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

[Greenbelt]

I’ll tell a similar story. I had my 2nd-ever clipped-in fall last Sunday, when I was leading a group ride with about 20 people, no less. I was riding my racing bike, which I’ve got way tightened up for hard pedaling, on a ride to DC, which was mistake number 1. (On my commuter bike, I’ve got the clips so loose that I can make a tiny twitch and they come out, which is great for sudden stops in traffic, although not so great if I forget I’m on my commuter bike and hit the pedals hard and suddenly unclip….)

But whatever, on the racing bike, they’re set pretty tight, because I don’t stop very much on more rural rides, and there’s usually plenty of time to unclip.

So anyways, I was stopped, turned sideways waiting for a group to catch up, and I forgot that I couldn’t just put a foot down with a teensy twitch like on my commuter bike, and I tipped over before I could get unclipped. Fortunately, the video camera was full by then, so I didn’t get it recorded. And the racing bike is light enough that I could more or less toss it off me to unclip on the ground and get back up.

But I think the moral is to remember to set the pedals for loose for city riding, since there’s more risk of not getting clipped out in time and less risk of popping out of the cleat when pedaling hard. And then remember which bike you’re on!

[jrenaut]

@OneEighth 35915 wrote:

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…

I will note that one of my first thoughts after “I’m not going to get run over now” and “wow, that was embarrassing” was “Sweet, drivetrain-side up!”

[baiskeli]

One reason I don’t use clips.

I do like the benefits of something holding my toes in the right place though, so I use these:

http://www.amazon.com/Zefal-Cristophe-Mountain-Bicycle-Half/dp/B0048HWQKS

Kind of like the old clips with straps, only no straps.

[vvill]

I’ve had a few clipped-in falls, always when stationary though. My ribs are still aching from the last particularly uncoordinated one, I think there may be a couple cracks.

My pedal retention is set quite low though so I’ve never had an issue with staying clipped in when I didn’t want to when I’ve actually crashed while moving.

I did once have a shoe stuck in my pedal due to a loose bolt. I had to take my shoe off my foot before dismounting and then get the shoe off later when I got home.

I have Crank Bros Candys on all my bikes. They’re super easy to clip in and out of, and I dislike riding unclipped.

[OneEighth]

Like everything else, this becomes a question of figuring out what works best for you.
I use Time pedals and keep them as tightly tensioned as I can so that my feet stay put while accelerating or climbing. Far, far worse things can happen if I come off the pedal while climbing or sprinting than if I tip over while almost at a stop.

[dcv]

@OneEighth 35980 wrote:

Like everything else, this becomes a question of figuring out what works best for you.
I use Time pedals and keep them as tightly tensioned as I can so that my feet stay put while accelerating or climbing. Far, far worse things can happen if I come off the pedal while climbing or sprinting than if I tip over while almost at a stop.

+1, accidentally unclipping on a fixed gear while moving = almost certain death

[Bilsko]

@dcv 35988 wrote:

+1, accidentally unclipping on a fixed gear while moving = almost certain death

I still haven’t made the switch to clips on my fixed gear. Still using platforms with cages+straps. Would kind of like to give clips a try on the fixed gear.

[dcv]

@Bilsko 36011 wrote:

I still haven’t made the switch to clips on my fixed gear. Still using platforms with cages+straps. Would kind of like to give clips a try on the fixed gear.

Popping out in a sprint / climb would be bad. I brake with my legs so popping out while trying to stop would be worse. Once I accidentally unclipped with Look pedals going a steep downhill. It was impossible to clip back in with the pedals spinning, I had to use the emergency brake to slow down.

[thecyclingeconomist]

I recommend eggbeaters if you r having issues with SPDs…

I have been in the same situation, but not with speed plays or eggbeaters…

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