FormerRunner

Ok, how many times will I fall over before I get the hang of clipping in and out? I'm averaging one every 50 miles. (I've got 150 miles on my new bike) Fell again last night on the way home, thought I had a gap then realized the oncoming truck was moving too fast. Am I just a slow learner?

Dr. Moto

Five times.

Juha

The answer is 42.

--J

MichaelW

Can you ride a bike well without clipless pedals.
It really is a mistake for a complete newbie to get a new bike and a new pedal system. To many news for the brain to deal with.

recursive

Twice.

WJ13US

There will be no more after the last fall. (Kind of like "it will be in the last place I look").

Bill

Dr. Moto

Something that helped me at intersections is leaving the bike in a higher gear than I normally would have started in before I went clipless. I'll stop in a 52-21 or 52-19. This means my first pedal stroke is harder, but pushes me farther and faster and gives me enough momentum to get clipped in before I have to do the next stroke.

bubbajoe72

it does take some getting use to. make sure you have it set to the lowest tension to make it easier to clip out. you should also stand on a level surface practice kicking your heel out first until it becomes automatic.

WJ13US

Actually I do just the opposite of Dr. Moto. I go to a low gear when stopping at an intersection. That way if I miss clipping in on the first stroke I can easily pedal with one foot.

Dr. Moto

I tried this for a while, but I felt too wobbly trying to steer through the intersection while doing that panicky single-leg pedaling motion. I feel much more stable gliding through after a single power stroke and getting clipped into a motionless pedal.

FormerRunner

I'm not a complete newbie...I rode extensively until getting a drivers license...granted that was back during the Carter administration. I thought having snowboarded, that being clipped in wouldn't be such a shock to the system, but I seem to vapor lock every so often. I've adjusted the tension on the clips down pretty low.

DonD

I fell 3 times in the first 2 days. Once when I stopped, but only clipped out 1 foot and was leaning the wrong way.

The other two falls were due to my failing to clip in fast enough when starting, and having to go uphill.

I've since learned to always put the same foot down when stopping (left foot for me), and when I'm clipping in, if I don't get it right away, to keep pedaling with the other foot until I'm able to get it.

So far (knock wood), no more falls.

- Don

onbike 1939

In my group we take it turn to do this. This is not all bad news. Think of the entertainment value you're providing.

chigrl71

Depends on what month you were born.

live311

A bunch of times. I corrected the problem by all but removing the tension adjustment screws on the pedals. I've found that the loosest setting is more than enough to keep my feet secure to the pedals, but I can still disengage in an emergency/blind panic.

FormerRunner

December

bshow1

I'm a beginner who's fallen a few times. Intersections are tricky; it's nice to not have to clip out and stop, but the safest practice might be to go ahead and do so.

operator

Bad advice, learn how to single leg pedal in low gears.

Dr. Moto

Let's line up at an intersection some time and see who gets through faster. We'll drag for pink slips.

Dewbert

he he he....But what is the question?

juf2m

I have fallen directly as a result of clipless I think 4 times now. It ended up that I had crappy pedals, and now I can deal with them very easily, they pop out with no effort at all (on a low setting).

As for intersections, I usually unclip both feet to stop, and then start by riding out unclipped (pedal in the middle of my foot, as if it were a flat regular pedal). Once I am out of harm's way and picking up some speed, then I clip in. This has always made me feel less nervous anyway.....

DCCommuter

Four times while learning, once a year thereafter.

operator

Trebek- what is six times 7...!

robo

When i first got clipless i fell numerous times when i was getting used to them in an empty parking lot, and then only once when i ventured offroad. That last time, i landed on my ass on a sharp protruding root sticking out of the trail.

for some reason, after that, i never forgot to clip out even in the most dire situation!!!

This was all about 11 years ago when i was fourteen. Clipless pedals do quickly become second nature, and you don't even think about them after a while. I can't imagine riding without them now - they are one of the milestone improvements in cycling from the last century, IMO.