Sympathy?!

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Boardgirl

Boardgirl

Active Member
Location
Surrey
Had a clipless moment last week. After riding all winter on flats and only using the Speedplays in the basement, I totally forgot and fell over. Still picking out grit from my palms.

Not good :sad: I have to say I was lucky I didn't graze myself, just a beast of a bruise and sore back again.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Not good :sad: I have to say I was lucky I didn't graze myself, just a beast of a bruise and sore back again.


If you are having a tough time getting used to the bike and the traffic. Then change back to the flats. Once you are comfortable with the feel of the bike and have got used to riding in traffic, then try the SPD's again.
 

Sittingduck

Legendary Member
Location
Somewhere flat
Bring the bike inside and lean it up against the wall in the living room. Put some soothing music on in the background, if you think that'll help. Now... get on the bike and clip in and lean against the wall. Unclip, clip in, un clip, clip in, etc... keep on doing this stuff for 10 minutes. Now, go outside and reap the fruits of your new found skill - it will become second nature and you won't even think about it soon. Welcome to your new 'improved' life!
 

buggi

Bird Saviour
Location
Solihull
Yeah thinking about it, that's exactly what I'm doing. What's the best way round?

Once i realised, I unclipped my left foot when at the 6 oclock position and then pedaled half a rotation backward so that my left foot was then at the 12 oclock position and then it was natural to put that foot down.

It's also likely that you always put the same foot down (with me, it's the left one). one thing you can do is pedal along not clipped in... and then stop quickly...and then see which foot you put down naturally. do it a few times and see if its the same foot. then you will know which foot to unclip and always make sure that foot is in the 12 oclock position when you stop.
 

buggi

Bird Saviour
Location
Solihull
also, as said above, maybe go back to flats until you are used to the bike and more confident in traffic?
 

Louch

105% knowledge on 105
My boardmans needed constant tweaks re gearing problems, usually with the change between the big and little cog at the front. I have road race I bought from halfords. Probably 5/10 rides have resulted in a return to complain about the bike, managed 40 errorless miles last week, hoping tomorrows 75 are hitch free too.

Hope you don't bruise that easy, and don't let it stop you :smile:
 

asterix

Comrade Member
Location
Limoges or York
I'd been cycling for years and years with toeclips before going over to SPDs. I didn't think I'd fall off but I did. About 3 or 4 times.

Now I've been using them nearly 10 years and wouldn't be without them. Am going shopping soon and will be clicking and clanking around the supermarket!
 

hobbitonabike

Formerly EbonyWillow
I recently changed to spd-sl from toe clips. The week before I changed I got my foot stuck in the toe clip and went over resulting in a bruise on my inner thigh bigger than my hand lol. Since changing over to clipless however I am constantly falling over!! Has only ever been from a standstill though. I seem to be having more problem clipping back IN at the moment! It makes people smile when it happens anyway...and there are always plenty of people around when it does! :blush::biggrin:
 
I had my first clipless moment (3 months in) the other day clipped right foot out and..... tried to put left foot down.....bike was way past 45 degress sideways before I recovered... Thanks to specialised rider who slowed down to check if I was okay without any sign of a smirk on his face
 
OP
OP
Boardgirl

Boardgirl

Active Member
Location
Surrey
If you are having a tough time getting used to the bike and the traffic. Then change back to the flats. Once you are comfortable with the feel of the bike and have got used to riding in traffic, then try the SPD's again.

also, as said above, maybe go back to flats until you are used to the bike and more confident in traffic?

As much as these are probably the sensible options...I will not be defeated! Haha. Also, my trainers were causing me a lot of problems so will stick with the SPDs. Sore shoulder, back and hip aside, I'll get used to them eventually, right?
 
OP
OP
Boardgirl

Boardgirl

Active Member
Location
Surrey
My boardmans needed constant tweaks re gearing problems, usually with the change between the big and little cog at the front. I have road race I bought from halfords. Probably 5/10 rides have resulted in a return to complain about the bike, managed 40 errorless miles last week, hoping tomorrows 75 are hitch free too.

Hope you don't bruise that easy, and don't let it stop you :smile:

Hhmm that's the same problems I seem to have :sad: First time I went out the chain came off 4 times because of the big and little cog change up. It's not good and making me think I should do an exchange all together and get a Specialized?

I'm pretty bashed up today unfortunately but hopefully I'll be ok tomorrow as got a ride planned.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Hhmm that's the same problems I seem to have :sad: First time I went out the chain came off 4 times because of the big and little cog change up. It's not good and making me think I should do an exchange all together and get a Specialized?

I'm pretty bashed up today unfortunately but hopefully I'll be ok tomorrow as got a ride planned.


The reason it keeps coming of the rings is that it's not been set up properly. If you had it set up by the people at Halfords then I am not surprised. Take the bike to your LBS and get them to give it the once over and running properly.
 
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