Woman Falls Off Bike Shock

[BearPear]

So I went and did it, I got the shoes and the pedals and went out to the real outdoors (as opposed to the hallway) and had a go with the clipping in and out. All was going well, Mr BP was offering words of encouragement until I went up to the gate on the cycleway and by the time I got to it, I'd forgotten to give myself the distance to de-cleat (if that's the term). It all happened in slo-mo and I decided the least painful way to fall was to tip gracefully over to one side and land kind of on hip & shoulder.

I laid on the path, with Mr BP chuckling to himself as he came to detach me from the bike, "why are we out here if not to practice clipping in & out?" he asked as I explained that I forgot about the cleats! That was yesterday, today I have a huge purple bruise on my hip, it's a beauty!

I will be back, but I would like someone to tell me that I will be able to de-cleat when riding uphill towards a stop and/or hazard. Mr BP says that I will have the momentum to give me time to de-cleat, but I'm not too sure and a little reluctant to tip over again while the bruise is still in full bloom!

 

[ufkacbln]

I laid on the path, with Mr BP chuckling to himself as he came to detach me from the bike,

Many is the time I have been slapped for chuckling too loudly at my wife's mishaps!

Keep with it - we all have to do the obligatory fall, and it does soon become natural.

 

[Dayvo]

Entertaining write-up, BP!

Good on ya, though, for having a go!

Sooner or later, a newcomer/novice to 'going clipless' WILL fall off and don't believe anyone who says otherwise.

Good news is that you will learn quite quickly how to click in and out and it will soon be second nature!

How about a piccy of your bruise!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

A Cunobelin said, we all do it. Istill do occasionally when the brain cell is chilling out.

"Cleating" as opposed to "de-cleating" (lovely satisfying word that, I must remember it) is more of a problem when attempting to start uphill. I generally opt to go down the hill to clip in and turn when convenient. (I know I know, but it suits me see.)

 

[carlgorse]

Its all about Practice and the time will come when you have come past that fear of clipping in or out on time

and im pretty sure MR BP has falling off in his time of using Clipless pedals

Keep trying

 

[buggi]

here's a tip. It's easier to unclip at the bottom of the pedal stroke (6 o'clock position) but it's natural to place the foot down that is at the top of the pedal stroke (12 o'clock position).

So either:

clip out at the top of the pedal stroke
or
clip out at the bottom and then turn the pedals half a stroke so that the foot that is clipped in is at the bottom of the pedal stroke and the foot that isn't clipped in is at the top of the pedal stroke.

As long as the foot that is still clipped in is at the bottom of the pedal stroke, you won't try to put the wrong foot down.

 

[gbs]

As long as the foot that is still clipped in is at the bottom of the pedal stroke, you won't try to put the wrong foot down.

Sitting here, well before dawn, I cannot say what sequence I adopt to uncleat and stop. That is a sort of proof that after a time (less than 3 rides) uncleating becomes a natural unthinking process.

One point I would add is anticipation; it is not difficult to ride with the foot resting on the pedal so I suggest uncleat early to avoid falls caused by loss of momentum

 

[Steve H]

Don't forget to loosen the tension on the cleats so it's really easy to clip out at first. When I started with them I used to go mountain biking offroad with them too tight. Every time I hit a tough bit of terrain and had a wobble, I couldn't get them out in time and took plenty of tumbles.

I now know to wear them a bit looser and all is good.

 

[Steve H]

Oops - meant tension on the pedals, not the cleats in last post!!

 

[ian turner]

I used to unclip on the up but I started having problems with that possibly due to wear on the cleats (SPD-Ls which have a definite gouge on one side of the rear, I have some new 105s to replace the 540s and a new set of cleats for that matter but am procrastinating ) so now always unclip on the down.
I have yet to fall off in almost a year but that is probably due to a fear of falling over be it on icy, steep slopes or when clipped firmly to bike pedals so I never forget that I MAY FALL OFF !!!

 

[HLaB]

Welcome to the gang BP . Try loosening of your cleat a bit it makes it really easy for your feet to come out when need be.

 

[ianrauk]

Entertaining write-up, BP!

Good on ya, though, for having a go!

Sooner or later, a newcomer/novice to 'going clipless' WILL fall off and don't believe anyone who says otherwise.

Good news is that you will learn quite quickly how to click in and out and it will soon be second nature!

How about a piccy of your bruise!

Well Dayvo... Pleased to say I have never had a moment in 4 yours of clipless*. I was one of those fortunate souls that took to it straight away. However I have come close a few times.

*Thats put a hex on me now hasn't it?

 

[Dayvo]

Well Dayvo... Pleased to say I have never had a moment in 4 yours of clipless*. I was one of those fortunate souls that took to it straight away. However I have come close a few times.

*Thats put a hex on me now hasn't it?

YEP!

At the end of your cycling days, Ian, and only then, can you make that proud boast!

 

[Paul Walters]

I was regailing a mate of mine with my clipless-falling-off moment, when he surpassed it with his experience of numptiness !!

Riding his bike up to a set of traffic lights, he pulls up behind a motorcyclist. My mate unclips and gets his foot onto the floor, just as the motorbike in front topples over, spilling the rider onto the footway. My mate can see the guy is obviously hurt and goes over to assist.

Gets the motorbiker onto his feet, and the bloke says "forgot I didn't have the sidecar fitted" !!!

Yep, we've all been there

 

[BearPear]

yes, I have loose cleats, I de-cleat on the down stroke, but none of this matters if your brain forgets all about it!!

If the weather is anything like when I'm not a work at the end of the week, I'll give it another go (fingers crossed!)


Oh, and it's nice to know that other cycling spouses are equally as "supportive" to their poor, fallen-over partners!