First clipless moment

[Onthedrops]

I've come close on many occasions but just been able to save any embarrassment in the nick of time.

Had a good ride out today getting a few miles in with good climbing and generally enjoying the lovely weather. Made my way home feeling good and ready for a nice cool shower. Cruised down our lane, turned into the driveway and as usual, unclipped my left foot only to discover the bike leaning to the right!
You guessed it, crash down onto the driveway!

Initial panic from the Mrs followed by hysterical laughter from one of the kids. I laughed myself, more in embarrassment more than anything else. Fortunately no damage done to the bike although I now have an impressive bruise on my elbow and hip. In my youth I would have thought nothing of it. I bloody felt it now though.
Impressive spill at a standstill thankfully in the confines of my driveway.

How did you feel when you've had a clipless moment? Was it a lone effort or were you in full view of the many?

 

[r04DiE]

You'll like this one.

Seven Sisters Road, North London, pm rush hour. Ponytailed twat in a Ford Ka cuts me up and laughs (knowing I won't catch him) as he drives off. I turn on the burners, catch him and draw up next to him, saying: "Now that wasn't very clever of you, was it?" In the most menacing of demeanours.

At that precise moment, just as I draw to a halt, I realise that the clipless moment has arrived, and fall over, very unceremoniously, onto the tarmac.

Ponytail looks at me, pitifully, and says: "Whatever you say, mate", then drives off laughing.

Here's hoping that your bruises heal way quicker than my pride did

 

[Buck]

My first was similar to you but I quickly got up and had a good look around - phew!!! Nobody saw me!

Glad the bikes OK and it was only a bruise for you. Heal well.

 

[Goggs]

I'm lucky in that every time I have a moment it turns out I've been drinking so I just bounce.

 

[mjr]

Still think you're nuts clipping in when not racing

 

[slowmotion]

I fell over within five minutes of first setting forth. I made it to Battersea Park and slowed to see if a fellow cyclist needed help, and went over with the bike locked between my legs. I couldn't free myself from the blooming thing as I lay there giggling. Lots of cyclists came to help.
The adrenaline of the "Oh Sh$t" moment has always taken away most of the pain.

 

[raleighnut]

I've come close on many occasions but just been able to save any embarrassment in the nick of time.

Had a good ride out today getting a few miles in with good climbing and generally enjoying the lovely weather. Made my way home feeling good and ready for a nice cool shower. Cruised down our lane, turned into the driveway and as usual, unclipped my left foot only to discover the bike leaning to the right!
You guessed it, crash down onto the driveway!

Initial panic from the Mrs followed by hysterical laughter from one of the kids. I laughed myself, more in embarrassment more than anything else. Fortunately no damage done to the bike although I now have an impressive bruise on my elbow and hip. In my youth I would have thought nothing of it. I bloody felt it now though.
Impressive spill at a standstill thankfully in the confines of my driveway.

How did you feel when you've had a clipless moment? Was it a lone effort or were you in full view of the many?

I did exactly the same once, got home and went down on the still clipped in side. I happen to live opposite a pub, they've got tables out the front and yes the pub was open.

 

[steve50]

I took several turns around the block clipped in before venturing out onto the roads, my first real ride out I was confident I had it nailed. Set off from home, three quarters of a mile later came to my first T junction and unclipped my left foot, too late I realised the bike was wobbling to the right, I started to fall to the right and just managed to wrench my right foot free landing unceremoniously on my knee. I got quite a few odd looks from passing drivers.

 

[Banjo]

My friend from work just back from 6 weeks off with broken collarbone from a "clipless moment".

 

[Accy cyclist]

You're ok if you have a clipless moment like the old fool who hit me. His fall was broken by me, resulting in me ending up with a fractured hip joint. Nice of him not to even phone me up to see how i am! Ah well, it just aids my determination to get back on my bike, rejoin the club rides and pay him back somehow!

 

[Bazzer]

Had two. The first was a quite country road road. Stopped for a drink and just over balanced. Luckily a group of cyclists had just passed the opposite way.
The second was at the entrance to the work underground car park. Slope caught me out as I stopped to swipe my way in. All recorded on CCTV but security had the good grace not to comment as I entered the main building.

 

[Primal Scream]

This is a worry I have a a new set of M520 pedals and new cycling shoes ready to go on my Trib 5 which came with strapless clips then i read about broken collar bones, i maystick with the clips

 

[Goggs]

This is a worry I have a a new set of M520 pedals and new cycling shoes ready to go on my Trib 5 which came with strapless clips then i read about broken collar bones, i maystick with the clips

Nah mate, you'll be sound. Toeclips & straps can be just as problematic. You'll get used to it quickly.

Says the man who's just ordered a pair of Shimano Saint platforms.

 

[Goggs]

I should say I have nothing against clipless pedals. In fact, if I spent more than say 60% of my bike trip actually on the bike I would be using clipless. For me though, I find I'm using the bike more for trips to the shops or the pub and being stuck to using one pair of bike-specific shoes is a pain. I also use my bike to go to a part-time gardening job I have where boots are the order of the day.

When I'm actually on the bike though I much prefer clipless pedals for their security and efficiency.

 

[Philhh]

I use spds and set the pressure down to the minimium so they release fairly easily-works for me-I am coming back to cycling and one of the things I did was to go down a quite country lane (big grass verges in case i fell over)stopping every 200 yards stop and to take my feet in and out of the pedals did this for about 11/2 miles until I felt confident only problem I've had since is one of the spd's releases too easily when I'm riding so I've just tightened the pressure a bit.I might have looked a bit of a clown doing this but it payed off.!