Clipless - first fall

[NorthernSky]

I've had two since I went clipless. not may witnesses but felt the walls and hedges were laughing at me

 

[MMMMMike]

Probably going to regret typing this. Never had one. Yet. LOL

 

[Lisat]

Once in front of some language students as I was going up a hill, once into a pile of nettles and the best one was on the way to work near a notorious part of Bournemouth at a zebra crossing and a very drunk lady (it was 8am) asked why did I do that. She did try and help me up though.

 

[Binz]

had done about 3 miles on new bike and 1st time in spds, bang, rear puncture and forgot to unclip so went down. So got a couple of things over at start.
Next 1 I was riding along, went around a corner to be met by a horse charging down the road chased by the unseated rider, I emergency stopped and ....
The embarrassing one was coming up to traffic lights, they went green so I expected the cars to start moving so I kept going, then I realised they weren't going to move, tried to unclip but didn't as I was panicking.
No doubt there'll be others, must remember to relax and roll with it rather than tense up.

 

[ColinJ]

The solution?

• Set the release tensions on both sides of both pedals to minimum so it is easy to unclip
• Practice unclipping until it becomes second nature, so you never panic about it or forget to do it

 

[Big_Dave]

My first - decided to "explore" some local lanes, got hideously lost.

Stopped, exhausted and worried, in a farmyard to turn around and get my bearings, and did a slow motion topple into some handy manure.

There is an phone app on android called cyclestreets it's offline mapping so doesn't use any mobile data and the phones GPS pin points your location, it's brilliant if you get lost

 

[Ootini]

First fall for me was on the A55, with an HGV right behind me, fortunately I managed to launch myself out of the traffic. Bike took some scratches and I was bruised.

 

[Backonmybike]

A few weeks ago I was practicing outside the house stopping/starting clipping/unclipping with my new pedals and shoes. I was starting to think that this is childsplay when my wife came out and said something to me. Like a good husband I stopped to give her my full attention .. as you do... and slowly toppled over in front of her. It made her day.

 

[steveindenmark]

My one and only was in my kitchen.

My girlfriend will never let me live it down. :0)

 

[KQuinn]

Its amazing how little it hurts. I have had several and keep hold of the handlebars then roll onto my upper arm .This keeps the important bit ie the bike safely off the ground while the less important bit (me ) absorbs the shock of the fall.

OMG, I wish it was true in my case. Just had my first yesterday, I am badly bruised and cut.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

OMG, I wish it was true in my case. Just had my first yesterday, I am badly bruised and cut.

Everyone new to clipless is allowed three falls (but definitely no submission). Don't let it put you off

 

[jonny jeez]

Strangely I felt that I passed some rite of passage.

and so you have, welcome...you are one of us now!

Oh, and if you do it three times, we send you a set of glasses.

 

[bloodlett]

only one fall for me now i unclip my right as i'm slowing and i continue to pedal if i need to

 

[Cycling2Live]

Glad you're not hurt (maybe except for your pride<smile>). An oh ... you've got 2 more to go before you're officially a clipless ride. <LOL>

 

[Dogtrousers]

The solution?

• Set the release tensions on both sides of both pedals to minimum so it is easy to unclip
• Practice unclipping until it becomes second nature, so you never panic about it or forget to do it

How boring.

What you need is my new Safety Device for Cyclists, for which I am seeking kickupthearse funding.

It's a smartphone app that uses the phone's inbuilt accelerometer and GPS to detect speed and upcoming junctions, and is connected to cadence sensors on the bike. It uses the complex heuristic klip-o-matik algorithm to determine when you need to unclip and gives an audible warning "woop woop unclip ... woop woop unclip".

Should you fall off, it detects this and warns other road users, potentially Saving Your Life, by activating a flashing LED and giving an audible warning "woop woop fallen cyclist ... woop woop fallen cyclist".