TitaniuMerlin

I fell 3 times the first time i ever rode a Road Bike. Of course, it was with the clip-pedals so going from riding a Mtn Bike a few times a year to riding the roadie while being clipped in was unusual. No 2-foot-clipped in falls though. All my falls were of course standing still. Now when i rest on my unclipped foot at traffic light or something, i lean my bike over really good so even if i put weight on clipped pedal i wont fall.

ccrnnr9

I have you beat man. I did it on campus in the middle of the quad while classes were being let out so there were no less than 300 people watching when it happened. Both feet were clipped in and I had to stop suddenly and couldnt unclip. I slowly toppled and then even after that I couldnt get my foot out so I just sat there on the ground trying to unclip for about 10seconds...needless to say I sped off after that and decided to skip class to allow my dignity to recover.
~Nick

baiskeli

Yup, I think almost anyone who has clipless pedals has done it. Mine involved unclipping my right foot at a stop light while leaning left. Ended up falling left and smacking the car next to me's front fender with my helmet as I went down. The driver was very freaked out but once she saw I was okay I could see her trying to hold back her laughter.

jamiewilson3

I have a really good one, although not a pedal incident....

My freshman year of college I had Calc I at 8AM. I woke up late for a test on a Friday and so I jumped on my mountain bike still half asleep. I was going down a small hill and started making a turn. I blinked while in the beginning of the turn and the crusty sleep stuff that was still in my eyes basically got stirred up when I blinked. It glazed over my vision while I was in the turn and I couldnt see. I ended up cutting the corner and little too tight and my right handlebar clipped a telephone pole. I was thrown off of the bike at a pretty good speed, since I was racing to the test. I ended up in the middle of the right lane, but there was no traffic coming. I got to class late and had to explain what happened. She basically laughed and knew that I was telling the truth, because my right arm and t shirt were covered in the brown junk that is on the telephone pole timber. Thank god that I had bar ends on that thing. I would have broken my hand for sure if it didnt take the impact. I was sore for several days, but other than that, I was unscathed.

webist

I can't believe all these falling stories. It never happens to me. Exceptions: Once when my wife called to me right after I had mounted my steed. I looked over at her and AJ'd. Once when new at the road game, I geared incorrectly on a very steep climb. I was so pieved about losing all forward momentum, I forgot and AJ'd to the side. But, there have been no other occasions, unless you want to count............

rule

LOL...exactly! Welcome to the club!

Mariner Fan

I did a classic. Unclipped with my right foot then heard something behind me and for some reason looked back to my Left. Well I went over on my left with my foot still clipped in and of course there were plenty of witnesses. I should add that to the "I'm a dork because" thread.

Jeprox

I learned my lesson/s early when I started using clipless. Since then, I have my pedals adjusted such that the grip is at the minimum setting. I've had a few close calls and was able to save myself. It still looked klutzy but no fall. One time I even heard this couple of guys in a pickup truck laughing their heart out. Again no fall, just a klutzy save.

cs1

I've been riding for 30 years the last 16 with Look pedals. When I switched from the black to red cleats I had no idea you had to turn your foot so much to unclip. Needles to say, I made friends with the pavement in a hurry. Don't feel bad, we've all done it.


Tim

curiouskid55

No worries compadre. I crashed last week in front of 9-10 people in a stationary trainig session. I allways hate to put my bike back on the car after working my butt off without going anywhere so I ususally take a few short runs up and down the parking lot before packing up. I pull back up to where everyone else is packing up , unclip, stop put my foot down. the carbons shoe and plastic cleat scoot straight forward and down I go. In front of two of the shops racing team members,a state track bike champion, my wife, three or four other veteran riders and a few beginners. I was embarassed for a few minutes but got over it pretty quick.

bluyak

Hummmm The last time I went down clipped in. Had something to do with a Daisy Dukes and a halter top walking across the stop I came up to for some reason. At least she asked me if I was OK.

Cycleman1958

FACT: I rode for 4 months when getting clipless without falling over until the day I joined a club and formed up with them at a stop then WHAM, down in front of God and everyone.

