Clipless falling survey
 

There seems to be an idea that "everybody" falls when they start using clipless pedals because they either forget to unclip, unclipped the wrong foot, or couldn't get their foot out in time. So, who has fallen and who hasn't? You can just respond to the poll or you can elaborate if desired... I would be curious as to what pedals the fallers vs the non-fallers are using as well.

Quite a few times when learning, but I was ~8 years old on a mountain bike when I started riding clipless. I have never fallen on a road bike though.

I told the dude at the LBS that I was bound and determined to be the one guy that learned clipless without turtling. But alas...

many times. and the type of pedal doesn't matter. it isn't difficulty unclipping, rather totally forgetting the feet are attached to the pedals.

I've yet to fall, but I'm not perfect with clipping in yet, takes a couple of tries sometimes... usually when I'm trying to get off to a super-fast start and/or impress someone ;)

I have yet to fall, but my friend feel onto my bike when he couldn't un clip once.

I started using the Look Deltas back in the late 80s. I didn't have a problem because I practiced clipping in and out a lot on my wind trainer (I don't know if they even had magnetic trainers back then) before I even tried them out on the road.

But I think it may matter. With speedplays anyway, the natural motion of trying to stick your foot out to catch the fall unclips.

I've never fallen because of clipless pedals. I've only ever fallen because my brain forgot I was using clipless pedals and couldn't just lift my foot off. (I voted yes, though.)

I've only ever used Look pedals. First with the delta cleats and now with Keos.

Fallen maybe 3 times over 15 years of riding.

I've never fallen because of my pedals...I've used Time ATAC MTB pedals and Look Keo Elle's...

I did tip over while trackstanding/carrying on a conversation once, but I was using clips and straps at the time.

i havent fallen because of the clips themselves but maybe my vote isnt really fair because i use MTB pedals. i guess they are alot easier to unclip from.

I fell once after using them for more than two years. I was sprinting trying to make it through a traffic light but I didn't even come close, so I started coasting very slowly trying to catch my breath and completely forgot that I was clipped in as I was coming to a stop. Then I fell over in slow motion as bunch of people were watching (and laughing afterwards).

First time many many years ago on my then brand new PY10 with Duegi shoes and Binda Extra straps. Just rolled slowly up a small hill and keeled over when the bike stopped.

Best time was after I'd gotten used to riding clipless and put regular pedals back on so I could go somewhere with hiking boots on. First red light I came to I tried to twist my heel out, but those boots had such great traction on the pedal that I couldn't. I was slowly falling over sideways while frantically trying to twist my foot hard enough when I realized what was going on and simply lifted my foot off the pedal.

I would have hated to be the first guy in history to turtle using flat pedals, and it was damn close to happening.

Once, with SPDs. Unclipped right, leaned left.

ok. i didn't know about speedplays. i use spd-sl

I fell recently - unclipped left foot as I came to a stop and was leaning left as usual. At the last minute I noticed some broken glass and instinctively maneuvered to avoid it - and promptly fell over to the right.

3 times, long ago when I started using clipless, but those pedals were really hard to unclip. Fixed it and never happened again.

I fell on my lawn trackstanding on my FG. My cat saw it through the window and thought it was funny. I've never seen her laugh though.

I have never fallen because I forget to get unclipped or could not get out in time. I have taken a slide because of cleats off the bike. SPD, Delta, Keo.

My first set of clipless were these on a mountain bike:

http://www.thehubsa.co.za/uploads2/2...ook_SL3_02.JPG

The cleat was kind of like an SPD, but bigger. Crummy pedals - hard to get into, easy to accidently release, hard to intentionally release.

Anyway, my first ride on them was on a greasy-slick wet trail with plenty of rocks and roots. I fell over so many times. I don't know if you'd say it was "because" of the pedals... Eventually, I got some SPD clones, and they were much better.

By the time I began riding on the road, I had mastered clipless. No falls on the road.

2-3 times when starting out due to leaving 1 foot in and overbalancing while stopped :o. Look Keo's - doesn't take long to get the hang of it though.

I learned to ride with clipless when I was only mountain biking and I definitely fell. Sometimes I was able to unclip, other times, not so much. Haven't had an issue in 2 years of road biking, though I've gotten awfully close a couple times.

I fell twice shortly after getting clipless pedals; the first time was when I unclipped one foot and instinctively tried to pull my other foot as if I wasn't clipped in...BAM! Second time I was filtering through traffic and came to an intersection with loads of pedestrians crossing so I thought I'd filter through them and had to go really slow at which point I lost balance and BAM! Hasn't happened since though.

I've never fallen because of my pedals. I have, however, tipped over due to absent-mindedness.

The question is causation. The only time I've fallen that I could partially attribute to being connected to the pedals, was when I tried to turn around on my road bike on a narrow gravel road. I turned too sharply and went down quickly. Was this 'because' of the shoe/pedal attachment or because of my miscalculation? I blame the latter, 'tho maybe I would have gotten my foot to the ground in time had I been riding with plain old flat pedals, no clips no 'clipless.'

Twice within a few weeks of getting them. First time it was a stop, wiggle, and fall in a parking lot. The second time it was a stop for a truck pulling out of a driveway on a narrow street. I can't believe I remember these almost 20 years later. None since. The pedals were Mavic/Looks.

Is the Clipless Wiggle a real name for this?

Scene: Attempting to ride over a short hump of compressed gravel while on a climb. Problem: Gravel wasn't compressed enough and the grade was too steep. Result: Sudden slowing and unable to unclip in time to stop falling to my left. My left hand and knee kept the bike and me from completing the fall.

Scene: 3 minutes after the above incident I came to a stop at the appex of the climb and unclipped the right foot successfully. "Time for a picture of where I just came," I thought, so I pulled out my camera and turned around at the waist to snap the picture. Result: the front wheel rolled forward and reoriented the bike/human center of gravity from right to left. Unable to unclip my left foot in time, I flopped over with one hand on the left hood and my right hand holding the camera. With deft handling, I was able to keep the bike from hitting the ground by using my arm, shoulder and hip to rotate onto my back, finishing with the bike now above me. And I managed to keep ahold of the camera. Unfortunately, there was no one around to witness that awesome moment.

I once sped into a gravel parking area in Northern BC, screeched to a halt beside a packed tour bus, and unceremoniously tumbled onto my side. SPD pedal springs has rusted after riding through days of rain on unpaved roads.

+1

It was on a mountain bike years before I owned a road bike. Talk about a helpless feeling slow motion fall, my riding buddies had a good laugh though. I haven't fallen on the road bike due to my pedals (Look Deltas), but my wife has a couple of times. She uses Keos.

Dean