Did you fall off the first time you tried clipless pedals?

I switched last month. Spent 10 mins on the grass in a park with no problems, then moved up to a quiet road and duly fell over in a heap. Haven't fallen over since, but am still struggling to clip in sometimes.

My advice for first timers during their first 20 miles:

1) Expect to fall over at least once.
2) Try it on grass first for 10 mins or so, then move up to quiet roads...
3) Wear gloves and cover your elbows and knees to save on cleanup.
4) Avoid carrying valuables.

People that have had trouble; did you switch from clips/straps or from having no retention at all? I've ridden with (fairly tight) clips & double straps for a couple of years, currently waiting for my SPDs to come in the post so I can start using my Sidis. I didn't imagine people would have this much trouble making the switch, unless it was from retentionlessness?

it's not that bad... but you might find the occasional memory lapse when you need a quick get out. After a week though you'll have forgotten everything previous and it'll be second nature.

Went from straps to clipless. 2 days in without mishap and some chav scrote cunt in a Citroen Saxo almost clipped me overtaking and pulling in. I went to boot his door, but of course forgot about the clipless bit so ended up doing 2 hops and a splat in front of about a dozen people smoking outside a boozer.

The VERY first time I rode in them, I was fine.

The SECOND time I went out, flushed with new-found confidence, I put my foot down at the umpteenth set of lights, realised I was still clipped in, panicked too much to get my foot out in time and did the zero-MPH side-flop.

About a week later, I pulled up behind a lorry in heavy traffic, was thinking about skitching it, went to put my foot down whilst distracted with thoughts of skitching not uncliping and fell over again, because by the time I'd registered why my foot wasn't moving, I was already at 45 degrees and falling fast.

The new peds were very stiff though. But I decided it was good practice to keep them stiff, rather than loosen them off. It might've meant a couple of falls but it'd train me to make sure I clipped out approaching lights. Seems to have worked, cos I haven't fallen since. But after 30-odd years of riding flat pedals without clips, it's still slightly unnatural to be stuck to them.

People that have had trouble; did you switch from clips/straps or from having no retention at all? I've ridden with (fairly tight) clips & double straps for a couple of years, currently waiting for my SPDs to come in the post so I can start using my Sidis. I didn't imagine people would have this much trouble making the switch, unless it was from retentionlessness?

It's not that much trouble. It's just easy to forget during the first few hours of riding. I went from clips and straps like, I would imagine, most people.

It's not that much trouble. It's just easy to forget during the first few hours of riding. I went from clips and straps like, I would imagine, most people.

Agreed - I treated it like snowboarding. You're going to fall over learning something new, there may be some pain, but it'll be OK in the end.

Yes, the first time I tried was on my mountain bike when I was about 12, had the retention set too tight and could never get out of them. Having had a few gnarly crashes going down steep hills, that scared me off for a good long while -

Started using them again a few months ago and no accidents apart from when doing a wheelie on my 10 speed and couldn't get my foot out - ended up turtled in front of a load of little scallies.

I have my dignity!! honest.

Now though i ride my dirt bike and constantly find myself lifting my feet off the pedals due to the lack of retention - kinda scary.

For those worried about the switch, as long as you understand the movement required to get out of the clip you'll be fine - just practice when stationary (leaning against a wall) to start with.

When I first started riding a ss (I have now graduated to fg), I was outside Bermondsey tube on my morning commute in... pulled up to a traffic light, got distracted by someone crossing (yes, I'm a perv) and failed to kick out. Fell over side ways, put my hand out on a car to stop myself. Hand slipped and I crashed down ending up with with my head tucked in front of the car's front wheel. Managed to damage the guy's wingmirror on the way down too. Got up quickly, gave the diver an apologetic wave and braced myself for a torrent abuse...

None came. The guy just looked at me pityingly and shook his head. I don't think I have ever felt so embarrased... Made a hasty exit (mainly becuase I am not sure he was aware that I had pretty much fucked his mirror).

Has only happened once since and that was at a roundabout where I totally misjudged a car and found he was travelling a lot slower than I had thought and I had a total trackstand fail.

Would never swap from clipless riding tho...

I was fine until my 7th or so ride when I had a memory relapse and ended up in a bush. Fortunatly nobody was around to see it.

Not got clipless on my fixed yet as i'm not sure what to do when I just want to pop to the shops.

Yes but only because I was a bit pissed and forgot I was wearing them.

