edawg55

My first experience with clipless pedals today wasn't so great. I stopped at a light post to lean on it with my right arm to save me from getting out of the clipless pedals. Well I ended up falling down to my left. haha I got up really quick and played it off. I've separated both of my shoulders playing sports so luckily the bike and I are fine. That would be hard to explain if something happened. I need to loosen up the tension for next time.

ckindt

That sucks - glad you and your raleigh are ok!

FBinNY 

Falling when stopped is a rite of passage with clipless pedals, so hopefully you now have this behind you.

shelbyfv

Next time, unclip and put your foot down. Much safer.

52telecaster

Platform man here but I have still fallen. Man is it embarrassing. Especially at 60.

edawg55

Thanks

If you have a fall the best one is when your're standing still. lol

Lesson learned. I told the wife clipless pedals were safer then my toe clips. Doh!

On a good note down goes the NCAA defending champions. Go Big Ten! Probably a lot of red on a lot of brackets. lol

RonH

Glad you're ok. Now tell us how many people saw this happen.

drlogik 

We've all been there. It doesn't make it any less em-bare-assing though, for sure.

edawg55

Hopefully none. Only a few cars in the parking lot. So I'm wondering if this only happened to just me or some just don't want to admit. lol I got some MTB Shimano shoes and 520 pedals. Not easy to getting into them and obviously I struggled getting out of them. Hopefully after a few more times and loosening the tension I get the hang of it.

coominya

Switch to the Shimano SPD MTB system and leave the tension dialed way low. That way if you forget your feet will pop out as soon as you freak and jerk your legs. The right of passage is a thing of the past now.

welshTerrier2

Yeah, been there, done that on my first clipless ride many years ago. The good news is I haven't done it since.

Something to think about: which foot do you put down when you stop? I've chosen to always use my right foot. Using the same foot every time "might" help with muscle memory. I'm also a righty and my right leg and foot are stronger and quicker then my left.

Second, most roads have a crown where they are higher in the center and lower at the curb so the bike "might" have a tendency to lean right due to gravity. There's also more distance (in the US) from the pedal to the ground on the right so, if your foot gets a little stuck, you have a mini-second more time to get your foot down.

And finally, I would rather lean toward the curb than into traffic.

I have no idea whether any of this is actually safer but that's been my thinking on the left-side versus right-side issue. I wonder what others think about it.

FBinNY 

While we all have the right to fall whenever we wish, the rite of passage relating to newbies falling when first starting out clipless is akin to other rites and rituals like Bar Mitzvah, confirmation, etc.

Like those rites, it's a one time thing that one passes as they become full fledged members of a group.

2cam16

That it is. We all go through it! lol

Wileyrat

Hopefully you didn't do it as good as I did.

I fell over stopped at a light on my new carbon fiber beastie's maiden voyage.

Yes there were a lot of witnesses.

Bmach

If no one saw it it did not happen. So guess what, your first time is still to come. Hopefully like your dream fall you and the bike will be ok.

linberl

I saw a high school kid wipe out today, his hat fell off (no helmet) and he couldn't get unclipped when he went to lean and grab it. Kid was shirtless since it was hot out...he left a lot of skin on the road. He tried to act like he was okay but he had blood everywhere from road rash. At least you were wearing clothes!

corrado33

Everyone falls from clip less at least once. Those of us who learn slowly fall twice. Then you learn to clip out early and stop pushing your luck. (Or you get smart and adjust the clips to be loose until you're more used to them.)

I remember falling twice from clip less pedals. Once when following my girlfriend. We came to a stop sign and, being used to running in a large city, didn't see any cars near enough that I cared about so I planned on rolling through the stop sign (slowly) so I didn't have to unclip. My girlfriend stopped. I slammed on the brakes, forgot to unclip, and flopped over. I don't remember the other time clearly , but I do know the previous story was the 2nd (and last) time I ever fell solely due to clip less. (Now mountain biking, on the other hand is a different story.)

canklecat

Falling is like m@$turbating -- 90% of us do it. The other 10% are lying.

