Clipless good. Falling bad.
 

So I got clipless pedals and shoes on Wednesday. I didn't get to play with them as much as I wanted, since my knees are sore from a half marathon, but I did take them for a quick little spin on Thursday, which went fine, and then I took a longer (but still gentle) ride this morning. Coming up to the LAST stoplight, after the rest of the ride went so well I was planning on coming back singing the praises of clipless pedals, I brake down to a low speed and unclip my left foot, which is the one I normally put down first. Somehow, the motion of doing that pushes me right, and I can't get my right foot out in time.

Wham.

Fortunately, I wasn't moving at that point, so I have a mild scrape on my right shin and a mild bruise on my right hip, but it was embarrassing. And frustrating. No apparent damage to the bike, fortunately (gotta have priorities!).

Related, is pedaling with one foot a good way to check form? When doing right-only, I have a smooth circle, but when I do left-only, I have a period of no resistance at the top, followed a sudden whack when I start putting power down again. I assume that's bad.

Takes a little while to figure out the balance to unclip and lean the right way. What helps me is that i put my unclipping foot at 6 o'clock which for me is the easiest position to push down a bit and clip out with the least resistance. Also clipping out before you actually stop helps.. gives you more time to get set and balanced before stopping. instead of "stop..aw crap unclip.. step down"

i believe you are correct with the 1 leg drills. could probably be something to work on for rest days or warming up or whatever.

Dont worry about it, the exact same thing happened to me yesterday and I've been riding clipless for a while.

I've never understood the "can't get foot out in time" syndrome. What kind of pedals were they?

I would unclip with the right foot. That way if you fall you can catch yourself on the right side. However if you fall left and can't unclip you won't be falling on your derailleurs and cassettes.

Oh and I fell twice yesterday because I didn't unclip while mountain biking. They were both within 20 feet of each other.

Just started a week or so with clipless myself and I've only fallen once. It was on freshly spread crushed stone in a highway underpass on a recreational trail. The crushed stone grabbed my tires and before I could get shifted down I came to a stop and fell over on my right side. I was able to grab the wall of the underpass on my way down to slow my fall and other than a bloody shin and knee - no damage.

its alright, that happened to me too, it happens to everyone with clipless. if anything while still on the saddle, start to clip out twice as far as you would, and clip out both. slow down to a fast walking pace, unclip one foot and put it back on your pedal but the pedal behind your cleats so u dont clip back in, and do the same with the other, when both are out your good :]

Incorrect

It does not happen to people who spend an hour on a trainer clipping in and out, in and out.

/whistle

You've never fallen with clipless pedals????

Not because I couldn't get my foot out.

I took my first ride today with my new clipless pedals. I too was thinking I'd have a problem unclipping but I found it pretty easy (knock on wood). I'm not very good clipping in yet but I'm sure with a little more practice it'll become easier and quicker.

No worries ... it happens to everyone.

Just to add to the challenge ...

Prior to going clipless, I had learned to pull my left foot out of the toe clips and put it down when I came to a stop. I had been doing that since I was 6 years old.

When I went clipless, I was told that I would need to change feet ... that it would be so much better for me to unclip my right foot and put it down when I came to a stop. The reason, I was told, is because I'm right-handed and therefore I would find it easier to clip my right foot in again when I started up from a stop.

So not only did I have to get used to a whole new detaching motion, but I did it with the other foot. For the most part it went fairly smoothly, but every now and then, as I approached a stop, I'd have a brain malfunction and would have to hastily sort out which foot and what detaching motion I needed to use to avoid falling over.

I've only fallen twice and both were when I first started using them. The first time was during my first ride to get used to them; I stopped at a corner and by the time my mind figured out what needed to be done I was on the floor because I tried to move my right leg but forgot it was clipped in. The second time was at a busy intersection where I was trying to filter through stopped cars; I unclipped but didn't prepare and that's all it took. It's second nature now so I don't ever come even close to bailing now.

:sigh:

Oh, except for umd who is .......... special. :rolleyes:

Lot's of people don't fall. Just because many of you can't remember how to get your foot out of the pedal doesn't mean everyone does. Just say that it's common instead of trying to make yourselves feel better by projecting your failure onto everyone.

It's not a failure ... it's all part of the learning experience. A learning experience experienced by 99% of the cycling population.

Very little in life is a failure.

So, since you're so special, why not impart your wisdom to us lowly masses? Instead of gloating, tell us how it's done.

It's not that I forgot how; it's that I tensed up and didn't get the motion right fast enough. You keep saying "remember".

It is a failure. You FAILed to unclip and you fell over. You are going to have to corroborate that statistic that you pulled out of your ass.

I need to explain to you how to work a clipless pedal?

That's exactly what happens. :)

And it happens to most cyclists at one point or another when the convert to clipless pedals. You are in good company.

You can continue to delude yourself if it makes you feel better.

You have such a welcoming and supportive attitude. I guess it must make you feel good about yourself. :rolleyes:

Seriously, what evidence do you have to support that this happens to most cyclists? I'll give you that it's somewhat common and I don't believe it's anything to be ashamed about, but why do you feel that you need to project that it happens to everyone, nearly everyone (99% as you said), or most people. Do you have to feel that it happens to nearly everyone to be ok with having fallen?

So I repeat, I don't understand what is so difficult about unclipping when you start to fall over.

Edit: From what I've read of this happening, it seems that it may be somewhat linked to the type of pedal used, which is why I asked.

If the clipless pedals have adjustable release tension, you may want to adjust them to minimum at first. However, use caution when standing or sprinting to be sure they don't release unintended.

As others have mentioned, when coming to a stop, unclip a bit further ahead of time. Never, ever, come to a full stop and then try to back up your bike with one foot still clipped in . . . no need to ask how I know this.