A good reason to not use clip-in (clipless) pedals [Video warning: Nasty arm break]

[Mr_Kipling]

Some may have already seen this. I'm sure most on this forum would disagree with me, but I think clipless pedal use is too dangerous to be worth it's benefits. I think the guy in the video would be a lot better off had he not been using clipless. Even on the road, at a sudden stop if you can't unclip in time you could end up under a car head first.

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[jonny jeez]

Ha, nice. Chap,is lying there with his arm snapped in half and the organisers are like.."next please".

What utter cocks.

Nothing wrong with clip less.unless you plan to go riding down a thin starting ramp at 1mph and then jump off the edge.

Not much opportunity for that on the road.

 

[screenman]

If you think unclipping takes a measurable time longer to put your foot down, then something is wrong, but not with the pedals or cleats.

 

[Cyclist33]

If you think unclipping takes a measurable time longer to put your foot down, then something is wrong, but not with the pedals or cleats.

Conversely many people think being clipped in makes you faster or a better amateur cyclist, which it doesn't.

 

[screenman]

Conversely many people think being clipped in makes you faster or a better amateur cyclist, which it doesn't.

I did not think we were talking about that myth. Do you ride clipped in, or loose.

 

[Cyclist33]

I did not think we were talking about that myth. Do you ride clipped in, or loose.

No but your post implies that it is a bad reflection on a rider if they struggle with clips so I thought I would point out that it doesn't make the difference people want it to.

I ride both but default to unclipped because of the hassle of clipping back in mainly, but also the unclipping seems about as unnatural a way of coming to a stop as you could get. Certainly these things have robbed many a good ride of much joy.

 

[Milkfloat]

Conversely many people think being clipped in makes you faster or a better amateur cyclist, which it doesn't.

OK, I will bite. Can you point me out to where this has been discussed and proven? It is certainly not my experience, clipped in gets me more watts and crucially helps me pedal 'in circles', which maintains the power throughout the revolution of each pedal rotation.

 

[screenman]

So putting your foot on a pedal in a for you a natural position is harder for you than putting your foot on the pedal. Not sure I get that, it is 25 years since I have to think about clipping in and I use them on every ride.

Go back to my first post on this topic.

 

[coffeejo]

I have a beautiful scar on my shin from where my foot slipped off the flat pedal as I was pushing off, leading to the inevitable collision between pedal and limb as the cranks continued the revolution without me. Other than the fact that it bloomin hurt and I ended up with a shoe full of blood, the main problem was that I was at a crossroad with a main A road and came to an abrupt halt in the middle of one of the lanes. At the time, this seemed like less of a priority than the aforementioned shin of pain but looking back, it wasn't the best place to be stopped. And all because I wasn't clipped in...

 

[Drago]

I think the guy in the video would be a lot better off had he not been using clipless.

Correction. He'd be a lot better off if he actually learned to ride properly with clipless.

Even on the road, at a sudden stop if you can't unclip in time you could end up under a car head first.

If you're proficient in their use, then why should you not be able to unclip? Unclipping is every bit as quick as lifting your foot from a flat pedal. Indeed, in conditions of instability a rider competent in the use of SPDs can pull off tricks to stay upright that a flattie user can't. I'm perennially unpopular for saying it, but in my experience as a trainer many riders try moving across to clipless before their basic riding skills are sufficiently developed and that is what is responsible for their problems, not any inherent deficiency with the system. After all, how do I manage to use them quickly and seemlessly if they're so crap?

I'm sure most on this forum would disagree with me...

That's because you're commenting about then use of a piece of equipment that you're clearly not skilled in the use of yourself, and are therefore not qualified to make such a judgement.

In any event, the video you use to support you claim is laughable. Even if the rider had unclipped - and it didn't look to me as if they had even tried - then there the Hell are they supposed to put their feet from 2 feet above the ground?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

A very badly broken arm there - he needs to learn to fall properly as well as learning to ride down a ramp!

 

[pauldavid]

I think the OP may be onto something here.

Until someone can provide irrefutable evidence that clipless pedals are safe for us I have taken the following precautions.

1; fitted flat pedals to the commute bike

2; refusing to use the start ramp built in the front garden for the start of my commute. The wife is particularly happy about this one as she doesn't have to get up 10 minutes earlier every day to do the countdown to start time on the ramp.

 

[Drago]

I've been using them every ride for over a decade, without even a sniff of an incident. How much proof do you need?

 

[pauldavid]

I've been using them every ride for over a decade, without even a sniff of an incident. How much proof do you need?

Could you let me have gopro footage for the entire period as evidence please.

As a side note, I have managed to slip on the flat pedal and smack my shin on one of the pedals, this has caused a bruise. I have now removed the flat pedals and lowered my saddle so that I can ride home balance bike style.

I will be taking advice from a local solicitor later about possible action against my LBS, how do they get away with selling these wheeled implements of torture in this day and age. He couldn't have put me in any more danger if he'd sold me a bear trap for use as a welcome mat!

 

[Dan B]

Correction. He'd be a lot better off if he actually learned to ride properly with clipless.

In this case he'd be significantly better off if he learned to ride in a straight line