zvez

guy in the video is not using clipless tho, I should think that'd make a difference.

PatrickGSR94

Well I know those videos aren't for clipless specifically, but more just illustrating the "procedure" of stopping by moving forward off the saddle with one foot still on the pedal that's pointing down, and dropping the other foot to the ground.

GaryPitts

I'm the opposite. I find it easier to unclip at 6:00. It's easier for me to unclip a straight leg than one that's up toward my mid-section. I don't know...

I do always unclip left side and it's normally not an issue. The problem here was that was was going so slow and then turned my wheel right trying to buy another second when the left foot was the one unclipped.

I knew this was going to happen when I started riding clipless. I put it off for two years because I didn't want to go through the falling scenarios I knew was inevitable. Now I like the confidence of being clipped in. I just have to get through the learning process.

GaryPitts

Haha! I know how to stop I need to know how to trackstand! I tried it a couple of times with platform pedals and didn't have much luck and said screw it. I may need to put them back on and figure out how it's done. That and bunny hopping are two 'tricks' I'd like to have in the arsenal, but you've heard what they say about old dogs and new tricks...

Samfujiabq

I noticed today I always unclip the left foot as it feels more natural to me,someone pointed out that it was normal for right handed persons,I also heard a lot of guys track standing,,,damn that is soooo cool and Im trying to learn how to do that now.Sorry for your mishap but I guess most of us can truly empathize.
Oh for you track standers,Do you unclip during the learning phase or stay clipped in?

mr645

I unclip on the left. First, so I don;t hit the chain with my right leg and get grease on my leg, and second, if I do fall, my leg will protect the bike parts I do really like the Shimano SPD pedals, I have the A520 set up and I can push or pull as hard as I can with no problem, but if I do start to tip over, the force of putting my foot out sideways is typically enough to get the shoe off the pedal.

catonec 

+1

banerjek

I'm surprised by the number of people who unclip on the right side. Seems like a great way to get a Cat 5 tattoo.

I unclip non drive side only

mr_pedro

I always unclip one side.

Why do you say that the car had the right of way when the car is making a right hand turn and you are going straight?

Anyway I think the lesson for the second fall has nothing to do with unclipping. In the video I see a car that wants to turn right, sees you and slows down to let you pass. Your reaction is then to slow down as well and steer away from your path, comming almost to a stand still. The driver's reaction to your hesitation is then to just keep going, since you are not going.

Since you had right of way (unless your state has a different law in this respect), you should have been more assertive especially when you saw that the driver slowed down for you. If you didn't have right of way, you should have waited before the crossing and not in the middle.

cyccommute 

Well, personally, I've been riding so long that I know how to keep from getting grease all over my leg when I stop. Secondly, I don't put grease on my chain so I don't have to worry about touching it.

cyccommute 

Why would GaryPitts have the right of way? He was riding the wrong way on a sidewalk. If he had been walking across the intersection, he would have been a pedestrian and would have right of way but bicycles are supposed to ride with the flow of traffic.

mr_pedro

A sidewalk has no wrong or right way, since you can go in both directions. Turning vehicles have to give right of way two traffic on sidewalk that is going straight. If he is allowed to ride on the sidewalk or not, I was assuming so but that depends on the state.

GaryPitts

Yes, in Tennessee there is no law against bikes on sidewalks. Normally, I wouldn't have been on it, but a greenway had just ended and turned into a sidewalk.

PatrickGSR94

I'm right-footed I guess and have always used my right foot to stay up on the bike, and left foot to get the pedals going. Might go back to when I first learned to ride a 2-wheeler, I don't know. I remember when I had a little standing scooter and skateboard back in the late 80's, I also always used my right foot for pushing to get the scooter or skateboard going.

*edit* am right-handed also.

cyccommute 

Turning vehicles give right of way to pedestrians on sidewalks. Bicycles are considered vehicles in all 50 states and the rules apply to them as vehicles, not pedestrians. Since he was traveling counter to the flow of vehicle traffic, he should not have assumed...nor should you...that he had right of way.

If he had been traveling in the same direction as traffic but on a sidewalk, he would have had right of way but defensive traffic practices would still have suggested caution. Motorist aren't always aware of their surroundings.

Jaymadd

I try and alternate feet when clipping out, either right or left. I read somewhere that it helps your cleats/pedals wear equally rather than always clipping in/out with the same side. A side benefit is that I'm now comfortable doing either side in an emergency.

rpenmanparker 

Makes no difference. If you wear out cleats on only one side, then you only have to replace that one. I do it all the time.

rpenmanparker 

Some folks don't care about the occasional grease marks. I'd rather put down the foot that feels natural to me.

mr_pedro

Sorry, but you are just wrong. For example in Florida: https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/...0316.2065.html

Notgrownup

I unclip both...I have fallen because 1 foot was still clipeed in so no more....

Carbonfiberboy 

I unclip right foot. A woman on a ride I was on had her left foot run over by a pickup truck. I want to lean away from traffic.

So . . . coming to a stop. Put your left foot at 6 o'clock. Unclip the right, but leave it in place. Just before the bike stops, come forward off the saddle, and dab with the unclipped foot as you roll the last little bit. Never stay on the saddle. I never unclip both feet unless I'm doing a clothing change or something. To start, bring your left foot to 10 o'clock and push down. You can either stop pedaling and clip in the right, or you can use that first push to lift your butt up into the saddle and then clip in the right on that downstroke.

To start on a hill, no matter how steep, you have to be in the correct gear. The correct gear is that gear that moves the bike forward as you push down, and also gives you enough time on the downstroke to get your butt into the saddle. Then you'll be ready to clip in the right on that downstroke. You won't be able to coast and clip in like you probably do on the flat. That will probably be a higher gear than you'd use to climb the hill.

banerjek

I do that when walking and pedaling.

But when starting or stopping either motion, intentionally alternating seems unnecessary...

merlinextraligh

Until the time you unclip your left foot, and are caught leaning right. If you can unclip either foot, without thinking about it, you'll never fall because you were leaning the wrong direction.

Also if you can unclip either foot, you can unclip an lean away from traffic, when you're stopped to make a left, or a right.

Just makes senses to me to be able to unclip either foot seemlessly. Other than the grease issue, I don't see any advantage in always clipping out on the left.

banerjek

You absolutely want to be able to clip out on either side and proximity to traffic is a frequent reason to need to be able to clip out on a particular side.

But that's different than clipping out of both pedals or deliberately alternating. It's not like it takes any thought once you've had a chance to get used to your pedals.

merlinextraligh

I'm definitely not advocating clipping out of both.

I am advocating that when some starts using clipless, they purposefully alternate feet clipping in and out, until they can do it with either foot without thought.

I don't see how you get to that point without some practice to start.