2 falls one week :( Should I be unclipping both sides???
#26
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gladeville, TN
Posts: 481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gladeville, TN
Posts: 481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Me, too. I also ride a motorbike and do the left foot for the same reason
#28
Medicinal Cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Mohawk Valley/Adks, NYS
Posts: 2,807
Bikes: 2003 Klein Q Carbon Race; 2009 Giant OCR-1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I only ride in the country and my only reason for stopping is to get off the bike for some reason.
You might have problems getting going again after unclipping both feet. I don't.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somewhere in TX
Posts: 2,266
Bikes: BH, Cervelo, Cube, Canyon
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Unclipping is just a flick of the heel. It shouldn't be a big deal, or take more than .1 seconds. I think your tension must be too high.
#30
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,362
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6218 Post(s)
Liked 4,217 Times
in
2,364 Posts
So I fell last Saturday and lesson learned. Only my 2nd fall ever, but it's only been 3 months since I clipped in. This time I learned to never try to start when going uphill. Ever. I was actually off-road having stopped for a short break at the lake and thought I could clip back in and ride to the road which was only 15 feet away. Uphill. Don't do it! Again, lesson learned.
That said, I am equally proficient with both feet. Years of off-road riding tends to teach you how to unclip on either side without really thinking about it. I would suggest...and this is heresy in the 41...that you get a mountain bike. You'll learn more about bike handling skills in one afternoon than thousands of hours of road riding.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#31
Beer >> Sanity
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,449
Bikes: 2014 Evo DA2, 2010 Caad9-4, 2011 Synapse-4, 2013 CaadX-disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm right handed so I unclip just the left. Makes sense if you think about it.
#32
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gladeville, TN
Posts: 481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gladeville, TN
Posts: 481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You may have learned a lesson but you learned the wrong one. What you should have learn was not to do the same way. Starting on an uphill is a very useful lesson to learn and isn't all that hard. Start with your dominate foot in about the 2 o'clock position. Squeeze the front brake then push down on the pedal and release the brake at the same time. Depending on the steepness of the hill, you will need to find a balance between weighting the front wheel to prevent a wheelie and weighting the rear wheel to make sure you have traction. Either way, you want to be near the center of the bike as you ride up the hill. I also find that attempting to pull your nose down to the stem helps keep the front wheel on the ground. You don't actually want to touch your nose to the stem but it should feel like you are trying to while your arms are keeping you from doing it.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Perth, Australia and sometimes Penang Malaysia
Posts: 1,916
Bikes: Litespeed L1r, Litespeed Ghisallo 07, TCR Advanced Team SL 0 ISP, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Giant TCR Advanced Team - T-Mobile, Giant Propel Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think in the video, you need to anticipate more, you should have clipped out much further and stopped on the verge rather than rolling into the entrance way.
Also transition off the saddle and put the foot down, it looks like, as some others have pointed out that you don't seem to have got off the saddle, there is less chance of balancing on the tip toes.
You also turned to the opposite side for some reason, which would have shifted the weight to the right, try to turn into the unclipped side
Also transition off the saddle and put the foot down, it looks like, as some others have pointed out that you don't seem to have got off the saddle, there is less chance of balancing on the tip toes.
You also turned to the opposite side for some reason, which would have shifted the weight to the right, try to turn into the unclipped side
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW Arkansas, USA
Posts: 1,031
Bikes: 2015 Giant Roam 2 Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 91 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
I unclip BOTH as I am a klutz and have fallen 3 times. Damn near fell while unclipped a few times too.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Missouri
Posts: 662
Bikes: '12 CAAD10 3, '88 Raleigh Talon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I only unclip my right side. It's rather comical when I unclip just my left side and try to stop, seeing as I've programmed myself to lean pretty heavily right to ensure I don't fall. I unclipped both feet once, but the left clipped back in by the time I was stopping and setting my right foot down... To be honest, I'm not sure how people do it.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Posts: 1,846
Bikes: Fuji Cross Comp, BMC SR02, Surly Krampas
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When first riding clipless, it took a lot of thought and unclipping both feet. You always fall in the direction of the clipped foot....
These days, after 3 years of clipless, I usually unclip one foot, but I couldn't trust myself to do that in the beginning. Funny, too - I used to think my mtb friends were nuts to ride clipped in. I simply can't imagine riding NOT clipped in these days, on my road, CX, or mtb.
These days, after 3 years of clipless, I usually unclip one foot, but I couldn't trust myself to do that in the beginning. Funny, too - I used to think my mtb friends were nuts to ride clipped in. I simply can't imagine riding NOT clipped in these days, on my road, CX, or mtb.
