Unclipping after a fall (yes, I’m fine)

This topic has 24 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by thecyclingeconomist.

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November 15, 2012 at 2:34 pm #912415

jrenaut
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This morning at 14th and R I was got up on the pedals right before the light turned green. I’m honestly not sure if I got my right foot clipped in or not (My left I never unclip until I’m getting off the bike), but I hit a bump in the road. As I wasn’t intending to go quite yet, as the light was a second or two from green, I had no momentum, and toppled over onto my clipped in side. Nothing injured but my pride, and a cyclist (of many) behind me quickly helped me up, but at first I was totally stuck. I couldn’t get my left foot unclipped, and couldn’t stand up without unclipping.

I imagine I would have figured it out given another minute or two, but since I was actually sitting in the traffic lane in front of a now-green light, I was kind of in a hurry.

Any advice on unclipping when the clipped foot is on the ground underneath the bike? SPD pedals, since that might make a difference.

As an aside, I love how many people use the 14th St bike lanes until I fall on my butt and look like a clown. I had quite an audience. Also, I thanked him at the scene, but to the guy who rushed to help me up, thanks again. Much appreciated.
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November 15, 2012 at 2:56 pm #955574

creadinger
Participant

Maybe the spring tension is too tight and you should loosen it a little bit?

Otherwise, since falling should be a very rare occurrence, unclipping while lying on the pavement is probably not a skill you need to master. Staying upright would be far more useful.

November 15, 2012 at 3:07 pm #955575

jrenaut
Participant

The tension is pretty loose – I’ve only recently switched over to SPDs from toe clips, and they’re still set at “I can’t even get clipped in sitting on the trainer at the bike shop” setting.

And I agree, this is not something that happens too often. It’s the fourth time I’ve fallen (two from roads torn up by construction, one from a seam in the road, one because I didn’t look both ways) in about two years. But still, always nice to be prepared for the worst case.

November 15, 2012 at 3:08 pm #955576

Steve
Participant

It’s probably a little easier to get your right foot on the left side of the bike (under or behind the wheel at least), so that you can push the bike up a little to allow room to unclip. Or, I suppose you could (depending on velcro vs. bindings) try to unstrap and just slide your foot out, leaving the shoe attached to the pedal.

November 15, 2012 at 3:14 pm #955578

Riley Casey
Participant

Glad your ok aside from that momentary wounded pride element. Sorry to be a heathen but … Why do people use clips or even straps in the city? I’ve never used either, always removed the straps from every new bike i’ve bought. Not being able to get my foot off the peddle and on the ground instantly just scares the crap out of me. I totally get clips in road cycling out in the far countryside but in town not so much. Just curious.

November 15, 2012 at 3:24 pm #955580

jrenaut
Participant

@Steve – I’m not sure what you mean by what I should do with my right foot.

@Riley – My biggest reason was my knees. I wasn’t getting my foot in consistent position with toe clips, and my knees started to hurt all the time, even when I wasn’t on the bike. No fun. After a week of clipping in where I knew my foot was in the right spot and my knee was at the right angle, no more knee pain. And I honestly have had very few problems – this is only the second time that having my feet totally free probably would have prevented the fall (and of the other two, one was on a trail, not downtown).

November 15, 2012 at 3:38 pm #955582

Steve
Participant

@jrenaut 35881 wrote:

@Steve – I’m not sure what you mean by what I should do with my right foot.

Yea, I don’t know how to explain what I’m thinking without being able to demo it. I’m trying to say to open up the hips a bit, to get the right leg off of the bike. Like you would be beginning to roll onto your back. Rotating the hips a bit can allow you to push the bike up, and give you the room to upclip.

November 15, 2012 at 3:56 pm #955585

jrenaut
Participant

Ok, I think I get you. I’m pretty sure I would have figured it out in another few seconds, but by then I was getting a hand up from the other cyclist.

November 15, 2012 at 4:03 pm #955587

mstone
Participant

if you yank hard enough your foot should just come out

November 15, 2012 at 4:07 pm #955588

DismalScientist
Participant

Coyotes will gnaw off their legs to get out of a trap.:rolleyes:

November 15, 2012 at 4:14 pm #955590

jrenaut
Participant

@DismalScientist 35890 wrote:

Coyotes will gnaw off their legs to get out of a trap.:rolleyes:

As I was lying in the middle of a travel lane on 14th NW in rush hour, don’t think that didn’t occur to me. . .

November 15, 2012 at 6:22 pm #955604

Bilsko
Participant

@DismalScientist 35890 wrote:

Coyotes will gnaw off their legs to get out of a trap.:rolleyes:

I’d be willing to wager that there are cyclists out there who would do the same

November 15, 2012 at 6:26 pm #955605

Bilsko
Participant

I’d second Steve’s suggestion that, if you’re really in a bind (pun not intended) try to get your foot out of the shoe and then deal with unclipping the now-empty shoe.

The analogy that comes to mind is: Clipped-in falling is kind of like mashing the gears in a manual car – just about everyone does it, and other manual drivers just get that it happens. Automatic drivers don’t get it, but also don’t get the benefits of driving a stick. Other cyclists (who use clips) get that its bound to happen to all of us, and car drivers just don’t get it and don’t get the wonders of cycling.

I must have eaten something weird for lunch – that analogy doesn’t look nearly as good as when I just thought it up a couple minutes ago.

November 15, 2012 at 6:33 pm #955609

acc
Participant

I’ve spent a lot of time on the ground looking up. Usually the bike is on top of me. Once I stop panicking, I’ve been able to wrestle the bike off of me enough to unclip.

If I am dragging work gear and clothes I prefer flat pedals. I’m just not very good at sudden stops and starts with extra stuff in back. I’m talking about extra stuff in my panniers, just to clarify.

November 15, 2012 at 6:43 pm #955611

TwoWheelsDC
Participant

The few, er, I mean, the only time I fell while stationary, I think I squirmed and flailed wildly enough on the way down that I either unclipped myself during the fall, or upon impact. So if you fall again, completely panic and have a mini-seizure instead of remaining calm…problem solved.

November 15, 2012 at 6:52 pm #955613

OneEighth
Participant

I’ve actually been pretty happy when I have stayed clipped in during a crash—the bike usually doesn’t end up smacking the pavement because I’m cushioning it. I heal.
That’s not helpful, is it…
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