preferred "down" foot (the one you usually put to the ground first when stopping).

For me that's my right foot, but you may normally (before you went clipless) put your left foot down first.

As for crank position when unclipping, Don't listen to other people, find where is best and most natural or comfortable for you. I almost always clip in at 2-4 o'clock as part of the power stroke, and unclip at 9 o'clock. I find twisting easiest there (inward) but everybody is different, and the best unclip position is where you find it best.

As I said before, it's a question of making it a habit, or something you don't think about. I don't plan to unclip on the upstroke, I just do it that way naturally.

DreamRider85

Today I figured out that twisting my ankles outwards is a lot easier than inwards. Much easier, about 5 times. I noticed I hard a hard time when twisting inwards. But the other problem still remains. Once I unclip and place my foot on the ground, my other foot shifts my weight in the other direction. I tried unclipping with both feet, but then coming off the bike has been a challenge. Especially feels awkward the way my cleats come off the bike and land on the pavement.

So my problem now is not unclipping, that seems easy. I don't know how to consistently maintain balance when coming off the bike.

FBinNY 

Now is the easy part. Maybe so easy it's not obvious to you. When you stop put your free foot down and lean onto it, tilting the bike so your have your center of supported on a tripod made by the two wheels and your down foot.

I suggest that you keep the front wheel straight, or turned away from the down foot, so the the front wheel can't roll to where the tripod is now flattened and you fall over the bike.

Once stopped and stable, you can either unclip the other foot, or leave it clipped and at the 1 o'clock position ready to shove off.

Maelochs

Once you get one foot free swing it gently outward and you will lean that way until your toe (I go for the toe to the cleat, to keep the cleat off the ground---it wears, and it is slippery) is firmly planted.

Did you have so many problems getting off the bike before? Nothing has changed really----except your tenseness and insecurity.

You know you can do it ... you have been balancing on a bike for a long time, it literally is second nature ... you are just letting fear and/or worry make you tense which disrupts your balance.

Keep practicing on grass---push off, clip in, ride a few feet, slow and unclip and stop, dismount, mount, repeat.

Truly the obstacles are all in your imagination. You know how to ride a bike, and you have done things way more complicated while riding safely and staying upright without even thinking abut it. (Ever think about what's involved in taking out a Powerbar, unwrapping it, pocketing the wrapper, taking out your water bottle, and washing it down, while riding?)

Everyone learns at different paces, but once you learn, it's just like riding a bike ...

DreamRider85

I've always been able to get off a bike. But it's just that my weight of the foot on the bike ****s me towards that direction and it's been hard to overcome. Is just leaning or tilting to the right side the only way to negate that? Whenever my lead foot is free and on the ground, the other foot wants to work the other way and it's scary. That's why I have fallen off 4 times.

shelbyfv

Well, just one more reason to continue to ride on the trainer. The bike will be stable and support your weight while you position your "down" foot. Once you have a toe on the ground, you can slowly slide your butt off the saddle, increasing the weight on your "down" foot. Hold the bars securely with both hands. When you feel steady with one foot down, swing your other leg over the back of the bike and put that foot down. You will be beside the bike with one foot somewhat ahead of the other. To move away, simply release the handlebars and move your back foot forward, beyond the formerly front foot. Repeat this motion and you will be walking! Have confidence, you can do this!

FBinNY 

Believe me, this won't happen if you just relax. And make sure that the front wheel is turned so the bike can't roll toward your planted foot.

If you're falling over the bike, I'll bet as many beers as you want it's because you're letting the bike roll under you. If it rolls away from you you can't fall in that direction.

howsteepisit

Usually, I engage one of the brakes to keep any attempt at motion by the rouge bike at bay.

FBinNY 

Are red French bikes more temperamental than bikes of other colors?

howsteepisit

Just more deceitful, Rogue buggers.

DreamRider85

Is that what's going on? The bike is rolling under me? I'm supposed to turn the front wheel? Well, the last time I crashed, I unclipped my left foot and my wheel was turned to the right because that was the direction I was heading. No good?

Warren128

Are you still on your saddle when you stop? You should be off your saddle, and balanced on your clipped in foot as you stop. I added a couple of videos that I found that might help clarify.

FBinNY 

If you had your left foot down and the wheel turned to the right, you should only get into trouble if the bike rolled backward.

The key here is to think of a tri-pod made by the two wheels and your foot. If the foot is well out from the bike, say about a foot, and you center your body between the foot and bike, you wouldn't fall unless there was a strong wind or earthquake.

You fall for one of the following reasons all of which are avoidable.

1- foot too close to the bike/wheel plane, so the tripod is unstable
2- your body not centered between the supports (wheels and foot)
3- bike moving such that it passes under your center of gravity (toward your planted foot).
4- you're thinking and second guessing your body's natural processes

I keep repeating that you need to stop thinking and let your inborn balance and stability do it's job.

Think about how you stand. You don't think about it but naturally spread your feet to make a reasonably wide base, then center yourself over it. No thinking is involved at all. Likewise you ride a bike and balance it and once it's learned it's all managed automatically with no conscious thought.

Balance and movement are controlled by the cerebellum all on it's own and the only conscious effort is to give it basic instructions like move forward, turn left, etc. If you engage your conscious brain and meddle where it doesn't belong telling the cerebellum how to do it's job you'll fall.

So unclip, stop as you put your down foot down, then let the autopilot do it's job. DON'T THINK

1nterceptor

Where are you located? Perhaps a fellow BF'er(or local bike club member) can show you some pointers.
Some things are just better in person; as opposed to reading about it - working on bikes, beer tasting, etc.

If you're near the New York City area; shoot me a PM.

Jean3n16

I fell tonight actually!!!

I was coming to a stop and instead of being at 6 position to clip out, i was at 12 and didnt clip out. Off to the left i fell and have a really good bruise/cut on my leg and my rib is bruised ( or it feels that way). I put on a band aid and rode on.

Maelochs

LOL ... (at me not you ...) I nearly fell tonight. I was trying to rrackstand because I knew I had a green light in just a few seconds too late ... when I realized I couldn't stay upright I couldn't swivel my foot fast enough.

I came within inches of going down in the middle of the road ... just barely managed to get a foot down and hop sideways to save myself. Pretty much laid the bike down. I am sure i looked both spastic and incompetent to everyone at the light.

Jean3n16

Im glad you caught yourself!

DreamRider85

My clipless pedals have been better. For a while I thought I might just go back to standard but I'm riding better and better in my clipless pedals. Rode 27 miles today and didn't feel tired. I have found that when I just bend my right knee after I take my right foot off the pedal, I can maintain my balance. But I make sure to get my left foot out as soon as I can so that the bikes momentum doesn't cause me to go with it, while my foot is stuck.

But my one worry would be how to get out and react quickly in an emergency.

howsteepisit

The answer to that is practice and repetition. It becomes like reflex.