Podagrower

I decided to try some of those clipless death pedals.

I've gone a little off the deep end in the cycling department. 6 months ago I didn't own a bike, now I have 2, all kinds of toys (I mean necessary equipment). I'm signed up for Tour de Cure (hoping to make it 50 miles), and planning on riding a century (hopefully before summer starts, definitely before the end of the year). I'm drooling over LHT's like a 5 year old, and just bought a Brooks saddle-what is wrong with me.

So I decided that clipless was the way to be, add some speed, add some workout intensity, it will be great. Well, I went down today. I haven't tried riding the wrong side of the bike in a lot of years, and you know what, it still hurts. I was practicing in the driveway, and when the bike stopped, it leaned the wrong way. I skillfully and gracefully slammed all 300 pounds of me into the gravel; no helmet, no glasses, probably would have broken my wrist if my elbow hadn't hit first.

Clipless death pedals 1, me 0.

howsteepisit

Clipless pedals do not like low speed practice, it's too easy to hit the front tire with your pedal/foot. Have to go back a lot of years before this was not an issue. They get better when you are riding at speed on the open road, with the wind in your face, the smell of fresh baking good as your spin effortlessly by the local bakery. The friendly waves of the people on the sidewalks..... Opps sorry i drifted away into fantasy land. Anyway keep at the clipless, they are pretty nice for some things.

TrojanHorse

It happens.

It also doesn't happen often when you get used to them - I haven't "ridden the wrong side oft he bike" (LOL) in way over 15 years. Obviously, get into the habit of unclipping one foot (always the same foot) well before you come to a stop and keep one foot unclipped for slow maneuvers.

Sorry you crashed, it isn't as easy as when you're a kid!

c_m_shooter

If nobody saw you fall, then you have at least one more in your future. Everyone has to fall in front of a crowd before they are truly initiated into clipless.

bbeasley

Sorry you fell, glad it wasn't worse. You could insert several of our names into your post as many of us have traveled that same path. At least you're in a good place for you insanity. Once I got used to clipless I won't ride without them.

Wait till you try Fixed Gear and clipless, exciting!

Enjoy your ride!

BionicChris

I fell twice, the first trip out on them after much practice saw a dog run out in front of me from a hedgerow - couldn't avoid it, went down at about 2mph.

second time I fell when I got out of the saddle to climb and missed a gear, fell straight away.

i haven't tried since as I hurt my hip and since having them replaced I don't fancy needing another op.

scrubbo

My first clipless crash was in my driveway after my first ride. Fun! Nobody saw it, of course, so I crashed on the Canary Challenge century ride at a rest stop... trying to get going again after a coke stop. THE SHAME!

aggst1

Had the same type of fall last summer. After going clipless for a couple of weeks I fell the exact same way as the OP. I unclipped the one shoe and for whatever reason I leaned on the opposite side... I fell and I m glad that I was wearing a helmet because the left side of my helmet bounced on the pavement!

bikingshearer 

Oh, the crashing part is every bit as easy now as when you were a kid. It's the recovery part that is harder.

phread59

You have'nt done clipless untill you pull an Artie Johnson (obscure reference to Laugh IN). 4 and counting.

Mark Shuman

Beachgrad05

My first fall met ths criteria nicely. I fell on Main St. just barely inland from PCH where there are TONS of pedestrian traffic (plus was a Sat)....bike was still new and I was still green with clipless. Car stopped suddenly to wait for parking spot, I was going slow already but clipped in...was unable to unclip...fell over to my right and cushioned my fall by placing my elbow on someone's foot. I was so embarrassed.

You would have thought that would have satisfied the clipless gods but sadly no.

Myosmith

If a cyclist fails to clip out in the forest, and there is nobody there to see him, did he really fall?

teufelhunden222

I always seem to fall when a pretty girl is watching

Zoxe

I stopped to talk to a tree trimming crew near my house to find out if my road was next. Bike went the other direction at the last second but I already had my other foot unclipped and almost down, so I was hopping like tigger trying not to let the bike pull me over, down a 6ft incline into a ditch (that woulda smarted!). Thankfully the cleat popped and I did not go all the way down, but there was NOTHING graceful about my antics.

I did this with two burly contractors holding chainsaws watching me, while I am in full spandex, dork helmet and velco bike shoes. I'd have been better off writing "sissy" on my forehead with a sharpie and then tried to talk to them ... they were too amused/appalled/distracted to take my questions seriously. The conversation did not go well.

Mrs. Zoxe fell at Indy's Tour de Cure at the southern rest stop. Tons of people watching. I was on my bike already and can't figure out how to help her up. She was fine, but was one of those moments where the whole world went quiet while everyone stopped to look.

Happens to everyone. Glad only your pride was hurt.

LocoCycle

the best part of clipless pedals......everyone is going to fall sooner or later. It took me almost 3 months after I first got mine. I was riding with a friend. We were almost done with our 45 mile ride....came to a stop...clipped my left foot out like I always do. But for some reason when coming to the stop I did not put my left foot down? Instead I pushed my left foot off of the ground...and started to tip to the right and could not get my right foot out in time. My friend almost lost his mind laughing at me.....I got up as fast as I could and headed downt he road as the light turned green......then I kinda of laughed.......it happens...at least you will never forget it!

Ride safe!

TK LP

There are two types of clipless riders, those that have fallen, and those that will.

Jax Rhapsody

Not saying ive never fell, just that it cant be that hard to ride clipless. Ive always had bmx pedals on all my bikes.

bikingshearer 

It isn't. And the vast, vast majority of the time, there is no issue. The times it becomes a problem are usually either (1) due to going slowly and misjudging where in your pedal stroke you will be when you need to unclip or (2) you have been surprised by something that makes you ahve to stop shorter than anticipated.

And for the record, these "Arte Johnson moments" (see phread59, I got it) also happened with toe clips, especially at the first stop sign or traffic light you come to after 25 miles in the countryside with the straps tightened down. Every bit as embarrassing, with the added bonus of having to play "Twister" to reach the strap with your hand to lossen it.

Gravity Aided

Fell like that with strapped pedals, right out of my driveway . Twisted my foot wrong . These things happen to each person in their own way, regardless of Look, SPD, or toeclip. And if you have nothing on your pedals, your foot sips off or you hit the front tire with your foot. If it wasn't that, it would be something else.

FrenchFit 

OP - Yes, something is wrong with you...you have the fever; Bike Fever.

The fever will last until you've acquired a dozen bikes, ride in the rain, and talk about "carfree". Then, inexplicably, it will break.

CraigB

It took me over 25 years to prove this.

Podagrower

You fell with clipless for 25 before staying upright? That's perseverance.

CraigB

No, it took me 25 years to fall.

jerseyJim

I always seem to fall when I am watching a pretty girl

JReade

Your sarcasm meter is broken.