CNY James

if you dont click out of your pedals, you'll hit the pavement, who knew!

I came to a stop sign and slowed almost to a stop, when I saw a car crest the hill, I came to a complete stop but never unclipped. By the time I realized it, it was too late. Came unclipped right away though!

I blame it on having platforms on the bike up until the other day, but that might just be a weak excuse, I've been riding clipless for as long as I've been riding road bikes (granted thats just a year & a half)

Anybody else want to share their temporary mental void moments or am I standing alone?

mcgreivey

I just fell down today, in fact. I was going up a hill, shifted to the small sprocket, chain shifted too far, and off the chain ring. I managed to shift it back on, but then it locked up. I had the cadence sensor magnet mounted on the spoke of the small chainring, because my cranks are too far from the chain stay to put it there. Not sure exactly what happened, but either:

(a) the magnet (which was held on with a zip tie) by came lose and got tangled between the chain and the sprocket, causing the chain to derail. When I shifted the chain back on, the magnet and zip tie got tangled in the works, causing things to lock

(b) the chain derailed, knocking the magnet loose. When I shifted it back onto the sprocket, the magnet and zip tie got tangled in the works, causing things to lock

When it locked up, and the bike coasted to a stop, I kind of track-stood for a second. I didn't unclip (refexively tried to pull up, rather than twisting--my panic reflex from 30 years of riding with clips & straps). I was thinking about whether I wanted to fall into the road, or into the ditch. I chose the road. Didn't put my arm out to break the fall, since I've learned that that's a mistake.

Results: not disasterous. Fell on my side. Didn't fall under a car. scraped a knee and an elbow. Ruined the magnet. No damage to the drivetrain.

Bikealou

My first commute to work (a long time ago) I came up to a traffic light with a line of cars. I tried to unclip my right foot so i could Put my off-road side foot down with all the traffic. Twist foot, still clipped in. Twist foot again, still clipped in. Now faced with stepping into traffic on the left or doing a "Laugh-in" pratt fall to the right. I chose the grassy side of the road and fell on my side. No damage to me or my bike. Figured out the screws holding the cleat on my right shoe had loosened so twisting my foot did not twist the cleat and I stayed clipped in.

CNY James

that's tough^

I had another fall one time that was pretty embarassing... I had gone out and was riding with a little more intensity that normal. Came to a stop light and was in the Left turning lane. Unclipped my left foot and was leaning on it, right still locked in. I dont know how but I lost my balance to my right. I tried to pick up the bike with my right foot and move it to steady myself and fell over my right and landed on/against the van that was in that lane. Bumped my face, bruised my arm, and hammered my dignity. The driver was super cool but it made the last 2 miles of my ride a little less fun.