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I always unclip my left when anticipating a stop; that way if I do start to fall, it's more likely to be away from traffic than into it. When I know I'm going to stop, I just shift off the saddle and put my leg down.
One thing that has worked for me is to unclip at the 12 o'clock position instead of at 6. That way you have the clipped in leg pushing down at 6 o'clock for balance and you can unclip the other foot but leave it on the pedal. If you end up not needing to stop (e.g. crossing at an uncontrolled intersection), as you push down on the pedal with the unclipped foot, it will automatically clip back in, otherwise you can take the foot off the pedal and stop. I'm using SPD-SL, so this might not work as well with other platforms. At least this way you aren't struggling to unclip at the last second and can be ready to get clipped back in in a split second.
Also when clipping in with SPD-SL, it's more of a slide in, push down motion rather than stepping down onto the mechanism.
One thing that has worked for me is to unclip at the 12 o'clock position instead of at 6. That way you have the clipped in leg pushing down at 6 o'clock for balance and you can unclip the other foot but leave it on the pedal. If you end up not needing to stop (e.g. crossing at an uncontrolled intersection), as you push down on the pedal with the unclipped foot, it will automatically clip back in, otherwise you can take the foot off the pedal and stop. I'm using SPD-SL, so this might not work as well with other platforms. At least this way you aren't struggling to unclip at the last second and can be ready to get clipped back in in a split second.
Also when clipping in with SPD-SL, it's more of a slide in, push down motion rather than stepping down onto the mechanism.
Last edited by Digitalfiend; 09-01-13 at 10:43 AM.
#39
Beer >> Sanity
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,449
Bikes: 2014 Evo DA2, 2010 Caad9-4, 2011 Synapse-4, 2013 CaadX-disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Those of you unclipping BOTH feet, how exactly do you do this? Both feet hanging off the pedals and you jump off the saddle or what? Or do you rest your unclipped shoe on the pedal and stand on it while unclipping and putting the other foot down? What happens if you slip off the pedal? Or is your saddle so low you can sit on it and touch the ground?
The only way I can unclip both is to unclip one, stop, put foot down, unclip other.
+1
The only way I can unclip both is to unclip one, stop, put foot down, unclip other.
I always unclip my left when anticipating a stop; that way if I do start to fall, it's more likely to be away from traffic than into it. When I know I'm going to stop, I just shift off the saddle and put my leg down.
One thing that has worked for me is to unclip at the 12 o'clock position instead of at 6. That way you have the clipped in leg pushing down at 6 o'clock for balance and you can unclip the other foot but leave it on the pedal. If you end up not needing to stop (e.g. crossing at an uncontrolled intersection), as you push down on the pedal with the unclipped foot, it will automatically clip back in, otherwise you can take the foot off the pedal and stop. I'm using SPD-SL, so this might not work as well with other platforms. At least this way you aren't struggling to unclip at the last second and can be ready to get clipped back in in a split second.
Also when clipping in with SPD-SL, it's more of a slide in, push down motion rather than stepping down onto the mechanism.
One thing that has worked for me is to unclip at the 12 o'clock position instead of at 6. That way you have the clipped in leg pushing down at 6 o'clock for balance and you can unclip the other foot but leave it on the pedal. If you end up not needing to stop (e.g. crossing at an uncontrolled intersection), as you push down on the pedal with the unclipped foot, it will automatically clip back in, otherwise you can take the foot off the pedal and stop. I'm using SPD-SL, so this might not work as well with other platforms. At least this way you aren't struggling to unclip at the last second and can be ready to get clipped back in in a split second.
Also when clipping in with SPD-SL, it's more of a slide in, push down motion rather than stepping down onto the mechanism.
#40
Senior Member
It happens. I usually unclip my right side and unclip the left only when I have my right foot firmly on the ground. I also make a habit of leaning the bike slightly towards the right so that I don't get pulled to left and fall (kind of like your scenario).
For stopping and starting uphill (sometimes unavoidable) make sure you get the bike in an easier gear before you stop. I also learned that doing one leg drills on the trainer helps with getting started uphill tremendously since you have more power to get the bike rolling. Once the speed is around 3-4 mph, i can then safely clip the other foot. I also notice that some pedals (e.g. Look Keo 2 Max) are easier to clip into then others. I switched from the Keo classic to Keo 2 Max and find the Max easier to clip into.
For stopping and starting uphill (sometimes unavoidable) make sure you get the bike in an easier gear before you stop. I also learned that doing one leg drills on the trainer helps with getting started uphill tremendously since you have more power to get the bike rolling. Once the speed is around 3-4 mph, i can then safely clip the other foot. I also notice that some pedals (e.g. Look Keo 2 Max) are easier to clip into then others. I switched from the Keo classic to Keo 2 Max and find the Max easier to clip into.
