umd

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.

brian416

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.

TheLifeOfBryan

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...

coasting 

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.

clasher

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

poptart38247

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

Sprocket Man

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.

umd

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

mkadam68

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.

GirlAnachronism

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.

hopsing08

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.

fa63

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).

plodderslusk

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.

TheLifeOfBryan

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.

jefferee

Once, with SPDs. Unclipped right, leaned left.

coasting 

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

Jaeger

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.

Reynolds 

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

GP 

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.

clausen

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.

Phantoj

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



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.

Beaker

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

bwunger

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.

roadiejorge 

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.

JacoKierkegaard

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