TomMc1

I fell over a few times in the first week that I moved to the SPD clipless pedals on my new mountain bike last summer. I was so used to pulling my feet backwards out of the clip pedals. On pavement once, I fell on the drive side and bent my shiny new Deore XT rear deraileur. It broke my heart. After that, I practiced a lot on grass.

Now that I'm used to clipless, I love them.

peregrine

Yea, yea, we've all done it but that doesn't make it any less ridiculous-looking or any less of a blow to the pride when it happens. But don't worry, the embrrassment will fade

Bontrager

Been there done that twice in less than 45 seconds. Got rid of the SPD-SL and went back to SPD and no worries anymore..

JEgan712

In my other life (prior to retirement), I was a police motorcycle enforcement supervisor. One fine Spring day, as I was motoring around the city, I came up to a stop sign in a residential area. This particular area was right next to one of our city parks. The park was full of folks taking the air and enjoying the weather. As I slowed to stop for the sign, I noticed an SUV approaching from my left. I made the stop and was watching the SUV which just happened to be piloted by a rather good looking young lady. What I failed to realize, as I made my stop, was that I was stopping on the exact crown of the road and that the roadway was slanted downward from the crest and especially so on my left side. I put my left foot down to steady the 300 lb Kawasaki, but my foot just kept going down as there was no "there" there. The bike and I did a perfect "Arte Johnson" to the left, with me under the bike. Impossible to make it look like I intended to perform that maneuver. Impossible to avoid the snickers and laughter from the park. As the young lady in the SUV passed me, she performed the coupe de gras by asking in a voice heard by all "Do you need any help officer"? I struggled to right the bike (no easy feat) and skulked away.

atbman

You're all beginners.

Picture 45yr old in first race (vets, natch) in 1985: - t-shirt with pocket sewn on back, proper shorts and what we in UK (of my generation) called plimsolls (gym shoes with v thin soles). Old fashioned toe clips. El-Cheapo bike. Get curious looks from vets (gnarled, shaven, lean, etc., etc.)

Waiting for start in two lines, me in outside line, left foot on floor, right foot, steep camber.

Thinks, "Haven't tightened up helmet" (old hairnet type).

Take hands of bars to tighten strap

Front wheel swivels down camber to left (UK, remember)

Front end of bike follows suit

Right toestrap really tight

Crash....to...floor

Nobody...says...a...word

Unique experience - silence both deafening and sardonic.

Realised why helmet felt loose

Was still in changing room

20 years later, still meet the occasional vet who says, "Weren't you the bloke who...?"

atbman

PS trauma still to deep for smilies

msheron

Been there..............we all do it.

wagathon

I'm guessing I know what AJ'd means--e.g., a splat and over--so, the two times I fell off the downhill side of a mtb tail probably was a FU.

Dick Rhee

I just had a rather embarrasing crash in front of the Seattle Ferry entrance last weekend. To pull in to the toll area from Alaskan Way, you have to make this sharp right, which I guess I did a little too sharply. When straightening out the front wheel jammed against the toe of my shoe, bounced sideways and rolled backwards until I ended up somewhat upside down and entwined with my bike. Damage? Scrapes on my shifter caps and a slight rip on the side of my saddle.

My only pedal incident was actually inside my living room. I just got a Fizik Aliante saddle and was trying to find the set back position by sitting clipped in the bike and leaning against the couch. Somehow I swayed enough to lose my grip on the couch and... I'm sure everyone knows the rest.

formulaben

I'm beating a dead horse here, but there's a saying: there's those who have, and those who will...

Mizzuri

I took my brand new Trek 2000 With ultegra pedals and Nike Poggio 4 shoes for its first ride today. I feel over twice as the pedals were set so tight i couldnt get my shoes unclips.

I have some nice scratches on both legs, elbows and sholders. At least the scratches on the body will heal. If i had scratched the bike i wouldnt of been happy.

Hopefull now that I have loosened the release adjustment on the pedals i will feel like such a ******.

Road Rash

Pulled out of my driveway on a test run of my winter project, turned up the hill and shifted to the small chainwheel - the derailler overshot the small chainwheel and in slow motion I toppled.

ovoleg

If anyone should feel dumb its Socalcycling...He is just an a55hat