Couldn't unclip in time
Discussion
Well it was going to happen eventually. This morning after filtering through some traffic to the red box I somehow couldn't unclip. I went down really slowly and quite pathetically. Whilst I was still down I somehow thought I could pretend this was normal when a passer-by asked if I was OK, I just gave him " a yeah mate" in a tone to suggest that I'm lying on the floor on purpose. At least I gave a queue of cars a good laugh.
So what is the most pathetic fall you have had?
So what is the most pathetic fall you have had?
mini1380cc said:
Well it was going to happen eventually. This morning after filtering through some traffic to the red box I somehow couldn't unclip. I went down really slowly and quite pathetically. Whilst I was still down I somehow thought I could pretend this was normal when a passer-by asked if I was OK, I just gave him " a yeah mate" in a tone to suggest that I'm lying on the floor on purpose. At least I gave a queue of cars a good laugh.
So what is the most pathetic fall you have had?
This cracked me up.So what is the most pathetic fall you have had?
I don't ride bikes (well, pedal-powered ones anyway) but a bigger lady I work with has more money than sense, so her and her OH decided they wanted to get 'proper' bikes with foot clips 'n all. I think it was after the 3rd time she fell over in front of pedestrians and cars at a set of traffic lights on her first outing she threw a strop and walked home... bike never to be seen again!
I run flats thankfully, I've seen a few guys tip themselves off the side of the trail whilst furiously trying to stick themselves, it seems to me the more you fight them, the tighter they hold on to you.
One of my mates had a bad one though, he was forced to stop on top of a high bridge at the top of Blue Velvet in Whistler Bike Park because of a crash further down the trail, he unclipped okay but the action of twisting out made him misplace his foot and he tumbled off the side, 12ft onto his back, thankfully his camelback cushioned his fall and he walked it off, shook us all up though.
One of my mates had a bad one though, he was forced to stop on top of a high bridge at the top of Blue Velvet in Whistler Bike Park because of a crash further down the trail, he unclipped okay but the action of twisting out made him misplace his foot and he tumbled off the side, 12ft onto his back, thankfully his camelback cushioned his fall and he walked it off, shook us all up though.
I had similar to the OP but on Cheapside, at 8:40 so peak time....
Cycling along to turn into my office at Old Jewry and a woman steps out on me, I slam on the anchors, just stop in time so as not to hit her and fall to my side in slow motion from a stop.
This was all in front of a bus-stop queue, loads of other people at the crossing, countless other cyclists and general traffic. Oh and it had recently rained :/
Cycling along to turn into my office at Old Jewry and a woman steps out on me, I slam on the anchors, just stop in time so as not to hit her and fall to my side in slow motion from a stop.
This was all in front of a bus-stop queue, loads of other people at the crossing, countless other cyclists and general traffic. Oh and it had recently rained :/
mini1380cc said:
So what is the most pathetic fall you have had?
I fell off in the flipping shop when collecting my new bike, that they'd just shown me how to use the clip in pedals on! Fell into. 4k giant bike, and knocked a load of others down! I had them fit stock pedals back in,still using them ! Evil evil things clip ins.
(I warned them that if the CCTV ended up in YouTube, I'd burn the shop down!)
So it's not just me then?? I seem to manage some kind of epic fail every sunday morning ride with my mate!. Last weekend I had a coming together with a bramble bush whilst trying to show him the 'Thomas Voeckler downhill descent pose' (the one where he comes down onto the cross bar and almost leans over the handlebars), got all wobbly and for some unknown reason I was unable to either unclip and then put my foot against the bank, nor actually brake.
Yesterday however, took the biscuit. After only approx 20 miles and having a couple of massive PBs on a couple of nasty climbs, We're just cruising back into Salisbury on the flat and level, when for some inexplicable reason, I decided that i wanted to cycle straight into the back of a parked car. Came to my senses approx 10m before impact, put on the anchors, slid across the road, almost came to a stop at a dropped kerb and just toppled over - cue much hilarity from my now former mate! thankfully the Wilier remained unscratched!
Yesterday however, took the biscuit. After only approx 20 miles and having a couple of massive PBs on a couple of nasty climbs, We're just cruising back into Salisbury on the flat and level, when for some inexplicable reason, I decided that i wanted to cycle straight into the back of a parked car. Came to my senses approx 10m before impact, put on the anchors, slid across the road, almost came to a stop at a dropped kerb and just toppled over - cue much hilarity from my now former mate! thankfully the Wilier remained unscratched!
