So embarrassing (Page 2)

Welcome to the club. My first time I tipped over into some bushes.  The people I was riding with all jumped off and tried to help me and assess my injury. My only concern was my bike.

rach_1623 - 2011-12-13 5:43 PM It sounds like most everybody's falls were more tame than mine. 2 out of the 3 times that I've toppled as a result of not clipping out fast enough, I've managed to injure myself pretty darn severely. Once I fell in gravel and literally couldn't use my thumbs because my hands were banged up so bad. Once I bruised up my hip and knee pretty badly. Maybe I'm just not as graceful of a faller as the rest of you.

My first real outdoor ride with clipless I was standing there clipped in on one side and watching my wife get started (on her first clipless ride).  Some how I lost balance and toppled over. 

pretty funny except my leg caught the chain, or stay or... something.  I rode with a pretty big gash that day, and I think I'll always have the scar.

One of my other ones I am on a trail here in Houston were it is flat and my wife notices there is a ramp up to the top of the damn.  A Hill! so I decide to ride up it... but when I get to the top I suddenly realize that the top is big thick gravel.... I'm stumped on what to do cause there is no room to 360 on this trail... I was already moving slow... now i'm stopped...next thing I know i'm on the ground.  Just an ego bruise there.

I have, also, falling while standing in line for a ski lift. Just standing there and next thing I know, I'm falling over.

Does that make me a true skier?

I've not been brave enough to try the clips yet but I know I'll be one of those falling!  I struggle to get out of the cages and stop gracefully!

I hope to buy the clips and shoes over the holidays, but I will practice a lot on the trainer before attempting any outside street action!

Happened to me just before the dismount line during an olympic triathlon...

...You know, the line where everybody wait for somebody with unclipping issues...

It hurted... not the body, the ego

Yup, many times. My last time I managed to fall off my bike at a complete stop was at an intersection where, of course, there were many cars there to watch my not-so-gracefull fall to the ground. Of course seeing my try to get my other foot out of the clips while on the ground provided even more entertainment for the passing motorists.

Chin up, it happens to just about everyone.

I had read numerous threads about situations like this before I got my clipless pedals, so I was worried about falling over. As soon as I got them mounted on the bike I rode up and down the driveway (after checking to make sure no neighbors were watching). Clip, coast, unclip, clip, coast, unclip, and on and on and on.

Once I ventured out I would unclip both feet at least 10 feet before I had to stop. Eventually I got comfortable, then IT happened... unclip right, topple left. DANG IT! Another biker asked if I was ok... no, I'm not, my ego is bruised beyond repair and I need a waaaambulance.  

A few weeks later I stopped at a stop sign with a car coming... unclip right... wait for it... wait for it... oh snap, I'm not going to lean right. Flapping my right foot in the air while desperately trying to unclip the left while everything turns sideways in slow motion. The car had just passed as I slammed to the ground on my 1 week old tri bike, hitting hardest with my body trying to not scratch the bike. 

The best though was when I was riding and realized my front tire was low... like... LOW. I decided to whip a u-turn and go back to air it up. On the service drive between McDonalds and the Chinese restaurant, at lunch time, I u-turn, the tire folds over, sending my rocketing to the ground at a whopping 0mph. I hit, my feet pop out of the pedals and I go sliding on the asphalt. Apparently during my ejection the cleat on my shoe hit the bike frame and chipped off a small spot of paint. Thank goodness my ego had already been buried so I just got up, dusted off, and rode off... very, very, carefully. 

Does anyone notice the slow motion phenomenon that occurs during Tipping Over While Clipped In? I feel like I have a whole conversation in my head during which time I could probably do something about tipping over, but somehow fail to react quickly enough. Like so:

"Hmmm. This is odd, my balance seems to have shifted dramatically to one side. That can't be good. Perhaps I should put my foot down on the ground to stop it...Oh, that's right, I forgot. My foot is clipped into my pedal. Lemme just try to start wiggling the foot a little and get it loose. Darn. I can't seem to unclip it in time. Oh man, I'm tipping over. This is really happening. I'm gonna--"

CRASH.

Does anyone else notice that happening or is it just me?

I have noticed the phenomenon... however, your rendition of the mental conversation is a bit different than mine. It's more like "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO ouch!!!! Did anyone see that?"

I've heard it referred to as the LSF = Low Speed Fall. Usually at a light or in front of the house, but always where shame can be maximized.

HE has fallen off his trainer though.