Clipless Pedals and Falling Over
It's a rite of passage for cyclists. When you get your first pair of pedals and bike shoes that lock into them, just bet that it'll happen to you too. At some point in the early days of riding with them and getting used to them, you'll come rolling up to a stop, forget that your feet are attached to your pedals, and fall right over, a slow motion plop that puts you on the ground. And like any good humiliation, it never happens when you're by yourself. Usually it's at an intersection, where of course there are dozens of people there to watch you topple.
The good news is that these tip-overs rarely cause any damage more serious to you or your bike than a bit of public embarassment. And another thing - after it happens to you once, it'll likely never occur again, simply because it's a reminder that'll stay with you from then on - you'll automatically pop your foot out as you approach a stop. I know, because it happened to me too.
Have you ever fallen over thanks to your bike shoes? Comment below.
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Image: Keo Clipless Pedals by David Fiedler
Comments
Never happened to me because I had the fortunate timing to first go clipless in the winter (in upstate NY) when I was on the trainer. Plenty of practice!
Happened to me on my first set of toe clips and cleats, about 30 years ago and you don’t forget.
…at the intersection. Went to put my foot down and Hey its still attached-plop.
Yep, only once. Right in front of a police officer. When he finished a small chuckle and asked if I was o.k. I tried to explain but non cyclists never understand.
If it weren’t for a last second unclipping, I would have fallen onto the hood of a Porsche while waiting at a red light! That, more than the one time I actually have fallen, will remind me to unclip early and quickly!
Had only a few days test riding my new clipless around the neighborhood before a 20 mile city wide Night Ride event. I pull in for the downtown rest break, in front of hundreds of other riders i topple right over to resounding cheers. has never happened again!
First time I got clipless pedals my (then) boyfriend (now fiance) tried to catch me while I tried clipping in and out. I fell over so many times he decided to stop trying to catch me.
Did the “fall down at a light” a couple times. Then went to a Carmichael training camp where they taught releasing one pedal so you could accelerate from the light and had all the time in the world to clip in the other pedal (the clipped in pedal could pull up on the pedal as well as push down, allowing you to pedal one footed for as long as necessary).
Only problem with that, as I aptly demonstrated before a light, is that increases your chances for falling over on the pedal that’s still clipped in. Did that right in front of a Jeep that was stopped at a light — with my fiance behind me!
I’ve fallen over a few more times then just once and always in front of a crowd. Although cyclists understand, it doesn’t help the bruised ego to have a bunch of people standing around watching you fall and not do a thing other then to laugh “with” you. Especially when you realize you’re going to fall and there is nothing you can do about it. I eventually caught on after a set of black and blue palms and was lucky not to have broken a wrist! But, never again after that… (besides a few close calls…)
Happened 3 times and never again since. So embarrassing!
At a stoplight, I fell onto a pick-up that was next to me. The driver was really cool, just kinda watched as I fell onto his truck.
Infront of other people indeed! In front of my grown children, spouses and grandkids, all who hunger for humiliating the old man. Twice on the same weekend, still have the scars, on my legs, on my ego and memory. Kids have not forgotten either. oh well
No offense to the “clipless” crowd, but I don’t really see the point. My pedals have toe clips (sans the straps) and they work great! I just kick-flip my pedals and I’m all set. And not having to carry around a change of shoes in my bag frees up space for other things: like watermelons, 8-track players, cute cuddly kittens, etc…
Born and raised in Seattle and Portland (currently living in Seattle), and being a daily bike commuter, I know all about adverse weather conditions. But I’ll brace for the rebuttle(s).
Of course several times. The trick is to learn to fall without getting hurt. just be a kid for a moment. Do not reach out with your had to break your fall, or you might dislocate a shoulder or break a bone in your arm or hand. learn to take the blow on the outside of the thigh and the shoulder. your helmet will protect your head (that’s why you wear it). Then just act like you do this every day and ignore the other people. last time I did it I had 10 witnesses and not single snicker of course i was packing my 44 magnum at the time
On my first day practising using my new clipless pedals I had to do an emergency stop as a dog ran out across the cycle path right in front of my front wheel. Luckily for the dog it managed to dart out from under my falling body as I toppled over. A few cuts and bruises. Luckily for me a nice and experienced clipless pedal user was literally right behind me (maybe not so lucky for the poor guy who backed in to me!). But he did give me good advice on how to deal with emergancy stops. Push your heels out. I think I might have to do this before I brake though. But then what would have happened to the poor old dog?!
Happened to me recently. I’ve been riding since I was six, but I guess its like falling off a bike: you never forget. My girlfriend’s driveway, ironically right then she was saying,”My hero!” (Plop*)
I have had more than one tumble, not because I didn’t remember the first one but because I just had a hard time getting out of the pedals. I first had Speedplays and I just couldn’t get my feet loose, it was easier to pull my foot out of the shoe, don’t know why but I never mastered them. I finally gave them away and got a set of SPD’s and have not had a problem since putting them on my bikes. I have been able to adjust them to my needs. I now have a great Shimano pedal that has a platform on 1 side and the SPD on the other and that is the best of both worlds for me. I am 65 and hate to fall for fear of breaking something. Hasn’t happened yet but it could. I highly recommed not buying clipless pedals without trying them out for ease of release, comfort and security.
I have fallen over more times than I can count. At traffic lights, on the side of mountain, a flat sandy section of trail…….
It’s a fact of life on a clipless mountain bike. You learn that if you hang onto the grips and just fall you’ll be fine. Only a bruised ego. Just dont have a fanny pack with water bottles they accually leave bruises.
So I’ve been MTBing for a long time. Beat my last bike up pretty good so it was time to upgrade. Got a nice, shiny new bike with clipless pedals. Then I went out and got some nice, shiny new bike shoes, and then… WTF? Do I need to start all over with training wheels? I just can’t get the hang of it. First I fell in my driveway for all my neighbors to see. It didn’t help that I had a beer bottle out there with me. They probably call me the drunken biker now. Took it out into the desert a few times and have fallen every day so far! Like I said; WTF? I was tempted to go get some ‘old school’ pedals, but I’m not giving up so easy. I’m a fairly agressive rider and I’m afraid to take it on a serious trail until I know what I’m doing. This is quite a humbling experience. My problem isn’t that I forget, it’s that I can’t get them out in time. I can’t get them clipped in all that quickly either. I’m wondering if the shoes and pedals just don’t like each other…
twice on the same day 3 time in total so far. First was in traffic on the flat riding with a mate. I normally weave to avoid stopping as much as possible, my mate stops continuously…I was ambushed effectively. Second time climbing a rather steep hill. Bugger… but never mind, I shall overcome this minor inconvenience. Gives plenty of people a chuckle though, even myself.
I’ve fallen a few times – I used to have Shimano pedals and they always needed adjusting. Now I have Speedplays and I can get in and out of them without even trying and I’ve never fallen while still clipped into them. My most embarassing time falling was at the end of a century ride. I just stopped at the finish line, happy to be done, and I fell right over. One of the volunteers ran over to help me and told me not to worry that only my ego was bruised. As if I needed her to tell me that.
Happened to me 3 times on the day i first got mine, i got in the pedals and didnt realize i didnt know how to take my foot off and fell over a sidewalk and was just stuck there for several minutes haha