PatrickGSR94

Everyone here said it would happen. And I was doing so good! I got my bike and shoes Saturday and experienced SPD pedals for the first time. I've ridden several times and clipped in and unclipped many times. But then I was rolling up my inclined driveway and I think my son distracted me or something. The incline made me stop, and suddenly I realized I had not unclipped. And down I went. Straight to the right side. Luckily the bike escaped pretty much unscathed other than a small scuff on the plastic plug on the right drop bar end, and a few marks on the bar tape and rubber hood cover. I think the right pedal prevented anything else from touching the ground. Knee and hand are skinned up pretty good, though.

Oh well, live and learn. Carry on.

surgeonstone

Not your last, it's part of cycling life.

PatrickGSR94

Yeah and I was feeling like such a natural at it, too. Guess this serves to knock me back down to size.

adamhenry

Sometimes it's more important to know when you shouldn't be clipped in to begin with.

PatrickGSR94

Yeah I know when to unclip, it's just that my son distracted me and I was talking to him, as I was pulling up the driveway.

Latif

Had my first last week after 6 weeks of clipping in. I was so sure that car on my right was going to go that I didn't bother to unclip in town like I usually do. Slower and slower and oh no it's not going to go. I fall to my left next to a small pickup and the driver yells out, I've got a road bike too, I've done that. No damage and my gloves saved skinning my left hand. I had wondered what would happen being clipped in but both released in the fall just like ski bindings which was reassuring.

JK1111

If you must fall, do it on the non-drive side.

Hot Potato

Definitely not your last fall. Especially since you haven't done it with enough witnesses to mock you sufficiently.

PatrickGSR94

Not sure I had much choice in the matter LOL. Problem is I naturally put my right foot down, because I naturally start pedaling with my left foot. It's how I've always done it since I first started riding a bike in the 80's. So as I started to fall I tried to get my right foot out, and I just tilted to the right side.

bsektzer

As other have said, it may have been the first, but you can rest assured it won't be the last. One 'technique' that's helped me is trying to remember that if I even think I'll need to un-clip, I need tp un-clip.

Lexi01

This is the main point...someone (your son) saw you so it actually happened - to you.

Me? I may or may not have done it...but the important thing is no-one saw mine - that's if it did happen at all...

Mike F

Cross that off your list of firsts

Phil85207

Mine was at an main intersection for kids going to ASU in the morning rush hour. I fell to the left in front of a car and it seemed like hundreds of kids crossing right in front of me. For the life of me I couldn't get uncliped while laying next to the crosswalk. The guy in the car behind me thought I was having a epileptic fit and was scared to get out of his car. Just about the time he got up the courage to open his door I escaped the bindings, and boy was he relieved and was I embarrassed.

generalkdi

Get gloves, your hands will thank you next time

escarpment

I was turning around a few days ago in a park, rode off the path into sand and fell on my ass because I couldnt unclip fast enough, I was going 0mph. And I have been using clipless since high school.

cinemattic

had to have a stranger pry my bike off my feet when i had my first. that was a bit of humbling moment. at least he was super cool about it and didn't stick around to ridicule me...

tnvol123

It's awkward at first. Just keep at it. Before long you will clip in and out without thinking about it.

PatrickGSR94

I have some, but didn't think a 15 minute slow ride around the neighborhood would require them. Next time I'll think differently.

Aeolis

Anyone notice how hard it can be to unclip when you Are laying on your side after a fall? Makes it that much more embarrassing lol

JoelS

Sometimes we fall on our own even without a clipless incident. I went down on Sunday when I hit a bump that knocked a hand off my bars.

Unfortunately, falling is part of the risk.

PatrickGSR94

Luckily both of mine came out almost immediately when I hit the ground.

milkbaby

Check your rear derailleur alignment. If you fall on the drive side (right side), you can bend the RD inwards enough that you risk pulling it into the spokes when you shift into the largest cog in back. That can lead to some ugly results. Good to hear you're alright and not injured!

Rootman

Congrats, you made it a heck of a lot farther than I did. I put on the pedals and shoes and went and hopped on the bike, snapped in the right side then realized I had the kick stand down, so I tried to pop it up and promptly dell over on my right side. lasted all of 10 seconds.

Bob Dopolina 

+1.

Mocking or it didn't happen.

FPSDavid

I've gotten good at "half unclipping" whenever I think there's a possibility of having to unclip quickly.

Pretty much unclip, but lightly enough that I keep the front of the cleat in the pedal, at an angle so that I can slip out quickly if needed, and if not, clip right back in just by rotating my foot back to straight.