rruff

Seriously... 3 times in the past two weeks. She'll be going very slowly and getting ready to stop... and she just falls down. I witnessed the last one. She appeared to unclip her left foot and then lean to the right, and by the time she got her right foot unclipped it was too late.

She is using SPD style pedals and they aren't tight. She used them all last year and never fell once. It seems odd that she would start falling now... but I recall a conversation with a friend's wife last year and she told me that she did the very same thing! She was fine with clipless pedals for a year or so, and then started falling over... and then got over it... whatever it was.

I suggested that she do balancing drills... just ride around a quiet street or parking lot unclipped and get used to making slow, tight, maneuvers. I thought that balance was likely the fundamental issue. She doesn't seem interested, though...

She has just gotten bruises so far, but I'm worried that she is really going to hurt herself. Falling into traffic could have very bad consequences. I've been cycling so long that I can't relate at all, and don't know what the real problem and solution would be... if any. Any ideas?

Mysta316

so she is falling to the side she has not clipped out of? have her try unclipping with that foot instead of the one she is using now.

AngryScientist 

i think its best for beginners to unclip BOTH feet when they are about to stop, then she can lean either way...

chipcom 

Is she related to this guy?

mmerner

Unclip first , then brake. Sounds like she's not going fast enough to maintain balance while unclipping

making

When I switch bikes I often almost fall over. one day last week I dang near fell over twice on the same trip home. I got into the habit of always unclipping my right foot. Always, sometimes later I do the left but not usually.

Fox Farm

Yes, make sure she unclips while still moving at some speed. Have her practice on a grassy surface. She needs to develop a sense that SHE is riding the bike and it is not riding her.

mcoomer

You might want to stop filling her water bottles with vodka too!

Tulex

Guys, the OP said she used them all last year without a problem.

Does she feel like they are not unclipping as easily?
Has she said why she thinks it's happening?
Does she feel like she has a balance problem?
Is she wobbly at slow speeds?

MissKristen 

Unclipping both feet, FTW. At least until she gets back into her groove. I've been finding myself making the same mistake... I ALWAYS unclip with my left because I'm right-dominant and need to stay clipped to push off, but lately I've been coming to a stop and leaning to the right and almost falling over. Not sure what my deal is, but finally I just got over it and started unclipping both. I'm sure I'll get back in the swing of things eventually

exRunner

Video?

mattm

I'd get her on platform pedals for a while, so she doesn't end up hating the sport, and you, forever.

Then work the SPDs back in after a while.

Good luck to her!

rexrem23

if it's the pedals. try the speedplay light action. very easy to unclip! even in emergency situations. just got them 3 weeks ago and they are great. had the look keo's before. i just do recreational riding so they're perfect for me!

Jynx

before stopping have her stand on the pedals with one foot up and one down. unclip the foot on top and hang it off the side while slowing. put foot down when you come to a stop. hard to explain but it is a fool proof method.

making

This is exactly what I do.;

rruff

No.
She says she doesn't know.
No. At least not enough to be motivated to work on it.
I would say so. Just doesn't have a lot of experience or practice at it... but certainly more than last year... which is why it's strange.

One interesting note... she has fallen twice to the right and once to the left, so apparently she hasn't gotten in the habit of unclipping the same each time. I'm pretty sure I always clip and unclip my left foot first unless something weird is going on.

Tulex

I mostly unclip with my left now, but always did at first. I learned that isn't a good thing for me to do, as my right got stupid, so I try to use the right once in a while to be ready when needed.

There is the possibility that last year, she was more aware of her balance and unclipping as it was new, and this year she is not so concerned with it. But, I would think that a couple of falls would bring back that awareness. Maybe it's an inner ear thing or something.

Neurodoc

Unclip the same foot every time and turn the front wheel OPPOSITE the side she's unclipping. Anticipate stops and unclip well ahead.

Banzai

Exactly. Keep down foot clipped in to support weight while standing forward out of the saddle to place unclipped foot on the ground.

And, of course, lean towards the unclipped foot.

It literally is fool proof...this is the technique I've used to teach 3 different friends how to ride clipless - all of them gals - and they've found it to be exceptionally easy.

rruff

That could be it. She doesn't seem very concerned about the fact that she is falling over either... less than me, anyway.

She started on platforms 2 years ago, and got the clipless last year. She unclipped both feet for awhile until she got the hang of it, but apparently she still doesn't quite have the hang of it.

Mendel

If SPD pedals are loose they may be harder to get to the point of snapping out; could that be the issue?

rruff

She claims that this is what she normally does... but then sometimes she ends up leaning the wrong way.

dewaday

That's my guess as well. She's in between "Oh crap I better do this or I'll fall" and " I don't remember unclipping and putting my foot down". She probably still has to think about it, but is just a tad too late. Is she an infrequent rider?

Banzai

That's more difficult than just unclipping one. It makes it difficult to step forward out of the saddle...you don't have a good surface to stand on.

roadiejorge 

My wife's expressed an interest in riding my Orbea, the thought of her falling on it makes me shudder but I do want to encourage her so we'll be practicing on a grassy surface.