View Poll Results: Have you fallen because of clipless pedals?
Voters: 701. You may not vote on this poll
Clipless falling survey
#177
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 716
Likes: 21
I have never fallen with clipless pedals but I have fallen with toe clips, straps, and the old slotted cleats. It was a lot harder to get out of those quickly than it is now with clipless.
Last edited by Kneez; 10-12-09 at 10:48 PM.
#178
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 2
I'm guessing umd must be a really good rider - even better than a US Champion 
From George H's twitter today
"My wifes first bike crash with cleates on. She's fine. But let's see if she still wants to ride. This is fun.
And yes she was stopped. She did the tilt over crash we have all done."
So, looks like George would vote Yes.

From George H's twitter today
"My wifes first bike crash with cleates on. She's fine. But let's see if she still wants to ride. This is fun.
And yes she was stopped. She did the tilt over crash we have all done."
So, looks like George would vote Yes.
#179
Twice. Oddly, I've been ridding clipless for two years. The two times I've fallen were about 2 months ago, and last week. Go figure. 2 years incident free, and then two falls in such close proximity. I guess I'm getting sloppy.
#180
I voted yes, but it only happened once, and it was soon after I'd switched over. I was waiting at a light and some guy asked me to push the crosswalk button. I forgot that one foot was still clipped in, leaned over too far and couldn't get my foot out in time to stop myself from going over. So yeah, it was a clipless fall, but mostly it was an 'I'm-an-idiot' fall.
#181
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
Likes: 3
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
I'm guessing umd must be a really good rider - even better than a US Champion 
From George H's twitter today
"My wifes first bike crash with cleates on. She's fine. But let's see if she still wants to ride. This is fun.
And yes she was stopped. She did the tilt over crash we have all done."
So, looks like George would vote Yes.

From George H's twitter today
"My wifes first bike crash with cleates on. She's fine. But let's see if she still wants to ride. This is fun.
And yes she was stopped. She did the tilt over crash we have all done."
So, looks like George would vote Yes.
It has nothing to do with "better", it just hasn't happened, just as it hasn't happened to over 1/4 of the other responders. I think nothing less of the people who have.
#182
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: North Central Florida
Bikes: Giant Rincon '08, Nashbar CX Homebrew
I have to laugh at myself for my first day riding with road clips. I got the bike out of the car and wanted to coast a short distance. I had experience with MTB clips/shoes, and so I thought I could do it with my new road shoes and 105 pedals.
So I stood to one side (left) of the bike with the crank arm pointing down took a step or two, put my shoe on the pedal (left shoe just behind the cleat) and coasted......about 3 feet where upon my foot slipped off, I got off balance and the bike and I went down with me on the bottom. Oh the shame of it! I won't be trying that again soon. Why in the hell do they make the sole so slick?
So I stood to one side (left) of the bike with the crank arm pointing down took a step or two, put my shoe on the pedal (left shoe just behind the cleat) and coasted......about 3 feet where upon my foot slipped off, I got off balance and the bike and I went down with me on the bottom. Oh the shame of it! I won't be trying that again soon. Why in the hell do they make the sole so slick?
#183
Let your bike be the tool


Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 699
From: NC/SC border
Bikes: '66 Raleigh Carlton, '70 Ron Cooper, '95 Bianchi CD'I, "Bottecchia" Zonal Frame with Xenon gruppo, "Bottecchia"Carbon Frame with Record Gruppo, Columbia Twosome, Terry Classic, Bianchi SX, Gravity SS/FG, Titanium "Motobecane" with Ultegra DI2
Haven't with Speedplay X's in the 10 years I've used them. Did with clips and straps a couple of times.
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#185
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
Likes: 3
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
#186
Fred at large
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: Roads of Ventura County Ca
I have fallen while clipped in. However, that fall was not "because of" my pedals. It was because I was tired at the end of a ride and stupidly tried to track stand at a light without really knowing how.
At the time my pedals were old Look delta's. My current pedals are Ultegra SL's.
At the time my pedals were old Look delta's. My current pedals are Ultegra SL's.
#187
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I fell recently for the first time, after about 1,000 miles of successful use. I was behind two other riders, barely moving (off the road), fiddling with the settings on my Garmin, when I looked up and saw they had stopped. Down I went before I could react. I was actually starting to think I would be one of the ones that wouldn't fall!
#188
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 709
From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
Yes. And that was while leaning against my car in the garage, testing the adjustments I just made to my saddle position.
Now if you want to talk about tipping over in toeclips and slotted cleats . . .
Now if you want to talk about tipping over in toeclips and slotted cleats . . .
#189
Happened just once. Pulled up to a stop light (red) towards the end of a 60+ mile solo ride... unclipped the wrong foot and "T-I-MMMMM-B-E-RRRR!!!!!!" It was like in slo-mo, too. Managed to get my left hand out to cushion the blow as I went over to the left (into traffic... but everybody was stopped so no biggie). Somehow twisted my left ankle badly as a result and ended up with a grade-2 sprain. Rode home and walking was no fun for a couple weeks afterwards. Riding was OK though... just a chore remembering to unclip out of the OTHER pedal for that time.
Nasty scratch on my Ultegra 6620 pedal but no other damage... other than my ankle and ego.
Nasty scratch on my Ultegra 6620 pedal but no other damage... other than my ankle and ego.
#190
Go Buckeyes!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio. Powell.
Bikes: Fuji road bike and a totally crap MTB that I use(d) for gnarly trail riding.
I voted yes, however...it wasn't because of my pedals; it was because I was going up a steep hill in the wrong gear, ran out of steam and came to a complete stop, THEN fell over (head-first, downhill... awesome) because my feet weren't mobile. It was my own stupidity for not knowing how to climb a hill. I've never fallen over on flat pavement at a stop sign or light or anything though. Not yet, at least....
Edit: over the winter I'm going to attempt to teach myself how to track stand, so this answer will probably turn into a solid YES, I HAVE FALLEN BECAUSE OF MY CLIPLESS PEDALS
Edit: over the winter I'm going to attempt to teach myself how to track stand, so this answer will probably turn into a solid YES, I HAVE FALLEN BECAUSE OF MY CLIPLESS PEDALS
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#191
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 121
Likes: 1
From: Oakville, ON.
Bikes: DeRosa, Marinoni, Cannondale
Never with so called "clipless" pedals.
Only ever fell learning with toe clips and cleats 30 years ago, back then you had to reach down and release the toe-straps before you could get out. Once at a traffic light and I went down. Twice at another light, but broke my fall on a car.
Only ever fell learning with toe clips and cleats 30 years ago, back then you had to reach down and release the toe-straps before you could get out. Once at a traffic light and I went down. Twice at another light, but broke my fall on a car.
#192
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Bikes: Elephant custom road bike, 08 Redline D440, Motobecane Fantom cross Uno.
I fell a bunch of times on my mountain bike because I was accustomed to putting a foot down in certain situations. When I couldn’t get my foot off of the petal, I ended up on the ground. I’ve never fallen on road.
I was using crank brothers egg beater-c petals. On road, I use Crank Brothers
smarty.
I was using crank brothers egg beater-c petals. On road, I use Crank Brothers
smarty.
#193
well hello there

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,488
Likes: 388
From: Point Loma, CA
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Yes. But only once about five years ago.
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#194
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: FL
I've done it two or three times within the couple thousand miles since I started riding clipless last year. None of those occasions are the fault of the pedals, though. They were all occasions where I assumed that I wouldn't need to come to a complete stop, but ended up needing to at the last moment (hidden traffic, pedestrian, etc.). Unfortunately, I can't blame the pedals for my stupidity.
#195
Bromptoneer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,942
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
Bikes: Brompton S2L
Fell twice, but the clipless only slowed my ability to react. Both times it was my brain stopping & leaning left, which is what I always do, but the circumstances resulted in a right lean stop. Was so in my "muscle memory" moment, when I realized what was happening it was too late to react. No problem though, put my arm out and caught my fall on the ground so no biggie.
My wife fell twice because she couldn't unclip in time. I switched her to my used Look pedals that were REALLY broken in (too loose for me) and she had no problems since, now she's used to the motion and it's all good.
My wife fell twice because she couldn't unclip in time. I switched her to my used Look pedals that were REALLY broken in (too loose for me) and she had no problems since, now she's used to the motion and it's all good.
#196
Over the hill

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 24,601
Likes: 1,364
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: Pinarello Nytro, Momentum Transend
Wow, over 1/3 of the responders have replied that they have never fallen. Even if half of them are lying, I'm starting to feel like a clutsy goofball.
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#197
OnTheRoad or AtTheBeach
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
From: Weston, FL
Bikes: Ridley Noah RS, Scott CR1 Pro
I use Ultegra SPD-SLs and I have not fallen in the 4 years I have been using them. I have been close a few times but I have always managed to get clipped out before falling. I think I have more issues getting clipped in after a stop, many times I have had to ride a bit before I could get clipped in and then had to chase up.
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#198
Over the hill

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 24,601
Likes: 1,364
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: Pinarello Nytro, Momentum Transend
If you haven't gotten used to that in 4 years, you might be a good candidate for double-sided pedals such as Speedplay or Crank Bros.
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#199
OnTheRoad or AtTheBeach
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
From: Weston, FL
Bikes: Ridley Noah RS, Scott CR1 Pro
I wouldn't say I am hopeless but my daily ride has probably 4 stops and in a week I may struggle once or twice a week getting clipped in. Seems to occur a lot more when I am tired.
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The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard and the shallow end is much too large
2013 Noah RS
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard and the shallow end is much too large
2013 Noah RS










