I unclip like I mount. By habit, I always have my left foot at 6 o'clock and unclip with my right. In general, if I was going to tip over, I would try to fall to the right away from traffic. I leave my left clipped in. My clips have 2 different angles of release depending on how they're installed.

Don't know about the US\Canada but here in Oz we say "hit the nail on the head" with that comment.

+1!

You guys are too funny

every rider i know, i don't know umd, but i know some pretty good riders, has fallen over at least once while trying to unclip...it doesn't usually happen the first time because you are thinking about it so hard...but after a few stops when you think you got it, it zaps you...my sister-in-law practiced, practiced, practiced on the trainer & still fell on her 2nd outing with her clips...

I've never fallen trying to unclip with clipless. Twist and out. Not really rocket surgery. Back in the 80's I busted a few times with toe clips/straps that were wrenched down real tight.

I have done this, and yes, it's nothing of which to be ashamed. Also, I've shared my story of falling while trying to clip out, and every cyclist I know has said it's happened to them. It was on a large group ride of about 30 riders when I shared the story, so we took a poll and everyone who rode clipless had crashed at least once (some twice) when learning how to unclip.

There's my evidence, and I think you're being a little weird about challenging a guy who made a pretty innocuous statement. "Most" is not "all", and I have no idea why your knickers are in such a twist about this.

So add me to your 'hate' post next time.

i agree. i have never fallen cause i couldn't get my foot out. i fell 2 times, once while turning really slowly i learned what toe overlap was.the second happened on the first day i got my bike, i rode too close to the side of the road, slipped into the grass and instantly fell.

i have lost my balance a few times but i always seem to get my foot out in time to catch myself. "knock on wood"

For what its worth I've never fallen off while using clipless pedals.

This makes me better than all of you.


Edit: Although I did nearly fall several times, but managed to clip out just in time.

i have seen a few people fall over because they couldnt get their foot out. it was because they panicked and pulled up or pushed down on their foot instead of quickly kicking out.

I'm not challenging a guy, I'm challenging Machka. I guess it depends on who you ride with because most people I know have not fallen because they forgot they were clipped in or couldn't get their foot out in time. I don't think I'm special, I think the "fallers" have overblown this issue. I don't think falling is something to be ashamed of, I just don't think it happens to all, or even most people. But I would agree with "many"

anyway, as I keep saying, I think the pedals may have something to do with it. Some pedal designs are just naturally easier to unclip from.

And for all y'all that fell when you first started riding with clipless, how log has it been since you last fell? If someone managed to get through their first week without falling, do you think that they would sufficiently internalize the process so that falling was not likely to happen again?

And for everyone who thinks it's bs that I haven't fallen, I've been able to trackstand since before I started using clipless, so when I come to a stop there isn't a big panic to get my foot down.

Seriously, where is the 'hate' in my post?

i never understood this. who waits till the very last second to unclip anyway? there are a few seconds for you to make up your mind which foot your going to take out, etc.
my falls both happened in the first 3 weeks.

my last "almost fall" was last weekend. i blew up really bad and when i got to the top my leg wouldn't listen, i panicked for a second but got it out just in time. before that, maybe 3 months since the last "close call"

I've fallen with my pedals twice so far in the 3 months that I've been into this sport. Trust me, it'll happen, and isn't really that bad.

My only issue now is clipping back in. I usually unclip both feet before I start because I am not very comfortable with one foot still clipped in. For me I can't seem to clip in as fast as most people, I always end up taking off with one foot clipped in (my right foot, i'm left handed if that means anything), and my left foot always takes one or two rotations before it clicks in.

Those who forget they're clipped in.

I've fallen once while clipped in on my road bike. End of the ride, unclipped my left foot and didnt watch where my wheel was going, so the bike tilted towards the right and I fell down. This was with SPD-SLs. This was about 2 months after I had gone clipless.

Late August, on a downhill run, I hit a sandy patch that I wasnt expecting, my front wheel got stuck and twisted to the side, launching me off the bike. Without thinking, i managed to get both feet unclipped, clear the handlebars and landed on my feet. Even the Russian judge would have given me a 10 for that. This was with Speedplay Frogs.

I agree with UMD's broader picture comment that really, it isnt that hard to ride clipless. But most clipless riders I have spoken to have fallen atleast once. I dont think I personally know anyone who has -never- fallen, actually.

V.

The guy who ridicules you for this is the one who did it and trashed his Madone frame. We've all done it. It looks stupid, but so do many things in this life. Ya dust yerself off and keep goin'!

Hmm. I gues I am "special" as well as it has never happened to me.

When I bought my first clipless pedals 15 years ago, the lbs owner took me outside and gave me a 30 second demonstration. "Down and out is all you have to know" he says. "Down" places your weight and center of gravity low and to that side. "Out" with your heel unclips. Easy. I thought about it for two rides and it has been second nature since.

So, it doesn't happen to everyone.

I have fallen many times, but never because I forgot to unclip. That is just plain silly. How can you forget you are clipped in under normal riding conditions? It is like "I ran into the guy behind me because I forgot the new bike does not have safety brakes."

I've finished a ride so exhausted before, I couldn't even remember my name, much less whether my feet are attached to pedals or not.

Fall.

The most common cause of falls with clipless for me is simply being too bloody tired. Either I'll be zoned out and forget to unclip until it's too late or my ragged arse doesn't have the oomph to snap my heel out. Never happens on fun rides, but on commutes it does happen sometimes.

I was so spent after one of the races I won, that I nearly collapsed... but I still remembered to unclip.

It takes practice to get used to clipless riding. Practice on grass until the habit of twisting your heels outward become second nature. For newbies, multi-release clipless cleats are easier to practice with than single-release cleats.

Only dummies leave the pedal tension at the default setting. Loosen the tension until you can clip in and out easily.

3 years clipless and I've not hit the ground yet, I figure it's only a matter time though.