I haven't tried clipless yet but I fell a couple of times 30 years ago when getting used to strapping in with toe clips. Usually very publicly, like at a stop sign or traffic light.

Nowadays I use platform pedals on a hybrid and a rigid mountain bike, and I've still fallen a few times, mostly from trying dumb stunts that I'm too old for or just not paying attention.

I'll probably try clipless when I'm ready for another road bike, maybe later this year or next. Hope I can remember to roll because 60 year old bones don't bounce well.

CliffordK

I have one of those light button posts that I'll occasionally catch, then shove off from. But most are too far from where I'm riding to be useful.

But, if you are new with cleats, you need all the practice you can get, safely getting in and out. Eventually it will be just normal. At which point you can try more finesse, like nearly coming to a standstill while waiting for a light to change.

I tend to anticipate getting out early... so, I'll unclip one shoe 20 feet before stopping (except, for emergency stops, or balancing, and light not quite changing).

ClydeTim

Been riding clipless for 21 years now, never had a fall due to clipless. I know I never will. Thinking ahead does wonders.

Plus timing the lights and a 30 second track stand can do prevent silly mistakes.

Putting my arm on a pole at a stop, I don't think so!

coominya

My point was when I first went clipless, 6 months ago, the new Shimano SPD pedals were available and if properly set up means you will avoid a fall. Basically you can disengage with the slightest twist or even a rolling motion of the foot. These motions come naturally when you freak out having come to a dead stop. twice when learning to use clipless I stopped without disengaging and both times my feet sprang out of the pedals and were on the ground long before the bike was past the point of no return. I had some older Time pedals that I tried briefly in the backyard and the process of disengaging was ridiculous compared to the SPD's. I sympathize with you older blokes who had to graze a few elbows in the learning process but those days are past. Of course as a newcomer progresses and their riding becomes more aggressive it's suggested you increase the tension to avoid a mishap under extreme effort.

Dave Cutter

Glad your OK.... and not even to embarrassed.

I fell do to new clipless pedals once in a small crowd of people and teen kid yelled: "I think the old guy just passed out".

OldTryGuy

As a full fledged LIFETIME MEMBER of Club TomBay, https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus...ification.html, I want to say
WELCOME
Knowing that the first fall has finally taken place, like the first ding in your new frame or car, you can now proceed with unbridled abandonment to attack all roads ahead be they flat or mountainous to show the world how nothing will diminish your enthusiasm of riding that trusty steed.

edawg55

I'm going to dial the Shimano 520's down today and see how that works. Hopefully the more I use the better I get in and out of them. I got them on Nashbar so if they don't work I'll have to return them. What low cost Shimno MTB do you recommend?

Is this normal wear and tear after my fist time using the shoes. I had to tighten up the left cleat after my fall. The bottom of the shoe has 4 holes it's probably just preference to use top or bottom and where to move the sliding thing up or back. Not sure where what's better or if user error. lol The cleats have already made marks on the plastic of the shoe.



For some reason I feel comfortable putting my left foot down. I remember years ago my sister had her ski's tension to tight and her boot stayed on when she wiped out. She messed up her knee.

Damn...Did you get up quick though? hehe

I hope someone on the loading dock saw me. lol

Yikes...On a funny drunk note my friend was clowning around and tipped our golf cart over. Luckily it was in some grass and I didn't put out my arm. We got out really quick and threw our clubs back in our bags. Only one person saw us.

edawg55

Yeah that's what I started doing is to unclip a little early.

Good for you. You might have just jinx yourself though. j/k At times I think less wear on things they will last longer but in this case it was a bad mistake. Luckily it wasn't a big deal. My 2nd year cycling and like everything ya live and learn.

I made the mistake thinking the tension of the pedal would be set lower out of the box.

Thanks...Damn kids. lol

Good point.