I cycled up to a junction and couldnt unclip as I had the pedal on too stiff release. I flailed my arms frantically to try and support myself against the van bonnet next to me, missed and toppled over infront of it. I think I gave the occupants a laugh. Trying to get out the clips with the bike on me was not the most fun and I continued to move around like I was having a mild fit. Off duty police officer stopped to help and told me her husband had done the same when first using SPD pedals. I didnt tell her I had been using them for a couple of months. Few cuts and bruises and mild shock in i had only managed to cycle about 300 yards from my house. Cycled home and took the car.
I'm doing my research just now with a view to getting a road bike through works cycle scheme. Clipped pedals is something that I have been pondering. As someone new to road riding and whose only time spent on a bike in the last 10 years has been an exercise bike would the recommendation be to avoid them?
GruntyDC5 said:
I'm doing my research just now with a view to getting a road bike through works cycle scheme. Clipped pedals is something that I have been pondering. As someone new to road riding and whose only time spent on a bike in the last 10 years has been an exercise bike would the recommendation be to avoid them?
Although I've fallen a couple of times they more than account for themselves and you soon get used to them.When your used to them (after 5 mins of practice) they also save you a serious amount of time (I use mine on the commute from Orpington - City) as you can keep your cadence more constant and exert some power even on the upstroke.
If you do use them to commute though try doing what I've done - make my left clip quite loose so that when I need to get off in a hurry its so much easier!
GruntyDC5 said:
I'm doing my research just now with a view to getting a road bike through works cycle scheme. Clipped pedals is something that I have been pondering. As someone new to road riding and whose only time spent on a bike in the last 10 years has been an exercise bike would the recommendation be to avoid them?
I got my bike on the Evans Ride2Work scheme. If you're a 40% taxpayer it's just about worth it but otherwise just buy a 2013 bike in the sales (look at Tredz, Triton, Paul's Cycles, Hargroves, Wiggle, etc.)And yes, get SPDs: double sided are good so you don't need to flip them the right way up. I have Shimano M540s.
I find its often the split second of panic, rather than actual loss of balance that causes the off!
I.E- Shiiit im wobbleing, try and unclip, then flat on face
Now if I feel if I'm wobbling/going to fall I have to override the natural reaction to panic, or clip out and just gently ease forward or trackstand.
Ironically being clipped in gives you better ability to regain balance.
Had a comedy fall once in front of a crowded petrol forecourt, stopped to get a Snickers, didnt unclip slo mo fail!
I.E- Shiiit im wobbleing, try and unclip, then flat on face
Now if I feel if I'm wobbling/going to fall I have to override the natural reaction to panic, or clip out and just gently ease forward or trackstand.
Ironically being clipped in gives you better ability to regain balance.
Had a comedy fall once in front of a crowded petrol forecourt, stopped to get a Snickers, didnt unclip slo mo fail!
It's a rite of passage, OP.
I did a similar thing in front of all of my neighbours. Chatting outside the house, say cheerio and go to set off, somehow lose my balance OH s
t OH st OH st arms flailing around, can't unclip so waggling my legs about as well. Looked pretty cool I reckon. Gashed my elbow up and bruised my knee cap, but didn't even feel that compared to the crippling pain of embarrassment which lead me to get up and ride off immediately. bds still chuckle every time they see me heading out. 
Still better than flats though. I managed to slip off mine in the wet after hitting a rough patch of road avoiding a transit van that pulled out on me. The force of my gooch hitting the saddle bent it in half like a Selle SMP.
I did a similar thing in front of all of my neighbours. Chatting outside the house, say cheerio and go to set off, somehow lose my balance OH s
t OH st OH st arms flailing around, can't unclip so waggling my legs about as well. Looked pretty cool I reckon. Gashed my elbow up and bruised my knee cap, but didn't even feel that compared to the crippling pain of embarrassment which lead me to get up and ride off immediately. bds still chuckle every time they see me heading out. Still better than flats though. I managed to slip off mine in the wet after hitting a rough patch of road avoiding a transit van that pulled out on me. The force of my gooch hitting the saddle bent it in half like a Selle SMP.
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