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Went clipless, fell on my first ride

7 points · submitted Jul 2013 by u/stalde

After riding with a pair of football shoes I've finally decided it is my time to go clipless. Bought a pair of Shimano R540 pedals and a pair of Specialized Elite Road Shoes I love them, I'm able to use much higher gears due to being able to pull the pedal up, thus avoiding dead spots. I fell at a stop sign, people were next to me. I unclipped my right leg and was leaning on it. Then I accidently leaned a little too much to the left and all my bodyweight made me fall over to the left in slow-motion. It was embarrasing, my chain came off but I just put it back on, my hands are still oily but it's not biggie. Besides all this, they're amazing.

24 comments · 77% upvoted · other discussions

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atooraya 6 points · Jul 2013 · 2016 Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport

First time I went with clips, it was in Mountain View, Ca. Did a 30 mile ride, that finished with us going thru Standford's campus. Everything was fine, till we got to Stanford, at a light. A bunch of cute girls and cars everywhere, but I couldn't get my foot out of the clip, no matter how hard I tried. I came rolling to a stop, and fell.

Much shame. Funny story.

Yarzospatflute 3 points · Jul 2013 · 2013 Giant Escape 1

Then I accidently leaned a little too much to the left and all my bodyweight made me fall over to the left in slow-motion.

This is pretty much what happened to me. It was the end of a long ride with many stops. I'd done a good job of remembering to unclip my right foot at each stop, but when I leaned to the left to get off the bike I'd forgotten the other foot was still clipped in.

It's been a couple of months now and, while unclipping isn't quite second nature yet, I'm pretty fluid at twisting my foot to unclip and haven't fallen since.

[deleted] 3 points · Jul 2013

Go ride around in a grass field for an hour or so, that'll help you figure it out. After a while it becomes instinctual.

markhewitt1978 3 points · Jul 2013 · United Kingdom (Trek Domane)

If anything is guaranteed to make you fall, it's riding around in a field!

[deleted] 3 points · Jul 2013

eek this is the reason i have not transitioned to the fancy clip style pedals and shoes. fearful of getting glued to the bike and falling.

[deleted] 9 points · Jul 2013

I've done about 10,000 miles with spds, and not had a fall due to the pedals. Wish people would stop insisting you will fall with clipless, as it puts others off.

[deleted] 1 points · Jul 2013

I just started in a SPD SL set up . Clipping or is super easy, clipping in is harder to engage quickly when a light changes.

swarley_scherbatsky 3 points · Jul 2013 · 2010 Fuji Finest, SE Draft, Gary Fisher Marlin

I started riding clipless this season. 1,000 miles down and I haven't fallen.

[deleted] 1 points · Jul 2013

nice :D

fr1234 2 points · Jul 2013 · Bike

I was crapping my pants about this when I made the switch a couple of weeks back. Touch wood, I've still not had a fall in ~450km. I think it may be that the more scared you are about it happening, the more aware you are that you are clipped in so are more likely to unclip. Definitely worth the switch. Go for it!

[deleted] 1 points · Jul 2013

hmm maybe i will give it a shot.

is the effeciency jump noticeable?

[deleted] 3 points · Jul 2013

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[deleted] 1 points · Jul 2013

nice! ill have to give this a go now.

markhewitt1978 2 points · Jul 2013 · United Kingdom (Trek Domane)

Like many things when I went SPD there were loads saying "it won't make any difference", trust me, it really does!

markhewitt1978 2 points · Jul 2013 · United Kingdom (Trek Domane)

Don't worry about it, when you fall* it'll most likely be while stopped.

*You will fall, but hey, we all do sometimes.

getjustin 1 points · Jul 2013

My only close-calls have been just this: I unclip and then shift weight a little coming to a stop and nearly bust it. I now stick out my upclipped leg and make a very deliberate lean to that side.

[deleted] 1 points · Jul 2013

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dorekk 1 points · Jul 2013 · '87 Centurion Le Mans RS

When riding MTB I think flats have benefits that clipless don't--namely, you'll never develop great technique for bunnyhopping and catching air on clipless. Not really an issue with road riding though.

Abcmsaj 1 points · Jul 2013 · BTWIN Triban 3a White (Hereford and Ledbury)

Do you HAVE to have cycling shoes to use clipless pedals? Those Shimano R540s are on sale in Halfords currently and come with cleats... Could you put the cleats into a pair of normal, old trainers? Just because... I can't afford £40+ for shoes right now but I need new pedals. Catch 22!

markhewitt1978 3 points · Jul 2013 · United Kingdom (Trek Domane)

No. You need shoes which the cleats can screw into. Normal trainers don't have this.

I got some M520 pedals (£15) and shoes from Aldi (£20) giving a total investment of £35 to go clipless.

*Aldi only sells the shoes from time to time.

Abcmsaj 1 points · Jul 2013 · BTWIN Triban 3a White (Hereford and Ledbury)

They had cycle stuff in last week, didn't they? Damn it... I went yesterday and all they had in stock were waterproof overalls and a foot pump... Don't remember seeing shoes. Thanks though, £20 is a bit more affordable for me! I'll keep a look out

m0rph3r 2 points · Jul 2013 · Specialized Allez Elite 2011

They didn't have any shoes this time, AFAIK.

However, you can (and should) scour ebay for some cheap'ish shoes.

I wouldn't recommend buying without knowing your size for different brands, though, as sizing is not exactly uniform across the board. Go to a couple of stores, try on the shoes for size AND fit (you won't want to ride in uncomfortable shoes), an then you'll have an idea about what you should be looking for online!

You can also buy the pedals used, but keep in mind that the pedals and cleats must be compatible, and the same thing with cleats and shoes. Most road shoes would have a 3 bolt system, and MTB shoes would have a 2 bolt system... some shoes have 5 holes (compatible with 2 and 3 bolt systems).

Bigdaddyjim 1 points · Jul 2013 · 2014 Trek Domane 5.2

I've done the same thing about 9 times. Fuggetaboutit.

markhewitt1978 1 points · Jul 2013 · United Kingdom (Trek Domane)

Well at least you've gotten it out of the way on your first ride!

newfflews 1 points · Jul 2013 · '13 Cannondale Synapse 5

Congratulations! Everyone does the derp fall, welcome to the club :). Mine was pulling up to a closed 5k race route from a side street. Slow-motion fall while all the runners passed by.

[deleted] 0 points · Jul 2013

It's a rite of passage. :)