spinoff: share your embarrassing clipless pedal accident stories :) (Page 2)

I was almost finished with my first 50 mile bike and had to make it past two more intersections. I was stopped at one of the intersections right next to the lead car, as I came to a stop my legs were too tired to unclip, so I just stopped rolling and just fell over. I can't imagine what the expression was on the drivers face next to me when I disappeared, but it made me laugh the expression when I popped right up out of thin air, I was way too tired to be embarrassed!

Get your kneepads out - you've just been jinxed - be sure to post here when you join the club!

Happy landings 

Alright, I've just been de-virginized.  I've been riding clipless only this year and have gone out on maybe 15-20 rides.  First time trying to clip in I just zoomed right of the driveway.  I thought it was really easy but I knew from previous posts that I'd take a digger at some point when I got complacent or unlucky due to some car.

So, just had a great ride in which I was really trying to hammer.  Did great for me.  Came flying into the driveway all proud of myself.  Unclip the left foot.  Bike swerves and puts all my weight on my right side.  Crash!  The "oh shite, my stupid arse is going down" moment you all talked about is so true.  I was laughing at myself before I even hit the ground!

Thought I'd share.

I have fallen twice.  First time was a couple of days after I picked up my pedals and shoes.  I fell into my front yard as I was just practicing.   Not to bad, no one saw me.

The second time however, I had just crossed a very busy street and was at a point that I just wanted to stop and get a drink, so I unclip my right foot, slow to a stop and as I go to unclip my left foot, I spaz out and jerk my left foot up a little.  As I start to tip I push my left foot down and my large chain ring cuts up the back of my leg.

Check my album for the picture, 7 mile ride home, get in the car and drive to the ER and get 22 stitches, needless to say I have a sweet scar now.

Just got my clipless pedals on yesterday and have already had three close calls - one very nearly a fall, but I got out just in time to stumble and look stupid. I know it happens to everyone, so I'm dreading, yet looking forward to getting my first fall out of the way...hah.

A question for all you guys - how long did it take you to get really good at clipping in? My first day was horrid, and this being my second day, it's getting better. I can get my right foot to clip in without looking a couple times in a row, but my left still sucks hard. How much practice did you guys need to get it down pat? 

Practice, practice, practice.  Muscle memory and repetition is your friend.  Varying pedals will provide easier ingress/egress, but you'll get a lot of opinions on which ones are better.  Don't worry as much about clipping in without looking as making sure you are steering properly to make sure you don't hit someone/something.

One mistake a lot of people make is to absolutely forget they have a 2nd foot clipped in when starting out after a stop.  If you miss clipping in on the first pass (and have recovered from the invariable shin injury), use the clipped in foot to pull the cranks around for another try.. don't back pedal and try to balance while losing any momentum you had.  Just something I have experienced that may help you.

Chris

Thank you - yeah, I learned today from missing my second clip bunches of times that I could easily just go through the regular motion with the clipped in foot to swing the other crank around for another try. Definitely much better than trying to back pedal.

The first time I had clipless pedals I was trying them out and ran into a bird I really fancied (hope you understood that bit) and rode up next to her thinking I was the king, then couldn't get out of the pedals quick enough and fell over like a tree, crashing to the ground in a heap.

I was ok, except for my bruised ego

Oh well we live and learn!!