Day 1 of Clipless: FAIL!
 

So, just got some clipless kicks. Got the pedals put on. Using some Looks.

Rode around a fair bit and tried getting off while riding into my garage the first time. Success.

Decided it isn't as tough as people make it out to be. Second time, I go into the garage... unclip the left leg... and somehow end up smashing onto the right side. (Oh no's!!! Not the drive side!!!)

I get up, dust off my bruised ego. Right lever is now bent over to the left, as is the handlebar. I bend it back to as straight as possible.


AM I ON MY WAY TO BECOMING A ROADIE NOW?!?

No, but you are on your way to needing a new bike.

IMO, it's worth the learning curve. Loosen the tension as much as possible starting out, once you get used to it adjust to taste.

"No, but you are on your way to needing a new bike.[/QUOTE

lmao!

I feel your pain, I did that a few times where I was so focused on unclipping one side I didn't pay attention to the fact that once I unclip I need to shift my weight to that side. I finally got in the habit of always unclipping right side only and leaning that way as it is away from traffic in the event of a fall.

Get a foot out BEFORE you stop your bike...

Countersteer.

I practiced in my yard first so when I fell it didn't hurt so bad. You will master it in no time!

At least you didn't fall over at a 4-way stop intersection with cars lined up in all directions watching you look like an idiot (like I did :p).

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

Seriously, as was mentioned, loosen the spring tension (there should be an allen screw you can adjust). Be sure to loosen both sides of each pedal! Then practice.

p.s. get some allen wrenches. A bunch of 'em.

When you realize you are going to fall (it will happen again), relax, don't resist it, keep your hands on the handlebars and do your best to meet the road with everything (elbow,hip, shoulder and knees if you can). The more relaxed you are and the more places you hit, the less damage. First, your bike never hitrs the ground so it will be untouched. Second, you will do just fine. A couple of light bruises and a couple of slightly dirtied patches on your clothes. The ego will suffer the most damage.

I've ridden 45 years pulling toeclips tight. Every time I forget to reach down and release the straps, I do the exercise I described above. Don't think you can do it? Go out onto some grass in sweat clothes and practice.

Don't let this scare you. Riding clipped in (or strapped in) is SO worth it. Even if you have to ride with a chipped ego. Trust me.

Ben

Its gonna happen, after a year of using them I came to a corner the other day were I can peek out and see if something is coming.Even if a car is coming I usually would have plenty of time to unclip as the car would be 4-5 feet away. Well peeked out and car was right there 2 feet away!! stop short fall to side highly embarrassed and jump up in a split second and looked around like nothing happened!

And to expand on my previous post - pick one side and work on that exclusively and make it your default. That's what got me over the edge. I had some trouble today with new pedals and thought I might need to bail but never worried because I kept my right side ready to brace as that is my go to side.

When you are not tired and you are still new to this, you can learn to clip out in plenty of time.

When you are very tired at the end of a long ride, your brain may go back to "no clips" just like before. be careful.

I don't understand why people talk of leaning at all. Just unclip whichever foot you want and put it on the ground. The bike and your body can remain perfectly vertical.

Club Tombay! Club Tombay!

Yeah. We've all been there. (And with speedplays, which I ride, all it takes is a little dirt and WHAM! Club Tombay!"

My uncle broke his hip when he apparently fell over on pavement at low speed on his bike. (Was not clipless related, but was involving low speed on pavement.)

Don't let internet tough guys lead you into making unsafe decisions either. People who broke something and stopped biking often aren't on a biking forum.

Bent handlebar? Bent it back straight?

Maybe it's just me but a handlebar that can be bent that easily is not the handlebar I'd want to riding with.

A few years ago there was a young student out walking in the small town of Cranbrook when a helicopter fell from the sky and killed him. **** happens.

I got distracted once in a grocery store parking lot.... and fell. Heard someone yeah: "I think the old guy passed-out". Falling can be embarrassing.

All my clip related falls have been <.5 mile from home at <5mph. It happens.

I guess you didn't see my next sentence. "The more relaxed you are and the more places you hit, the less damage." I have often said "greet the road with everything you've got (while keeping your hands on the handlebars)". Usually I would be talking about racing crashes and the like, fast corners, etc. when I say that but it applies just as much here.

Ben

Hell I fell last weekend getting out of my truck. I had traveled to a location to start my ride and just put my shoes on. I went to get out of my truck and when I put my left foot down I must have had my foot crooked and came down on the smooth outer side of the shoe. My left foot slipped out like I was on ice and I landed on my left hip
Be careful even walking in road shoes. I fell and was not even on the bike. Lol!

Lost my morning coffee with this one :thumb: Thanks for making my day.

A little off-topic, but since you mentioned toeclip straps.... I have them on my single speed, and just ride around with them fairly loose - admittedly not ideal, but still better than nothing. They're a little trickier to get into, but much easier to slip out of than clipless. Can't imagine tightening or releasing them when riding fixed gear (which is how the bike has been set up since I got it home).