Not got clipless on my fixed yet as i'm not sure what to do when I just want to pop to the shops.

That's why I've just bought MTB shoes, you can walk in them without damaging the cleats. And for other stuff I always have my bag with me anyway so can easily chuck in a change of shoes.

i use my spds for commuting and rides when I know I'm going to be riding and nothing else, if i'm pubbing/shopping etc it only takes 2 minutes to change the pedals for my clips and straps...

beats john wayne-ing, or carrying a bag.

On my way for a pint in the harp. Unclip, clip back in ... fall over.
People point (laugh), I walk away..
Not cool... :)

None came. The guy just looked at me pityingly and shook his head

False pity if there was some.

4 times in a year and a half / 1000 miles

*First time on a really tight, steep uphill junction
*Once after breaking a chain going down a massive hill in the middle of the highlands, I was concentrating so hard on controlling a massive skid due to a locked rear wheel that when I did stop I forgot about my clips and fell in a ditch
*Once when I was drunk and showing off in a garage forecourt
*Last weekend some old guy tried to force past me in hatchback going through a pedestrial crossing (the kind that split the road) and I took a wobble and fell over

My worst crash on a bike (including my motocrosser) ever was 2 weeks after getting my fixed gear with no straps. I hit a the side of a van after loosing my pedals going round a roundabout and ended up in hospital with concussion, bruised ribs, hips, arse etc. and selective memory (haha). I still ride with no straps every now and again for convienience but am **very careful **and ride a lot slower and more cautiously.

Fell off when I was testing Egg beaters round my garden stopping at the wheelie bin. Un-clipped a few times, then didn't. Extremely embarassing as I didn't even unclip when I hit the grass. My neighbour caught me wrestling to free my feet while lying on my side.
Never fallen off using straps on my roadie though. I'm sure if I persevered it would be fine but I ride flats off road now.

I had the classic moment of falling off at some lights after being unable to unclip... I chose my moment really badly as a van full of builders had just pulled up behind me. They laughed so hard at my misfortune the van was shaking! quite funny looking back tho.

oh yes big style wish i had it on vid my son still brings it up

Had a stupid unclip fail this evening. Stopped, unclipped one foot and then found my other foot just would not detach from the pedal and in the confusion just fell to the ground. Struggled to get back up as my foot was still fucking clipped in.

Turned out one of the allen bolts on the cleat had fallen out, so as i was trying to unclip my shoe was turning but the cleat was staying in place.

Not sure when i lost the bolt but once I realised I started laughing. Concerned pedestrians were asking if I was alright - probably more freaked out by someone who falls off a bike and then starts laughing like a maniac than my actual fall.

I then went to Evans by Chalk Farm station. Asked one of the staff if they had the correct bolt and got "Nah mate, we would not have one of them, we could possibly order one in for you."

Luckily I ignored that moronic fuckwit and walked further into the store, and got accosted by a member of staff who is another titanium bike fiend, got chatting about bikes, explained my problem and he went back to the mechanics area and returned with the correct bolt, gratis.

In two minutes both the lows and highs of customer service demonstrated.

I never fell off when I started using clips/cleats. However, when one day I used an old bike with clips and straps, I came a-croppa while stopping at lights. I twisted my foot to release and then realised! Very embarrasing!

A group of born again roadies were waiting for their mate to catch up at a cross roads just around the corner from my house when I went out for a ride on Sunday. One of them fell over when stationary as he had his right foot still clipped in and lost his balance (presumably his cleat slipping on the tarmac)

They caught and passed me as we were going down a hill and I am on 57GI SS, only for me to catch them back up on a slight slope that had two of them standing up pedalling. Got to a section of road with some road narrowing traffic calming and the oncoming car did not stop as they expected and that same rider went over the bars as he braked so sharply with his mates then riding into him in a mini pile up. "All the gear, no idea" I believe is the correct phrase!

I've done the classic of taking one foot out then falling the other way. Always on club rides though. Never done it while riding on my own, probably because I trackstand at junctions etc.

Yes. 4 times in the first 3 days, then nothing since. 3 of those were at traffic lights, the 4th was in my kitchen. I think that's the most embarrassing one even though nobody else was there.

i voted yes when i met to vote no.

i think it is an urban myth that it is an issue.

lets face it.

who goes back to flat pedals after using proper pedals ?

it is like saying lets not walk cos crawling is safer.