#41
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Pretty sure it doesn't matter which foot you choose, but get into the habit of using the same foot, and more importantly, leaning the bike in the direction of your unclipped foot. You want that to just become an unconscious act.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#42
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Auzeville-Tolosane, Midi-Pyrénées
Posts: 301
Bikes: Redline Carbon Conquest Team, Colnago X-Lite (Wrecked, Stripped, Wal-Arted), Ibis Hakkalugi (STOLEN!!!), Bianchi Imola, Bianchi San Jose, Soma DC DC
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Unclip every time, both feet.
I usually put both feet on the chainstays, straddle the top tube, hold my seat post with my right hand, and come to a controlled stop using my left hand as normal for steering and braking, but then using my mouth to control the rear brakes. For some folks they find this a bit awkward, but I think you should give it a try. Remember, feet on the chainstays makes all the difference.
I usually put both feet on the chainstays, straddle the top tube, hold my seat post with my right hand, and come to a controlled stop using my left hand as normal for steering and braking, but then using my mouth to control the rear brakes. For some folks they find this a bit awkward, but I think you should give it a try. Remember, feet on the chainstays makes all the difference.
#43
Uber Goober
Ditto on the tandem, stoker stays clipped in, I unclip on the right, have to land the right foot farther out.
And yes, it is possible to restart on an uphill. One thing is that you need to keep those pedals going whether your foot clips in or not, it may take two or three revolutions of the pedals before you get it clipped in. If it's a short slope, like at a crossroads where one road is higher, try to stop at either the bottom or top of the slope instead of on the slope. And of course, it depends on how steep, and whether you had presence of mind to downshift before you stopped. If it's gravel, it's highly variable, I've been on some loose stuff that was like trying to ride in peanut butter, and that's a problem. On something like a sloped parking lot, just get started going crosswise to the slope, then angle back uphill when you're clipped in and downshifted.
Having done lots of slow riding on platform pedals may help, learning to ride a unicycle may help.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Never unclip both sides as you need to be able to restart in a hurry in case of an unexpected event. And which foot you unclip is NOT situational. Best advice I can give is to unclip the same side every single time no matter what. This builds the proper muscle memory so you always know how to balance and you will become rock solid on your dismount. On that subject do not ever try to stay on the saddle and just reach for the ground with your toes. That is very unstable. (Sure a lot of you will tell me how proficient you are at that, but we are talking about someone having a little difficulty.) Use your still clipped in foot to push off the saddle and come forward on the top tube as you put your free foot down to the ground. This is the most stable way to dismount. Also the most powerful way to restart (remember what you said about starting on uphills) is to lift yourself back onto the saddle with your clipped-in foot as you use your weight to start that pedal moving. The only problem with always unclipping the same foot is that you may lose skill to dismount on the other side in case of some unforeseen circumstance or problem with the bike (broken pedal on the unusual side), injury, etc. But it is a low probability problem and worth it to have the assured skill on the preferred side.
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Do you mean some people actually do the other? Of course you unclip at 12:00. The bent knee gives you much more leverage to twist the ankle and unclip. Like a long handled wrench or bending your elbow to unscrew the stuck top on a jar. It is called torque! Twisting the leg at 6:00 required the whole leg to turn all the way up to the hip, and the leverage is poor. Not good.
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I see it a lot with riders who seem to be new to clipless. As they pull up to stop signs or lights they try and twist out with the leg down and, since most of them have seats too high, they get all unbalanced and wobbly...or just can't twist out and fall over.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
Watch the Pro bike racers; what I see is that they unclip both feet.
I can do that, but it seems weird to still be on the saddle with both legs dangling. If I lean to one side or the other I can touch the ground and get off.
Normally, I unclip on the left and turn slightly to the right as I come to a stop; that assures that I will be leaning to the left as I stop, so I can get the unclipped foot on the ground.
I can do that, but it seems weird to still be on the saddle with both legs dangling. If I lean to one side or the other I can touch the ground and get off.
Normally, I unclip on the left and turn slightly to the right as I come to a stop; that assures that I will be leaning to the left as I stop, so I can get the unclipped foot on the ground.
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
I know it sounds ridiculous to need a video on "how to stop", but I wasn't doing it this way before about a year ago, and now I always do it this way. Left crank arm pointing down, right side up, unclip right foot, move forward off saddle while right foot dangles, stop, then drop right foot down to the ground. Left foot still on pedal and clipped in. Then I press down on the left pedal first to get going again.
These 2 videos both show it well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyatgZ6mQPk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pexggcTo3Xs
These 2 videos both show it well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyatgZ6mQPk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pexggcTo3Xs